Re-cap of first week

written yesterday for my profile Here is a recap of my first week as a post-op as I recall: 6-21: 0430 leave for hospital 0530 arrived at hospital, go to pt registration............... 0600 get taken back to room in pre-op holding, IV, TED stocking, heparin shot, I tell them I think they have the wrong bed, ins will not pay for the big bed at my weight. I'm trying to stay calm, just wishing they would hurry up so hubby could come back to the room. Have to switch beds to the regular one. 0700 finally bring hubby and step-son in but it's almost time to go, not thrilled about that. 0710 leave for the OR, stay on the bed in the hall for a while, I'm doing real well with my nerves, kinda dosing (NO drugs at this point) 0720 go into OR, use the air-pal to slid my onto the OR table, talk with anesthesiologist, Dr Burry comes in and asks if I still want to do this and I say yes. That is the LAST thing I remember until after being in my room for about an hour. 0730 Lap RNY 1015 hubby is informed that surgery is over, everything went fine, a little while later Dr Burry comes out to talk to him. 1145 get to my room........sometime after that I vaguely remember a bunch of the folks from my unit (I work one floor up) coming in and out. Use my PCA just in case. Just keep thinking this bed is uncomfortable. 1900 I realize the air-pal is still under me on the bed and I'm leaking around the JP drain so everything is wet. I'm thinking I should get up anyway. So I stand for them to change the linens and stuff. Walked next door to my surgery buddies room, they tell me I was pretty out of it at the time. Sent hubby home at some point, not sure when. One of the best things about my stay is a friend of mine that had the surgery was my day-tech the whole time I was there. THANKS for everything Tammy. Can only have ice chips. Called my sis to let her know I was more alive than the first time she called right after surgery. Called hubby again. 6-22: 0100 ready to get up and walk so I stop using the PCA for a while. Walked around the unit then had one of my buddies from my unit come and walk with me to my unit. Took my ice, cath and IV pole up to my unit to visit for about a half hour. 0800 Hubby came back the next day, left step-son at home. Doc came by. 0900 went down for leak test, that stuff was nasty, kinda gross the first thing you can drink is yellow and vile and more than I'm supposed to drink at one time. After can't start on liquids until they call and get an order. Hubby walks with me every few hours. I can finally drink clear liquids. I'm amazed at how good I feel. I'm a baby and only used the PCA 2 or 3 times all day on Wed. Hubby slept on the hard couch and I slept in the uncomfortable bed. 6-23: 0700 full liquids today, they bring me some luke-warm vanilla CIB GROSS Dr Burry comes by a little later and starts talking about anatomy of the stomach so I think he is going to tell me something was a little off. Well, he tells me I have a beautiful pouch, he says he may not always remember my face but he will always remember my pouch, LOL, he probably says that to all the girls. Get the IV out, then the JP drain OUCH. I'm out the door by 10 am. My sister Cindy came down that day to stay with me. Got my Lortab liquid. Didn't do too well that day getting my fluids and protein in. 6-24: Protein 60 grams Fluids 34 oz 6-25 Protein 82 grams Fluids 61 oz 6-26: Protein 82 grams Fluids 62 oz 6-27: Protein 76 grams Fluids 82 oz went to WalMart and walked around for about a half hour 6-28: So far 48 oz fluid and 53 grams of protein. Bad thing has been the heat, haven't been able to get out and walk. Sister went home this morning; hope she wasn't too bored I couldn't do much. The only pain meds I've taken since coming home has been one dose of the Lortab before bed, stopped that last night. I just have an occasional twinge or stabbing pain in the same place, just left of the belly button. The drain site is not leaking anymore. If the bloating from the surgery gases (not mine, LOL) would just go away I'd be a happy camper. My favorite protein drink is EAS Advantage vanilla, 6 oz h2o, a teaspoon of instant decaf and one equal. I drink 3 of these a day, with 22 grams of protein per drink, more if using skim milk, but it tastes the same to me with water or milk. I have tried samples from BariatriceEating.com but haven't found any I care for yet. As I type this I'm still stuffed from the ½ cup instant taters I had for supper. I see the doc on Thursday and should be changed to the pureed stage, what fun........ 6-29 Had a real BM this morning

Wow! You're keeping great records. I'm a little more than 2 weeks out and just starting to get some energy back. I'm going back to work next week. I'm a nurse, are you? I hope I'll make it, I'm actually on an extra week of leave because they couldn't take my drain tube out last week and I got an infection in one of my laparoscopy sites. Well it sounds like you're doing great! Keep up the good work! Hanan

I don't go back to wor****il 8-2, was approved for 6 weeks of short term disibility and I'm taking all of it!!!! My surgeon said it was OK with him if I wanted to stay off. He originally wrote an Rx for protonix and my ins wouldn't pay for it, so am on prilosec. I told the surgeon since they wouldn't pay for my Rx they could pay for short term disibility. I'm feeling great, started on pureed yesterday, had a scrambled egg this AM and it was finally cool enough outside to walk this morning. I'm sure you will be feeling better soon..did you know there is an RN board?

It just amazes me the different ways this surgery is performed. I went in June 21st at 11am, used the drugs like a druggist, LOL, No drainage tube, no leakage test(that worries me)unless I was asleep, 6 incisions, and left on Friday at 12pm. Graduated to pureed when i got home. I'm doing fine and still sore though. I'm getting in lots of water and protien. I make up 44 grms of mix each morning and have a pureed egg and cottage cheese in between. It's hard to keep solids separated from my water consumption. I had some "look at me the wrong way" and I'll break down crying episodes yesterday and today. No one was home today. i've heard from others that is possible. Take care surgery sis. Debbie

Ha! What a goof I am. I noticed the RN after your name after I sent my e-mail. I also read your profile and read that your a nurse. When do you plan to go back to work? Keep up your great documentation! Hanan