6 days post-op Hard time

RNY (lapriscopic) Monday, 6/18 Today is really the first day I felt like even getting on the Internet. It's been a LONG week. So, with all of the super positive stories, I'm going to give you a slight other version. Not to scare you, but just to keep you fully informed. I'm still so glad I did it, but I am even happier that it is OVER! First, everything that happened to me they said only happens to a few percentage of people, however did it all have to happen to me?!?!? Nothing was really specific to the RNY surgery - just surgery in general. I had a BAD reaction to the anesthesia and was sick as a dog the first 24 hours. I woke up sort of in a vertical position and saw my doctor about 20 feet away. If looks could kill!! I don't even remember going to the room, but later they got me up to walk and I was throwing up and just moaning in pain. (Apparently they could not do anything really for me during the day but drug me up). They ended up having to call the surgeon in the middle of the night for additional drugs. The other major problem is that I'm allergic to morphine so I couldn't have the PCA pump. They had to give me some second class drug that did not necessarily work like I was hoping. I had to stay in the hospital an extra day. I was low on potassium so they had to keep giving me that which burned BAD going in my arm (which my vein was already beatten up by the nausea drugs from before). Then some crazy nurse (they were all FANTASTIC but her) stripped my drain, which apparently shouldn't hurt, but for me OMG!!! I was that small percentage again....I screamed and I'm not that kind of girl. It hurt more than I could even try to explain. She went and got me something and put it right in my IV. It was like a knife was shoved up behind my left boob up through my back to where my shoulder and neck meet. Thankfully my husband went and got me ice too. I just was in so much pain I couldn't speak, just let out small screams. The nurse told me to breathe like lamaze, but it hurt worse to fully inflate my lung. It was just intense pressure. Then the day I was to go home I woke up with a killer migraine. They gave me a shot for that. I was able to finally go home about 7 pm Thursday and I had my surgery at o'dark thirty on Monday. Oh, and during my hospital stay I would often keep my door open and would see people that had surgery after me cruising the halls, talking with their families, and feeling good. I was just the short straw. Everyone else was doing FANTASTIC. I guess I've never been normal! We're in Texas (really from VA) so we're staying at a hotel. All I could think about the first couple of days was drugs, drugs, drugs. I came home w/ a drain and it hurts. The pressure on my left side has been moderate to intense at times. Oh, and should I even address the constipation? TMI, I know, but I went the night before surgery and then again.....finally.......a few hours ago. I've been taking laxatives and stool softeners every day. Again, the nurses were like, normally people get diarreha in the hosptial, but oh, not me. I've packed it in for a week. Anyway, today I'm starting to feel human. I'm getting ready to go for a walk around the hotel. One baby step at a time. Frankly, with all of the wonderful messages I didn't plan on this surgery being so bad. Good news though, my follow up is tomorrow and I get my drain and staples out. All of those look really good. I'm eating soft foods and that is going fine. A few things my way. Hopefully we'll actually be able to fly home a bit sooner. It's been a long, tough journey that is only going to get better. No regrets. Best of luck to everyone.

Oh My God. Wow. What a miserable experience. I am glad you are feeling better now.

My goodness what a story. My surgery is this Wednesday and I do not look forward to anything like your. But it sounds like you are coming along fine now. I pray that you will keep getting better. So far I am doing fine with the post-op things. Now I am waiting for the real thing. Send up a little word with the Big Man upstairs for me OK. My husband is a real trooper. He is my support and he is doing everything he can to help me with the pre-op nerves that I have.

Wow, Wendy, I'm so sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience. I'm glad you are now starting your recovery. That nurse you were talking about, I think I met her twin when I was in the hospital. She checked out my pain drugs and didn't give them to me. Then the charge nurse said I already had them. By the time I got anything, the pain was way out of control. I think that when we are better we should form a posse and hunt those two down. LOL Anyway, keep getting better. Big Hug ~ Mary