checking on happycouple??

Hey Missy! I just wanted to drop by and check in on you and your husband. I know you both had your surgery yesterday and I was thinking about you? Let us know how your doing?   Karen

Hey Karen and everyone! We are both home and on the mend. Apparantly my surgery was the doc's easiest of the day and my hubby's was the hardest. His liver was enlarged. But, thankfully Dr W was still able to do his surgery laproscopically! Whew! Huge relief!!! But, his surgery took longer with more anesthesia and manipulation, so he's pretty sore. We both had to stay the night in the hospital because of his sleep apnea and my asthma and tendency to get bronchitis. Nursing care was sub par to put it nicely. We both REPEATEDLY asked for help to get up to go walking. We were both told things like, "Oh, you're supposed to do that later" or "No, you need to stay hooked up to everything." When Dr W and Suzan checked on us, I told them I'd been trying to get someone to help me to go walking. I again called for help and got the "We'll be right there" response. After another call and waiting 45 minutes I was irked and just pulled the plugs out of the wall and took off walking pushing two pieces of equipment with me. A nurse stopped me and offered to help. She was the only nurse I had who seemed to really be an RN. haha ( no offense to all the GOOD RN's out there, but I swear are they just handing out dlploma's these days? I had some backwoods DUMB ones I've worked in healthcare most all of my life, so I have a lot of respect for nursing and know there are some fantastic people out there. We just didn't have them). Anyway, I walked down to my hubby's room and asked if he'd been up walking. He told me the same thing......that he had been asking nursing to help him get up and unplugged and they refused and told him he needed to stay hooked up to everything. I said "BS" and called and got a nurse in there to unhook him to walk. We both had different nursing staff as our rooms were far apart on the same floor.  My biggest complaint was that I found out the next day that the nurses were apparantly too darn lazy to hook up my hubby's CPAP machine! He kept asking them and they told him he didn't need it because  he had the oxygen. Well, as he was trying to sleep his pulse would drop into the 40's and the machine alarm would SOUND OFF. This woke him up ( thank GOD!) and he'd gasp and take a breath and then his pulse rate would go back up. This happened ALL night long. So, not only did he not get any sleep, but something BAD could have happened. I mean, hellllllliooooooooooo he could have died! I was/am furious about this. I'm thankful that he's OK and that he managed to wake up. But, GEEZ this is serious. We had to sign forms saying they would cancel our surgery if we showed up on surgery day without his CPAP so I KNOW Dr Wellborn and his staff take this seriously.  THEN, nursing was too damn lazy to hook it up for him????  I was SHOCKED when I found this out the next morning. My hubby was too drugged to even think of calling me. If I would have known that night, drugged or not, I would have been up at the nursing station INSISTING on this and reporting their lazy arses to everyone. I know those nurses have doctor's orders and know FULL well what Dr W wants them to do for their lapband patients. They just didn't follow his orders. The day after our surgery a nun, Sister Margaret, came by to ask me about the quality of care. I told her about nursing not helping us get up to walk and that in fact I'm POSITIVE they NEVER would have gotten us up to walk. I also complained about how I could NOT get anyone to bring me ice. My mouth was SO dry. My lips were stuck to my teeth, my throat was very hoarse from the tube down my throat from surgery. I also told the nun about nursing refusing to hook up my hubby's CPAP machine. She said, "Well, do they have orders for that?" DUH YES, they did. Both she and my morning dumbarse RN asked, "Well, is he on it now?" I said, "Uh, Nooooooo CPAP machines are for when you're sleeping. He's awake now. " They both said, "huh." I mean, hello, HOW can you even BE an RN and not know what a CPAP machine is??? Geez The nun then asked me if she could do anything for me and I said, 'Yessssss could you pleaseeeeee bring me some ice?" She looked down at some papers she had and said, "Well, I have all these other people to check on so it'd probably be faster if you used your call button." I told her I've been calling them and no one's ever come. She just shrugged and walked off and told me to take care. HAHA In other words, she asked if she could help me, but then didn't help me! Another GEEZ. Anyway, bad nursing care aside, I know we were in GOOD hands with Dr W. I'm so thankful that he was skilled enough to still do my hubby's surgery laproscopically. Suzan said my hubby's surgery was the hardest of the day. We're both still having a lot of pain in our shoulders. Mine is also in my left chest. It feels how I'd imagine a heart attack to feel. We've been up and down and moving alot because we know that's supposed to relieve the pain. Our stomach's are sore and it's painful to get up and down and change positions. But, all of that is to be expected.

I'm concerned about one of my incisions. The OR nurses told me I had some drainage. Well, I noticed it was bleeding thru to my gown in the hospital and asked nursing to look at it several times. They'd glance and say "It's fine." Once I got home it was bleeding more thru my clothes. So, I was going to take off the bloody bandaid and put a fresh one on. My morning RN told me I could do this. Well, when I started to take off the bandaid, I saw the steristrip lifting off, too. So, I quickly put the bandaid back in place. Then, I put two more bandaids over the original bandaid. I can't really check for any pus or infection because all I can see is a pool of blood about the size of a silver dollar under these three bandaids. We have two doctor friends coming to visit us tonight. They're bringing us some 2x2 gauze and hydrogen peroxide. I'll try to take off the two new bandaids I put on, then put a little hydrogen peroxide around the area of the incision, not right on it because I can't remove the main bandaid. Then, put some sterile 2x2's with saline solution on top of the original bloody bandaid and steristrip with surgical tape. Hopefully this will help ward off any infection. We've both been up and down a lot today as we know that's supposed to help the neck/shoulder/chest pain go away. I have pain, but it's manageable. I only took one pain pill yesterday and that was for when I went to bed. I've had nothing today. My hubby took one pill last night and one earlier today. Neither of us are hungry. Food's the last thing on my mind. We're trying to keep hydrated and both of us have liquid diarhea....fun, fun. We've had chicken broth, gatoraide, apple juice, Kellogg Protein water and tea. We both just try to keep sipping on something all day long. We're not laying around in bed. We've rested some, then will get up and do some laundry, walk around the house, walked to get mail, then rest again, etc.

My hubby's chief complaint is his shoulder pain. I have him wearing Icy Hot patches on his neck and shoulder. But, all in all I'd say we're improving, as opposed to getting worse. I must say that even with bad nursing care I'm glad we were kept in the hospital. There's no way I could have or would have wanted to go home alone. And, I'm So glad we had Dr W performing our surgeries. Sooooo.......we have officially begun our journey. It's a strange feeling to know we have something IN us that will be there forever. I can't even feel it because I'm swollen. I know there are more challenges to come, but we're both going at it with a positive attitude. We didn't do this to fail. We can't wait till we can  hit the gym and go thru all the food introduction phases.  I talked with my friend and hairdresser today. She had her lapband in January. She assured me that we'll never regret this. Oddly enough she had NO neck/chest gas pain. I'm wondering if her doctor doesn't use a tube down the throat or pump up the abdominal cavity with gas? She used Dr Luttrell. i know every doc does t hings differently. But, I felt much safer having our surgeries in a fully equiped hospital OR as oppposed to a separate surgery clinic. I mean, what if something went wrong? I can't see a stand alone surgery clinic being prepared for a serious issue. Just my two cents. As I've said before my friend loved her doc and I know others do, too. So, everyone has to find the best "fit" for them. Anyway, she's thankful every day that she finally took control of her life and is losing weight with the lapband tool ensuring that she'll never regain it again. It's so great to have her and everyone else on the boards and support group who've experienced this for added support. Thanks for checking on us, Karen! How are you doing? I know we have lots and lots to learn, but we're trying to take it one step/phase at a time.  Hugs :) Missy and Keith who are HAPPY to be home and on the mend!!

So glad you're both home.  Sorry about the crumby nurses. Amy

Thanks, Amy! The most important thing was having a great doctor and we both feel he did a fantastic job with us. Nursing, geez......I just know from my experiences in healthcare can range from fantastic to average to bad. Just the luck of the draw. On another night, with a different batch of nurses all could have been different. No hospital that I know of can say they offer consistently GOOD nursing care. I'm sure Suzan and Dr W. set them straight and they'll by gosh know what a CPAP machine is next time and HOOK IT UP! Geez, that really was the worst mistake nursing made of all.  My mom is taking care of my aunt who's ill in NW Arkansas and she told me she's learned from all their many hospital visits that unless you have someone there in the hospital to advocate for you and make nursing do their job, these kinds of things happen. I'm just happy we're doing good and we truly did feel that we were in the best hands possible with Dr W.  :) Missy

Hey you two & Welcome Home!  Sorry you both had such cruddy nursing staff. Just outa couriosity, what hospital did you go to? I know you are both doing better now that you are at home. Just wanted to tell you I have the meat market at the end of the Blvd, so if you need anything, I would be glad to run it down to you. I plan on working Tues, Thurs & Friday this week if ya need anything. Good luc this week and keep walking and sipping! Huggs, Rhonda

Hey Rhonda! oh, you are just so sweet! Thank you for offering to run anything down to us. We actually got out today and went to Kroger on Shackleford to get some Kelloggs K 2 O water because they didnt' have any in Maumelle. We're both feeling better each day. My hubby went to work to catch up on some paperwork. I'm up doing laundry and stuff around the house. Tonight once this heat cools down we're going to go walking. Once we're able to eat real food we'll have to come down and get some meat from you! I've heard you have THE best steaks, etc. Nice having a neighbor on here! Thanks again for your support! Oh, by the way, we were at St Vincent. But, in defense of them, I've worked in healthcare administration all my life and know that this could have happened just as easily at Baptist or UAMS ( not that they do lapbands there ). But, I'm just trying to say that even though we received below par care, I know that no hospital can say they consistently offer THE BEST nursing care. On another night, with different staff, we likely would or could have had a much better experience. I'm just happy that my hubby is OK and we both are VERY happy with our doctor. Thanks again for offering your help!! Hugs :) Missy

Glad you are both home and on the mend.  I emailed you the other day just to say hi and see how you were doing.  I did not stay the night at St. Vincent's which now I am very glad about.  I can't believe the nursing staff did not help you or your husband walk.  You should have called Dr. W and he would have gotten them to do their job. The gas and swelling are the worse part.  I felt and looked nine months pregnant the first week after surgery.  I had terrible shoulder pain and used a heating pad to relieve it.  I also tried to walk but felt tired.  I couldn't even wear a bra for the first few days because it was so tight from being blown up with the gas.  Eventually you will start feeling normal again and the weight will start coming off. Good luck with everything and I will probably see you in Dr. W's office or at support group. Donell 

Hey Donell :)

I didn't see an email from you....hmmmm. I'll have to check, sometimes mail will go into bulk mail. I'll check. :) I replied above about nursing and I know those types of inconsistencies with good nursing care is a problem for ALL hospitals. I'm just glad we had a very talented surgeon who we trust. We're getting better every day. We had our first outting today to Kroger. Then, my hubby's at work catching up on paperwork and we'll go walking tonight.  It is weird wondering how it's going to be as we start adding thicker liquids. We are still on clear liquids. I need to review my notes from the dietitian, but I think we can start thicker liquids like grits, cream of wheat and oatmeal thinned with skim milk when we feel ready for it around day 5 or 6 after surgery. I know what you mean about looking pregnant. haha My swelling and gas has gone down, but my upper tummy was POUCHED out. I've been going braless, too. But, today I've been able to deal with one without any problems.

Thanks for checking on us. I'm sorry I didn't get your email. I'll check later and see if it went into bulk mail by some goof.

hugs :) Missy

Hi Missy, Dr W did my surgery on the 19th and I felt my nursing care was barely adequate, although the evening nurse was the walking NATZI!!  They never hooked up the SCD' s on my legs and I finally just gave up on them and took them off.   (BTW I am a nurse myself.)  It is a shame you didn't have someone with you who could have hooked up your hubby's CPAP for him, but it is the ultimate responsibility of the hospital staff.  Oh well....  That Sister Margaret came by my room, too, and was very concerned about the quality of the broth I got with my clear liquid diet-HELLO?!? What is up with that?  Over all, I was just glad to get home.  Sounds like you guys are doing well and I am feeling pretty good myself-jut trying to get my stamina back.  I took my daughter to her swimming lesson last night and just driving there and back wore me out!!  Overall, I'm pretty pleased with everything but another week of liquids is going to be very difficult. Have a good one!