less than three weeks out with Strep throat!

So after a call to Dr. Toder's office and a few days of suffering I couldn't take it anymore and dragged myself to the ER this morning. Turns out I do have strep throat. So getting fluids in has been nearly impossible considering I can't even swallow my own saliva. They put me on liquid percocet and amoxicillin. I detest the percocet because it makes me feel all loopy but at least after about twenty minutes I can swallow a little. They said it should take 24-48 hours to start feeling better and no longer be contagious.

I was blown away at the ignorance of the staff in the ER (not mentioning hospitals but it was NOT emmc thats for sure). Seriously I am just about ready to graduate from nursing school in another year and I knew more about bariatric patients even before considering having bariatric surgery than the doctor or the nurses. It was kind of scary. Makes you realize just how vigilant we all need to be about our own healthcare. The doctor was going to put me on prednisone!  Then he asked me what the protocols were for a bariatric patient when they get sick...um hello...don't you think you might want to know this buddy? 

Anywho this is just me venting and checking in. I am definitely not coming close to getting my protein in right now nor my fluids. Im doing the best I can. I asked the doc about dehydration and his response was "you look like your holding your own to me". WOW. They ran absolutely no tests on me other than swabbing my throat for the strep test. AND Every time a new person came in I had to tell them that I just had RNY and none of them had a clue when they came in even though I had written it down when I checked in and told every person before them. I guess it wouldn't matter much if they knew or not though since they obviously have no clue how to care for an RNY patient anyway.

Am I overreacting? Should I have insisted on other lab work? Will this strep harm my surgery in any way? 


Thanks for listening!

Kristie

Hi Kristie,

Well, as you know, I'm not a doctor.  Heck, I haven't even played one on tv.  But I don't see how this could hurt your surgery in any way, as long the strep, or any medications, you don't take any NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, Advil, et al.  You know what to avoid.

I'd really like to know what hospital you were at (you can tell me in a private message if you want.)  I work for a hospital, and may have some suggestions.  And, I'm hoping, I don't work for the one you visited.

I might be wrong, but, I don't see any reason you couldn't call the on-call nurse from Dr. Toder's office, and tell her what's going on, express your concern about your health right now, and just ask what they would suggest you do, and what you should not do.

Those are my thoughts...They are, of course, entirely my own opinion...

Hey, how you feeling, aside from feeling yucky?  I'm ONE pound from my 150-lb loss mark!!!  WAHOO!!!  I'm at an even 300 pounds now (started at 449)...ONE more pound, and I'm under 300, AND will have lost 150 pounds.  SWEET!!!

Hope you feel better soon...

Hey David,

That is AWESOME!!!! 150 POUNDS!!!! WOW! I actually feel a TON better today after a few doses of antibiotics. Ill Pm you the hospital but Im fairly sure you don't work there. The thing is though...its not just this hospital...it seems that this is fairly common for ER's to not be properly educated about bariatric patients. Its sad.

All in all I am feeling good. I have been a little bummed because I was ready to hit the ground running as soon as Dr. Toder gave me the go ahead to hit the gym and then I got knocked down with Strep. I am hoping Im back to my old self by monday so I can start my exercise routine.

The weight loss feels slow this week but I guess as long as it comes off eventually and stays off...I am okay with that. It was rapid in the beginning so my numbers still are in line with where they should be. 34 pounds lost so far!

Take Care!

Kristie

Holy Cow, Kristie!  34 pound already!  You're doing fantastic!

I'm glad you are feeling better, and you'll be hittin' the gym in no-time.  Don't worry!

The weight loss only feels slow, it really isn't.  I've got a line graph of my weight loss from a year before my surgery, until today (starting with my high of 449, until today), and there is a NOTICABLE dip in the line after surgery...the weight loss before surgery was pretty good (75lbs over a year), but here I am, now, having lost another 75 since surgery (March 3)...instead of 12 months, it's 4.5 months.

Trust me, it's coming.  

Hey, I weighed myself again when I got home this afternoon, and I was 297.8.  That's a full 151.2 pounds.  I know that little "bump" is because I'm thirsty, but, what the heck, I'll take it.  And keep working.

I'm very happy today...this has been a good day for me.

And it will be for you too, I'm sure!!!