Home and celebrating anniversary

I was operated on Wednesday and came home yesterday. It wasn't a very good experience. I felt that I knew more about the medications and problems than the nurses. I was scheduled to arrive at 9:30 but didn't get have the surgery until 12:30. While in pre-op they started an IV antibiotic and my arm started itching. I was told it was the blood pressure cuff. Since when do you itch from the blood pressure cuff? Finally a nurse from surgery came in and I said that my arm itched and she noticed hives on my arm and immediatly stopped the IV and even changed the tubing so that I wouldn't get any more. I was told that my gall bladder would be removed but the doctor opted to cancel that. I was in post-op way too long. I was told that I would go to my room after 2 hours and it was 4 hours before I was finally taken to my room. I was in a lot of pain and was told that I couldn't have any more pain medication. I told them that I metabolize medication faster than most and that what lasts 4 hours for most only lasts 2 hours with me. I said that I was told that the pain would be managed and it wasn't being done. After a lot of complaining I was finally given some more pain medication but it was too late to be of much help because the pain had become so intense. I broke out in a rash and when the nurse looked at my arm she said that I had scratches. It wasn't scrathes but was bruises from the blood pressure cuff. The ra****ched like crazy and Benadryl was ordered but it didn't arrive for more than 2 hours. The ID bracelet was put on the same arm as the IV and my arm swelled up. The button on it was digging into my arm. They cut it off and put another one on my other arm. I have a deep impression on my arm from the button. My fibromyalgia started causing muscle spsms in my back and ribs because they didn't give me my Mirapex. They asked me what I took for it and I said Soma but that it is a huge pill and that Flexeril would work and was a lot smaller so it was ordered and didn't show up for more than 2 hours. My lip started to swell and I know that that can be a sign of the allergy causing swelling that could lead to the throat. I rang to tell rhe nurse and she didn't come and I had to ring twice more over the next half hour before she showed up. She said I couldn't have more Benadryl because it could only be taken every 6 hours. I know better. It can be taken every 4 hours. More Benadyl was ordered but again, it took more than 2 hours before I got it. I will say that the day nurse did read the pharmacy the riot act about the length of time that it took to get medications to the floor because they stopped the IV pain medication thinking it might be causing the rash and Darvocet-N-100 was ordered and it took the usuall long time and she said that a patient in pain shouldn't have to wait 2 hours to get medication. When I was told I could go home I was ready even though it was only the day after surgery. I knew that I could get my medications when I needed them at home and today is our 10th anniversary and I would much ratheer be home with my husband. I am feeling good and only have pain if I put pressure on the incisions.

Hi Sharon, Sorry to hear that you had such a bad exsperience in the hospital. Did you have open surgery? What did your doctor say about how you was treated? I hope your feeling better now and happy anniversary. Keep me posted on how your doing. I'm 5 weeks out yesterday I had open surgery and had a great exsperience in the hospital at eastern maine medical center. My sister had her surgery a month before me and she had a bad time. Hope all is well. Lisa

I had lapriscopic surgery. That is why I could come home the day following surgery. I didn't see much of the doctor following surgery. There were other members of her team who came in and I vented to them and got some sympathy about the situation but that didn't speed up the pharmacy. I am doing fine. I am just finding it hard to figure out how to make the liquids spread over an hour. I either sip too fast or too slow. I was really uncomfortable last night because I drank too much at one time when taking my medications. I haven't had a bowel movement just lots of gas. I wonder how long I should wait before I ask what to do about it. I really don't feel the need to go so I guess I am just not full of it. . I found a way to keep track of the fluids. I have a pitcher marked with 64 oz. filled with water. If I drink something other than the water I dump out the amount I drank from the pitcher.

WOW SHARON SOUNDS LIKE YOU DIDNT HAVE A GOOD TIME AT ALL..I DIDNT HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH THE NURSES EITHER BUT IT IS ALL IN THE PAST NOW...NOW YOU GET TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW YOU. YOUR HUSBAND CAN TAKE CARE OF YOU BETTER THEN ANY NURSE ANYDAY..CONGRATS ON YOUR ANNIVERSARY..I HOPE IT IS A SMOOTHER ROAD FOR YOU NOW...BEST OF LUCK LAURIE