My scare after RNY

First off--thank you to everyone who had well wishes for me.  I did great with the surgery and continue to do great with it (December 17, 2008).

I came home on Friday, Dec 19th and was walking and sipping, even went shopping afterwards.  On Sunday the 21st I had an earache and some coughing.  The cough was bad and hurt very bad!  I went to my PCP on Monday and got some anitbiotics for my ear infection and she told me to continue with the pain med Lortab for the cough as well.  She was going to give me the same thing for cough.  So I did!  However, through Christmas and that weekend I was still coughing and hurting.  I had my first follow up with the dr. on Tuesday Dec 30th and by that time I was beginning to experience shortness of breath that was not acknowledged that day BECAUSE I thought I was dumping.  I had eaten cooked apples with no sugar and taken the Lortab about 20 mins after eating.  The Dr. tought it was dumping as well.

I called back on the 31st complaining of my chest hurting and the cough getting worse.  The nurse triage told me to get some Mucinex DM liquid and take that.  So I did!  They were closed on New Years and I called back on Friday morning.  I complained again to the nurse and she told me that it was common to hurt where the surgery was and to continue to take the Mucinex.  I called back at 11:00 complaining again and was told that time that it would hurt for weeks and that I should continue with the Mucinex.  She also told me to call back at 4:00pm if I was not breathing better and still in pain.  By this time I was so aggravated that I just did not call.

Little did I know that the shortness of breath and pain was going to get far worse over the weekend.  I finally went to the hospital on Monday morning after insisting that someone see me.  After bloodwork, CT scans, etc I had bilateral pulmonary emboli!  That is blood clots in both lungs and three in my legs.  Dr. Hata who knew nothing about me calling in told my mom that I was luck to make it alive to the hosptial.  I spent a week in the hospital (3 days in ICU and 2 in telemetry).

Now, the blood clots set me behind about 3 weeks and I now finally feel good.  I have not had any pain (lung wise--which is what the pain was because the blood clots were blocking crucial oxygen) in 5 days!  I feel much better now!

I eat right, have lost weight, and joined the gym.  I went go to the gym for the first time today but forgot my stinking tennis shoes!  Oh well, tomorrow awaits me! 

And I feel good enough to continue with the trip I had planned to go to Disney this week with my little boy! 

And, finally, I have been seeing an Oncologist to do blood studies on me because of the clotting.  My dad had problems with it so they are making sure it is not hereditary.  I was up and walking the whole time so they don't think it is because I was not moving!!

So, that is my scary story about RNY (not necessarily) but to be determined!  I am very thankful to be alive!

I am so glad things turned out well for you.  Health care personal can become so immune to our aches and pains.  I'm not talking about just WLS aches and pains but all of them.  I don't want anyone to be upset with what I just said, because I'm a nurse.  You have to stay focused and listen to the patients.  I can see though, because of the ear infection that the SOB was coming from the Upper Respiratory Infection, but this was soon after surgery.  You are so blessed to be here.  You definitely have a new lease on life.  Great to have you back in the game.


Deborah

God bless you for all you have been through!  I had clots in my lungs when I was pregnant with my daughter 5 years ago.  Things got worse and I ended up with a really bad clot in my femoral vein because I'm allergic to heparin which they gave me to treat the clots - who knew??   At any rate, I know all too well what it's like to just not feel right and have doctor's try to chalk it up to this or that time after time after time.    I even had one doctor come into the room - take one look at me and say " you don't look like you have clots in your lungs".  He was an idiot and I refused to let him into my room again.

Thank God you kept with it and sought help.

Kristina

Pam,
So glad to see you posting.  I know you have had a hard time and thankfully that is all behind you.  
And you do have to be your own advocate - no one else knows how you feel.  It is important to stay on top of things and you tried - what if you hadn't pushed??  

Hope you continue to do well now and that you can go to the gym, but more importantly the trip to Disney with your son.  Just think of all the exercise you will get with all the walking.

Take care,
Shelia

Dear Pam,

What an incredible scare. I'm so very sorry that you had to experience the terrifying scenario and I hope that from here on out you experience a smooth, uncomplicated recovery and weight loss experience.

Wishing you continued success and good health,

HOLY SMOKE!

I am so glad that things turned out well for you when it really could have been a more tragic turnout.

It infuriates me when some nurses and staff (not all of them, of course) think they know everything and suggest how to treat a symptom when they don't even bother to consult the doctor first. They treat you like you're a nuisance.

I had a similar experience a few years back when I was having major issues with my "monthly cycle." I seriously thought I could bleed to death. I was shaking and almost passing out and all the nurse kept telling me to "just drink plenty of fluids." 

I called 5 or 6 times that day trying to speak to my doctor to tell him how horrible I felt and NEVER got through to him. I ended up sending a fax to him. He got that, read it and I was in for surgery the next morning.

Thank goodness you went to the hospital instead of dealing with their ignorance one more time. You probably saved your own life.

So happy you're here posting with us.

Mare

OMG!!! I'm so glad that you're OK now. What a scary ordeal. Post when you can.

- Iris

Hi Pam,
Glad you are doing better.
I too had a large clot in my lungs after surgery.
Because of that possibilty this is why my surgeon likes most of his patients to have a vena cava filter put in the day before surgery.
The filter caught the clot and because of the filter this is why I am here today.
BTW I am glad to know there is liquid Mucenex.

Dont forget your tennis shoes for Disney you wll need them.
Have a great trip.
                                         Annie

Oh my goodness. What a scare!!! Thanks be to God that you are still here with us!!
So very happy that you're better!!

  


Pam

Pam,  I'm really glad to finally read the entire story about your ordeal and just so terribly sorry you had to go through all this.  Hopefully the test results will show this isn't hereditary so you don't have to worry about your little boy.  Hope you both have a GREAT time at Disney!  {{{Big hugs!!!}}}