Home from the hospital

Well first let me tell you that I have been doing so well. Then about 2 yesterday afternoon I had a terrible stabbing pain in my lower back on the left hand side. At first I thought it was gas and tried to walk it off but it only got worse. I tried Tylenol and that didn't work. The hot shower worked for a little bit but by 5 I was in so much pain I thought I was dying. So I called my PCP and she told me I shouldn't have waited so long and that I was probably passing a kidney stone and to get to the ER ASAP. Well I got to the ER and the pain was so bad that my fingers started to tingle and then I couldn't move them. I was hyperventilating. The nurse just said you need to control your breathing and then said it would be about an hour until they could get me back. They finally took me in the back around 9 pm and by that time the pain had stopped. I did still have pain in the lower part of my stomach but nothing compared to the back pain. I told the nurse that I would rather have childbirth with no medication then go through the pain that I was experiencing. Well come to find out my potassium was low, I had a bladder infection, was dehydrated, and had a small kidney stone. So they gave me an IV, gave me some antibiotics through the IV, made me drink some nasty potassium (It smelled just like orange soda but it tasted like a glass of sal****er.) and sent me home with liquid meds. So now I have to strain my urine, increase my water, and see a urologist by Wednesday. But I feel really good today. I am not sure how much more water and liquids I can drink. I am already drinking about 72 oz a day but I will do what I have to to make sure I get it in. Does anyone know if there is a way we can get potassium without the nasty liquid stuff? Rocquetta

Bananas are the best source of potassium that I know of. I eat the baby food kind since my stomach seems to tolerate them better. I know what you mean about the liquid stuff. Tastes like it came from the bowels of hell. That stuff is nasty. Oh and lots of green vegetables are good sources of potassium too!

Cathy, Thank you for that information. I am about to go get me some baby bananas. I just know that I am willing to try almost anything to not have to drink that stuff again. Rocquetta

After 4 weeks I had to go back into the Hospital for dehydration and low potassium levels. They gave me the IV along with potassium capsules)RX). So there is a pill form to take. There is a also potassium vitamins. You will want to check with your surgeon first before taking any meds. Best wishes and I am glad you are feeling better. Hugs Julie

Julie, Yeah they tried to give me the capsules but they were so big I was afraid to take them. I have to call Dr White in the morning and let him know what was going on. And they think my dehydration was caused from me being sick and throwing up twice Thursday cuz I didn't drink enough after that to get my water up. Rocquetta

well welcome home again.. seems we both took turns at the ER recently. I'm better now.. now you get better too. Banana's - only need half of 1 a day to up pot. levels. If you can stomach banana's that is. I eat em, but they land with a thud in my pouch.. so I don't eat them often. Green veggies, also. Potassium comes in pill form also, it's Vit K, btw. Your doing great with your water intake already! Call me if you need me,

well welcome home again.. seems we both took turns at the ER recently. I'm better now.. now you get better too. Miss Vicki, Does this mean no surgery and nothing too serious going on ?? If so WHOOOOOOOOPIE!!!!!! Thats great news. I have been thinking about you all weekend hoping you would have a good outcome and be able to avoid a surgery. Love ya Laura BTW is it raining up there?? Its pouring buckets here!!

I emailed you last week about this &*(^(&^stupid mail, I was pretty tore up about things though when I wrote you, so maybe the mail gods decided I shouldn't vent to you.. haha Nope no surgery, Dr. C said it was part of normal healing.. ?? How come I don't hear others having this pain at this far out? Maybe cause I lost extra 'innards' during my RNY. This is the worst part of being so far from your surgeon.. dealing with ER Dr's and PCP's that really don't have a clue. All my PCP said was to Call your surgeon. I still got a few days of antibiotic's to go, but I'm feeling much better, see my PCP on Wednesday also. Hasn't rained here since the sun was up, but it's sure threatening to, sun peeks through then hides a long time.. haha .. but the HUMIDITY! my hair is soooooooooo big again today!

Vickie, I am so glad your doing better. Even thu all my pain I was thinking about you and cindy. Take Care Barb

awww.. how sweet you are. taking care - now you take care!