I'm switched and home!

Hello All...

   Thank you for all the pre surgery well wishes.  I had my duodenal switch surgery on March 4th here in Austin Texas.  The surgery went off without a hitch and my incredible surgeon did it laparascopically... even with my super high BMI and extremely fatty liver.  I'm very grateful. 
    The downside was the rest of the hospital stay.  I had my surgery done at the hospital where I work but was super disappointed with the care I got.  To make a very long 5 day stay with bountiful missteps short the sum of it is I got a hospital inquired raging kidney infection, an overdose of my psychiatric medications and pain medicine that nearly sent me into respiratory distress and a three day very high fever.  Add this to the immense pain I was going through from the surgery alone and I was not a very happy camper. 
      But there were shining moments of wonderfulness that I have to acknowledge.  My mother, who is a nurse, was by my side the ENTIRE time.  She is the smartest, most reliable, most dedicated and most loving person I know.  She coordinated my care and quite literally kept me alive. When things went bad she had the situation rectified so quickly...  the director of the hospital was there within minutes and she was the on phone with all my docs getting their help and even called other bariatric surgery centers around the country and got help from them.  She was a miracle worker and I'm going to be quite sad to see her return to NJ tomorrow. 
       My surgeon also did so much to help me.  He's very calm and controlled but really knows how to step up to the pressure.  He kept a bad situation from getting worse, made it better and now things are going well.
       I am still in quite a bit of pain but I am home and happy about that.  I am hopefully getting my drain out tomorrow.  I am still on clear liquids but am tolerating them well and trying to increase my intake.
       Thanks again for all of the support!

Happy to hear that you are doing well and finally back home.  I can only imagine just how wonderful it was/is to have your mother there with you, taking care of you and making sure everything was how it's supposed to be.  Keep up the good work towards a continued successful recovery.

~Kristina

Katee, welcome to the Loser's Bench!!!  Sorry you had a less than optimal hospital experience.  I hope it wasn't "my" hospital.  PM me, LOL.

I graduate in 9.5 weeks!!!  Got my letter giving me permission to take my state boards after graduation.  WOOHOO!!!

I'm so sorry to hear your were sick and so glad to hear you are home and better. Sip, walk, take a pain pill, sip, repeat!!!!!! You should be feeling better every day. Glad your Mom was with you!

Hi Katee and congratulations on getting through that experience. You are to be commended for your great outlook and attitude in spite of all that you went though. Yeah to your mom too!

Now your job and your only job is to heal and that means hard work, getting in your walking, your rest, your fluids, your vitamins... wash, rinse, repeat. Rest when you can and walk the rest of the time... it makes such a difference in your healing time.

And ask questions... there is no question you can't ask here... between the lot of us, someone has going through every particular strange thing probably that can happen. We are walking, and continuously written textbooks. Use us... abuse us... no wait that's something else. hehehe

Welcome to your new life Katee! Tis grand indeed!

Welcome to the other side Katie! Do what everyone else said (I won't repeat it) but one question. Once your Mom leaves do you have someone else to help you out?

Sorry to hear about your hospital stay.  That does not sound like fun.  I bet you were so happy to have your mom there with you.

Anyway, welcome to the losers bench and  here's to a successful journey.