Well, I'm home!

I had a rough time (but not as bad as Julie, by the sound of it!). At least my nurses were WONDERFUL! Wednesday night after the surgery my BP started dropping and I had to get blood (8 pints of blood 6 of plasma) and my BP dropped as low as 71/23. I couldn't lift even one finger and I could feel myself fading away. Very scary! I had quite a bit of pain (still have pain but its getting better). I'm still having trouble getting around and am very weak but it gets better every day. I'll be back online soon. Lisa HUffstetler

I hope that you feel better soon. Hope that everything goes well for you Lisa. Anne

Welcome home, Lisa, and welcome to the losers bench! Sorry to hear you had to receive blood but sounds like you're bouncing back well. Thank goodness your nurses were good to you. I'll keep you in my prayers for a speedy recovery! God bless you!! Melanie

Damn girl, I go away for the week and come back and you are out of surgery. Congratulations! hang in there it will get better, I can say thatas I have not had my surgery yet, but when I do I expect you to be one of my encouraging angels who can say .. see joe I went through it and came out just fine so can you... so hang in there . ive got you in my prayers. I am still amazed at how fast you got your surgery from approval date... it has to be a record. hugz. Joe

Welcome Home Lisa! I'm so glad to hear your doing well! I know how that whole lossing blood thing is - I got SO weak after surgery and ended up in ICU for 2 days. I'm just so glad my parents waited it out before a blood transfuison. Hope you start feeling better soon and remember - walk walk walk! -Katie

Hello Lisa, Gosh that was kinda rough huh,welcome back and sure glad you are feeling better.Keep it up the feeling better ok. Eva

That is 14 units of blood....which would be equal to or in excess of your total blood volume. (Average blood volume in an adult is about 12 units) Where were you bleeding from and what did they do to stop it? Did you require additional surgery? You need to clear answers from your surgeon as to why you required the blood replacement.

Hi Lisa, glad you are home. Sounds like you had a bleeder somewhere. Did they find the bleeder? Did they have to do more surgery? I am sorry you had to go thru all that. I am on blood thinners 75mg twice a day because I can't be on my legs as much as most people. I do stand up, walk a few steps, get winded, and in pain, and sit back down. I will be donating my own blood prior to surgery. So I will be going to the Red Cross starting 2 weeks before surgery to start donating. That way they will have some of my blood prior to surgery in case it's needed. I'm A- and the only sibling in the family with it, mom has it but because she's diabetic, and tests positive everytime she gets a TB test, I can't have her blood. Everyone else is A+ like dad. So I am really hoping to not have to go thru as much blood. I'm just sorry that you had to go thru all this. If there is anything you need, remember we're here to help you. May God heal your body. Kathy

Kathy----Check with the Red Cross. I may be mistaken, but I do not think they will do a stick on you when you are taking blood thinners. Maybe in a special situation, but I know that routinely people on blood thinners are ineligible for donating.

So sorry that you had trouble at the hospital. But it sounds like you are on the mend now, so that is what is most important. I will be thinking of you as you progress - welcome to the loser's bench!!! Jules