Home from the hospital - Here's the scoop...

I had my exploratory surgery around 9:30 this morning and it lasted 2 hours.  While I was under my surgeon checked every inch of my small intestines, all the connections for my RNY, and for anything suspicious looking.  He thought he saw what could be an internal hernia but upon furher inspection he decided it wasn't.  He also removed my "tail" (the dead end of small intestine that is left after it is connected to the bottom of your pouch) because it was "distended" and angry looking.  He thinks this could have been the source of my pain but wasn't sure so he left me with a G tube that runs into my old stomach.  I attach the outside end to a bag when I am in pain and it oozes and the pain lessens.  This means that I probably have SMA syndrome (see my blog for a more detailed explanation of SMA syndrome).  I go next Thursday to have a test done.  For the test my surgeon will shoot dye through the open end of my G tube while I am in various positions and watch it on an ultra sound as it moves through my old stomach and down to the Y part in my RNY.  If I have SMA this should show the dye getting hung up somewhere.  If that is the case we schedule another surgery to fix it.  If it isn't the case we schedule a few more tests.   It is kind of frustrating because we don't have a definite solution today, but I am not too disheartened because I know my surgeon did all he could and is working hard to help me get to the bottom of this.  I really appreciate that about him.  I am sore, which makes sense since my small intestines got all shifted around as well as my old stomach getting dragged up far enough to let a tube stick out of it.  I have 5 new incisions (one of them is for the tube).  The worst pain so far has been from all the trapped gas in my shoulders but it is disapating so I'm starting to feel better.  Hooray for gas-x and walking (for those of you newly post-op and soon to be post-op the best thing you can do for trapped gas is to walk)!  My mom is already taking too good of care of me so no need to worry, I am spoiled rotten right now.  I am on liquids until tomorrow when I can start on mushy foods for 3 days then I can resume my normal eating. Total side story - my little nephew, Sam, got 2nd degree burns on his hand this evening.  He was walking through a parking lot with his mom (my older sister) and he touched a motorcycle's tailpipe and it had just parked so it was HOT.  He has blisters all over the inside of his right hand and he cried so hard it made me want to cry.  My family tried to sooth him with cold water. ice, aloe and baby ibuprofen but he was in too much pain so they ended up taking him to the hospital.  They just got back from the ER and his itty bitty little hand is all wrapped up in gauze.  He isn't quite 2 yet.  Say a prayer for Sam tonight, and for his mom who was pretty shaken up by the whole thing.  Thanks guys. And now...... THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!  You guys make me feel beyond blessed.  I am very fortunate to have this site and all it's members in my life.  You make the pain bearable and the hard stuff survivable for me.  THANK YOU for the encouragement, the laughs, the hugs and more than anything thanks for the prayers.  You bless my family too.  My mom has a tough time with me being in pain - that was her worst nightmare about my having WLS - and she feels better knowing about all the folks here on OH that have my back.  I can't tell you how deeply grateful I am for that. And now I am beat.  I woke up after my pain meds wore off (ouch) and am waiting for the dose I took to kick in.  I hurt but since I know it is productive hurting from a surgery that is helping me get somewhere it is more bearable.  I imagine I'll be more active on the boards tomorrow - at the very least I promise to get back to all the folks who sent me messages and replied to my posts.  I appreciate having you guys in my life.  Depending on when you come across this - have a wonderful morning, great day and lovely night!

Get better soon.  As always, I think you are uber cute, and that picture of you on your back on the bed or whatever makes me think dirty thoughts.

Awe thanks Brock  you make me blush.  And you know, the air of mystery surrounding your TP covered pic makes the ladies around here swoon .  Thanks for the response!

It's not the plural LADIES I am interested in.  I'm interested in only one...you!                                                             

Good to hear you are home. I can't wait tell you get a more definite solution. Looks like answers are getting closer though. Keeping you in my prayers! Poor Guy! I will pray for Sam too!

Thanks for the prayers for me and for Sam.  Except for the bandage on Sam's hand you wouldn't be able to tell he was hurt.  He is running around like his trouble-causing self again, just the way I love him.  He is such a sweet heart.  I showed him my belly with all the incisions that are taped up with serri strips and since he couldn't kiss them directly he blew kisses at them and then said "All better".  It just about melts my heart.  I'll be taking it easy for the rest of this week.  My appointment to follow up with all this is this Thursday.  On Thursday is when I have the dye tests.  I am convinved it is the SMA syndrome my surgeon told me about since my tube gushes when I am in pain and after it gushes I feel better - all that is a big indicator of SMA.  If my surgeon is as convinced as I am I will probably have surgery to correct it as soon as THIS Friday.  I'll keep you posted though.  I really appreciate the response!

Creepy, creepy - Brock. She is married, you know. . . Right? Shoot, If being anonymous without a picture makes all the ladies swoon, I must be doing it all wrong! Amy, get well soon! Hope you feel better! macktastic.j

Are you saying you think married women don't like the attention???? You are an adorable youngster.. you dont need to hide behind TP. lol