finally home from emergency surgery ordeal!!

WARNING.....LONG POST!!!!!

First I want to thank everyone fore their well wishes on Facebook.  I can not get on to OH from my work laptop so I posted a message on FB.  I was away for the Holiday and had these terrible pains in my mid back and abdomen. After trying to get through it for 8 hrs hubby ended up rushing me to t he ER.  A  CT w/ contrast showed that my intestines were telescoping into each other and was thought to be the root of the pain.  The head of surgery called in their bariatric surgeon to take a look at me and while initially exploratory he felt he needed to go in and take a look immediately.  He started the procedure laprscopically and when he saw what he was dealing with had to open me up.  He found that I had 2 hernias that needed immediate repair and some other "juggling" of my intestines!  His concern of course was to make sure he did not nick the bowel while doing all this.  I woke up a couple of hours later with 23 staples in my belly - very ugly to say the least!  I spent 3 days in the hospital then went back to my mother-in laws for a couple of days before making the 6 hour drive home which we did yesterday.

I am having a hard time. I generally bounce back really quick from surgery ( i was back at work 5 days after my RNY) But this time not so much.  I am still on pain meds which I hate and am totally sore again because I did too much today trying to get my house to look like Christmas for my son.  Part of me feels guilty I missed his birthday because I was in the Hospital.  and really  I just hate sitting around.

On top of all that there is the dealing with the disability paperwork etc and feeling guilty that I am taking time off from my new job that I only started a month ago. Then I feel like i am learning to eat all over again. Some foods like my favorite protein bars now make me nauseous so that to is an adjustment. 

On a positive note I have re connected with my original surgeon and look forward to seeing him next week when I get my staples out and joining his Bariatric program for guidance and his nutritionist is awesome so at 2 yrs out I might actually get some good advice for a change! 

on a more positive note even with all the swelling I made goal this morning 140!!!

If you got this far thanks for listening to my rambling...guess I had a lot to get off my chest.  now its time to catch up on all of you :-)

Sheri

Sheri,

You have been through an ordeal....I am glad you made it home and had seen your facebook message and had been aswinging lizards.  I am sorry all this happened.  I think, it helps remind ALL of us to pay attention when something goes wrong as it can occur even far out from our original surgery.  Try to remember that you are recovering from MAJOR surgery.....since you are someone who likes to be active, maybe try to find tasks that do not require you getting up continually, etc.

Eventually this will be a long lost memory so hang in there!!!!

~~~Jennifer

Thanks, Jennifer.  It taught me a good lesson. I should have been more persistent with trying to get to the root of the problem but I wasn't.  This was a true lesson for me, my father died from a perforated hernia. Of course that was many years ago and he too did not listen to his body but his Dr. who told him he had the flu. We have to be advocates for ourselves!   I am slow to learn that is for sure.

Looking forward to it all being a long lost memory!!
 

Wow, that is scary! I'm glad you got through it ok. I hope you start feeling like yourself soon, and don't worry about all the other stuff.

Thanks, Kim.  I am trying. I guess today was my lesson learned. I know now not to push!

Sheri

Oh Sheri, what a scare you've had.  I'm so sorry they had to open you up, but I'm glad they knew what to do and took good care of you.  Please take it so so easy as you recover.  You've just been through a lot.  I can't even imagine that 6 hour ride home.  Yikes!

So surgery sister, congratulations on making your goal of 140.  I'm so proud of you!  High Five and many kudos on a great WLS journey you've had!

Hi Lee,  I have been thinking about you. Plastics coming up right?  Make sure to take lots of before pics.  

I was lucky. I had a great bariatric surgeon in fact I wish he was not so far away, loved him, loved his staff, loved the hospital.  I was in good care, but scary nonetheless. 

Thanks for always being supportive and of course I can not wait to hear of your successful upcoming surgeries.

Sheri

Wow, what an ordeal you went through!  So glad they were able to find out what the problem was and get it fixed right away.  I hope you're feeling better soon.

Thanks so much for posting, things like this are great reminders that we have to be very cognizant of what is going on with our bodies after surgery and that issues can occur years after our original surgeries.

Thanks, Yasmeen. 

WOW - you have been through a LOT!!  I'm glad your hubby ran you into ER.  I'm the type that would wait and see...

Don't compare or push yourself with your surgeries.  Lap surgery is SO different than open... give yourself time to heal and dont feel bad about dealing with work.  Its all about you!