Pam A.

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Pam A. 22 years, 4 months ago

Hello All... Pam's hubby again. Having been through this ordeal, at least thus far. I would like to offer a few suggestions to everyone scheduled for surgery at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. I believe that Dr. Baker is one of the best surgerion you can find. But, the quality of care during recovery may be suspect. I'm not in any way saying that they have poor nurses, not at all!!! In fact, most of them are wonderful. However, there is simply not enough of them. They are grossly understaffed for the workload. When the monitoring equipment that I spoke of earlier malfunctioned cause of the low battery. Pam with the little strength that she had would press her little device to let a nurse know that she needed assistance but usually no-one would show up for over an hour by time they could respond. Consequently, she was not getting the pain medication or vital fluids needed for recovery for long, long periods of time. Hopefully, to avoid the kinds of situations that we now must endure, I suggest, that you MUST have a family member at your bedside constantly to make sure that everything (including equipment, walking as soon and as often as possible after surgery) is done when it needs to be done. I don't mean to cast dispersions of Baptist Medical Center. It is a wonderful facility. They are only my own private feeling. Hope these comments and suggestions will help. Huggs... Bill Angus

Pam A. 22 years, 4 months ago

Hello All... This is posted by Pam's hubby. I just returned from Little Rock a few minutes ago. Pam seems to be doing a little bit better now, considering what she has gone through over the last several days, but, she really looks like hell (can I say hell here, not sure, but no other way to describe it). Pam had endured almost constant pain and discomfort in her chest and down her left side, plus coughing up traces of blood since the surgery. The bedside equipment that was supposed to be monitoring the amount of nourishment, fluid, pain killer (morphine and the like) was not operating properly. When it would go offline (constantly), it would sound a warning. When the equipment was offline, the machine would shut down and would dispense nothing!!! Well they kept resetting it, but to no avail. After a day and a half, of fighting with this thing, someone discovered that the battery was almost dead!!! Consequently, for all this time, Pam was not receiving the fluids or nutrients that her body so desperately needed to help speed along her recovery. Thursday morning at aprox. 2:35am while I was at work, I received a phone call that told me that Pam was had taken a turn for the worst and was being rushed into emergency surgery to repair a leak in the gastric bypass and to hopefully repair damage to her esophagus caused I presume, by the Anesthesiaologist not inserting the tube properly and puncturing her esophagus. At least this is what the family believes caused Pam to cough up blood. Rusty (father-inlaw), Cody (Pams' son) and myself rushed back to Little Rock arriving at 6:00am. We met Pams' mom who had been at her bedside since before the initial surgery last Monday Aug. 5th. She new no more than we did about how Pam was now doing. We waited, and waited, and waited some more as more and more of our family arrived. At about 7:00am someone arrived and led us into a private consultation room with the words "The Dr. Baker would like to speek to all of you. He really doesn't like to talk about these things where everyone else can listen. So here we all were sitting in this private room for nearly 45min. Strange thoughts run through your head when your set apart from everyone else. I recalled last Monday when Dr. Baker came out in the waiting room for all to hear to tell us that the operation at that time was a complete success!! Now here we were in this private room. Frankly, I expected the worst!! I truly thought that Pam hadn't made it and he was about to tell us to start making funeral arrangements. Well, when he did finally show up he told us that Pam was fine and was now resting in the recovery room. The sigh of relief in that room was deafening. The problems with her bypass surgery have really set back her recovery. Pam is now recovering very slowly in the SVICU ward. Which is specifically designed for this type of situation. If all goes well, she should be released from the SVICU ward on Monday. Then will continue her recovery in one of the regulary wards probably till next weekend. That's all news for the moment. Huggs Bill Angus

Karen C. 22 years, 4 months ago

Pam, I hear your having some problems, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Judy G. 22 years, 4 months ago

Pam, My prayers are with you. Hope everything is going ok. Hugs to you. Judy Gerdes

Pam A. 22 years, 4 months ago

Well this is day 2 and I (Pam's hubby) had hoped that recovery from the surgery would be uneventful. Just talked to Pam on phone. She is having a rather painful problem with her Esophagus, coughing up blood, can't keep much of anything down, not even the pain killers to help her throat and sounds very weak. Perhaps this is normal in the beginning. She has not seen Dr. Baker yet since the surgery. Overall, I am getting a little concerned about her condition, but, nobody is talking. Also, she was moved to another room (Rm: 629) this morning with no explaination. Sure would do wonders to help cheer her up. I try to keep you posted. Huggs... Bill

frances G. 22 years, 4 months ago

congratulations, you had all the same surgeries i did! i had mine on may 7th and am down 70 lbs. feeling stronger and healthier each day. best wishes for a great recovery.

Alice W. 22 years, 4 months ago

Pam Hello~~~Congratulations-your on the loosing side!!! Glad to hear that your surgery went very well and hope that you feel better with each passing day. WIshing you all the very best and may all your dreams come true!!

Pam A. 22 years, 4 months ago

Surgery Update: Pam had a most successful surgery this morning in Little Rock, Ar by Dr. Baker at the Baptist Hospital. The surgery lasted about 2 hrs. 40 min. from 8:00am to 10:40am. Dr. Baker completed the bypass surgery, removed Pam's Gallbladder, and repaired her Umbilical Hernia. He was unable to remove some of the fatty deposits surrounding the hernia, however, appeared confident that their existance near the surgery site would not cause any future problems. When I left at 1:30pm to return to Harrison, Pam was awake, although, still very groggy. Barring any further complications, I expect to return to Little Rock on Friday Aug. 5th. to bring my beautiful lady home. I would personally like to thank everyone for their comments and encouragement. Pam is recovering in the Baptist Medical Hospital, Room 615 Huggs.... Bill Angus

Laura L. 22 years, 4 months ago

Pam, best wishes for an uneventful surgery and quick recovery!!!

RONDA W. 22 years, 4 months ago

Best wishes on your upcoming surgery and for a quick, uneventful recovery.