cathy
02-09-2007, 02:32 PM
Just got home a few minutes ago from surgery and thought I would post my experience.
Yesterday morning, my husband and I left about 6:30am to head to the hospital.....following by my mom and dad......followed by my father-in-law! (I'm loved, what can I say?) The hospital was an hour or so away and I was suppose to be there at 8, or 8:30. I was told surgery was 10, and 10:30 - so figured better early than late.
We got there and waited and waited, of course, Finally I was called to pre-op. Got undressed and suited up in a lovely gown - which was HUGE! I had to tie it to keep it from falling off when bent over to pick up my shoes!
They then started an IV and gave me meds to relax me. They put socks on my feet and little booties that they could blow up for help with circulation. Blood pressure cuff went on the leg near the ankle. They did this so they could to an arterial cath in my left arm - -that was next. Guy had a little trouble, but it didn't hurt. Could have been the drugs!
Finally, around 11 we roll! Got to the OR and nobody was there yet. That's the last I remember! (Oh I was told they would probably put in a foley cath after I was under, but it would be gone before I woke up - -and it was)
Got to recover and woke up! I typically wake up very well. I was wide awake - but had to wait for a room. Was probably there for an hour and a half! Luckily, the surgeon came by and told them I could have ice chips. Man oh man - those ice chips are the best!!!
Dr said that he put in one band, but wasn't happy with it cause it was a little tight. So he took it out and put in a bigger one. Not sure yet which one - may be that big daddy one.
Luckily, the bed I was on was my bed for the stay. They wheeled me up to the room - probably 2:30 or 3:00. I was fine - - didn't even bother with the morphine button thing! They did give me some type of pain meds, but the nurse said they weren't the "spacey feel good" kind, but would also help with swelling.
I was up and walking around several times - remembering everyone's advice! And kept doing the ice chips! They were great!
Luckily, I had a private room. They didn't do too badly about coming in for vitals - - think they came a little after midnight and then at 4am. Didn't get a lot of sleep cause I didn't want to try moving around/ on my side/ stretching out too much. Besides, the beds aren't that comfortable!! But I did dose some.
Was up a 6 am, making the rounds again! Walking around. They came and got me around 8:30 to go to xray. Had to do a limited upper GI - complete with barium. But this wasn't the normal barium they had before (I didn't think that stuff was too bad - in fact, I was so thirsty, I drank it all before the test was over!). But this stuff was HORRIBLE! Luckily I only had to take 4 swallows.
Went back to the room and the nutrionalist came by. Went thru the same speech I had before. While she was there, the physical therapist came by, but said she would come back later. Well, when I finished with the NUT, I wanted to walk about and ran into the PT. She just needed to see me walk and do stairs. That was a piece of cake!
Then we waited for the dr - -who didn't come! Nurse paged him twice. They finally brought my lunch - chicken broth, lemon jello, tea and water with a Crystal light packet.
Man on man - who knew chicken broth could be so good!!! The jello was disgusting, and I don't like tea. So I sipped on the broth. I don't know that I went as slow as they wanted (1 oz in 15 minutes?!?!? come on!) But did fine.
So they took out the IV and sent me home. I even got to WALK out to the car - no wheelchair!!! And the hospital even brought up a red rose in a vase!
I'm home and dying for a shower!
Yesterday morning, my husband and I left about 6:30am to head to the hospital.....following by my mom and dad......followed by my father-in-law! (I'm loved, what can I say?) The hospital was an hour or so away and I was suppose to be there at 8, or 8:30. I was told surgery was 10, and 10:30 - so figured better early than late.
We got there and waited and waited, of course, Finally I was called to pre-op. Got undressed and suited up in a lovely gown - which was HUGE! I had to tie it to keep it from falling off when bent over to pick up my shoes!
They then started an IV and gave me meds to relax me. They put socks on my feet and little booties that they could blow up for help with circulation. Blood pressure cuff went on the leg near the ankle. They did this so they could to an arterial cath in my left arm - -that was next. Guy had a little trouble, but it didn't hurt. Could have been the drugs!
Finally, around 11 we roll! Got to the OR and nobody was there yet. That's the last I remember! (Oh I was told they would probably put in a foley cath after I was under, but it would be gone before I woke up - -and it was)
Got to recover and woke up! I typically wake up very well. I was wide awake - but had to wait for a room. Was probably there for an hour and a half! Luckily, the surgeon came by and told them I could have ice chips. Man oh man - those ice chips are the best!!!
Dr said that he put in one band, but wasn't happy with it cause it was a little tight. So he took it out and put in a bigger one. Not sure yet which one - may be that big daddy one.
Luckily, the bed I was on was my bed for the stay. They wheeled me up to the room - probably 2:30 or 3:00. I was fine - - didn't even bother with the morphine button thing! They did give me some type of pain meds, but the nurse said they weren't the "spacey feel good" kind, but would also help with swelling.
I was up and walking around several times - remembering everyone's advice! And kept doing the ice chips! They were great!
Luckily, I had a private room. They didn't do too badly about coming in for vitals - - think they came a little after midnight and then at 4am. Didn't get a lot of sleep cause I didn't want to try moving around/ on my side/ stretching out too much. Besides, the beds aren't that comfortable!! But I did dose some.
Was up a 6 am, making the rounds again! Walking around. They came and got me around 8:30 to go to xray. Had to do a limited upper GI - complete with barium. But this wasn't the normal barium they had before (I didn't think that stuff was too bad - in fact, I was so thirsty, I drank it all before the test was over!). But this stuff was HORRIBLE! Luckily I only had to take 4 swallows.
Went back to the room and the nutrionalist came by. Went thru the same speech I had before. While she was there, the physical therapist came by, but said she would come back later. Well, when I finished with the NUT, I wanted to walk about and ran into the PT. She just needed to see me walk and do stairs. That was a piece of cake!
Then we waited for the dr - -who didn't come! Nurse paged him twice. They finally brought my lunch - chicken broth, lemon jello, tea and water with a Crystal light packet.
Man on man - who knew chicken broth could be so good!!! The jello was disgusting, and I don't like tea. So I sipped on the broth. I don't know that I went as slow as they wanted (1 oz in 15 minutes?!?!? come on!) But did fine.
So they took out the IV and sent me home. I even got to WALK out to the car - no wheelchair!!! And the hospital even brought up a red rose in a vase!
I'm home and dying for a shower!