Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Night after surgery...

So it's done... I am now a owner of a brand new LapBand.  I got to the hospital at 8am and was back in the pre opt rooms by 930.  I wasn't too nervous at all... just alittle worried of the unknown.  About 10 different people cam through my room and all asked basically the same standard questions.  Joe was able to come back before I was wheeled away to be drugged up.  All I can remember is being wheeled away... next thing I know I'm waking up next to a nurse telling me to constantly breathe deeply.  This sounds like a easy task unless you can hardly stay awake and have this stabbing pain in your diaphragm everytime you breathe in.  After this nurse, I was wheeled into recovery where Joe was waiting.  I really can only remember hearing myself snore since I could really only be on my back in this odd somewhat head elevated position.
At this point they needed to wheel me over to Xrays to do a barium testing to make sure the band was in place right.  OK... to have someone who can hardly stay awake and nauseau from being knocked out, this is not an easy task.  They made me stand up take one xray than put me in this god awful chair for about 10 minutes before the PA could get there.  They stood me back up (mind you they had about 100pd girl helping), and than I was forced to drink barium and twist in some painful ways.  After this they left me in the hallway behind some curtains for another hour I believe.  This is where they started to piss me off.
The lady who was assigned to wheel me back had a knack for hitting walls.  Seriously... is it that hard to avoid them in large hallways?!  Than she brings me over to pre opt where the confusion started.  I could hardly talk at this point as I was still in and out of it.  The nurses debated where I needed to go while one noticed I was shacking my head.  Finally they realized where I needed to go... and just as they are about to put me back in the room, another nurse comes by and says, is she ready for pre opt.  I said, NO!
So I get into the room to my previous nurse being on lunch so they stick this other nurse in there that has no clue whats going on.  First she asks me a few things and as she's doing this blows a bubble with her gum and snaps it.  Like I wanted to do to her.  Seriously... chewing gum in front of someone who has eaten a thing and can't?!  Well than she says, well your able to eat or drink... what would you like?  I go to her, well I'm not allowed to eat and I can only have clear liquids.  Her reply, so you want apple juice?  Clearly she had no education in bariatric surgery or she would have known that I cannot have this straight.  Finally they brought back my old nurse which wasn't any better.  Ask if I needed some pain meds... which at the time I wasn't that bad but opted for them.  45 mins later, Joe walks out in the hallway cause at this time I could hardly breathe. 
The gases/air they had to pump me with in my abdomen to expand it was sitting under my diaphragm which caused stabbing pains every time I took a breathe in.  Well apparently the nurse forgot... and than told me it will take another 30 mins for it to kick in.  Thanks for nothing!
Finally the bariatric coordinator nurse came in and spot to me.  After this I was free to go at about 4/430pm. 
We went to Walgreens to pick up my meds and lucky once again, they proceed to tell us the Insurance system is down and my meds are not being ok'd so it will cost $500.  I was ready to rip that guy right out of the window.  So Joe took me home and called insurance.  They than called the pharmancy and told them to ok it.  So he finally got home around 7pm with my meds.  Couldn't take half since they are in pill form and I don't think that will go down right now. 
Right before bed, joe helped get me some watered down apple juice and some liquid pain killer which was worse than doing shots of tequilla.  I luckily was able to find a decent position in bed but have been waking every hour to use the bathroom.  Damn IV bag.  Than at 230am I just couldn't sleep anymore so I'm writing this now with a heating pad on my back since thats supposed to help with the pain in my diaphragm from the gases.
Lets hope day two goes alittle better.

1 comment:

  1. Holy sh*t!!!!!! I cannot belive what you went through. My experience was much better and I am so sorry. They hsould've made sure your meds were ready BEFORE You went int o surgery, you CANNOT be under that much pain with no meds,OMG.

    Then they tested agian to make sure they put the band in right!?!?!?! WTF are these docs doing, are they new at this??? You shoud've been able to recoup with proper meds and then have nurses who know what to do...I cannot belive you went throught this without me! This make me SO upset. BUT remember, the rewards will be WORTH it, I promise!

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