A little stop on the way home ...

The gastric bypass saga continues.

I don't know when I last journaled but ... here's an update (and I am currently writing on a napkin in a Toyota Service Customer Waiting area ... but I'll go more into detail WHY we are seated here in a bit!).

I was released from the hospital @ around NOON yesterday (Mon., 11/23).  I was feeling pretty good and was given good marks when I was released.  I was released 3 days late because of slight complications from the Rou ex Y (if I hadn't already mentioned by the time I add this post).  I came out of surgery doing well as far as I can remember.  I was able to sip okay and the recovery was going well.  However, within 15 hours of that first surgery I started feeling ... bad.   Anyway - I'm sure by the time I add this post I will have rambled long enough about THAT part of things so ... I will move on.

Presently, I had my "post-op" appointment with Dr. Felix this morning @ 8am.  I was SO glad that was not postponed and/or rescheduled.  I wanted to get HOME!

All went well.  They did a bone density test, a follow-up nutritional education seminar, a follow-up one on one with the surgeon.  He showed me some cool color pics of the second surgery - though I was only able to obtain black and whites for myself.  No biggy -

I was given a full release to return home ... YAAAAY.  We prepared for our 5 hour drive back home to the Redding (Shasta Lake) area.  We went back to the hotel and finished loading the car - then hit the road.  About 45 minutes up the freeway we stopped to fill up/top off the tank with gas.  Since I was told to walk at least 10 minutes for every 45 minutes on the road - I took advantage of this gas stop to get out for a short walk. 

Back on the road. 

We got onto Hwy. 99 - drove about 15 minutes and then ....

BEEP BEEP BEEP!  The dashboard "DANGER/WARNING" indicator came on.  Oh come on ... seriously?

Then there was a warning buzz/tone, followed by another couple of lights ("check engine" indicator and "hybrid system activation" light).  In short - our little Prius' way of saying, "I've fallen and I can't get up."

sigh*

We pulled off at the next exit (luckilly the car was still running okay) and Chuck immediately pulled into the nearest gas station.  He inquired as to whether or not there was a Toyota dealership nearby and was told that yes - there's one open about 5 minutes up the road.  Yaaaay!

We got there just fine and the service tech did a dx test and determined that the cooling pump for the hybrid system (essentially the water pump in the Prius) went out.  :-(    The tech said they did have the part we needed in stock and he could have us back on the road by 5pm.  (We love Toyota in Madera!)

So -- this is how I currently find myself seated in the little Toyota Dealership in Madera, CA.  Nuts.  But - it makes for an interesting little addition to my blog, right?  ;-)

I plan on taking some pictures of our "service savior" and the dealership itself and I'll add them to this blog at some point. 

Currently, the boys and Chuck walked next door to a Carl's Jr.  (thanks God!).  Obviously, I opted not to go with them because I prefer to bypass that food due to the bypass in my stomach.  :-)

So -- I am going to turn on this little television in the waiting area of the Toyota Dealership and kill some time.  Thanks to God (seriously) - we were right near a freeway exit, right near a gas station when we exited the freeway, right near an open Toyota dealership and ... even though the guy was working on his last vehicle for the day - he was willing to stay and get us back on the road.  There aren't always Prius service guys available at Toyota we were told so ... it was our "lucky" day.  :-)   I'll take that.

We'll get home ... eventually - and it will definitely be "Home Sweet Home"!!

Day 5


A GOOD morning … probably the first of the GOOD mornings I can recall. Yesterday was ‘better’ – but not good. I am able to have liquid a LOT better today and I am optimistic this will continue. I would be happy if I was told I could be released from the hospital today but it doesn’t appear that will be the case.

I did want to write about something funny prior to my surgery though. I made a little sign that looked like this:



POUCH SIZE:



Small

 Medium

 Large

 Extra Large



This is a sign I made and posted on my abdomen! I had the “small” box checked and I taped this for my surgeon to see when he came in to examine me just before introducing me to the anesthesiologist. He laughed a lot and took it and put it on my forehead - held on by my surgical cap (not the “hat” from the toilet by the way – HA) … but he wanted the anesthesiologist to see it. I guess you had to be there but – it was funny at the time! 

More later …

Day 4 – EVENING


Well, tonight I do believe I turned a corner! Woo Hoo! I was ABLE to swallow for the first time w/o that excruciating pain between my shoulder blades. Wow – that was SOOO bad. I still have the IV and it’s still going continuously but I’m hopeful that maybe it can get back to a slow drip by tomorrow if things keep on as they are going tonight. I need to work on the incentive spirometer more – I’ve lost a little ground taking good deep breaths because of how my upper back has been feeling. My bowel sounds are “improving” I am told (take THAT, Gladys!) and the nurse says she hears a party going on. Hmmm – I prefer to NOT be invited … but I think Gladys got there early!

In short – I feel I am improving tonight. Hopefully I will be released late tomorrow evening (Sun) or Monday morning. Please God!! I’m not sure about my follow-up appointment. It was originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 24th, but I think Wednesday might be more realistic at this point.

A positive mental attitude is imperative to ensure success right out the gate at this venture following my surgery. If you don’t have a positive attitude – DEVELOP ONE! It will be the KEY to success and healing. There is no time for “woe is me” or defeatist thinking.

Be strong.

Be determined.



If you have come this far (and the foul smell from your roomie hasn’t killed you yet) – then you are going to make it! Keep going and pull from DEEP within … from your enduring spirit. This is NOT an “easy way out” and if anyone HAD the procedure they’d know that. People who are clueless make that comment. Ignore it! You know the truth – who cares if “they” do, right?! Right! 



This is a journey toward health and wellness. It is a TOOL – a means to an end. An aid. A courageous decision. Now you have done it – SEE IT THROUGH. CARRY ON. PRESS ON AND DO IT!



You can meet your personal goal and make the MOST of the OPPORTUNITY you have been given!



In the words of Nike – JUST DO IT! Only You (and I) CAN!

Day 3 –

I had to go back in for an emergency corrective surgery @ 2 AM this morning.  Honestly -- this morning was the second most difficult day thus far. The pain I have been feeling - even when trying to swallow only 15 cc’s of any type of liquid - has been SO intense and excruciating – I can't even describe it. 

I cannot be released from the hospital until I can drink at least 32 oz. of clear liquid(s) – and this can be any combination of water, herbal tea, Crystal Light, Coffee, sugar free jello, etc.

But nothing will stay down and the pain is too much. I hadn’t taken any medication since they took me off the Morphine drip and I didn’t even need or use that one. Surgical pain (as far as from staples, incision, etc.) was pretty much non-existent from the time I woke up from the anesthesia. In fact, when I woke up I felt 100% better than I did prior to the gastric bypass procedure and this was probably due to the fact that they repaired the hernia. I was told I had a broken rib on my left side 3 weeks prior to surgery from coughing too much while our household went through the flu so I just assumed the pain I had right before my gastric bypass was due to that rib. I was PLEASANTLY surprised to have that pain 100% after surgery. Yee Haw! It’s the little things, ya know?!

But the pain from trying to swallow was some of the worst I have ever felt. Apparently, according to my surgeon, I was suffering from a bit of swelling at the “pouch” outlet. UGH … that is miserable. I was put on an IV – constant drip – for 24 hours because of dehydration.

On top of it -- my “roomie” in the hospital is making me nuts. I thought I was a patient person but I think those days are gone. I was patient back in high school but …

She has some sort of abdominal issue … she’s been in since Sunday night with extreme abdomen and pelvic pain(s). They can’t figure out the “what” or “why” and they have been doing exam after exam in an effort to get to the “bottom” of things. Pardon THAT pun because her bottom is the thing that caused her problems. It ended up causing ME problems too (selfish, ain’t it?). The lady was “backed-up” and they were concocting what they called a “colon cocktail”. I’m pretty sure you won’t find this at your local bar and if you did you wouldn’t find many people seated AT the bar – though their restroom(s) would be fully occupied and their toilet tissue would be in short supply.

Gladys (ahhh – dear sweet Gladys with the finger nails the size of Texas … I swear she could’ve picked my nose from across the room with those daggers. Surely no need for her to carry pepper spray late at night … I’d bet them puppies are registered legal weapons). But I digress. Gladys had gas. Gladys passed gas. Glady’s would “go” in the toilet, cover it with a paper towel (an early Christmas present for the staff?), close the door and never call nursing staff to dump her “hat” – (and I ask you … why in the world do they refer to a waste container as a “hat” – there was nothing in there that I would want on MY head). I am a person who is super sensitive to smells and sounds. If you pretend to burp – it will make me gag. If you really burp – that’s worse. If you pretend to fart – same scenario. Real fart? I’m a gonner. But go “for reals” and leave it for me to find. There is no forgiveness here. AT LEAST CALL THE NURSE TO CHECK/LOG/FLUSH. Seriously!

 

Bypass Blogging - continued

UGGGG ... I remember this day.  This was NOT a good day.

At 2:00 AM, Friday, Dec. 20, I had to return to surgery due to a problem in my intestines/bowels.  My "bowel" was compared to a kinked garden hose. 

QUITE painful.  (sigh*)

(Demerol is good.)

For Surgery #1 - I had the Roux en y gastric bypass and that surgery went alright.  I had additional surgery at the same time as the gastric bypass to repair a hiatal hernia but this is very common.  So common, in fact, that prior to each gastric bypass procedure each patient is required to sign a consent for hiatal hernia repair ... "just in case".  I was the in case ... probably one of many.  :-)  

For Surgery #2 - I only remember that I had Demerol.  Right after probably the worst pain I have experienced -- labor included.  I will repeat:  Demerol is good.  I was thanking God for that particular pain medication which came at a time when I didn't feel like I could tolerate pain for one more second.  An anethesiologist came in and gave me one shot - then another shot - then a third shot.  FINALLY I felt relief.  Then I was wheeled into surgery for the 3rd time (or so I'm told).  Actually, it was my second surgery but my third procedure.  Something happened to my intestines and, like I already said, I was told it had "flipped over like a garden hose" and nothing - not a piece of jello, not a drop of liquid, would go down. 

I will try not to get too graphic here but the long and short of it is that I was asked at one point to try to take a small bite of sugar free yellow jello.  Within 15 seconds of swallowing it came back up as a yellow frothy foam.  This was the case with anything I tried to swallow.  Each and every bite - and it hurt everytime I was asked to try to keep something down.  I got dehydrated.  I felt soooo miserable - the pain was, as I already said, indescribable. 

Did I mention there was pain?

Ahhh yes - and gastric bypass is the easy way out ... hmmm -

If you say THAT ... you have NEVER had gastric bypass. 

'nuf said!  :-)

POST Gastric Bypass - Day 1

Okay so seriously ... November 18.  Surgery Date.

A total blur.  I got nothin' for ya ... absolutely nothing.  I remember nothing.  I was "told" that I drank a lot and did great. 

Ha Ha - Okay -- if "you" say so.   Nothing informative to tell about this day ... but ... I'll keep you posted.

(NOTE:  Most of this earlier journaling that I am turning into my blog was written in the back of a surgery notebook given to me by the hospital.  I am transferring my notes into this blog now since I was obviously w/o access to a PC in my hospital room.) 

IV?  Yes. 
PC?  Nope!  :-)

One Life to Love

One Life To Love

(As performed by '33 Miles')

He never thought he cared so much about the minute hand,

Until he started praying for a second chance,

If he could only do it all again,

He'd trade the long nights that he spent behind his desk,

For all he missed,

He tells his wife,

I wish that this moment in this room, was not me dying,

But just spending a little time with you

You only get just one time around,

You only get one shot at this,

One chance,

To find out,

The one thing that you don't wanna miss,

One day when its all said and done

I hope you see that it was enough,

This one ride,

One try, One life,

To love.

She never thought she cared so much about those little hands,

That held on tight the day she left,

Cuz she was scared to death,

Sitting all alone on a hotel bed,

The end of the road,

The sun has set on her big plans,

To feel young again,

She picks up the phone,

Dials the number,

Hears that little voice,

That's haunted every single mile,

Since she made that choice,

You only get just one time around,

You only get one shot at this,

One chance,

To find out,

The one thing that you don't wanna miss,

One day when its all said and done

I hope you see that it was enough,

This one ride,

One try, One life,

To love.

You only get just one time around,

You only get one shot at this,

One chance,

To find out the one thing

That you don't wanna miss,

One day when its all said and done

I hope you see that it was enough,

This one ride,

One try, One life,

One ride, One try, One life,

To love,

To love.