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.

It's time ...

November 18, 2009.  That is the big day -- it's approved by insurance, it's scheduled with the surgeon and ... everything is set.

I am SO at peace with this decision and I cannot wait!!

I need to do some planning ahead as to the best protein supplements to have in the house for "after" -- but other than that type of planning I am 100% ready. 

I am VERY excited and optimistic.

I think that's about it for today but, as always ...

I'll keep you posted!  :-)

It's time to go to bed ...

Yes, yes ... I know.   The hands of the clock are signaling that I am way past my own self-imposed bedtime curfew.  But alas, sleep betrays me.  I'm simply not tired yet so -- why fight it?

I figure the reason sleep is evading me is because I have a major (major decision to me anyway) life decision coming up.  I am being evaluated for gastric bypass this Tuesday.

This is a big (pardon the pun) decision and one that I don't take lightly (sorry - this is becoming thematic!)  ;-)

I have already mentioned previously that I have been fighting this battle for over 32 years.  If my insurance company will not cover the gastric-bypass procedure then it will not be an option because I refuse to spend an arm and a leg to lose a stomach!  (ha)

But - I am all about "informed decisions" and I am going to consult with a surgeon approved by my insurance provider to "weigh" (there it is again!) all of my options.

I am learning:  Be careful who you mention this option to.  Almost everybody has a "horror" story that they can't wait to pass on.  I guess that should be something that causes me to stand up and take notice ... this is not a "cure all" or "the easy way out" -- this is a huge decision.

I am looking at this possibility as a "tool" - not an easy fix.  I have seen one too many regain most, if not all, of their weight back because they have not made the necessary lifestyle changes.  I think my mind is in the right place - I realize the responsibility lies with me -- not my surgeon. 

But I am at a place where I want to see where this road might lead ... and I am optimistic that I am doing the right thing to at least acquire more information to help toward making that informed decision.

I don't think that weight loss surgery is for everyone ... but this is a very personal decision.  Not one to be taken lightly but ... one I am seriously considering.

I think the road ahead looks bright and it definitely holds a lot of promise.

As always - I will keep you -

Posted!  :-)

"Can't We All Just Get Along?" ...

I was raised with a very conservative (fundamental) religious background. I was pretty much taught in religious circles that you do/say/be as we tell you to do/say/be OR ... you're lost, you're wrong, you're "out".


Somewhere along the line - in recent months, I have made a decision not to live my life in an unkind manner toward those who disagree with my beliefs, opinions. This may sound conceited but I don't mean it in a conceited way when I say I "pride" myself in accepting and befriending those who differ from me because I think we can all gain from the perspectives of others.


But doesn't it work both ways? Maybe you're not religious or maybe you are, maybe you're gay or maybe you're straight, maybe you're a Republican or maybe you're a Democrat.


IF you want to be accepted as any one of those - why can't you accept those on the opposite "side" from you?


It's a total double standard.


Like me if I'm Republican but I reserve the right to not like you if you're a Democrat. Don't you religious people be mean to me if I'm gay but hey - I'm gay and I hate your God. If I'm pro-choice and you're pro-life - we can't PRO- gress in a nice, civil conversation??


Huh???

What???

Really???


That's not right.
That's just plain sad.


If we cannot learn to listen and befriend those who differ ... if we can't agree to disagree ... how in the world can we ever hope to achieve any level of peace on any scale - within our homes, throughout our neighborhoods, our cities, our churches, our country?


Sorry, I just don't get it. I'm kinda with Rodney King on this one ... "Can't we all just get along?" -- at least a little ... and play nice?!


There's a way to disagree and rudeness ain't it.


That's my two cents worth ... and in this economy I will accept that it maybe more like a penny. ;-)


"Peace out ... "  ;-)