Saturday, September 8, 2018
Today I came home from the hospital after my Gastric Sleeve surgery. But let me back up and start from the night before my surgery…
September 4, 2018
About 7:30pm Michelle, my friend from the facility, came over to help me with my special shower for surgery tomorrow. She shaved under my arm (armpits) and then she measured me, so I know where I started from. Then I took my special shower and got dressed for bed. She also took some “before” pictures of me so everyone could really see how large I really am. Afterward, I got everything put away and went to bed trying to keep my cat away from me as much as possible. Excited about tomorrow!!!Â
September 5, 2018
About 8:15am Michelle was back for special shower #2 and all I wanted to do was sleep some more. After the long shower, the phone kept ringing and ringing while I was getting dressed. When I finished dressing I called Richard back, that is who was calling, and he said he was down the hall coming to get me already. I guess the hospital was trying to get a hold of me to come early, they were running ahead of schedule. Well, I wasn’t even ready to go so I just shoved my CPAP in a bag and got my papers I needed and ran out the door forgetting my Med List, and phone charger. Richard headed back for them and we were off.
We didn’t get there early at all, but oh well. Richard came in the hospital with me to made sure I got to where I was supposed to be, then they left me there by myself to go back home. Good thing I wasn’t nervous because I was all alone till I came home on Saturday. My surgery was in Boise and so nobody could come to visit or anything.
Anyway, I waited for about 15 minutes and they called me back to the prepping area to get ready. I got to wear one of those cute little gowns that don’t close in the back. They put me on the bed backside down and there I was for the next 2 hours getting prepped for surgery. The minutes passed and questions were asked and I was hooked up to all the I.V.s and machines making all these beeping noises. Finally, it was my turn and they gave me a shot and the next thing I remember is being in the recovery room about 3 hours later. They asked how I felt and I felt fine, a little sore on my right side where they removed my stomach or at least most of it anyway.
This is what they did to my stomach. They removed the larger part of my stomach and just left about a 2-4 ounce stomach.
I don’t remember much about that day except that they kept running tests and trying to get me to drink, drink, and drink more water. I couldn’t drink a lot at a time but in little sips a little at a time. But the problem was every time I took a sip I’d get a bubble in my throat that hurt a lot and made me burp. It was very sore and made me not want to drink. I just kept drinking until it was time for bed. At first, they weren’t going to give me my ‘Ambien’ to help me go and stay asleep, but I finally got it. I spent the rest of the night watching TV until I fell asleep.
September 6, 2918
Today is my oldest child’s birthday, Andrew, he is 37 today.
Well, yesterday went pretty well. I almost didn’t get my ‘Ambien’ last night, but they called Dr. Valentine and got it scheduled. I was almost asleep by the time they finally got it to me, but I wouldn’t have stayed asleep all night without it. Today was another good day, but I’m not getting all my meds, foot lotion, or eye drops. My eyes are running all the time. I didn’t realize how the eye drops helped until I didn’t have them. My feet will be really dry by the time I get home. My stomach doesn’t hurt that much except when I first get up and the first few steps I take, then it isn’t bad after that. I can’t lay on my right side yet so I have to have pillows under my left side to help be on my right side a little. I don’t know how long that will last. I have 4 small incisions in my upper stomach and one that is about an inch and a half long closer to my right side. When I had my Colin Cancer surgery I had the same small incisions but then about a 3-4 inch incision from my belly button down and it hurt for a long time and I couldn’t wear pants for a long time either. I’m in a hospital gown now and will be wearing my black yoga pants until I can get back into my jeans, capris. They are what I use for my PJs so I will just wear a regular shirt with them.
It hurts when I drink, I get bubbles in my chest and I have to burp a lot. They told me to stop using the straw and just take sips from the cup. That makes it a little better. I only walked 2 times yesterday and only 4 times today. I’m supposed to be walking more than that and I’m supposed to be passing gas by now. I only passed gas once and that was while I was on the toilet tonight. I have not had a BM yet, but I don’t think I’ll have one till after I go home on Friday. I’m feeling pretty good.
September 7, 2018Â
The doctor came in this morning and said I wouldn’t be going home today. I’m OK with that, another day to rest in the hospital and I’ll go home tomorrow. They set a goal of 6 times to walk today and to drink at least 40 or more ounces of liquid. I’m supposed to be drinking broth too, but it is yucky tasting. I eat the ice pop, the juice and eat the jello and the rest is water. It doesn’t hurt as much as yesterday to drink. It also doesn’t hurt as much when I get up to go potty and walk. I did well with my walking at first, but then I kept forgetting and wasn’t going to the bathroom much. I did walk 4 times and drank a lot more fluids.
About 4pm they came in my room and said that they didn’t think that Streamside would let me come home on a Saturday because there was no nurse there on the weekends. I called Streamside right away and they confirmed that I couldn’t come back until Monday when a nurse was there. I was really worried because I don’t think Medicare would pay the extra 2 days???Â
September 8, 2018Â
I don’t know if I can handle another 2 days in the hospital. But the nurse came in this morning and said that I have orders to go home. I was confused because Streamside said I couldn’t come home. I guess that the hospital called Streamside and they said I could as long as they get doctor orders and a list of all medications I was supposed to be taking. I called Streamside and talked to Michelle (old Med-Tech and friend) and she called Jill (administrator) and they got it all worked out so I could come back today. I called Larie (she works in the kitchen and is a church friend) to come and get me. They arrived around noon and I was home by about 12:30pm!!
However, every 2 hours I had to have my Blood Pressure, Temperature, and Oxygen taken to make sure I was doing OK. What a hassle. They wanted to wake me every 2 hours at night too, but I said, no way. That is worse than the hospital, but it was good to be back in my own bed. I didn’t really walk at all today, I just rested. I started on my protein shakes right away and drinking fluids. I found out my little fridge was ready to be picked up already, but I wouldn’t get it until Monday or Tuesday when someone could go get it at Walmart for me. I’m excited to get it. My cat, Kitty, was really glad to have me back home again.
Laura's Journey After Gastric Sleeve Surgery 