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Gastric surgery & being in the hospital

Starting sept 22 I had to do a two week liquid diet before surgery. I thought it be harder then it was. I had 4/5 protein shakes a day (gnc lean shake, 310 nutrition )I had chicken broth and added a few sliced carrots. The day before surgery it was a clear liquid diet. I had protein water shake from vitamin store, chicken broth, and ices. I had to do some prep also. I thought it be worse . 

Oct 6 5:30am I'm at the hospital. I went into surgery. I was little nervous. Once your put out you don't even know what goes on. I got into recovery, I was very sleepy. I know when I finally did wake up I was gagging a lot. I had a few different nausea medicines. Finally I got a patch that helped me . I don't remember all that much. Drs past me and my parents I was in la la land. The nurse kept checking on me.  Later on prob closer to 10:30pm I got a room. I had a great nurse took my vitals and let me sleep.  Of course you wake up with so many ivs, yet you only remember one put in. 

So I was in the hospital 6 days. It was a nightmare. The room was a sauna for days. Then last two an igloo.  The bed was not comfortable for me. It was hard pushing myself up or getting off the bed. Let me rewind to the first few days I was on Cather. Then eventually got it taken out . Next day it was back in. Had an infection from it as well. Every day night I was coughing so much more then my chronic cough. No one gave me anything kept asking. I was told at pre testing bring some of my medicines , that the hospital has them. Well my parents got to the hospital had to go back home because they didn't have my asthma nebulizar solution medicine. Then all my other meds I did have with me , they didn't even let me take. Or it took forever to get approval. 

As for the surgery pain I was on an epuderial for pain. I didn't find it helping. I got pain med through iv toradal. When I had to get potassium it was a nightmare. It burnt my arm all I do it cry. A lot of the days I had fever . I was put on antibiotics. Also I had a lot of testing upper gi scan , ct scan, blood clots ultra sound done even if it was 1am they sent me , to see if anything was wrong . It came back no leaks, no blood clots, nothing else. 

The drs & nurse by 4:30/5:30am there waking you up. Though I really couldn't sleep, so by the time they came I was falling asleep. 

While I was in the hospital I thought I had dumping. Everything gets to you too. My thoart was itchy. My body was itchy. My eyes sung. Something wasn't agreeing with me. 

Another nightmare when the phone drops , call button drops . Def the worse especially when you have to go the bathroom. Lucky for me I had a room near the nurses desk. Though I had to scream help, my call button fell. Sometimes they heard me. Sometimes even with the call button they take their time . I didn't get tv , I slept a lot . 

A day before I was discharged the drainage came out. Ouch that hurts. I was off ivs. Epuderial was out. Just to get up was hurt. I was suppose to have pt or a nurse help me walk around they never did. The last day they told me walk around yourself. 

Now I had open stomach surgery and hitial hernia repair for the 4th time and gastric Rny stomach surgery. I did it because the Nissen fundoplation kept failing. I didn't hit the weight limit, but was pre diabetic .  I had staples closing up the wound. The day before I was discharged the surgeon team took out some staples that were infected. The next day the hospital nurse for the surgeon team took out the rest of the staples . I was discharged with a big open wound covered with guaze. Yet it kept leaking. 
 

As for hospital food : 
in the morning they brought me protein shake and tea.
Lunch & dinner  : chicken broth, jello, tea
Sometimes they brought me up sugar ices , soda I couldn't have. 
 I had to pour everything in measuring cups. Each was an ounce cup. I was told to have between 3-6 cups for a meal. Plus the hospital gave me a sheet to x a box everytime I had a cup. 

Things to bring with you day of surgery that were helpful
Warm socks 
Chap stick
Dry shampoo
Hair brush
Everything else they gave me 

Stay tune for next blog 

 

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