Surgery

Warning – this is long. So you might be bored, but I wanted to be able to look back on it in detail.

 

On the day before surgery I was on clear liquids only. I thought I would literally starve to death. Doesn’t sound like such a big deal but it was a real struggle for me. I complied because I knew if I didn’t the surgery may be canceled. I would not be able to care for Caleb for several days so we decided to spend the night with the in-laws in Wilmington to be closer to the hospital in the morning and they agreed to care of Caleb for the remainder of the week.

 

That was truly the worst night sleep of my life. I slept in the spare room on a twin bed with Caleb on the toddler bed next to me. We tossed and turned all night. Jeff tried to sleep on the couch but kept waking up as well, we tried to switch places at one point to no avail. We were in the kitchen around 3am talking about how we couldn’t sleep and all of a sudden we hear little running feet and “HEY!” out of sleepy headed little Caleb. He then wanted to play – with all of the loudest toys possible! Finally he went back to sleep around 5:00am. I was still up and started getting ready for SURGERY DAY! I had to bathe in an iodine solution to help prevent bacteria and infection. We were all packed up and set to walk out the door when Caleb comes running in the room from his bed. I guess he sensed Mommy was leaving him. I was actually glad he woke so I could give him a big hug and kiss. I was nervous about surgery but mostly about what he would do without me if something would have happened.

 

Jeff and I drove the few minutes to the hospital arriving quite early. We waited in the parking lot and tried to make light of the situation. Mom and Aunt Valerie soon arrived and we all went in to wait some more. I was assigned a pager and after about 15 minutes it rang. I was taken to the pre-surgery area and dressed in a gown, socks, and hair cover. Pretty sexy if I might say so. I had to pee in a cup, be weighed again, and was given my first ever IV of fluids. A little while later Jeff, Mom, and Aunt Valerie were allowed in to wait with me. The surgeon showed and asked if we had any questions or concerns. I’m pretty sure Mom may have asked him to take care of me. The anesthesiologist then showed and reminded me of the concerns  - not only morbid obesity but also severe sleep apnea. I have never had any surgery so it was unclear how I would react from the anesthesia.

 

A little bit later I was given a sedative right before being wheeled out of the room. I remember passing several doctors and nurses and waving. Several more double doors later and I was wheeled into a very bright and freezing room. I barely remember being aware of being moved from the bed to the operating table (HOW DID THEY DO THAT AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DID THAT TAKE???). I recall my arms being spread out and put on a board and then a sweet voice telling me to breath deep.

 

They had said the surgery would take about three hours. Mine actually took a bit longer because my liver was 2x the normal size. Eek. This made it difficult for the surgeon because he had to keep moving the camera to be able to see what he was doing.

 

Jeff knows how much I love the little details and without me even asking he jotted down this for me to read after surgery. I love him for that. I have laughed so many times at his way with words. He knew I would not like not knowing what was happening while I was out.

 

1016. You went to surgery. Me, Ma, and Val went to cafeteria and had lunch. I had two slices of pizza. Ma and Val had baked potatoes. Vesta was in waiting area when we got done eating

1136. Talked to Pam. She wanted to know when you would be in a room. Told her I'd call

1140. Posted to Facebook that surgery was underway

1145. Talked to mom and dad to let them know surgery was in progress

139. Pager went off. We went to conference room at station 2 and talked to dr. Miles. He said you were doing great and that things took a little longer because your liver was twice the size it should've been. OOPS. Came back to waiting area to wait for you to get out of recovery and to your room. Posted Facebook and texts and called mom

301. Oh God we are all so sleepy

319. Got beeped to go check in at women's hospital. Drove around and scored good parking. Checked in and learned that we beat you here. So again we wait. I type, Ma and Val shop and Vesta goes to cafe

400. Came to your room. You are wasted. Complaining of your back. Nurse said its common after lying on the surgery table for hours. You are complaining about being hot and I'm stretched out on couch

445 Vesta left and I called mom to check on kids All is ok. Bubby was very good today

530. You are still sleeping. Me and ma and Val went down to cafeteria for supper. We all had pizza. It was barferific. Of course I got myself a care package of sun drop, snickers cookies and such

600. Oh boy. You were getting your sugar checked and began the ole dry heaves. Nurse came in and gave you nausea meds. She said it would make you sleepy and it did. You're out, so no walking for now

630. Nurse brought towels and bed linens for me. I shower

740. I talked to you a few minutes while you we're awake. Then u sleep some more

830. Morphine pump went berzerko
844. Changed out pump

 

I greatly appreciated and laughed so hard when reading his notes the next day! He knows me so well that if he were to tell me they had lunch in the cafeteria that I would ask “what did you have?” LOL Love him.

 

I slightly remember Vesta being there. She gave me chapstick and played with my hair. I do remember being extremely hot after surgery. I had layers of blankets on but the compression socks were making me sweat. The only pain I had was the back pain. I felt like I had slept on concrete for days. I tried so hard to wake up. I could hear bits and pieces of conversations but could not open my eyes. That was some good sleep.

 

And then, while they were checking my sugar, I woke up. And boy did I wish that I could go back to sleep! I knew I had 6 incisions with at least 15 staples and the moment I started feeling like I was going to puke I panicked. I did not want to tear anything! I told Jeff “I’m gonna be sick, call the nurse” over and over. The nurse checking my sugar quickly got on the phone and another nurse rushed in with some good stuff that she administered through my IV. By the time she was done, I was out. Thankfully, I never actually threw up, just a bit of heaving. Ugh.

 

The respiratory therapist came in that night to set up my CPAP machine. So there I was – IV, catheter, compression socks, and a CPAP machine. I was pretty much chained to the bed. I tried my best to sleep and eventually I dozed off but woke to a blaring noise  -the battery in the morphine pump went ballistic! The nurse worked on that for a while and off to sleep again until about 4am. I woke with this urgent “I gotta pee” feeling. Which shouldn’t have happened because I was pretty sure the catheter was still in. Jeff was snoring. I had a CPAP mask on and could barely reach the Help button. When I did hit the button I couldn’t talk cause I had a mask on and was too tangled in cords to do anything about it. Thankfully, the nurse got the hint because I sounded like Darth Vader and she came to the room. I explained that I really had to pee and my bladder was screaming and when she checked the catheter she could see why. The line had twisted and wasn’t emptying into the bag. Good grief what a relief it was when she straightened the line. Off to sleep again I went.

 

The next morning brought new adventures. I was still not able to eat or drink anything until after I completed a barium test. But the highlight of the morning was having the compression socks, and catheter removed! Hallelujah! I still had an iv and morphine pump (which I only used once) but was then able to make a couple laps around the hall. I wouldn’t have won any races or anything, but did pretty good for just having abdominal surgery. The only pain I experienced was my chest felt like the doctor had completed the surgery while standing on me. That pain continued for a few days.

 

After my laps around the halls a nice staff member brought me a wheel chair with warm blankets and wheeled me to Radiology for my barium test. I was greeted by two techs and the radiologists. I stood against a cold metal wall that tilted in multiple directions. I was given two liquids to sip, pose for a picture, turn, sip, pose for picture and repeat. It was pretty cool to see the liquid travel my new stomach and shortened intestines. They were looking for any leaks and thankfully everything was perfect. Back to room I went.

 

I was then presented with a bariatric tray of liquids from the kitchen. Vegetable broth, jello, juice. The broth was ok, the jello and juice were incredibly too sweet. Although I was very thirsty, I was not hungry at all. In fact, I haven’t been hungry since surgery. Which is a crazy feeling for someone who was always hungry! Doctors say that I won’t actually feel hunger from some time. I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts.

 

After a few more laps around the halls and a quick visit from the PA and nutritionist, I was given the ok to get dressed and be released. Yay!!! So a lovely nurse got her exercise that day and wheeled me all the way down to the parking lot where Jeff was waiting with the car. All of the staff at NHRMC were fantastic. I have nothing but great things to say about all of them. I dozed off and on during the car ride home which seemed bumpier than usual. LOL I had tried to look at my incisions but they were all covered in gauze and tape. That would have to wait for another day.