Re: I'm switched! Here's my update

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I am officially on the other side! Before I begin with the details I want

to say thank you to Theresa who called while I was in the hospital to check

on me and tell me that the list was asking about me. So thanks to everyone.

I also want to say thanks to Bridget's angel Tina. She was wonderful to

visit with and has such a great attitude. Bridget is very lucky.

Well I left MA at 4:30 a.m. as planned and made it to Mt. Sinai only 5

minutes late. We ran into so much traffic it was incredible. Anyway

everything was fine.

I checked in and waited about 10 minutes when they called me to an admitting

area. They wouldn't let Jersey or his cousin go in until I was fully

admitted. That wasn't a problem for me. They were having me change and

checking my vitals and getting my pertinent information. All pretty

standard and nothing to be nervous about. When I was done at about 10 a.m.

They let the guys come in and we watched T.V.

They told me my surgery was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. I thought I had a lot

of time before getting nervous but at 10;30 they called up for me. I

thought I would die. I got all nervous and didn't know what to do. I

followed the aide down the hallways like a lamb being led to the slaughter.

When we got to the point where family could go no further I cried and got

pretty mad. That's kind of par for the course for me. Anyway now I'm alone

and they take me to a surgery holding area. There the anesthesiologist

talks to me and Dr. Gagner comes to see me then I am getting rolled to the

surgical salon. Talk about nerves. All I could say was stick me and knock

me out. I said it over and over again.

The anesthesiologist brought me some of that really sour stuff to drink that

helps with vomiting due to the drugs they give you and then they wheeled me

in to surgery. They had me scoot over onto the operating table. They laid

my ny on top of me and started putting my arms straight out to my side

and putting the boots on me. It was hard for them to get an IV going but

once they did they gave me a shot of something and the last thing I remember

is them asking me to breath deeply from a mask that smelled like car

exhaust.

From what I understand my surgery started late and lasted about 4hours. Dr.

Gagner told Jersey that there were no complications and that I did fine.

I remember waking up in the recovery room and I was still intubated. That

caused me a great deal of distress and I removed the tube myself with my

tongue and teeth. That caused a little comotion but they just put some O2

on me and told me to breath deeply which I did. They must have hit me hard

with some drugs because I don't remember anything until I heard Jersey's

voice and opened my eyes and saw about 8 of him. I tried to reach out to

him but nothing worked. I remember that he came over and touched my hand

said something to me and was gone again. The next thing I remember is pain.

I had a pump and they told me to push the button and believe me I did.

But it wasn't enough. I complained loud and clear. When the nurse told me

she didn't know what else to do for me I screamed TORODOL! Pain management

came right over and they agreed. End of pain problem. Many thanks to the

original poster about Torodol. It made all the difference in the world.

I went to my room. I requested a private at self pay because I really

thought I would be better off that way. I was right. I was on the 10th

floor. It was where all patients with gastric procedures seem to recover.

It was Friday night.

The nurses were really good to me. I listened to them and tried to help

them the best that I could. I was in bed and relaxing with my torodol and

my morphine pump. My family was called in and I was happy. Because of the

private room my family could spread out and relax. Watch T.V. eat do what

ever they wanted. I did not know it at the time but I could have requested

a cot and Jersey could have slept right in the room with me. Instead the

poor soul slept in the 2nd floor waiting room on the couch. But if you will

be at Mt. Sinai keep that in mind. A family member staying with you far

outweighs a companion in my opinion.

I was up and walking around by 10p.m. and from that point foward I never

stopped walking.

I met Bridget and Tina and heard all about what was going on with her. I

felt so sorry because I was delighted and walking around with no problems

and she was suffering so. But every experience is not the same.

The next day I went for my leak test and passed with flying colors. They

started sending me broth and clear liquids which I could have done without.

It really didn't appeal to me but I drank a little bit just to keep things

going. The very next meal was soft foods. Purred fish with mashed potatoes

and spinach I think ...yuk to all of that anyway again ate what I had to to

get out of there.

Sunday they took my IV out and started giving me crushed Percocet for pain

and everything was normal. I showered and passed gas and had my first BM.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: I had never had any trouble what so ever wiping my

bottom before surgery. I dismissed all of the buttwiper posts. WRONG!!

Post op you can not reach end of story. Buy the buttwiper thing and learn

how to use it or prepare to be mortified!!!!

Monday they came in and asked me if I was ready to be discharge and I said

of course. They took out my J-drain and said paperwork would be ready by

the afternoon.

Jersey showed up at about 4:00 and things got moving. He brought some

pillows and water and juice and I felt fine in the car. We ended up waiting

in the car for about an hour because we lost some of Jersey's friends that

came down to take me home. While waiting I realized I was hungry but Jersey

was out looking for his friends. When he came back he had a tuna sandwich

on white and I wanted it. I ate 1/2 of a 1/2 and loved it. We made it home

without any problems.

I have been home for three days and I have pretty much been on the couch. I

walk around and am alone during the day so I prepare my own medications and

food. I get myself back and forth to the bathroom and anywhere else I need

to go. I am leaking from the J-drain sight and that did scare me when it

first started but Jersey put a new dressing on it and I called Gagner who

said as long as there is no purelent drainage and no fever it will be fine.

So far so good.

I am eating anything I want. I have had tuna sandwich with cheese on white,

bonless spareribs, lasagna, chicken and veggie soup, pizza, yogurt, crystal

light, one cookie,saltine crackers and lots of water.

Of course the amount I am able to eat is very small. Usually two or three

bites is enough for me.

I am taking the ADEK vitamin and a viactiv with every meal. I still take

pain medication about twice a day and I am still pretty sore.

I wanted to get this out so everyone knows that I am okay and that there is

one more experience to consider. Any questions I am here. I will be

checking post less frequently for awhile as it really does take alot out of

me to sit here for this long.

Thanks again to everyone for their kind thoughts,

in MA

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[Guest guest]

,

I'm so glad all went well,much success for you.

kookie

PS> What happened with Tina?

[Guest guest]

,

I met Bridget and Tina and heard all about what was going on with her. I

felt so sorry because I was delighted and walking around with no problems

and she was suffering so. But every experience is not the same.

HOW IS SHE DOING AND WHAT COMPLICATIONS DID SHE HAVE?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/16/00 11:53:27 AM, duodenalswitchegroups writes:

<< I wanted to get this out so everyone knows that I am okay and that there

is

one more experience to consider. Any questions I am here. I will be

checking post less frequently for awhile as it really does take alot out of

me to sit here for this long.

>>

{{{}}}} so glad to hear you made it home ok! The car ride

sounded

pretty uneventful, which is great.

You are most welcome. I am glad I called and you are such a wonderful person

-

easy to talk with and friendly. I hope we can continue our friendship.

All the best,

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you for taking the time out of your recovery to post your

experience. I am so glad you came through just fine your story from

moving up the surgery date to recovery is great. I only hope I follow in

your footsteps!

Take good care of yourself my thoughts and prayers have been with you all

week.

Here's to getting stronger every day.

Keep the light shining.

Vera

Bmi-59

Consult with Dr. Herron Dec.07

On Thu, 16 Nov 2000 10:43:57 EST " Markham "

writes:

> Hi everyone,

>

> I am officially on the other side! Before I begin with the details

> Thanks again to everyone for their kind thoughts,

> in MA

>

>

>

>

>

_________________________________________________________________________

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at

> http://www.hotmail.com.

>

> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

> http://profiles.msn.com.

>

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

....

Thanks for the detailed post! It was very interesting to read, and I'm

so happy that everything is going well for you. Here's to a continued

easy recovery!

=====

H

Dr. Keshishian/surgery 11-21-2000

San Francisco Bay Area

mailto: hillsmith2000@...

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Dearest welcome to your new life and that incredible journey I am

always babbling about.

We have place another stepping stone in the garden of life, (I have to

figure out how to set up a visual garden with our stepping stones, hmm!) I am

so happy to hear that you are feeling so well and I pray that you will

continue in the same way.

Huggles

Tiger