chaotica

Oh I am looking forward to the swelling going down and feeling human again! This really was the most painful surgery I had. I wish I had know how hard this was going to be. I bounce back pretty fast, but this one puts me back on my butt even faster!

I want to thank you all for your kind words and support. It was to say the least, something I needed very much. Sorry for all the misspelling I am laying down and trying to type. I live in il and never in million years expected to run into that kind of hatred. From a nurse no less. I filed a complaint the very next day and I didn't see her that night. But I didn't see her the rest of the night she was there any how. This hospital Vista East in Waukegan Il is a bariatric center of exilence. They tell you they have an entire floor dedicated to RNY only. When I was taken up post op I found out it was a general surgery floor mixed with a peds unit. I was the only RNY patient up there. I spent most of my time asleep and if I was, they would skip vitals and meds. I told them to please wake me for those. I would sleep to get my mind off the pain. There was a patient care tech to every nurse and still when I would ask for something she would say " let me ask your nurse" and I would never see anyone again until shift change. When it was time for me to walk and I walked a lot to get better, they would remain talking and not even look up. I would walk up to the station to ask for things if I was really hungry or in too much pain and the nurse would say " go to your room and I'll be right there, and I would just end up falling asleep. I feel more love and compassion from you guys than I ever did in that place! I'm doing great at home. Though I am fighting off a pretty high fever. If I go in to have this fever and body rash which is still bright red and painful, looked at I'm going to another hospital! I'm actually kinda worried about the rash. Praying it's not an allergic reaction to something like a staple. I came home and cried my eyes out. But I'm feeling emotionally at least, much better now that I am home! If someone told me they were having surgery there, I would tell them to run not walk away from that hospital! They kept forgetting why I was there and tried on many occasion to come in and do tests that belonged to other people. Asking if I was the one who needed a glucose test, or if I had the heart monitor box. My chart was lost so many times, I was so ready to get out of there. I wish I had gone to another place!

Thank you so much! The "food" in the hospital made my pouch close up it was so bad. The broth had no flavor or color. Looked like dish water and I was not doing well. Was so scared to come home in all the pain I was still in, but I have been doing ten times better here! Nobody forgets to give me my pain meds and since they wear off kind of fast ( about two hours early) I just take them when I need them again. I had a bowl of chicken noodle soup without the noodles, and my bf asked if I was okay, because I just sat there after the first spoons full with tears in my eyes. I told him it was the best thing I had tasted all week! I finnished the entire bowl and felt full for the first time. I then got worried about being able to have what was almost two cups of broth. My guess is it's liquid and went down faster than food will. I gained almost ten lbs in the hospital and tried really hard not to get upset reminding myself its just water. I weighed in today and found I went from 249 to 235 in just two days! I can't explain it and I don't much care, I really did need to see that after such a very rough week! I love how everyone on this page is so supportive!

Had surgery on weds. It was way worse than I had w ever expected. I was told the hospital I was going to was a center of exilence. After two hours of begging the nurse to take the pain away.. The doc called and let them turn my pump up. I walked to the bathroom and the nurse got upset with me for not being able to walk the halls. I fell asleep and woke up asking to walk. My boyfriend walked with me while the nurses talked. I would ask for something and after saying they would be right in, I would not see another nurse until shift change. Later that night I came down with a fever of 102.7 and my lungs were not working well. I had no roommate and the head nurse told my boyfriend he could stay with me. At 11:30pm a nurse came in and glared at him like he was a dog. Started going off on him about him being there. He calmly explained that we were told he could stay. She kept staring at him and threaded to call her boss and have him taken out. Another nurse told me he next day, it was because he is black. They took my pump out yesterday and didn't give me my pain meds until that night when I was begging for them. I also have a rash from head to toe, I asked a nurse for something for it and she gave me a pill. I took the pill be because I figured if a nurse gave it to me, I could take it. I began to hurt very badly and walk to the nurses desk. When I asked her about the pill, she smacked her head and said "oh crap, I forgot!" I wanted to go home! And I am now home I'm the hand and care of my boyfriend who showed he could provide Bette care than an entire hospital!

Well, I had surgery on weds and they didn't place a drain. I wish they had! A drain is a tube with a hollow bulb at the end that is placed in the largest insision. It is put there to cary the fluid that builds up. Some docs don't use them. Mine didn't.

Oh that sounds great! I am happy to hear you were back on your feet so fast. I get mixed stories on how long I'll be down and off my feet, but I bounce back pretty fast and just don't see it being that long. I am glad to hear you are doing well. I go in on Weds! It seems to have not sunken in yet. It all feels a little surreal still. I remember going to the seminar and getting the check list and walking out thinking " crap! This is gonna take forever!" I guess I was wrong. It only took five months from start to surgery. Keep me updated on how you're doing. Thanks for the reply!

I was told by my doc that he does not place a drain. But I have read a lot about them being used after surgery. My question is, has anyone had the surgery without the drain? Is there swelling in your belly after from not having it drain out? Does it drain out even without the drain in place? Seems that it has to go someplace. I'm very close to my day on weds the 25th of April. And I just really want to know what to expect. I plan on going back to work the following Monday as I'm a nanny and the parents need me. Has anyone gotten back on their feet in less than a week? Thanks, I know it's a lot, but I just have so much on my mind.

My doc told me I could pick up a one month supply of chewable bariatric vitamins called Optisourse at Walmart or Walgreens for 28$! And she was right! Also, Walmart has wonderful prices on all their vitamins.

My surgery is on the 25th of April, and only a tiny handful of very close friends know. I've found that people tend to try and tell you what you should or shouldn't do. Like you were asking them to "save" you from the choice you made. I'm sure that the question will arise when I am smaller than I have been in 13 years, I guess at this point in the game I'm just trying to deal with the changes that are taking place right now. So I guess for me, I'm keeping quiet about it. And if anyone asked in the future I'll tell them " I lost it the same way anyone loses weight. Heck for people who think this is the easy way out, and ive heard it plenty.... Surgery is never easy! Watching people eat the things you can almost feel and taste while you sip something that is thick enough to fill the cracks in a wall! If they think that is easy, then they can do it.