nellie09

lol to be honest I don't know! I'm only 5 days post op and haven't figured it out yet, but before surgery my doc said it would be on the right, just below my breast. I think it might be there. You know, just where you would have gallbladder pain...right there along your rib cage line. Hmmmm

I was wondering how long everyone took off work when they had their surgeries? A few people at work got the band and one was back on Saturday after surgery on Wednesday. A few took a week. I myself had my surgery on Wednesday the 8th of July and I'm still home. I'm planning on staying home tomorrow as well, and I will see about Wednesday when it gets here. Of course I have a job where I can sit all day if I need to and my boss is accommodating. She's so accommodating that she said I can come in at 4am till noon to avoid people if I wanted. I may try that on Thursday. I may go in at 4am and work till maybe 9. I'll see when it gets closer.

I ran my son down to the store and bought gatorade. I drank half the bottle (it's a 64oz bottle) and am starting to feel a bit better. Karibensea, you're right, it was as if my body was moving slower than I was...such a strange feeling.

I am 5 days post op and have had a headache for several days, been feeling extremely weak, dizzy and light headed. I'm a severe anemic as well. I called my doc who said I'm dehydrated and I need to up my fluids. I'm hoping that's what it is but of course I'm concerned. I was told to sit up and take a moment before I stand up....and move slowly. Take cool showers instead of warm. I'm hoping to feel better soon.

My bad surgery day story is about the hospital and not the surgery itself. I was taken from recovery to my room, where shortly after the anesthesia wore off. I asked for pain meds and was told she would be right down. I also needed some ice Water and those sponge things to wet your mouth because I was so dry I couldn't talk. My mom got me ice because the nurse wasn't coming. When the nurse finally came in she said "you're in this much pain, I need to call your doctor". Whatever, just give me what you got cause I felt like dying. I got meds at 11am and then again at 2pm. This same nurse got me up walking and said she'll show me the first time, but I'm on my own after. I was forced to get out of bed alone, walk around, reach behind my bed to the other side and unplug my IV pole. Upon return I had to do the same to plug it back in. She put a hat in my toilet to measure urine, but never came back. It was overflowing in my toilet. I saw her at 2pm and didn't see anyone again until the night shift nurse came on at 8pm. I had no pain meds from 2 till 8. I asked many times. The same nurse upon my first walk put the heart monitor in the pocket in the gown, then tapped it twice saying "there you go", right on the biggest incision. I went to the moon! I was left alone for 5 hours and I laid there crying. I called my boyfriend who was out of town and cried some more. The night nurse came on and said I shouldn't walk alone on morphine, that unplugging the machine was her job, that I shouldn't go 5 hours without meds when I have morphine ordered up to once an hour if I need, and she got me water, which I didn't have since 11am when that original cup came. She apologized for the lack of care and told the nurse manager about my care. The following day I was taken for x-ray. The tech leans in and asks if there's any chance I'm pregnant. I told her I just had abdominal surgery....no I'm not. She then asks if I have a belly ring in. I think they'd make you take it out for surgery if I did. They didn't know how to help me onto the table and back up again. Then I go back up to my room and some new nurse comes in to take my blood pressure. She puts the cuff on the arm with the IV!! That hurt SO bad! The blood from my arm went back into the iv line and also spurted out of my hand. Once again I cried, wanting to go home already. The nurse manager came in and went over my chart, noting the 5 hour lapse in pain meds and apologized. The following day home from surgery the hospital administrator called to apologize and to assure me that the nurse would be reprimanded appropriately for her actions and assured me that witholding medical care is not what their hospital is about. I have yet to tell my surgeon because I am only 4 days post op but I'm planning on it during my first visit for the staple removal.

Banded July 8, 2009