Still in hospital in HELL

[PennyinAL 28]

Hi

I had my lap band (originally inserted 2009) removed and replaced by a gastric bypass yesterday at 11am and sent to ICU here in local hospital. No one told me and I’m losing my ever loving mind here because I haven’t had anything to drink since the tiny bottle of pre-operative body armor drink I was given to drink before my surgery!
I was told to do liquid diet 24 hrs before and then nothing after midnight so 12:01 am Tuesday morning I stopped drinking anything, headed to hospital I was told to drink the little bottle of body armor which was about 7 oz.
Arrived early taken back and done early and into ICU room by around 2-3 pm Tuesday.
Upon waking I immediately asked for some Water and was told that I am not allowed to have it!

I was shocked and asked when it would be possible and nurse said that I have to wait until the next day and that I have to have a bariatric Fluid drink and test before I can have a drink! I’m dying of thirst here and still can’t believe that this is happening!
nothing I read anywhere says this!!!!

Has anyone else been through this?

I have asked when the test will be and they said they will check on the schedule and let me know.

I’m also a little frustrated bc they have a catheter in me and I’m pretty much stuck in the bed here, I’d have preferred to have been able to go to the bathroom but they don’t have a real bath in the room either just a toilet and there is literally a door that has a window across the room about 8 feet away… I’m not kidding.

I’m really feeling like a prisoner in here and the little prison toilet just ads to it!
im thinking of calling the bariatric testing center to see if I can get some answers.

Is this normal? Has anyone else had this problem?

[summerseeker 1,859]

Are you on a drip ? It would be medically critical for you. This will keep you hydrated. Ask to see your surgeon.

[Sleeve_Me_Alone 654]

It is very typical to not be allowed anything by mouth until after a "leak" test. They will likely have you swallow some barium and then do a test to ensure that your procedure was successful and there are no leaks along the internal incision lines. This is extremely important, given that if there is a leak, anything you ingest will end up in your abdominal cavity. Possibly ask for mouth spray (Biotene) which can help alleviate dry mouth. Those first few days are the worst but hang in there, it will be worth it!

[CarmenG 150]

Unfortunately, it's actually pretty typical. They brought me mouth sponges to wipe down the inside of my mouth. I wasn't catheterized, though. So, I was able to get up to use the bathroom. As soon as they check for leaks, they should start bringing you Water, because they also have to check to see if you can consume and hold down fluids without getting nauseated or vomiting.

[KathyLev 284]

I can't get over how that hospital room is set up ..... unreal . Those pictures just have me shaking my head !

[fed-up 67]

I would be feeling very insecure right now in your position . I agree with Summerseeker , if you're not on a drip , how can you stay hydrated ? I haven't had a bypass and freely admit I know nothing of them , but I can certainly understand your worry and unhappiness for the situation you are in .Please let us know how you are and I hope you see a doctor soon who will relieve your concerns x

[LindsayT 559]

Normal for me. Nothing the day of surgery and nothing until the leak test. They have moist sticks you can use, at least my hospital did. And ask for chap stick, if you don't have it. It sucks, but is necessary.

[PennyinAL 28]

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back with this post. I couldn't find it duh...

Anyway, it was a rough morning, I started calling radiology asap and after a bit of acting up, they sent two ladies to retrieve me and administer the barium test which they couldn't determine the results of...no matter as I was given something to drink. I had to stay from Tuesday morn to Friday morn when I was released.

Yes, the prison toilet situation was horrible! They have a curtain there in the ICU you can close and the nursing staff actually seemed offended and disbelieving of my modesty at not wanting the male CNA to help me pee and the curtain closed!! gasp, lol.

I must say, that when that catheter came out, I wished it back in.

Trying to get out of the bed was godawful painful and that 6-8 ft walk was a very long one.

I have NEVER BEEN IN SO DAMNED MUCH PAIN IN MY LIFE! IT REALLY FRIGGIN' HURT!

The delaudin? they had me on was not very strong and I have herniated discs so I routinely take pain meds and this was not as good as what I take at home. After about 48 hours they let me take my own meds mixed in with theirs to get the pain under control somewhat.

I'm 10 days out now, down 20 lbs and am told I'll be on liquids until day 21 when I go for 2nd post op.

They took out my pic line on day 7.

I've been living on broth, popsicles/snowcones, one fruit juice icee smoothie thing a day and Water.

Dr, did recommend the Ensure Clear which is a Protein Drink I can have so I'm allowing one per day as I don't want to end up with a bunch of liquid calories.

I have tons of questions but planning to search the forums before I bombard with questions.

Thanks so much for your help and encouragement!

[ChunkCat 689]

I'm glad you are out of the joint now!! They sure did keep you for a while... I've been in a local Alabama hospital before and it was not an experience I care to repeat. LOL I wish you much good healing and feel free to ask questions if you can't find what you are looking for, everyone around here is super helpful!

[fed-up 67]

Well a bunch of us were going to break in and get you out of that prison , 'cos we couldn't couldn't send a bariatric patient a big pie with tools in 😉

Glad you are safe home and hope you heal quickly x

[tantakatie 7]

Wow really paying the price weren’t you! My hospital stay was not as bad but not good! I was in Hialeah/Miami and I was lucky to have a room by myself, but it barely helped! The staff spoke only Spanish (which I do understand) and keep calling me the Americano. Some of the nurses wore dragon hell perfume that made me gag, and would come flying in the room at all times putting every light on! My blood pressure spiked and a CNA came to take BP, who did not speak any English freaked out when I grabbed her arm when she wouldn’t tell me the reading! An elderly lady across the room screamed all night like she was passing stones, and when her family visited they screamed on the phones and too each other! And then a family member was in my room having a loud conversation with a CNA about her mothers treatment, and was offended after I asked them nicely to lower their voices, leave the room and close the door! After that, I was like I’m outta here! Luckily my surgeon came by right after and discharged me! Day three home and it does get better!

[SleeveToBypass2023 1,841]

Holy smokes!!! The leak test, for me, was done while I was still in the OR. By the time I woke up in my room, I was allowed Water. And I was definitely allowed to get up as soon as I felt able. The catheter and keeping you in bed part really threw me. It's required that you get up and walk around, so them forcing you to stay in bed was super weird to me. With my sleeve, I was kept on the IV the entire time because I hard a hard time drinking more than 2oz of water at any given time. With my revision to bypass, they took me off the IV the same day as the surgery because I was able to drink an entire 20 oz of water in an hour. I did that twice and they said "yep, you're good, the IV can come out". And I was able to go to the bathroom in the toilet from the jump because they wanted to be able to measure how much urine output there was.