General Discussion

madmom

(9,681 posts) Wed Jan 30, 2013, 11:43 AM Jan 2013

Home, finally, after a ten day roller coaster ride...

Last edited Wed Jan 30, 2013, 02:55 PM - Edit history (1)

Since I am not a prolific nor memorable poster, I suspect I wasn't missed, but still I feel must convey the events of the last 10 days of my life.

It all starts on Wed. Jan 16, when at 8:30 am I am checked in to a local hospital for a routine hernia repair. My surgeon has decided to do this surgery laparoscopicly. He advices me that there is always a chance they will have to do open surgery (because of me being over weight) but he thought he could do it. So papers where signed, tests done, surgery preformed, back in room, all is right with the world. Except it wasn't.

I felt well enough, considering I had just had surgery and was not in any real pain, any more than can be expected. I was up and walking and eating solid food and talking about going home. In every conversation with every professional on this team the same question kept popping up...have you passed gas yet? Well no, but I feel the rumbling and I am burping a lot. "It'll come, just keep walking and moving about" they all responded.

Thursday evening supper came and I nibbled at it, had no real appetite, bleh hospital food I said. I'll eat later. Friday morning, scrabbled eggs, smelled made my stomach flip, never been a real fan of plain scrabbled eggs, must be "decorated" with cheese, salsa etc. So no big deal. The rest of the meals I don't remember because, I guess, they were that boring, but I do know I had no appetite and meals went back virtually untouched. Friday afternoon the hospital dietitian paid me a visit and ask why I wasn't eating. I forget the excuse I gave, but she said ok, but I am watching, supplements may be getting added.

Doc came in again late Friday afternoon (he ALWAYS came in to see me at least twice a day) and asked if I wanted to go home. You bet, so again papers were signed, hubby was there so it was done and away I was zipped...home.

The rest of Friday was uneventful, pretty tiring so mostly slept and watched TV. Saturday, hubby wanted to get some groceries that would be easy on my tummy, he noticed I still didn't have much of an appetite and wanted to get me stuff I liked. So he got me the natural home cure for everything, chicken soup and jello. Still nothing.

Sunday came, "OH BOY SUPER BOWL PLAY OFF GAMES!!" as my hubby exclaims or me "oh boy..super bowl playoff games” Well, I decided to be my good little self and got all squared away with my laptop and a book and plenty of water so as not to be an annoyance, so hubby could enjoy the games. Well, at least I tried....

Toward the end of the first game, hubby started the prep work for his dinner as well as trying to get me to eat some soup. Still not having an appetite, I decide I was going to force my self to eat, as it had been too long and I wasn't going to mend without proper nutrition. So, end of first game, soup heating up, I'm feeling quite... unwell. I call for my hubby to bring a bucket I feel I'm going to throw up... well he did, but not in time. Wow, felt better now... oops maybe not.

After throwing up about 2-3 times in less than 1/2 hour, hubby decides, with absolutely NO argument from me, we are going to local ER (this is not the same hospital in which I had the surgery done, but a much closer one). We get to the hospital and tell all the details of surgery and days following. ER doc figured I was just dehydrated and told me to drink more fluids, but wanted to take an xray to "make sure". Ok everything is done, "you are dehydrated and constipated" go home and keep putting down the fluids." Not feeling any better at all, I'm resigned to just feeling like crap until I have a good bowel movement. For those of you who have gone through surgery, you know this is not always an easy task! As I sat up to put my coat and shoes on, getting ready to leave I started getting really light headed and feeling faint, so I laid back down. The nurse caught on to that and told the doctor who told me to lay there and brought me some 7up, "Take your time, just relax"

After this, I learned that the ER doc had the where-with-all to call my surgeon and consult with him. Surgeon told him..."transport her here...now!" So within 1/2 hour or so I was being transported to the next town over about a 1 hour drive, by medivan. Oh, have forgot to mention they gave me anti nausea medication at the ER. I had stopped vomiting, had a few heaves, until almost to the 2nd hospital. Just as they were backing in I started again. They were wondering if it were because I was riding backward in the medivan, I don't think so.

I was taken straight to a patients room upstairs at the 2nd hospital, given more anti nausea medication, a stronger one this time, didn't work. By this time I have vomited several liters, keep in mind I am already dehydrated. So doctor orders an NG tube, for those who don't know, that's the tube that goes into your nose and down to your stomach to help pump the contents out. After 2 different nurses and 2 failed attempts the doctor finally gets the tube in. Oh and I find out I may have had a broken nose in the past without knowing it... So after all this activity and an IV for fluids and medication I am finally getting settled down a bit where I can relax and try to rest. Not so much... I am shuffled around for a CAT scan.

Tests and scan results have come back. Doc says I need a second surgery. The first hernia repair didn't take and the small bowel had slipped into the hernia whole causing a constriction in the bowel. Well now everything is starting to add up. Surgery is scheduled for first thing in the morning.

With all the surgical team introducing themselves and giving me a synopsis of what their role will be, my poor hubby is standing in the background stressed to the hilt. One older nurse noticed his despair and went and asked if he needed a hug, she replied that the waiting family often get ignored and need reassurances just as much as the patient. She was very much indeed right! I don't remember too much after that, maybe it helped me relax a bit too and just go with the flow.

In the recovery room I hear voices but can't yet open my eyes, still very groggy. The thing I do remember is the sweet smell of peppermint on one of the nurses breath. She was in and out around me and I always knew when she was close, never saw her face, only a vague silhouette and that peppermint breath.

Later, back in my room, I was told this operation was a complete success. Hubby was there looking very much relieved and extremely tired. I told him to go home and rest, as I would probably sleep off and on the rest of the day. He was more than happy to comply. I was constantly poked and prodded and questioned for the rest of the day, I only thought I would sleep it off, lol.

The following day, after I was fully recovered from the anesthesia, Doctor came in and explained exactly what had happened. He was able to fix the hernia (with open surgery this time) as well as put the mesh over the tear, for double protection, as well as get the bowel back where it belonged. Now it was just a waiting game to see if everything wanted to function as intended. I was put on a liquid diet, as in strictly IV and nothing but ice chips. The NG tube was still in place along with a morphine drip for pain. I felt like a science experiment with all the tubes and lines running everywhere. I think I only used the pain medication on two occasions on the first day following the procedure. The second and last time I used it I remember having hallucinations. It didn't frighten me at all, because in the back of my mind I knew they were hallucinations and just laid back and let them go. The next day the doc and I agreed, I didn't need the medication anymore, if I had pain I could ask for a pill. I didn't need that either.

All in all, I was on the IV, ice chip diet for four days, after having nothing of any substance for four days prior to that. On the fifth day, I received a clear liquid diet and it was like heaven. Who would've thunk, chicken broth was that good? Friday was a glorious day all around. I was able to get up and walk the halls the day before and the same old question, “are you passing gas?” was on going. But hallelujah, on Friday it happened. Not only that, but a bowel movement as well! That meant everything was working as it was supposed to. I was allowed to take a shower and feel almost human again, could it get any better?

Friday's dinner was still the liquid diet, but I was just glad it was something besides ice chips. Shortly after my dinner tray was removed, another aide brought in a tray and said “here's your dinner”.I was a bit perplexed and told her I just had dinner and she asked are you …. ….? I said yes and she said this is yours then. I told her I was really already full from the other “dinner” so she took it away. I decided I'd better figure out what was up so walked out to the nurses station and told her what had happened. She said to sit tight, she'd see what was going on. A few minutes later she brought the dinner back and said the doc wanted me to try some solid food, to make sure it stayed down, before I go home tomorrow. Meatloaf mashed potatoes and fruit salad. Sounded grand, but..well it's hospital food.

Morning came along with another lab employee wanting more blood. To make sure there were no infections, if everything comes back normal, I'm being sprung!

8:00am wake up call to hubby...come get me....I'm fixed!

I've been home a couple days now, real food, my own bed. We all take for granted simple pleasures. I am so grateful for a husband who was observant and caring enough to get me to the ER and for the doctor and his team who helped pull me through this. They were all extremely wonderful people and a credit to their profession.

So, how has your new year been going?