Surgery Day Recap

Hello Blog Readers!

Today was my surgery day!  We woke up at 6:30am which I might add, is quite early for a couple of teachers that are enjoying their summer.  Who am I kidding, I have a toddler that wakes us at 7:30 on the dot every morning anyway.  A girl can dream, can't she?

Anyway, our friend came over to stay with the kids, and with minimal drama from the little, we were able to leave.  Jason was hungry so we stopped at Whataburger so he could get a sandwich and some coffee.  I had so much anxiety going through me it didn't phase me to smell it or watch him eat.  So we went in and I registered, then a young kid who looked really confused and didn't fill me with confidence came to get me for my pee in a cup test.  I didn't think I could do it because I was so thirsty. I thought I had nothing but I was able to come through for the sample.  Booyah!

Next a super sweet nurse came and got me for the rest of my set up.  Behind a tiny little curtain I got down to my skivvies and then Jason helped me with my grande hospital gown.  I did get some sweet yellow socks to put on with grippers on the bottom.  I kept those.  :)  I put all of my XXL clothes into a tiny little bag.  Not sure how they all fit but they did.  I wanted to wear a black shirt in case there was any oozing. Jason thought it was very fitting that I chose my Chuy's (one of our favorite Tex-Mex restaurants)  black t-shirt.  I didn't even think about it but it is kind of funny.  Next I hopped into the bed and my nurse came back and had me sign a bunch of "you might die" paperwork and put my IV in.  I am not sure why IV's have always been a problem for me but they are.  I hate those little bastards more than anything.  When I had the little guy, they tried 4 times to get a good one.  They finally had to call in a specialist.  Today I told her all of my IV troubles and we thought she got it on the first try. We celebrated too soon and she had to get a new one.  The second one was good but the first one left a big bruise.  This was the most painful part of the day.

Pre-op Glory Picture - I'm Dead Sexy

With this nurse, I also got some anti-nausea meds with a small sip of water that I was dying for, and a small shot in the stomach (don't worry, it wasn't painful, just stung a little with the meds) to prevent clotting, and a cocktail of other meds that she was able to put into the IV.  McDreamy Surgeon came in for a minute to say hello and sign some stuff and that was the last I saw him.

I met with the anesthesiologist.  I thought he might be a jerk but then he laughed when after he asked me if I had a tongue ring I asked, "Do people REALLY still have those?"  So then he gave me some meds to get the going to sleep thing going - he called it an appetizer.  I was wheeled to the OR and I helped them get me on the operating table and then the next thing I knew I was awake in recovery.  I was asking for Jason.  I couldn't see anything without my glasses.  My throat hurt from the tube thing they put down you to help you breathe because as my anesthesiologist said, "I stop your breathing and have to do it for you with these tubes. It's easier this way."  YIKES!

I was soooo thirsty but I had to have a barium swallow test first.  There was a line for it, so it took a while.  Now I need to tell you about the absolute worst part....the gas!!!  They pump you with carbon dioxide to make room for the instruments and camera for the laproscopic surgery.  It is so painful.  I kept burping and burping and I was up and walking within about 45 minutes of my surgery just to try and get the gas out.  The nurses all seemed impressed that I got myself up and started going on my own.  This was nothing compared to the c-sections.  Since they were impressed, I decided to keep doing it.  I went around the section we were in several times.  I'm not sure if it helped but I don't have shoulder pain (yet) that so many people get with this surgery.  I also did not have a hiatal hernia which I think my surgeon said 90% of people have when they go in for this surgery.  I'm not sure if that is related to my lack of shoulder pain but I am good just handling all of this painful gas.  I don't need the shoulder pain.  I hope it doesn't show up tomorrow.  :(  That would really stink.

I finally got in for my barium test and it was cool.  They want to make sure that liquids pass through the band easily and that there is not too much swelling.  I got to watch it.  A guy down the hall didn't pass his test.  He finally did a retake after me and did just fine.  Then I got a 8 oz bottle of water! YIPPEEEE!  I was so happy to get it.

After that I got dressed and took my party favor bag from the hospital.  I love the ice pack!  She told me to eat something before I took my pain meds so we stopped on the way home and got a small chocolate shake.  I could only eat about a 1/4 cup of it.  It was enough to help my meds go down without upset.  I was so tired, I could barely keep my eyes open.  As soon as we got home I went to bed.  I woke up four hours later and I am feeling good for the moment.  I am drinking chicken broth in small sips and of course writing this.  Also, I took a picture of my belly with the incisions glued up.  Don't look if you are squeamish.  The white spots are my dirty mirror, not my dirty body!  Well, shoot.  I can't get this picture to upload.  I can try again tomorrow to get this picture up or maybe this is letting me know it's not a good idea to put pictures of my naked, scarred belly online.  :)  They are five small incisions with glue on top and bruising around them.  They should heal well.

By for now Friends!  Thanks for reading and posting.  I love the feedback.