Surgery and First Day Post Op

Finally, my surgery story. Mom and I went to the hospital (NYU Medical Center) at 7:30 Friday morning. Dr. Fielding had two surgeries before mine so I didn't end up going into the room until about 9am. Once I got there I had a really great nurse who introduced herself and explained what was going to happen. She instructed me to get into the two gowns (one going front to back and the other back to front) and to put on the socks and net hat. I asked her if I was going to get any "happy juice" and she said that I didn't get anything until I went into the OR so that I would be able to sign the consent forms. To be honest, I wasn't nearly as nervous as I expected to be, so I was perfectly fine with that. People kept coming into the room, probably about 7 people in 10 minutes. One to take my temp and blood pressure. The anestisiologist came in, he was probably around 55, thick Russian accent and an absolute doll. I told him my only fear was that I would wake up during surgery. He explained that he'd been doing this for 20 years and nobody ever woke up. Also that the technology is so advanced now they actually track your brain waves and can tell whether or not you hear them etc. He mentioned that they would wait until I was asleep to intubate me, but that they would wake me up while still tubed to ensure that I could follow commands etc. Then they would remove the tube. He told me that I probably wouldn't remember that. After he came in, his resident came by. Another really nice person. Lastly the nurse who would take me to the OR came by. She mentioned that she and another nurse named Jen would be with me the entire time in the OR to adjust my gown etc. She walked me to the OR, I was a little nervous but not bad.

Once I got into the room, someone mentioned "Patient in room". T

here were about 7 or 8 people in a very tiny OR. They took off one of my gowns and asked me to lay on the table. When I laid down I kept one gown on that opened to the back. They laid warm blankets on me and once I was covered the nurses began to remove the gowns. The anestesiologist put some numbing medication on my hand, mentioned i had very tiny veins (hey at least something is tiny!) and then put in the IV, not bad at all, just a tiny pinch. At the same time another guy mentioned that he was going to be putting compression boots on me. They felt AMAZING. It was like getting a massage on my legs. Those stayed on me until about 2pm that day. Last thing I remember is them putting an oxygen mask on me and telling me to take deep breaths. Last thing I heard was "Have a nice sleep Jennifer".

I woke up to two very nice nurses in recovery. I vaguely remember asking if I did my commands, I don't remember anything about them taking the tube out, etc. Laura asked my pain levels, I said about a 6. They gave me toradol and a little bit later a shot of morphine. My mom came in about 15 minutes later. I didn't sleep at all that day, wasn't sleepy. Would shut my eyes but it was way too noisy to sleep. Finally at 2pm they moved me into a room, but in the end I wish I stayed in recovery. My nurse on the 13th floor was horrible. She was nice, but she only came in when my mom asked her too...so much for checking in every hour. I still had the IV in, had an entire bag

of saline. She gave me another shot of morphine. I was up walking with my mom and my IV at about 2:15 and walked three laps around the floor about 4 times before I ended up going home. I was supposed to stay the night, but Dr. Fielding came to check on me. I had peed, burped and walked, so he said I was fine to go home. I found out in recovery that I ended up having a hiatal hernia, so this was repaired during surgery. Bummer part of this was that I was supposed to have a single incision, but with the hernia ended up having five incisions. They start about two inches above my belly button and are in a triangle. Four across the bottom, one up near my bra line between my breasts. It's okay, didn't see myself ever getting back into a bikini anyway. Last time I was in one, I was four.

Mom and I left the hospital at about 6:45 (waited 4 hours for them to bring my overnight bag with my clothes in it upstairs to my room...ridiculous). Once they did that, nurse removed my IV and I left. Cab ride home wasn't bad at all, the bumps oddly felt good. Took some lortab (liquid vicoden) once I got home, watched some TV and finally fell asleep at about 9:45. Slept normally on my b

ack in bed, but had a pretty tough night. Slept for about 2 hours, then up. Used my heating pad and fell back to sleep. Up at about midnight, took some lortab, used my heating pad, fell asleep until 4am and then up again. Finally up for good at 8am. I took liquid Tylenol PM last night instead of the Lortab and slept from 10-7 and then from 7:45 - 9:45. I'll be doing that again tonight!

When the pain is bad, it's pretty intense. I have pain in my chest when breathing or talking, I think that is related to the hernia. The gas pain is in my left shoulder, feels like a pinched nerve. Had this a bit in my right, but less. Burping hurts. I also have cramps in my calves, more my right than left. They are really tight when I get up from laying down. And pain on both sides of my neck. I'm sure it's all related to staying so still during surgery and being moved around etc. I just took pain meds about two hours ago and they help a great deal. I actually only have pain right now when I burp, hurts in my chest. I did have that tiny thought this morning of "Ugh, why did I do this to myself?", but that quickly went a

way. I have no regrets, very glad that I made this decision.

I'm tracking all of my food. Yesterday I had 4 oz of slim fast for breakfast, took about 45 minutes to drink. Had 2 oz of tomato soup - YUM! had more protein shake later and about 4 bites of tomato soup. Been trying to drink a lot of water and vitamin water, but sipping. I know if I have too much because it backs up a bit on me. There is a little bit of pain when drinking again related to the hernia I'm sure. I also had a sugar free popsicle yesterday, it was great. I'm not hungry, but know that I need to be getting nutrition so I'm trying. I also drank some smooth move tea yesterday, so just waiting for that to kick in!

Well, I guess that it's for now. I've been trying to write this post for two days, but get tired. I have pictures, but will download them later. My friend Jacqui who I met on lapbandtalk goes in tomorrow, so everyone send her good thoughts! Jacqui - you'll be great!!

Jen