diana44
Another Complication Fixed
Nov 23, 2013
It's been awhile since I've posted. I kinda got discouraged as I was watching all the OH'ers have one successful surgery after another. No problems. Then this one lady posted "Why all the negativity" type post which sent me into oblivion and made me feel bad. Not that I post a lot on the page, but isn't that what the site is all about. We're all going through this new stuff, our bodies are rapidly changing, hitting all the walls & we have no one to reach out and ask "Hey is this normal."
Anyway, I let the comment get to me so I backed off and just tried to help others. Just to recap. I had my surgery on 9/4/13 and had issues w/ nausea and pain. So, a little over a week later I went back in for an endsocpy -- told all was well just swollen and inflammed & sent back home. The next day I was readmitted to the hospital and came damn close to dying w/ a massive internal infection on my incision line. Spent 7 days in the hospital & 10 more days on IV antibiotics. A month out of work. Not fun.
At my 6 week check up, I began having more problems with eating. I could barely eat an ounce of food at a time. Could barely drink 20-30 oz of water without extreme nausea. Doc said he wanted to do an endoscopy AGAIN. I hit the roof and said nope. I couldn't handle anymore complications. It got better a couple of weeks out and we thought we were turning a corner. However, another a week went back and water was making me so nauseous and then the dry heaves and vomiting started. I waved the white towel. Called doc & said schedule what you have to -- just fix it. I would wake up at 3am w/ dry heaves. The nausea meds I was having an allergic reaction to and clawing myself to death (took me a while to figure that out). I was losing 1-2 lbs a day and I was getting scared this was going to be my life.
My husband kept expressing concerns about the little nutrients and water I was getting in, but I'm a stubborn one & kept saying it'll get better. It didn't. It took a few extra days to get scheduled in for the scope. By the time I went in "nothing by mouth" was a cynch for me cause I couldn't eat or drink anyway.
So, last Thursday, I went in for the 2nd scope. At this point I'm so tired of seeing Northside Hospital and my doctor I could scream. But, I feel so bad and weak, I'm just grateful for the fluids. Doc came in and did the scope and sure enough....found a blockage that he had to balloon & the bottom part of my tummy was extremely inflammed. He said that's what was causing the vomiting. I could only eat a little b/c of the blockage & then my tummy wasn't emptying so it was inflamed.
So he fixed me and put me on more nausea meds, some pill I have to take before every meal and at bedtime that forces my tummy to jumpstart and move the food, and some protonix for the inflammation. He said it would take a few days to a week before I would feel better.
Thankfully, he was true to his word and the next week I was able to eat more and more food. By Friday, I finally began to have some hope and my energy levels were back up. I'm eating every 2 hours like I'm supposed to. I can now eat about a cup of food at a time -- like I'm supposed to. I have the energy to play again. I went out for my first outing in months Saturday and got to see many of my friends. It was soooo good to see everyone again. I think that is what I've missed the most was my friends. Before the surgery we got together all the time. Since the surgery, I've felt so bad and w/ little energy. I barely had the energy to socialize w/ my boyfriend. Who will soon be my husband.
That is one thing this surgery has done is that it's moved our relationship so much closer. I love him more today than I ever have. Tears come to my eyes just thinking about the love I have for this man. He spent every day and night at the hospital with me. Took me daily for my IV antibiotics infusions -- sometimes 2x a day (stupid insurance wouldn't pay for home healthcare). He handed me washclothes for my face on my many days w/ my head hanging over the throne. He helped me up and down the stairs when I was so weak just going up a few stairs was tough. Countless of drop me off at the door of the store, hospital, etc & went and parked and got the car because I was too weak to walk from the parking a lot & do the walking inside. I was too stubborn to get a wheelchair or scooter in the stores. He knew getting out helped me so he never complained. Oh, and he walked with my slow ass self. I mean 90 year old seniors could have done loops around me I walked so slow because of the energy.
His patience and dedication to my recovery has been incredible. It's demonstrated to me that he truly loves me and cares for me. Something I knew in my head, but when a man demonstrates this kind of love -- it takes it to another level. What's more is I never asked. He just did. Isn't that amazing. So, yeah this surgery has kicked my ass in so many ways and I've had a really, really, shitty time. However, this man has loved me through it each day. I want this man by my side every day and night. This is the kind of love that we all need in our lives.
