I seem to be healing up nicely. If you were to look at my belly, you'd probably think my cat attacked me rather than that I had surgery. At this point, I still feel no hunger (not complaining) and I'm eating soft stuff. Last night we went out for dinner as a family to Outback Steakhouse...I ordered fish and a glass of water...oh, and a side salad to share with my youngest. I didn't eat much, but what I did eat went down ok. I usually don't know things are "stuck" until I take a sip of my beverage...then I get this enormous pressure in my chest. It eventually goes down, but for a minute or two is very uncomfortable.
My bowels still haven't returned to normal, but luckily my original 6-7 visits to the bathroom have reduced to 1 every day or every 2 days. It's getting better.
I go back to work in 1 week, which is a week earlier than I was supposed to. I read online that many people return to work in a week, but I think I was told longer due to my occupation (CNA). Thankfully, I should still be able to avoid heavy lifting, which will remain off limits for a while longer.
I've also been having random stomachaches...they feel like gastritis. I'm hoping they pass.
Follow-up with the Dr at the end of September!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Diet clarification...good news!
So, after my "cheating" yesterday, I figured I'd call the doc and see if I was officially able to upgrade my diet. He said I can upgrade to soft foods now! Yay! So things like applesauce, pudding, baked potatoes, tiny pasta, eggs...all a GO!
My throat is very confused though...I am getting that lump in my throat that I was complaining about before surgery...it was one of my top symptoms. I'm not sure what's going on here. I am still taking my reflux meds (Dexilant) and am not feeling any 'regurgitation' or anything. I don't feel like the food isn't getting through...this lump usually appears about 1/2 hr to an hr after I've eaten. Last night I felt nauseous again, so I took some Reglan...when I woke up, I felt fine and the lump was gone...but it reappeared shortly after being awake. I've had it all day now. It went away for a bit when I tried eating a scrambled egg (yum), but is back again. Ugh.
I'll just keep taking it very slow with the food (and avoiding dairy in anything more than tiny doses!) and I'll ask the doc on Monday about this globus sensation.
My throat is very confused though...I am getting that lump in my throat that I was complaining about before surgery...it was one of my top symptoms. I'm not sure what's going on here. I am still taking my reflux meds (Dexilant) and am not feeling any 'regurgitation' or anything. I don't feel like the food isn't getting through...this lump usually appears about 1/2 hr to an hr after I've eaten. Last night I felt nauseous again, so I took some Reglan...when I woke up, I felt fine and the lump was gone...but it reappeared shortly after being awake. I've had it all day now. It went away for a bit when I tried eating a scrambled egg (yum), but is back again. Ugh.
I'll just keep taking it very slow with the food (and avoiding dairy in anything more than tiny doses!) and I'll ask the doc on Monday about this globus sensation.
Revenge of the thwarted diet...
So...I admit it....I cheated twice yesterday on my "clear liquids"....and I paid for it! First I had about 1/2-3/4 of a snack sized McFlurry (oreo cookie..mmmm). It was all soft and mushy, and my tightened LES tolerated it well. However, hours later, I realized that my intestines did not. :o
Before the revenge started, I also sneaked some delicious french fries from my husbands Popeye's dinner (those are the best darn fries ever!). I was sure to chew them very well and take sips of liquid with them. I felt I was tolerating them well too. However, a couple hours later I felt that all familiar lump in my throat. Not sure if I actually had fries stuck or what. And then the "revenge" set it.
I guess from what I've read, it's normal for some people to have diarrhea when resuming dairy products, so it was probably the ice cream that did it. But, on the other hand, I needed it. I still had so much CO2 built up from the surgery and hadn't passed gas in 5 days, so I feel a little less bloated today.
Still feeling sharp, stabbing pains in my shoulders. I was hoping that would have been gone by now. And I have to say that mornings are probably the worst, belly pain-wise...the shifting from laying down to sitting up just kind of tugs on everything differently and makes it ache. But, I've cut my Rx pain meds down to two when i wake and two when i go to bed...then throughout the day, I try to space them out and take only one if i need it.
Before the revenge started, I also sneaked some delicious french fries from my husbands Popeye's dinner (those are the best darn fries ever!). I was sure to chew them very well and take sips of liquid with them. I felt I was tolerating them well too. However, a couple hours later I felt that all familiar lump in my throat. Not sure if I actually had fries stuck or what. And then the "revenge" set it.
I guess from what I've read, it's normal for some people to have diarrhea when resuming dairy products, so it was probably the ice cream that did it. But, on the other hand, I needed it. I still had so much CO2 built up from the surgery and hadn't passed gas in 5 days, so I feel a little less bloated today.
Still feeling sharp, stabbing pains in my shoulders. I was hoping that would have been gone by now. And I have to say that mornings are probably the worst, belly pain-wise...the shifting from laying down to sitting up just kind of tugs on everything differently and makes it ache. But, I've cut my Rx pain meds down to two when i wake and two when i go to bed...then throughout the day, I try to space them out and take only one if i need it.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
4 days Post-Op...
The pain in my shoulders is still my top complaint. It haunts me day and night, no matter what I'm doing. They say burping helps, but every time I've been able to burp, it hurts my shoulders like hell. The same when I yawn or breath deeply. I've been walking, stretching, applying heat, drinking warm drinks, massage...nothing is helping. At this point, I think I would have almost preferred the open procedure to the lap just to avoid the shoulder pain. Pain meds don't even touch it.
Other than THAT, I'm doing rather well. I haven't noticed any redness or oozing near my incisions and I've been able to tolerate liquids for the most part. Last night I did have about 1/2 cup of chicken soup broth, which tasted oh so good, but then was extremely nauseous afterwards. Not sure if I drank too much/too fast or what, but I was laid up in bed for the night after that.
Today is my first afternoon home alone with the kids...hubby stayed home for the morning and then went to work. Hopefully they behave, because there isn't much I could do to stop them. lol
Other than THAT, I'm doing rather well. I haven't noticed any redness or oozing near my incisions and I've been able to tolerate liquids for the most part. Last night I did have about 1/2 cup of chicken soup broth, which tasted oh so good, but then was extremely nauseous afterwards. Not sure if I drank too much/too fast or what, but I was laid up in bed for the night after that.
Today is my first afternoon home alone with the kids...hubby stayed home for the morning and then went to work. Hopefully they behave, because there isn't much I could do to stop them. lol
Sunday, August 15, 2010
First update Post-surgery...
Well, it's been just about 48 hrs since I awoke from surgery. Here's how it went down...(and please forgive any typos or incoherence, as I'm still drowsy and on narcotics.. lol)
I arrived about 1 hr 1/2 before my scheduled time to get checked in and set up with the IV and such. Got to meet with the anesthesia doc when it dawned on me that they'll need to intubate me and I have a jaw that easily dislocates and locks open. So, we had a little discussion about that. (luckily, when I woke up, my jaw was where it belonged. lol) I then met with the anesthesia assistant...I was not so confident with him. First of all, as soon as he came into my room, he got dizzy and almost passed out. Then, when going over my allergies, he neglected to read that I'm allergic to penicillin. No points for this guy. But, I was in capable hands with the rest of the surgical team.
When I woke up, I was in a fair amount of pain and I'd have to say that MOST of it was in my chest/shoulders from the CO2 they used to expand my belly during surgery. 48 hrs later and that is still my chief complaint...but it's slowly easing up. I have 5 lovely incisions on my upper abdomen...they don't bother me too much, except the one all the way to my left. Not sure what was accomplished through that particular incision, but it's the one I'm most aware of. I have some numbness around another...not sure if that's temporary or if maybe a little nerve damage occurred there.
When I took my first sips of liquid, I thought for sure that I'd feel it...as in once it hit the spot where the hernia was repaired and my stomach was wrapped around my esophagus, I thought I'd really notice things passing, but to my surprise, I don't. (which can be dangerous...If I wasn't on a strict clear liquid diet, I think I'd be tempted to try regular food!). I do notice a lot of gurgling as things pass down my throat, which in turn sends a bit of air back up...I'm hoping that will pass as I heal up, as it's quite an unpleasant sound to be around. I've had to cough a bit and burp at bit, and with the gas still stuck in my chest and shoulders, it hurts like a son of a, you-know-what. I've been monitoring my temp as I've been running a consistent 99.5 or so degrees F. As long as I don't jump up to 101, I'm in good shape. I guess pneumonia is a risk and I was told to keep trying to take some deep, long breaths. Easier said than done, but I can't imagine the pain of pneumonia coughing!
They've got me on Vicodin...1 or 2 every four hours as needed. I brought myself down to 1 last night and went quite a while overnight with no meds...but as I try to be more active today, I've kicked it back up to 2. I've been keeping a warm wrap on my shoulders and drank a cup of hot tea to try to get rid of this remaining CO2...I'm hoping by tomorrow it will no longer be an issue.
So, lots of sleeping, resting, and trying to stay hydrated. I haven't felt hungry once, so convincing myself to drink something is a challenge, but frozen ice pops and that cup of tea have helped.
Ok..I'm not sure how much of this has made sense, so I'll stop rambling. Catch you all in a bit when I have more to update.
Oh..and my beautiful 18 yr old niece has just been dx'd with Type 1 Diabetes. So, if you're the praying kind, an energy sender, or just have some positive thoughts to send out, I'd greatly appreciate it. <3
I arrived about 1 hr 1/2 before my scheduled time to get checked in and set up with the IV and such. Got to meet with the anesthesia doc when it dawned on me that they'll need to intubate me and I have a jaw that easily dislocates and locks open. So, we had a little discussion about that. (luckily, when I woke up, my jaw was where it belonged. lol) I then met with the anesthesia assistant...I was not so confident with him. First of all, as soon as he came into my room, he got dizzy and almost passed out. Then, when going over my allergies, he neglected to read that I'm allergic to penicillin. No points for this guy. But, I was in capable hands with the rest of the surgical team.
When I woke up, I was in a fair amount of pain and I'd have to say that MOST of it was in my chest/shoulders from the CO2 they used to expand my belly during surgery. 48 hrs later and that is still my chief complaint...but it's slowly easing up. I have 5 lovely incisions on my upper abdomen...they don't bother me too much, except the one all the way to my left. Not sure what was accomplished through that particular incision, but it's the one I'm most aware of. I have some numbness around another...not sure if that's temporary or if maybe a little nerve damage occurred there.
When I took my first sips of liquid, I thought for sure that I'd feel it...as in once it hit the spot where the hernia was repaired and my stomach was wrapped around my esophagus, I thought I'd really notice things passing, but to my surprise, I don't. (which can be dangerous...If I wasn't on a strict clear liquid diet, I think I'd be tempted to try regular food!). I do notice a lot of gurgling as things pass down my throat, which in turn sends a bit of air back up...I'm hoping that will pass as I heal up, as it's quite an unpleasant sound to be around. I've had to cough a bit and burp at bit, and with the gas still stuck in my chest and shoulders, it hurts like a son of a, you-know-what. I've been monitoring my temp as I've been running a consistent 99.5 or so degrees F. As long as I don't jump up to 101, I'm in good shape. I guess pneumonia is a risk and I was told to keep trying to take some deep, long breaths. Easier said than done, but I can't imagine the pain of pneumonia coughing!
They've got me on Vicodin...1 or 2 every four hours as needed. I brought myself down to 1 last night and went quite a while overnight with no meds...but as I try to be more active today, I've kicked it back up to 2. I've been keeping a warm wrap on my shoulders and drank a cup of hot tea to try to get rid of this remaining CO2...I'm hoping by tomorrow it will no longer be an issue.
So, lots of sleeping, resting, and trying to stay hydrated. I haven't felt hungry once, so convincing myself to drink something is a challenge, but frozen ice pops and that cup of tea have helped.
Ok..I'm not sure how much of this has made sense, so I'll stop rambling. Catch you all in a bit when I have more to update.
Oh..and my beautiful 18 yr old niece has just been dx'd with Type 1 Diabetes. So, if you're the praying kind, an energy sender, or just have some positive thoughts to send out, I'd greatly appreciate it. <3
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Bill for pH/Motility Test...GASP
It never occurred to me that my pH/Motility test would cost me anything. I mean, I've gotten plenty of tests....blood tests, x-rays, MRI's, and they don't cost me a cent. So when I opened the mail today and found a mysterious bill from the hospital, I thought it must be a duplicate of one that's already been paid...but when I opened it I about fell on the floor!
I called my insurance company to see what I actually owe to find out it's the entire amount. The GOOD news (yes..I can always find the silver lining) is that this goes towards my Hospital Services deductible, which means my surgery tomorrow will cost me less...so all-in-all, I'll end up spending the same amount of money. However, I anticipate this being a more painful process of getting the exact dollar amounts sorted out. Joy!
I called my insurance company to see what I actually owe to find out it's the entire amount. The GOOD news (yes..I can always find the silver lining) is that this goes towards my Hospital Services deductible, which means my surgery tomorrow will cost me less...so all-in-all, I'll end up spending the same amount of money. However, I anticipate this being a more painful process of getting the exact dollar amounts sorted out. Joy!
New Surgery time...Good and bad.
Just got the call from the surgicenter...my surgery time is now at noon instead of 10 am, so I need to arrive at 10:45 am. This is good because that means I don't have to get up ridiculously early to get there and my overnight stay will feel more like a real overnight stay (not needing to get up and ready early the next day). However, I anticipate being really hungry by noon! That's the bad. And, it really cuts into my husbands work day seeing as he can't just dump me at the hospital early and then start his day...he needs to interrupt his day to take me. Sorry honey!
Nerves kicking it up a notch...
I'm not a nervous person by nature. Very laid back, really (or as my husband would say, "lazy" lol) and I most often look at things in a positive mindset...I just *know* things will work out in my favor. That being said, I find myself less than 24 hrs from this "irreversible" procedure and my tummy is feeling it. Not sure why I can't shake that one word from my head, but it's hanging over me like...well, I don't know what.
I had my pre-op call from the nurse to review my medical history. I am glad that I've made it perfectly clear that I can not take percocet for pain (makes me *so* sick)...not sure why Dr's always want to prescribe it to me. Turns out I won't be stuck in the "recovery area" the entire time before discharge. While considered outpatient, it is a 23 hr stay, so I get to go up to a real room once one becomes available. That means less foot traffic, more privacy, and walls rather than curtains separating me from other patients. Woo!
Now I'm just waiting for the call from the surgicenter to know when to arrive in the morning. At this point, surgery is scheduled for 10 am, so I'm guesstimating arrival around 8-8:30 am.
I had my pre-op call from the nurse to review my medical history. I am glad that I've made it perfectly clear that I can not take percocet for pain (makes me *so* sick)...not sure why Dr's always want to prescribe it to me. Turns out I won't be stuck in the "recovery area" the entire time before discharge. While considered outpatient, it is a 23 hr stay, so I get to go up to a real room once one becomes available. That means less foot traffic, more privacy, and walls rather than curtains separating me from other patients. Woo!
Now I'm just waiting for the call from the surgicenter to know when to arrive in the morning. At this point, surgery is scheduled for 10 am, so I'm guesstimating arrival around 8-8:30 am.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
More thoughts on Nissen Fundoplication...
So, I'm sitting here enjoying a little post-midnight face stuffing...less than 24 hrs left for me to eat real food. The surgery date closing in and I feel the slightest bit of anxiety kicking in...it all stems from a little extra internet research I did the other day. Now don't get me wrong- I still have my happy-go-lucky attitude towards it and am quite sure everything will turn out fantastic, HOWEVER...during said research, I stumbled upon a single word that left me feeling a bit uneasy...."irreversible." There it is. No turning around, no ability to fix a mistake...what's done, will be done...forever. It's so final. I like to guide my own destiny and for once this feels like something completely out of my control. Once I fall asleep and the surgeon begins his work, it's "irreversible." :::shudders:::
So, that is where I stand. I will be enjoying a lovely "last meal" with friends tonight and then it's goodbye solid food for a while. Yes, food, you will be missed.
So, that is where I stand. I will be enjoying a lovely "last meal" with friends tonight and then it's goodbye solid food for a while. Yes, food, you will be missed.
Surgery (Nissen Fundoplication)...
Ok...so it dawned on me today that I have this blog...this fabulous blog...that I've never really used. So, I've decided to put it to good use. Perhaps this will keep me from boring people with my status updates on FB. lol
Today's topic? Surgery. This Friday (that's in 2 days, oh my!) I am going under the knife and having a procedure called a Nissen Fundoplication. (say what?) Well, let me back track and fill you in on the why, and then perhaps you'll understand the what.
When I was pregnant with my youngest little guy, C, I began having horrible acid reflux. Now, heartburn is relatively normal during pregnancy, but mine was so bad that they needed to put me on Rx drugs. So, I started taking the "purple pill" (Nexium) during that time and had been on it for approx. 6 years. I had an endoscopy last year that showed I have a medium hiatal hernia (part of my stomach is coming through the opening of my diaphragm- the muscle that separates your thoracic cavity from your abdominal cavity) Then, I started having breakthrough reflux...and then other symptoms...feeling food/drink stuck in my throat ( a lovely lump sensation) and regurgitating everything I ate and drank. So, my gastro dr switched me to another med (I've tried many others before this that didn't work...the purple pill was *the one*). This med helped a little the first few days (perhaps while I still had some Nexium in my system) and then my symptoms came back.
So then i got to go have this fabulous, amazing, wonderful test (note the sarcasm) called a pH Motility test. I was told it was no big deal...they're just going to thread a tube down my nose into my esophagus and test the muscles in my throat as I swallow (to rule out swallowing issues) and then replace that tube with a thinner one, albeit less flexible, that I'll wear for 24 hrs to measure the pH changes in my esophagus (i.e. is acid/food *really* coming up into my throat or am I lying to them?). I warned the staff in the Digestive Health Center that I have a horrible gag reflex, but they said I'd be fine. I threw up all over the place. It was THE. MOST. HORRIBLE. THING. EVER! I survived the first test. Then they switched tubes to the 24 hr one. Yeah, i threw up some more. Then they told me to wear it 24 hrs and eat as normally as possible. EAT? You want me to EAT? I couldn't even talk. For 24 hrs I communicated with hand gestures and written notes....I forced myself to eat 1/2 a normal meal and then gave up. Luckily, I made it through the required time and my test read that I was actually having the symptoms I declared. Gee...glad I could prove that to you.
So, that's what brought me to the surgeon. He's going to pull my stomach back down into my abdominal cavity, sew up the enlarged opening in my diaphragm (hiatal hernia fixed) and then (here's the Nissen Fundoplication part) wrap the fundus (top part of the stomach) around the base of my esophagus, tightening/supporting the LES (lower esophageal sphincter). This will basically make the LES a one way valve, instead of it's natural give and take ability, meaning I will no longer be able to burp or vomit, but also means acid/food won't be able to come back up on a daily basis either! Woo!
While my stomach and related stitches heal and I cope with a tightened opening, I will be living on clear liquids, then full liquids...and then slowly soft foods...very soft foods. I've heard mixed information on how quickly I'll be able to return to a "normal" diet of solids, and have heard from people who have had the procedure that there are some things they still can't eat, but here's my logic...
Rather than pay $30/mo for the rest of my life (which is a LONG time!) for medication that doesn't completely work, feeling uncomfortable for the rest of my life, and risk the precancerous changes that these symptoms can cause...I'll have the surgery and deal with whatever minor food inconveniences I'll encounter. And hey...the Dr said most patients lose about 10% of their body weight! WOOHOO!
Today's topic? Surgery. This Friday (that's in 2 days, oh my!) I am going under the knife and having a procedure called a Nissen Fundoplication. (say what?) Well, let me back track and fill you in on the why, and then perhaps you'll understand the what.
When I was pregnant with my youngest little guy, C, I began having horrible acid reflux. Now, heartburn is relatively normal during pregnancy, but mine was so bad that they needed to put me on Rx drugs. So, I started taking the "purple pill" (Nexium) during that time and had been on it for approx. 6 years. I had an endoscopy last year that showed I have a medium hiatal hernia (part of my stomach is coming through the opening of my diaphragm- the muscle that separates your thoracic cavity from your abdominal cavity) Then, I started having breakthrough reflux...and then other symptoms...feeling food/drink stuck in my throat ( a lovely lump sensation) and regurgitating everything I ate and drank. So, my gastro dr switched me to another med (I've tried many others before this that didn't work...the purple pill was *the one*). This med helped a little the first few days (perhaps while I still had some Nexium in my system) and then my symptoms came back.
So then i got to go have this fabulous, amazing, wonderful test (note the sarcasm) called a pH Motility test. I was told it was no big deal...they're just going to thread a tube down my nose into my esophagus and test the muscles in my throat as I swallow (to rule out swallowing issues) and then replace that tube with a thinner one, albeit less flexible, that I'll wear for 24 hrs to measure the pH changes in my esophagus (i.e. is acid/food *really* coming up into my throat or am I lying to them?). I warned the staff in the Digestive Health Center that I have a horrible gag reflex, but they said I'd be fine. I threw up all over the place. It was THE. MOST. HORRIBLE. THING. EVER! I survived the first test. Then they switched tubes to the 24 hr one. Yeah, i threw up some more. Then they told me to wear it 24 hrs and eat as normally as possible. EAT? You want me to EAT? I couldn't even talk. For 24 hrs I communicated with hand gestures and written notes....I forced myself to eat 1/2 a normal meal and then gave up. Luckily, I made it through the required time and my test read that I was actually having the symptoms I declared. Gee...glad I could prove that to you.
So, that's what brought me to the surgeon. He's going to pull my stomach back down into my abdominal cavity, sew up the enlarged opening in my diaphragm (hiatal hernia fixed) and then (here's the Nissen Fundoplication part) wrap the fundus (top part of the stomach) around the base of my esophagus, tightening/supporting the LES (lower esophageal sphincter). This will basically make the LES a one way valve, instead of it's natural give and take ability, meaning I will no longer be able to burp or vomit, but also means acid/food won't be able to come back up on a daily basis either! Woo!
While my stomach and related stitches heal and I cope with a tightened opening, I will be living on clear liquids, then full liquids...and then slowly soft foods...very soft foods. I've heard mixed information on how quickly I'll be able to return to a "normal" diet of solids, and have heard from people who have had the procedure that there are some things they still can't eat, but here's my logic...
Rather than pay $30/mo for the rest of my life (which is a LONG time!) for medication that doesn't completely work, feeling uncomfortable for the rest of my life, and risk the precancerous changes that these symptoms can cause...I'll have the surgery and deal with whatever minor food inconveniences I'll encounter. And hey...the Dr said most patients lose about 10% of their body weight! WOOHOO!
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