8/8/08: Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX

My DH and I arrived at Methodist bright and early. Too early for the valet parking guys, which we didn't need in the morning, but might have come in handy when I left. Followed the signs and only had to ask for directions once. The Houston medical center is a maze of buildings that connect. The signage design people must make a fortune off of them. We reported to the 3rd floor nurses station and they immediately put us into a room and gave me a lovely gown in which to change. Did the typical answering of the same questions 100 times that you do when you have surgery. This prep nurse was not going to win any miss congeniality contests, that's for sure. I would actually have described her as dour.

We hung out there for about an hour... I'm convinced now more than ever that the 2-hour before surgery arrival time is like the airline arrival time - not exactly to ensure you make your plane in time, but completely for their convenience. Next time, I'm coming a little late :frown:.

They wheeled me out to the surgical hallway, literally. There were patients lined up along the hallways waiting to go into their surgical suites. A nurse came by and asked the same questions again. Then the anesthesiologist who spoke so quickly, I'm glad I could catch up. Next was the nurse anesthesist and a nurse anesthesist who was in training. They'd be doing the anesthesiology -- the other dude is really just "supervising". Had a nice talk with them, since we were still waiting for the doctor. Oh, by the way, all of this sucked to some degree because I was not permitted to wear contacts and had to give up my glasses to my DH. I couldn't really see anyone I was talking to. Then Dr. Garth's resident and a VERY young intern (I swear he was 12....maybe 17) came over to talk. His Physician's Assistant and the surgical nurse also came by. I think there were 8 or more people in that operating room! Well, Methodist is a teaching hospital...

Finally, Dr. Garth came by. He asked if I was ready, and I asked if he was . Then they wheeled me in, and I don't remember really anything until the recovery area. They let DH come back and see me for awhile -- had told him I was fine and he let the folks know that I had told him to call or e-mail that I was fine. Then, they were just waiting for a room in which to move me. I heard the nurses talking about the room and the fact that the upper GI was not until the next morning! I tried to break in and tell them that I was supposed to go home today, so that could not be right. They kind of ignored me but pretended like I said something that made sense. They gave me a room assignment and sent me to the 8th floor room, which suprised me because it didn't seem so much like a day surgery thing. I was SOOOO thirsty. They gave me one of those spongy things to suck on, but, man, was I dehydrated -- probably from all of the broth.

When I got on the floor, they wouldn't give me anything, either. I had to use the restroom, but the nurse wouldn't let me because my pulse ox was too low. She put a nasal cannula in with oxygen, which finally got my O2 up enough to go pee! Getting up hurt like a @#$%&. I asked for some pain meds and got some morphine, which didn't really do much.

A couple of hours later, the VERY young intern comes by and mentions that they put the wrong orders on my file, and I was supposed to actually get my barium swallow and go back to the day surgery ward. So, we waited to get on the barium swallow schedule which took a couple of more hours. Good thing I had a magazine :ohmy:.

They took me down to radiology where they helped me get up onto the very odd rotating bed thing. She took an xray to get documentation of the location of the band. Then the very grumpy radiologist comes in and tilts the table up very quickly (ouch!). He had NO sense of humor. They made me drink several swallows of the awful fluid (the tech described it well -- like cough syrup without flavor), and then had me kind of move from side to side. I had to drink some more, and I SWORE that I had to talk my body into swallowing any more. The guy was just so unfriendly -- I wanted to watch the stuff go down and he just wanted to move on. Why are these guys so arrogant. Anyway, what I noticed is that my pouch seemed to be a lot larger than I expected it to be. I hope that's okay. My DH mentioned that there was another woman waiting for the barium swallow who had her surgery at 11. GRRRR.

They didn't have any beds on the day surgery wing, so I went back up to my old bed. The very young intern "Tanner" came a little later and told me I could leave once I drank some "bariatric fluids". He didn't know what that meant, really, as he was new to the "service". God, I was so thirsty, I could have downed bottles of stuff, but took it slow. Given how fast I had to/could drink that awful fluid for the barium swallow, god knows I could get more down. At that point, I started pushing the nurse for when I could leave. At 6pm (yes, 6pm), I finally got the young intern to spring me. The gave me a script for Lortadine Elixer and sent me on my way.

Stopped on the way home and filled the script, and then sat to watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony. Had a nice popsicle. Went to bed, but could not sleep. Actually, could not sleep all night. Actually went out and "slept" on the couch. I think that the pain meds have the exact opposite effect on me as they should -- they make me wide awake!!!

Congratulations, Harp - Let's see... I was in the hospital at 12:00pm and out on the street in a driving rain at 06:30 the next morning, so sometimes a delay can be a blessing in disguise. Good luck with the next few weeks, you are starting on a great adventure.