Yeaaaa, my surgery was on Aug 25, 09. I was told to arrive at Thomas Jefferson University at 5am and ofcourse I was late...lol I arrived at 5:30 am and was immediatley registered and directed up to the short procedure unit. I quess I was the first procedure of the day. I was a little alarmed because this was deffinatley not a short procedure. I was called five minutes after checking in and was led into the surgery prep area. I was told to wash my abdomen, legs and arms with these anticeptic wipes (they are sticky as hell). ofcourse my nerves were all over the place and I was anxious. The nurse came in and took my vitals, history and explained to my mother where she would have to go. He was not very personable, it almost seemed like he was reading from a script. That made me a little uncomfortable because I would have liked to trully feel cared for at that time. I mean this was a major surgery I was undergoing!
I was escorted to the PACU and all sorts of things starting running through my mind, what if this wasn't for me, what if I should be getting the Rue en Y, what if my liver didnt shrink enough!!!!!! I sat there starring at all of the people in the room, not knowing what surgeries they were having and if any of them were here for the same thing.I was driving myself crazy!!!!! I was introduced to the nurse and the anesthesiologist, who were very nice and caring. A short while later I was visited by my surgeon who assured me that all would be well. After Slipping me a little cocktail to ease the nerves, I was completely oblivious to my surroundings.
The escort arrived to take me down to the operating room, my heart was ready to jump out of my body!!! They rolled me into the operating room and I almost lost it! The medical team was very polite and helpful. They informed me of each step that they were taking. The last thing I remember was them telling me to breath in teh so-called oxygen they placed over my nose!!!!
I woke up to people prodding and poking me all over. Apparently I was in my room, the medical staff tried to talk to me but all I wanted to do was sleep. The nursing staff was asking all kinds of questions that I was not interested in answering at that time! The nurse let me sleep for a while before making me get up and take a walk. She was surprised that I requested to go to the restroom and that I remembered her name because I was high as a kite...lol I wasn't in very much pain, mostly discomfort. I remember felling a lot of pressure on my chest from the anesthesia. The nurse karate chopped my back to break up the anesthesia from settling in my lungs. The most I ever felt was pressure from gas and trying to breath. They told me I was allowed to have 1 once of ice chips every two hours and boy was I thirsty!!! I couldn't wait to get out of there and to the comfort of my own home where i could sleep in peace. You would think that an ill person would be able to sleep in a hospital right? Wrong, they bother you all day and night taking vital signs, administering medications by IV and bugging you to walk. The next day I was sent downt o complete the barrium swallow that proved everything was well and placed on a liquid diet. I was given lunch and dinner and discharged with instruction that evening. All in all, this was a very painless surgery and I am happy with my decision to go on this journey. I am amazed as I sit here writing this from my office computer only three days later just how fast this process was. I would like to encourage all who have decided to partake in this major journey to change the outcome of your lives forever!!!! Best wished and Good luck!:w00t: