1 week post op for band

JillN · May 24, 2006

Well all, wanted to say hello, and it's been a difficult journey so far!

I was banded on 5/16 at Brigham and Women’s in Boston - released to go home on 5/17. But ended up with complications due to nausea caused (or not prevented) by the anti-nausea medication I was sent home on. It also caused me to be CRAZY - restless, listless, and couldn't settle to anything for more than 2 minutes. Made it REALLY difficult to sleep.<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

I finally called the resident on call on Sunday morning, and he wanted me to come in and be seen in the ER - so we drove the 1 hour distance back to the hospital, and were in the ER all day, from 9:30 to 6pm. I was re-admitted to the hospital, due to liver blood test results being not what they should be, as well as slight dehydration. <O:p

The pumped me full of fluids via IV all day Sunday and Monday, plus gave me different nausea med (Zofran this time), which helped with nausea. I started drinking my CIB in the hospital again on Monday, and convinced the resident I was well enough to go home, so was released on Monday night. I was feeling basically totally back to normal all day on Monday, felt silly to be taking up a hospital bed when I felt so well and there were plenty of others that were way sicker than me, so I don't think it was really convincing the resident I should go home as her realizing how much better I was doing.<O:p

Spent a quiet day at home yesterday (Tuesday), emailed the doctor and PA a couple of times. I'm not sure if this last stint in the hospital will affect my return to work date, but at this point, I’d say I’ll likely need another week off before I can go back to work. I'd originally planned for 2 weeks off (and disability insurance company approved 2 weeks), but again, I doubt I’ll be able to go back on Tuesday next week (day after Memorial Day). I needed a nap after taking a shower this morning, for example, and am really tired most of the time, and doing a lot of resting.<O:p

It's all I can do to sit at the computer for 1 hour now, and as a computer programmer, I sit at the computer all day, 8-10 hours a day, so tomorrow, I’ll contact the PA (Physician Assistant), and ask her to contact the insurance company again, requesting more time off. So I will likely be out for 3 weeks total.<O:p

I think the advise I would give EVERYONE is to make sure you take charge of your own healthcare, don’t be afraid to call if you think something is wrong, even if it's the middle of the night, don't be afraid to go into the ER because there MAY BE something wrong, and don't necessarily think that since everyone takes 1 week off and goes back to work, that you'll fit into that mold as well.

I'm doing fine now, but it took a lot longer than I expected for me to reach this stage in my recovery - I'm now at the place I expected to be at on Friday of last week. So not everyone is the same, and all recoveries are different.

<O:p

shackdog · May 24, 2006

Good Luck with everything

sheryl · May 24, 2006

I think the advise I would give EVERYONE is to make sure you take charge of your own healthcare, don’t be afraid to call if you think something is wrong, even if it's the middle of the night, don't be afraid to go into the ER because there MAY BE something wrong, and don't necessarily think that since everyone takes 1 week off and goes back to work, that you'll fit into that mold as well.

I agree. This is GREAT advice!!

I am a programmer as well. For me, the surgery was uneventful, but I was SO tired for a couple of weeks!! It was all I can do to stay awake!!!

Well, you are on your way now. A slight roadblock at the start, but you are back on track. Good luck!!

DonnaB · May 24, 2006

Sorry you're having such a difficult time of it Jill. Hopefully, with rest and recovery time you'll be up and running again soon. Boost your strength by taking mini walks, even if it's just around the perimeter of your house a few times a day. Keep in touch so we'll all know how you're doing, OK?