Just want to share my story with as many as I can.......It does get better

[DivaNurse 171]

Were do i start. Am I going to start. As many of you know I was sleeved on the 19th of Feb, the surgery went quite well, my Dr said my liver was lovely. The problems for me started after the surgery and boy did they start. They went to remove the intubation tube and then it started, vocal chords started to spasm, Fluid started to fill my lungs, throat begin to swell, the it shut down, clamped closed. I WASN'T BREATHING!!!!!!they were able to reintubate me breathing begin again. I guessed they tried again to remove the tube later and again I WASN'T BREATHING!!!!!!!!! (long pause, this is very emotional for me) after 2 attempts ti reintubate me to help to breathe I was placed on a vetilator, I COULD NO LONGER BREATHE ON MY OWN!!!!!! For 3 days I was on the lifesaving machine and in the ICU for 3 days. on that morning I was able to be moved to med/surg and on the floor for 5 more days. My blood sugar stayed in the medium 60's nothing they did would keep it elevated for more than 10 minutes at a time, we had to do something. In addition my blood pressure stayed dangerously low, heart rate seemed to race just because it was 2 o clock. My throat was very very sure and felt as if something was stuck there. Which was very very possible due to all the trauma it endure ...BUT I WAS ALIVE, I WAS ALIVE!!!!!!!!! It seemed has though one problem gets fixed another erupted. Drinking anything even sucking on ice chips was a major task not because of the sleeve but because of my throat, yes you guessed it I WAS DEHYDRATED, SEVERELY DEHYDRATED!!!!!!!! so what do you do increase IV fluids, that seemed to pose another problem within itself.....THE FLUID WAS NOT LEAVING!!!!!!!!!They really wanted me to take in fluid on my own, not possible I told them, I felt like something was stuck in my throat, I was feeling full up to my nose ok, FULL UP TO MY NOSE!!!!!! All I did was watch trays come and go come and go. My urine output was disgustingly low, no where near what it should have been for all the fluids I was taking in. I forgot to mention I hadn't had a bowel movement since the day before surgery. So nothing is MOVING NOT GOING ANYWHERE. but guess what I WAS BREATHING AND I WAS ALIVE BREATHING WITHOUT ANYHELP!!!!!!!! Despite those problems I m still thankful to be alive. I could barely walk for various reason , being lightheaded and dizzy due to low sugar and blood pressure, pain my entire abdominal region, my vision was effected also it sucked it sucked to be me........BUT MY GOD I WAS ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!! so what did I do I got up and walked when physical therapy came in. Could I walk on my own BUT OF COURSE NOT!!!!!!!!SHE CAME IN WITH A WALKER......OMG A WALKER.... But I kept pushing.......I WAS GOING TO SURVIVE AND SURVIVE VICTORIOUSLY. There was no way I was walking out of that hospital with a walker, a cane, or oxygen....I neglected to tell you my oxygen level keep dropping down in the eighties.........BUT PEOPLE PLEASE LISTEN TO ME I AM ALIVE TO TELL HOW I BECAME A MIRACLE!!!!! This got really long and I am sorry. SOLUTIONS: how do we control the sugar fluids with D5 to keep sugars stabilized ...yes working, Blood pressure....still stumped on this one, increase the fluids, ahhh but a problem it is not leaving.....it's not were it is supposed to be either because my blood pressure is still low. feeling full to my nose, ahh lets try a suppository, embarrassed because someone now has to place something in my bottom, nope and why you ask, I AM ALIVE AND I BREATHE ON MY OWN... but guess what it didnt work, so what do we do , lets try 2 suppositories then, okay guess what nothing i mean nothing, but I am walking a little further now, refused to use the walker, just me a nurse and the trusty IV pole. I notice something strange though as i increase my walking distance, nurses, hospital staff members whom all see to know me were happy to see me up and walking, and so happy for me and how they prayed for me. I was none as the nurse in the ICU that works in corrections...During my 5 days on the medsurg floor those miss days from my life slowly begin to get filled in. One nurse Natalie even told me she was complaining to me one day she knew i would understand because i was a nurse, i asked her what I said she said i shook my head in agreement and went back out....But to finish up before I put you all to sleep, things got better slowly, I had a moment one evening wasn't pleasant, there was lots of tears lots of crying from me my nursing caregivers...my emotional stability was on the verge of eternal decline. I was nausea extremely nauseated, once i started vomiting which amounted to almost nothing except fluids were coming from everywhere, the pain during this episode was incredible, i was embarrassed wishing i had never done the surgery, hating myself for putting myself through this torture But all that was endure during was my turn around, my breaking point so to speak, after 2 days and night sleeping in a chair because laying was to painful and uncomfortable, that wonderful nursing staff at St Joseph East Hospital cleaned me up, restarted my iv which gave up after 4 days of fluids meds and blood draws had to be redone, dressed me in a clean gown dabbed my head with cool towels, held my hands, hug me cried put me to bed and assured me all is going to be okay as i cried and sniffled they covered me up with a sheet and my afghan brought from home, told me they love me and try and get some rest.....(crying now),things begin to get better.........and eventually i came home this week and have been reflecting over the past fews days and the changes that are going to take place in my life. Surprising to some reflecting doesn't really include loosing weight, it's going to happen that's why I had the surgery, but because I had a life altering experience living as i did prior to 2/19 can not be the same and will not be, am i going to crazy and start wilding out HECK NO, to old for that.......but life now has become even more precious to me than before and I am going to treat it as such...........I went in for a sleeve and came out with a new lease on life....................................

[AHolman70 5]

Well, hello Divanurse!!!!!!! My name is Ann... I love hearing people's stories after surgery... I think more of us should do this that have had complications with this weight loss surgery!!!! I have had a TERRIBLE time also. I'm not being negative to anyone wanting to have this surgery!!!!! But, I think it's good for people to hear!!!!!!!!!!! I had my sleeve done dec.31. Iv lost 55 lbs so far, yes, that sounds great, but Iv had a terrible time. My surgery went good, I also had a hernia fixed, witch I have never had issues with.. My first two weeks were great.. Didn't have much pain at all.. By the third week I noticed how hard it was to eat it or drink Water and ice chips... I let it pass for another two weeks, still no better.. Went to dr. And he said nothing was wrong also have had BAD constipation..... I ended up in hospital because my esophagus was narrowing and it had to be dilated open ... I was in hospital for three days... I'm still getting lite headed and dizzy ... My Constipation was still very bad... I tried everything .. Called my dr. Alot and told them, they just get plenty of fluids and take stool softener.. So, last Tuesday I went to dr. And told him in person, needless to say , I can't really walk at this time, I had so much pain and pressure.. He told me to go home and do a enema, I did... That made my pain worse.....so the dr. Had me admitted last Tuesday night at hospital... I just got home last nite!!!!!! So for a whole week I was in the hospital having over 10 enemas three colonoscopy and a scope down my throat .. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy...????????????I finally got cleaned out and now I have hemroids and a ulcer from all that.... I was also told I know have a problem with swallowing and it's still too hard to eat ....... I'm not upset because I had the surgery, I'm only 8 weeks out, I still have to heal, I wish he never would have messed with my hernia..... But, it's done with now, can't be upset about the past, I'm getting stronger and will move on...... But, you know, it's good to put your story out there for other people to hear and learn from!!!!!????????

[towanda 13]

Wow you went through it I was sleeved 01-30 I told surgeon don't let me wake up intubated as a respiratory therapist that would freak me out so I know you really have been there and back obviously you are super strong and strong willed I did get admitted to er few days out for dehydration but I'm so gratreful how things went overall still having pain here and there you stay strong it will all be worth it!

[KristieAtkinson 588]

I am so glad to see that you have gotten better thru sheer strength & determination.

Are you in Lexington ky? That's where I am.

[skinnywithin 23]

wow!! and I thought my recovery was rough....Im so sorry that it went that way for you. it must have been terrifying. your story is inspiring in the way that if you have the faith you can overcome the most challenging things in life.

[Geminidrive 389]

Wow!!! God bless you! I'm glad everything worked out for you.

[DivaNurse 171]

Well, hello Divanurse!!!!!!! My name is Ann... I love hearing people's stories after surgery... I think more of us should do this that have had complications with this weight loss surgery!!!! I have had a TERRIBLE time also. I'm not being negative to anyone wanting to have this surgery!!!!! But, I think it's good for people to hear!!!!!!!!!!! I had my sleeve done dec.31. Iv lost 55 lbs so far, yes, that sounds great, but Iv had a terrible time. My surgery went good, I also had a hernia fixed, witch I have never had issues with.. My first two weeks were great.. Didn't have much pain at all.. By the third week I noticed how hard it was to eat it or drink Water and ice chips... I let it pass for another two weeks, still no better.. Went to dr. And he said nothing was wrong also have had BAD constipation..... I ended up in hospital because my esophagus was narrowing and it had to be dilated open ... I was in hospital for three days... I'm still getting lite headed and dizzy ... My Constipation was still very bad... I tried everything .. Called my dr. Alot and told them, they just get plenty of fluids and take stool softener.. So, last Tuesday I went to dr. And told him in person, needless to say , I can't really walk at this time, I had so much pain and pressure.. He told me to go home and do a enema, I did... That made my pain worse.....so the dr. Had me admitted last Tuesday night at hospital... I just got home last nite!!!!!! So for a whole week I was in the hospital having over 10 enemas three colonoscopy and a scope down my throat .. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy...I finally got cleaned out and now I have hemroids and a ulcer from all that.... I was also told I know have a problem with swallowing and it's still too hard to eat ....... I'm not upset because I had the surgery, I'm only 8 weeks out, I still have to heal, I wish he never would have messed with my hernia..... But, it's done with now, can't be upset about the past, I'm getting stronger and will move on...... But, you know, it's good to put your story out there for other people to hear and learn from!!!!!

Ann you are so right. Stories are not meant to scare but to help, reflect and to put somethings into perspective for others.

[DivaNurse 171]

Wow you went through it I was sleeved 01-30 I told surgeon don't let me wake up intubated as a respiratory therapist that would freak me out so I know you really have been there and back obviously you are super strong and strong willed I did get admitted to er few days out for dehydration but I'm so gratreful how things went overall still having pain here and there you stay strong it will all be worth it!

Thank you so much Towanda, had some small complication with sugar levels but i fixed that, got po-op followup tomorrow looking forward to getting on their scale...Walking into my appt is my and will be my Miracal Moment

[DivaNurse 171]

I am so glad to see that you have gotten better thru sheer strength & determination.

Are you in Lexington ky? That's where I am.

Yes I sure am we get together and work this loser bench like nobodies business....Will start going to the gym tomorrow and working my way to Onderland. Have you been sleeved already?

[DivaNurse 171]

wow!! and I thought my recovery was rough....Im so sorry that it went that way for you. it must have been terrifying. your story is inspiring in the way that if you have the faith you can overcome the most challenging things in life.

Wow!!! God bless you! I'm glad everything worked out for you.

Wow!!! God bless you! I'm glad everything worked out for you.

THank you guys so very very much......God did truly work it out and still is everyday I wake up in the morning........Be blessed my friends

[leeann71 539]

DivaNurse you truly are a miracle. I am so sorry what you have gone through the positive from this is that God stepped in and let you continue your life journey. God has a plan for you and you have answered his calling. God Bless you, please keep us updated.

[DivaNurse 171]

DivaNurse you truly are a miracle. I am so sorry what you have gone through the positive from this is that God stepped in and let you continue your life journey. God has a plan for you and you have answered his calling. God Bless you, please keep us updated.

That has touched me more than you know. Thank you so very much, thats all I wanna do is answer his call....Again thank you'

[KristieAtkinson 588]

Yes I sure am we get together and work this loser bench like nobodies business....Will start going to the gym tomorrow and working my way to Onderland. Have you been sleeved already?

Yes. I was sleeved 5-18-12 by Dr. Weiss. I am down 141 pounds! Just broke into onederland myself! Would love to get together with y'all.

[gracefulfaith 8]

Isn't our God an awesome God!!! I'm so very glad you shared your story, very informative, but it also shows Gods work. Normally hearing a story like that would scare me (I'm just starting this journey) but it has given me more faith; to hear how He's healing you. : )

[Wrinkle 37]

Isn't our God an awesome God!!! I'm so very glad you shared your story, very informative, but it also shows Gods work. Normally hearing a story like that would scare me (I'm just starting this journey) but it has given me more faith; to hear how He's healing you. : )

Ann you are so right. Stories are not meant to scare but to help, reflect and to put somethings into perspective for others.

Thanks Diva Nurse and Towanda for letting us know your stories. Your stories just serve to remind us not to take anything for granted. Hope all are on the mend. Thank you for sharing.