KathyF
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2014
- Messages
- 245
It has been over 13 years since I had my surgery. I just ran across some notes from when I was in the hospital and realized that I have forgotten much of what was happening then. I thought some might be interested in reading them so I will transcribe them here.
Some background: My surgery was more complicated than most. My original reason for going into surgery was not for WLS, but to have a giant ovarian cyst removed along with my ovaries. It was my gynecologist who suggested the possibility of having the DS at the same time. And with Dr. Rabkin that included removal of the gall bladder and appendix. Because of the giant cyst, my surgery was open and I had a very long incision to recover from as well. So, there was a lot going on and I was in the hospital for a week.
The notes were not my idea. I probably would of never thought of it myself. I was very fortunate to have two very good friends, who were nurses, who volunteered to stay with me in the hospital for the first few days. Most of the notes were their messages to each other and a record of what was being done for me. So, here goes!
1. Morphine q3h [? not sure what that means] 10mg 6:45 pm
2. Anti nausea prn.
Reglan request when small amt of nausea 8pm.
Ice chips sparingly.
Ativan - prn
3. Vobyne [?] - breathing exercise 10/hour when awake
(muscle relaxant Torodal)
4. Antibiotic in IV one more time
Temp OK up to 38.5
Give pain meds before AM dangling*
*not possible due to uncertain P.T. time
Refused xtra Morphine @9:45 and 10:15 pm
(Tina) nurse said not nec to reposition her tonight if she is comfortable - They will be aggressive tomorrow with her movements.
10:20 Hand & foot massage with her lotion - she needs this often as her feet are dry & scaly.
10:30 pm Breathing ex. foot movements
11:30 Breathing ex. 122/50 @ 11:45 pm.
Andrea: Please ask about a binder for K's abdomen before they get her up tomorrow - she was promised one by Delphin, a nurse in Dr. Rabkin's office.
1:30 am - new morphine, breathing exercise, requested Reglan
Breathing 5 am (I detach the mouthpiece & rinse & dry at sink after ea. use)
5:15 am 116/52 - 37.5° - 70p - O2 96%
8 am 135/54 - Resp 22 - O2 96% - temp 38°
Andrea - O2 is 2L. like you thought. "KHIN" is nurse for day. (seems very good) breathing ex. 8:20. Must do breathing ea hour 10 breaths. Last Reglan I know of was 1:30 am. She has requested more since 5 am. Please get it for her soon. Barb. Need swabs.
6:30 am - Reglan. 8:30 Pepcid IV. 36.5=normal 9:0 pm. 37.6° - 155/62 - p 100
Hetastarch = Volume exp. & 20 mg Lasix. done 11:30 then can have morphine. Next Torodal = 8 hrs. = 6 am.
7:40 am 1/4/2001
O2=92% - p 102 - 37° temp. cent. - 167/63 (BP increase probably due to increase in IV fluids)
1/4/01
Jossart stopped by will remove dressing tomorrow. Will have Roth contact a kidney specialist re: irregular kidney function. 8:45 am Dr. Roth stopped by -
[From this point on the notes are in my handwriting]
Thurs. 1/4/01
Kidneys not putting out like they should. Dr. J. says it's not unusual with a long open procedure. Blew the vein in right hand from the extra volume of fluids they are putting in me to stimulate kidneys.
1/5/01
Roth - Third spacing - tissues dry - fluids leaking keeping volume high. Jossart - should turn around in a day or two. Lasix
Sat. 1/6
Lot's of pain from gas & 3 people to get labs. Very painful needle sticks.
Sun. 1/7
Foley catheter out. No more labs from Rabkin. Still have gas. No more labs from nephrologist. Taken off IV. Gas better. Hot water. Hand over head.
-------------------
That's it. Frankly, I don't remember much from the first few days. Don't remember the nausea at all. Do remember pain. When they gave me lasix for the third spacing my kidneys really kicked into gear. I was very happy I still had my foley catheter in because it would of been extraordinarily painful if I had to get up every few minutes for six hours in order to go to the bathroom. The kidney doctor said he had never seen anyone respond that well with lasix! My complaint about needle sticks was because they were having problems hitting a vein and sent in three different people to try sticking me. The last one managed to get a draw by sticking a vein at the base of my finger. Very painful. The next day I refused the blood draw. The nurse communicated with the doctors and they decided they didn't need any more blood draws.
Anyways, I hope you found this interesting!
Some background: My surgery was more complicated than most. My original reason for going into surgery was not for WLS, but to have a giant ovarian cyst removed along with my ovaries. It was my gynecologist who suggested the possibility of having the DS at the same time. And with Dr. Rabkin that included removal of the gall bladder and appendix. Because of the giant cyst, my surgery was open and I had a very long incision to recover from as well. So, there was a lot going on and I was in the hospital for a week.
The notes were not my idea. I probably would of never thought of it myself. I was very fortunate to have two very good friends, who were nurses, who volunteered to stay with me in the hospital for the first few days. Most of the notes were their messages to each other and a record of what was being done for me. So, here goes!
1. Morphine q3h [? not sure what that means] 10mg 6:45 pm
2. Anti nausea prn.
Reglan request when small amt of nausea 8pm.
Ice chips sparingly.
Ativan - prn
3. Vobyne [?] - breathing exercise 10/hour when awake
(muscle relaxant Torodal)
4. Antibiotic in IV one more time
Temp OK up to 38.5
Give pain meds before AM dangling*
*not possible due to uncertain P.T. time
Refused xtra Morphine @9:45 and 10:15 pm
(Tina) nurse said not nec to reposition her tonight if she is comfortable - They will be aggressive tomorrow with her movements.
10:20 Hand & foot massage with her lotion - she needs this often as her feet are dry & scaly.
10:30 pm Breathing ex. foot movements
11:30 Breathing ex. 122/50 @ 11:45 pm.
Andrea: Please ask about a binder for K's abdomen before they get her up tomorrow - she was promised one by Delphin, a nurse in Dr. Rabkin's office.
1:30 am - new morphine, breathing exercise, requested Reglan
Breathing 5 am (I detach the mouthpiece & rinse & dry at sink after ea. use)
5:15 am 116/52 - 37.5° - 70p - O2 96%
8 am 135/54 - Resp 22 - O2 96% - temp 38°
Andrea - O2 is 2L. like you thought. "KHIN" is nurse for day. (seems very good) breathing ex. 8:20. Must do breathing ea hour 10 breaths. Last Reglan I know of was 1:30 am. She has requested more since 5 am. Please get it for her soon. Barb. Need swabs.
6:30 am - Reglan. 8:30 Pepcid IV. 36.5=normal 9:0 pm. 37.6° - 155/62 - p 100
Hetastarch = Volume exp. & 20 mg Lasix. done 11:30 then can have morphine. Next Torodal = 8 hrs. = 6 am.
7:40 am 1/4/2001
O2=92% - p 102 - 37° temp. cent. - 167/63 (BP increase probably due to increase in IV fluids)
1/4/01
Jossart stopped by will remove dressing tomorrow. Will have Roth contact a kidney specialist re: irregular kidney function. 8:45 am Dr. Roth stopped by -
[From this point on the notes are in my handwriting]
Thurs. 1/4/01
Kidneys not putting out like they should. Dr. J. says it's not unusual with a long open procedure. Blew the vein in right hand from the extra volume of fluids they are putting in me to stimulate kidneys.
1/5/01
Roth - Third spacing - tissues dry - fluids leaking keeping volume high. Jossart - should turn around in a day or two. Lasix
Sat. 1/6
Lot's of pain from gas & 3 people to get labs. Very painful needle sticks.
Sun. 1/7
Foley catheter out. No more labs from Rabkin. Still have gas. No more labs from nephrologist. Taken off IV. Gas better. Hot water. Hand over head.
-------------------
That's it. Frankly, I don't remember much from the first few days. Don't remember the nausea at all. Do remember pain. When they gave me lasix for the third spacing my kidneys really kicked into gear. I was very happy I still had my foley catheter in because it would of been extraordinarily painful if I had to get up every few minutes for six hours in order to go to the bathroom. The kidney doctor said he had never seen anyone respond that well with lasix! My complaint about needle sticks was because they were having problems hitting a vein and sent in three different people to try sticking me. The last one managed to get a draw by sticking a vein at the base of my finger. Very painful. The next day I refused the blood draw. The nurse communicated with the doctors and they decided they didn't need any more blood draws.
Anyways, I hope you found this interesting!
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