But I've gotten behind and ahead of myself here.
Let me start from Monday, September 26, 2011 at 4:00a.m.:
Here's my last picture:
We made the 55 minute trip to San Jose down a deserted highway 280. We made it to the hospital before of any of the day shift staff and the nice night security guard let us inside to wait until someone got there.
I was the first patient in the Pre-Op holding area and my nurse, Kris, was there with my chart. Thankfully, they had corrected the mistake of having my last name wrong and everything was ready to go. I just had to sign the paperwork and then become a patient.
I weighed in at 299lbs and then proceeded to put my dignity into a plastic bag and put on a patient gown. They had the most incredible patients gowns! There was an adapter which connected to a wall unit and it blew warm air all around my body. I was given a controller to regulate the heat to my comfort! Since they always have to start an IV, there are pockets in the front of the gown, which have it's own little warm air source, so your veins are easier to find. Although, that part didn't work for me; Kris had to stick me twice. For the prevention of blood clots forming, I was fitted with a pair of compression stockings which are hooked up to a machine and the stockings blow up at different intervals.
The Bariatric Nurse, Meg, who I had spoken to earlier came in and gave me a goody bag with some samples of bariatric products and a folder with all sorts of information for support groups and things online. She told me my belly I would feel like I did a thousand crunches (she was right). I also signed more papers for my data to be part of a study. I hope it makes it easier and easier for people to get this surgery to save their lives.
My blood sugar was 138, not too bad for being off Metformin for a week. The anesthesiologist came in to say hello and I told him he was the most important person in the room to me. Then Julie and Dr. Jossart came by too and it was just about time to go....
I had to walk to my operating room.....
To tell you that felt stange, would be an understatement. I had to walk by a bunch of people and all I could think of doing was wave...like the homecoming queen-kind-of-wave. I had the nicest escort to the room though, she told me this would change my life so much for the better and that I was a beautiful woman and it will be great.
Of course, I hadn't had any narcotics yet, but it was odd to walk into the room without a mask on and just say : "Hello, team!"
When the circulating nurse put a blanket on me, she looked me in the eyes and said: "This is the beginning of your new life"
Dr. Jamieson, the anesthesiologist, then told me he was starting to give me the anesthetic and I took a few good, deep breaths...
I wake up later....
I'm sitting up and feel like throwing up. Oh my God, it is the worst feeling! The nurse said she'll get me something and all I can think is: I hope she gets it soon! Something goes into the IV and I start to feel a little better. They decide to move me to my room and I vaguely remember seeing John in the Surgical Waiting Room and waving at him (of course!).
After finally getting into my private room, and getting all hooked up and checked in, I was needing something more for the nausea. My nurse, Tu, got me what I needed immediately from the "pod" she rolled around which was a laptop computer on top of a small platform with drawers of medications underneath. My ID band had a bar code, so any time Tu did anything or gave me any medications, I got scanned.
I was set up with a PCA pump (patient controlled analgesia) and I could use it at my need by just pressing a button and a certain amount of morphine slipped down the tube to cover me with slumber and no pain.
The rest of day was in and out of sleep(consciousness?). I briefly remember seeing Julie and Dr. J come by to see how I was doing.
John stayed by me side the whole time, giving me kisses on my head and holding my hand (and sometimes napping with me).
When I was moved into the room, and my bed was parked, I did look up at the ceiling and saw the back of a large, heavy semi truck with those license plates and I felt like I was just rolling on the pavement.
I think it must have been hauling back-hoes!*
* j/k......I did hallucinate though...
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