Back home

Two days after my gastric bypass, I’m back home.

I’m feeling fine. Soreness is slowly going and I’m getting used to my new life. Got to go to the surgery later to get a sharps bin. I’m on Clexane for two weeks to help stop blood clots forming. Been given liquid paracetamol for pain, but I haven’t had any (pain) since Wednesday morning.

Also been given suckable tablets for my acid reflux. That should go eventually, I’ve been told.

The rest of my medication can be crushed and dissolved in water. That also applies to my multi-vitamins, althogjh I’ve been given liquid vitamins to take after two weeks.

Have to be careful with Zaphod. He hasn’t left my side since I got home and wants to sit on my tummy all the time and gets upset when I tell him off.

Time for my breathing exercises.

Post Gastric Bypass Surgery

Went to theatre at 12.30 and was back in the recovery room by 3pm.

The last thing I remember was the anaesthetist asking me if I was still awake. Next, I was being asked my name. I was given some morphine for the pain. I remember asking if I had the sleeve gastrectomy or the bypass. I had the bypass. OK.

After a while, I was wheeled into my own room. I feel special! The next few hours I was in and out of sleep; I was aware of nurses coming and going and taking my sats and BP asking how I felt. Everything was fine.

A friend called to see if I was ok. He said he was my brother. Mum would be surprised!

Staff were amazed at how alert I was, so soon after the operation. I put it down to Arnica, a homoeopathic remedy that aids recovery after trauma, and lets face it, I did have some major trauma.

Mum and Alex came to visit last night. They got here at 7.30. Visiting hours finish at 8. Hey ho. Mum was pleased that I was ok. That’s all she wanted to know.

I had a restless night, as always in a strange bed. Should have used my pzizz sleep system. Hindsight is always 20/20!

Had a trainee doctor come to speak to me this morning. He wasn’t one of my doctors, but needed to interview some patients. He was learning to get patient history.  Nice chap. His fiancée has a cat phobia!

Another doc came by later. He was part of the surgical team. He decided to take me off the drip and oxygen and told me I could get up and walk around a bit. Yay. Still a bit sore, but I’ve been given soluble paracetamol.

Next, the bariatric dietician came to give me a list of what to eat when I’m dischared. It’s a four stage plan. Still going through it to see what I’m allowed. I asked if she knew when I might be discharged. Apparently, doctors are talking about tomorrow.

That’s all for now. getting tired. sleepy time.

Pre op checks

Went to the hospital on Friday for a pre op assessment.

The tube was delayed “due to someone under a train at Mile End”. When did they change it from “an incident”? I call ahead to tell the hospital I might be late. As it happens, I was about five minutes late and terribly out if breath because I was rushing.

The good news is I’m alive! I’ve been told I’m heartless, but the ecg shows my heart is ok.

I’ve lost 5kg, blood pressure is under control, lungs are clear and the mrsa test was negative. A nurse swabbed my nose and my throat and I had to swab my groin. The one down my throat was bad. I gagged. Luckily I hadn’t eaten for a while.

I then met with an anesthetist who explained what would happen and asked about my breathing.

It didn’t go as quickly as it sounds. There was loads of hanging around between tests and meetings and bad Internet access in the phone in the hospital. Hope it’s better in the ward.

It was decided that I should go for a blood test, so I dutifully trotted down to the phlebotomy department only to discover it was closed! I’ve got to go back on Monday for that! I can’t have it done locally cos the it systems are incompatible. After all the money spent an the nhs it systems, they still dint work together.

Silver lining, I get another afternoon off.

Watch this space for more news and progress.

Got a date

Hospital called yesterday. 6 October has been booked for my Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. Only four weeks away!

Just waiting for the letter detailing what I need to do before and immediately after, how long I’ll be in for. Stuff like that.