While I was at my Mom's house I was on a lot of pain medications. I had to call my doctor because I was out of pain
meds and still in a lot of pain. I had an infection in one of the
incisions which delayed my healing and had to add additional
medications given to me to transition from one med to another. Well this
change from Percocet to Vicodin and 800 mg of ibuprofen every 8 hours . This change in my system made me have a very rapid heart beat. Even while laying as still as I could the heart rate just continued to get faster. I didn't sleep all night. This went on from about 2am till 8am that morning. I called my doctor first thing in the morning. After speaking with Dr. Kamelle's office they felt that I also needed to check with my primary doctor as well. So I called Dr. Nolan and she advised that with the change in meds but also the recent surgery that we need to play it save and I was to go into the nearest Urgent Care facility to rule out a Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
Since I was in Elkhart Lake at my Mom's house, we drove into Plymouth to the Urgent Care. After explaining to the doctors why I was there...yeah this took a while. They decided to run some test, draw blood, start and IV and do a CT Scan. Well they take me all the way to the radiation department and ask me what I weight. Turns out that there machine has a 350 limit and they can't do my CT Scan. So they try chest X-Ray, EKG and take more blood for a D Dimer test. Which is a general lab test to tell you either it comes back negative and nothing at all is wrong in my whole body or it comes back elevated and something is wrong... Well anyone just looking at me should know that is not coming back negative. I have just been through major surgery, I have an infection in one of the incisions and my heart rate is in no way normal. They tell me that if this test comes back elevated in anyway that they are going to send me to St. Luke's in Milwaukee to have my CT Scan where they have a machine that I can get one in.
Let's keep in mind that I got to the Urgent care around 10am on Friday the 15th of December. I have not eaten at all. It's now after 5pm and I haven't been allowed anything but a little juice. Finally the D Dimer results come back and just like I thought it came back elevated. So I am to be transported from Plymouth Urgent Care to St. Luke's Milwaukee. Plymouth Ambulance transported me, nice crew. But it had already been a very long day without my normal pain meds and laying on an uncomfortable cot in the urgent care and now in the rig. So they gave me Fentanyl 100 mg with 10 mg at a time. (yeah I know it's a lot...but I was in a lot of pain for a very long time.) Thank you Plymouth Ambulance for helping me.
I arrived at St. Luke's Emergency Room and was admitted right away to my ER room. After re- explaining everything to them they tried to have somewhat of a plan. They did several test, took more blood. They weren't really sure what to do with me, so they called Dr. Kamelle (who already knew that I was there) and he told them I want a CT Scan, and EKG, Ultra Sound of legs and Cardio Ultra Sound, did blood test on me every couple hours to look for any changes. Dr. Kamelle also told them to continue my pain meds, let me eat, and admit me for observation to make sure that there are not any other changes and make sure that I don't have a PE.
Around 3am I was taken from the ER to a room on the 5th floor in the Cardiac wing. Where I was admitted to the floor went threw a lot of the same test again. Took the normal thing like Blood pressure, temperature, pulse, weigh. Drew more blood, did yet another EKG (third one for the day). And then we played 1000 questions. Needed all of my history etc. let me tell you I know this is there job but by 4am I was so tiered and hungry that all I wanted to do was sleep.
The morning of the 16th my breakfast came, first real meal since Thursday night dinner. It was awful, zero flavor. muffin was the only thing okay on there. the rest was cream of wheat, decaff coffee and milk. It SUCKED!!!
I wanted to get showered and a clean gown on. I asked the CNA if I could shower and they said no because I had a heart monitor on. At the same time I asked for help because at this point I couldn't bend enough to be able to shower by myself. The CNA gave me an attitude and even with explaining that I just had major surgery that I needed help. I asked for a clean gown and towels and wash clothes so that I could clean up and they brought me a gown that was to small and said they didn't have linens. This is such a basic thing why cant you provide this. The CNA told me that she would be back and ring the bell when I needed her but it was said in a way that she was annoyed with me and didn't want to help. So I cleaned everything that I could by myself and called it quits. I am not going to have this girl with an attitude about helping me cleaning my privates. I was very upset about it that it brought me to tears.
I asked my nurse and CNA that morning several times when I was going to get to see the doctor no one ever had a answer for me. Finally after asking 5 or 6 times they finally paged a doctor. It was now dinner time, so after 5pm. The physicians assistant came in and said that all my labs and test were good and that they were going to check with the doctor and if i didn't hear from her within an hour that I would get to go home. About and hour later the doctor finally came in and asked me several times are you feeling ok? After saying yes every time he asked he finally agreed that I could go home. about another 45 minutes later I finally was allowed to leave.
I still had to be taken all the way back to my moms house since I was still under original restrictions from the surgery. So my sister Amanda had to drive me back to my moms house before the night was even done. It was after 11pm when I got back.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
December 6th, 2011- Surgery # 3
Surgery today, woke up at 445 am so that I could take a real shower for the last time by myself and be extra clean for surgery. Left the house at 530 and arrived at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center at 545am. I waited in the line to check in with the Same Day Surgery Department. I was taken back to my room/curtain area that I was going to be getting ready in.
Of course the first thing is change in to a hospital gown, put on the brown socks and put all of your things in save keeping with a family member ie: wallet, cellphone.
Now you get to sit on the gurney and wait for several people to come in poke you with needles, take your blood, require you to pee in a cup, pump you full of IV fluids, antibiotics, nausea medication. Oh and lets not forget take out the one earring that you have in, that hasn't left your in ear in over 10 years and in no way can get it out without a pliers.
After about 1 and half hours in the same day surgery pr-opp area I was then wheeled off to The Pr-Operation room where you now wait another 2 hours get additional IV fluids, and other medications, you meet the nurses that will be in the room with you and any other Doctor that will be in there that isn't your normal surgeon stops by so that you know who they are before they preform an additional procedure that is needed along with the hysterectomy that Dr. Kamelle was doing for me. During my surgery I was required to have a urinary tract stent, this helps the surgeon to be able to see the urinary tract so that it isn't hit during the surgery.Ok I have to add a little funny moment in with this. The surgeon that was going to put in the stent came in to see me and tells me what he will be doing. I kinda throw in to conversation that I recall Dr. Kamelle telling me he was going to use the lighted/glow in the dark stent cause it's easier to see and cause he can. So he special ordered them with my pr-opp paper work. But the other surgeon didn't realize that it was the lighted ones. He had to make a call to Dr. Kamelle to ask if what I was telling him was correct...he didn't believe me. So Dr. Kamelle tells him yup she is right that's what I want for her surgery....that's right I was right, and yes I pay that close of attention to know what kind of equipment my surgeon wants to use on me.:)
One thing to remember is every single person is going to ask you why are you here today. What are you having done? And who is your surgeon? It's not because they don't already know it's because they have to confirm that they have the right patient and doing the correct procedure. So you have to repeat yourself several times.
So as I sit in the cold pr-operation room waiting on the surgery to start there isn't exactly anything to do but lay there, stare at the ceiling, talk to the two nurses that are taking care of everyone else in the room. And maybe talk to some other patients. I was the youngest one in the room...wasn't really surprised about that, but it would be nice if just once I wasn't the youngest in the room.
It's now my turn to go to surgery, time to wheel down the hall and into the assigned O.R. we get in there and the Robotic machine that my surgeon is going to use is set up to the side, the table in the middle the lights above, and all of the staff...there are lots of them. This time I get not only my surgeon, his assistance, nurses, anesthesiologist, 2nd surgeon for the stent, his assistant, and the team that will help with the robotic machine. this room is full of people. I move over to the table and they prep me to go under. Cover the arms with warm towels, Oxygen mask on, everything is getting in place. I get to see Dr. Kamelle for the last time before I go under and then it all begins. I'm out.....
The next thing I remember is waking up in the O.R after the surgery and I am in so much pain I cant even begin to describe that feeling. I'm taken to the recovery room, I was given breathing treatments to help my Oxygen level come back up, I was given pain medication, and the nurses stay by your side the entire time, someone is always with you. About 2 hours past and I was taken to my room.
As they pushed the bed to my room, I couldn't help but think about my family, I was scared even though I knew they were all there waiting for me to come out I felt so alone on that gurney. It was a very long ride to my room from the recovery room. We never left the 3rd floor of the hospital. As we got closer to my room I saw my family walking down the hallway. First I saw my Dad, and I remember saying as soon as I saw him "that's my dad" and right after that I saw my Uncle Gary who I don't get to see on a regular basis was there with all of my family waiting for me and that is the first tear that I caught myself shedding. I was fine until I got into my room. I held back the tears I was trying to stay strong for not only myself but my family, I knew how worried they all were about me and in my head if I stayed strong then maybe it would help them....
All of the nurses came in my room and helped transfer me over to my bed so that I could finally rest and be comfortable. If that's even possible. It was just after They go me in my bed and were positioning me the best they could that the tears started to roll down my face. They asked me what was wrong, it was the emotion of the whole thing that hit me that pain that hit me and all I could say is this is so painful why on earth would someone choose to do this if they didn't have to....
My family was able to come in the room now that I was all settled in. I was very happy to see everyone but the feeling of having everyone there is also very over whelming I felt this need to stay awake, when all I wanted to do was close my eyes and let the pain medication take me to a comfortable place. I laid there in bed unable to move. It literally hurt to do everything, to move to try and hug people to do anything. The pain was intense. I couldn't get out of bed, I had a catheter in, so at least that helped to not have move much. I ate very little of my all liquid diet, it bothered my stomach to eat much more than ice chips.
I tried to sleep once most of my family left. My sister Merrisa stayed the first night with me and everyone else was sent home to get some sleep.
It was a long night of pain. I was suppose to get up and walk to at least the door and back to my bed before the night was over. The nurse and my sister helped me to sit up...I got as far as standing and I was so dizzy that my nurse wouldn't let me try to get any further. Wise choice on my nurses part cause I would have pushed myself to keep going even with being dizzy and most likely would have fallen. I went back in my bed, I don't really remember sleeping much if any. I do remember laying awake staring at the wall feeling pain with every move and having lots of nurses in my room during the night checking on me.
The next morning I was still on a clear liquid diet. Which still hurt my stomach and took forever for me to get down. I was required to pass gas to release the pressure in my abdomen. During the surgery gasses are pushed in to your abdomen area to inflate the stomach so that the surgeon can see around the other organs. But all of those gasses have to come out of your body and until they do expect lots of stomach pain. Every time I ate I was nauseous and in pain. I was on a clear liquid diet for 3 days. Trust me it gets really old after awhile.
It seemed like all the days ran together nothing really separated them except for the visits from family and friends. Thanks to all of them that were there with me threw this and especially my sisters for staying over night with me in the hospital to make sure I was okay. Sleeping on the uncomfortable recliner, and being there for me all night and day.
On the last day before I left I was allowed to try semi soft diet and see what I could handle. I took me forever to eat I mean like hours to eat one meal and had to keep going back to try again because my stomach hurt so bad.
On Friday December 9th around 8pm I was released to go home. But I couldn't go home to my own apartment since I wouldn't be able to take care of myself. So my sisters picked me up and took me to my Mom's house where I was taken really good care of. Both my Mom and my sister Merrisa were my main caregivers. They literally helped me with everything. Helped me get showered, dressed, helped me to sit up/ lay down. I couldn't stand long so they made all my meals, wasn't allowed to lift anything over 10 lbs. so they did my laundry. Wasn't allowed to drive anywhere for 2 full weeks so I had to be taken to my doctors appointments. It was almost 2 full weeks before I could shower by myself and when I did it took a very long time. I wasn't allowed to take baths to not let the incisions get to wet.
Of course the first thing is change in to a hospital gown, put on the brown socks and put all of your things in save keeping with a family member ie: wallet, cellphone.
Now you get to sit on the gurney and wait for several people to come in poke you with needles, take your blood, require you to pee in a cup, pump you full of IV fluids, antibiotics, nausea medication. Oh and lets not forget take out the one earring that you have in, that hasn't left your in ear in over 10 years and in no way can get it out without a pliers.
After about 1 and half hours in the same day surgery pr-opp area I was then wheeled off to The Pr-Operation room where you now wait another 2 hours get additional IV fluids, and other medications, you meet the nurses that will be in the room with you and any other Doctor that will be in there that isn't your normal surgeon stops by so that you know who they are before they preform an additional procedure that is needed along with the hysterectomy that Dr. Kamelle was doing for me. During my surgery I was required to have a urinary tract stent, this helps the surgeon to be able to see the urinary tract so that it isn't hit during the surgery.Ok I have to add a little funny moment in with this. The surgeon that was going to put in the stent came in to see me and tells me what he will be doing. I kinda throw in to conversation that I recall Dr. Kamelle telling me he was going to use the lighted/glow in the dark stent cause it's easier to see and cause he can. So he special ordered them with my pr-opp paper work. But the other surgeon didn't realize that it was the lighted ones. He had to make a call to Dr. Kamelle to ask if what I was telling him was correct...he didn't believe me. So Dr. Kamelle tells him yup she is right that's what I want for her surgery....that's right I was right, and yes I pay that close of attention to know what kind of equipment my surgeon wants to use on me.:)
One thing to remember is every single person is going to ask you why are you here today. What are you having done? And who is your surgeon? It's not because they don't already know it's because they have to confirm that they have the right patient and doing the correct procedure. So you have to repeat yourself several times.
So as I sit in the cold pr-operation room waiting on the surgery to start there isn't exactly anything to do but lay there, stare at the ceiling, talk to the two nurses that are taking care of everyone else in the room. And maybe talk to some other patients. I was the youngest one in the room...wasn't really surprised about that, but it would be nice if just once I wasn't the youngest in the room.
It's now my turn to go to surgery, time to wheel down the hall and into the assigned O.R. we get in there and the Robotic machine that my surgeon is going to use is set up to the side, the table in the middle the lights above, and all of the staff...there are lots of them. This time I get not only my surgeon, his assistance, nurses, anesthesiologist, 2nd surgeon for the stent, his assistant, and the team that will help with the robotic machine. this room is full of people. I move over to the table and they prep me to go under. Cover the arms with warm towels, Oxygen mask on, everything is getting in place. I get to see Dr. Kamelle for the last time before I go under and then it all begins. I'm out.....
The next thing I remember is waking up in the O.R after the surgery and I am in so much pain I cant even begin to describe that feeling. I'm taken to the recovery room, I was given breathing treatments to help my Oxygen level come back up, I was given pain medication, and the nurses stay by your side the entire time, someone is always with you. About 2 hours past and I was taken to my room.
As they pushed the bed to my room, I couldn't help but think about my family, I was scared even though I knew they were all there waiting for me to come out I felt so alone on that gurney. It was a very long ride to my room from the recovery room. We never left the 3rd floor of the hospital. As we got closer to my room I saw my family walking down the hallway. First I saw my Dad, and I remember saying as soon as I saw him "that's my dad" and right after that I saw my Uncle Gary who I don't get to see on a regular basis was there with all of my family waiting for me and that is the first tear that I caught myself shedding. I was fine until I got into my room. I held back the tears I was trying to stay strong for not only myself but my family, I knew how worried they all were about me and in my head if I stayed strong then maybe it would help them....
All of the nurses came in my room and helped transfer me over to my bed so that I could finally rest and be comfortable. If that's even possible. It was just after They go me in my bed and were positioning me the best they could that the tears started to roll down my face. They asked me what was wrong, it was the emotion of the whole thing that hit me that pain that hit me and all I could say is this is so painful why on earth would someone choose to do this if they didn't have to....
My family was able to come in the room now that I was all settled in. I was very happy to see everyone but the feeling of having everyone there is also very over whelming I felt this need to stay awake, when all I wanted to do was close my eyes and let the pain medication take me to a comfortable place. I laid there in bed unable to move. It literally hurt to do everything, to move to try and hug people to do anything. The pain was intense. I couldn't get out of bed, I had a catheter in, so at least that helped to not have move much. I ate very little of my all liquid diet, it bothered my stomach to eat much more than ice chips.
I tried to sleep once most of my family left. My sister Merrisa stayed the first night with me and everyone else was sent home to get some sleep.
It was a long night of pain. I was suppose to get up and walk to at least the door and back to my bed before the night was over. The nurse and my sister helped me to sit up...I got as far as standing and I was so dizzy that my nurse wouldn't let me try to get any further. Wise choice on my nurses part cause I would have pushed myself to keep going even with being dizzy and most likely would have fallen. I went back in my bed, I don't really remember sleeping much if any. I do remember laying awake staring at the wall feeling pain with every move and having lots of nurses in my room during the night checking on me.
The next morning I was still on a clear liquid diet. Which still hurt my stomach and took forever for me to get down. I was required to pass gas to release the pressure in my abdomen. During the surgery gasses are pushed in to your abdomen area to inflate the stomach so that the surgeon can see around the other organs. But all of those gasses have to come out of your body and until they do expect lots of stomach pain. Every time I ate I was nauseous and in pain. I was on a clear liquid diet for 3 days. Trust me it gets really old after awhile.
It seemed like all the days ran together nothing really separated them except for the visits from family and friends. Thanks to all of them that were there with me threw this and especially my sisters for staying over night with me in the hospital to make sure I was okay. Sleeping on the uncomfortable recliner, and being there for me all night and day.
On the last day before I left I was allowed to try semi soft diet and see what I could handle. I took me forever to eat I mean like hours to eat one meal and had to keep going back to try again because my stomach hurt so bad.
On Friday December 9th around 8pm I was released to go home. But I couldn't go home to my own apartment since I wouldn't be able to take care of myself. So my sisters picked me up and took me to my Mom's house where I was taken really good care of. Both my Mom and my sister Merrisa were my main caregivers. They literally helped me with everything. Helped me get showered, dressed, helped me to sit up/ lay down. I couldn't stand long so they made all my meals, wasn't allowed to lift anything over 10 lbs. so they did my laundry. Wasn't allowed to drive anywhere for 2 full weeks so I had to be taken to my doctors appointments. It was almost 2 full weeks before I could shower by myself and when I did it took a very long time. I wasn't allowed to take baths to not let the incisions get to wet.
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