The hospital nurse weighed me and took vitals. I was shocked that I had eaten myself up to 305. I gained 5 pounds the last week with my last suppers. She had me remove my clothes and put them in a plastic bag and put on the blue lunch lady hat and gown and sexy booties. I was then taken back to the pre surgery room. The anesthesiologist came back and talked to me about allergies and let me know what she was going to do and what kind of medication she was going to be administering. She was very nice and friendly.
The surgery intern Dr. Arnold came back in the pre op surgery area, he was oh so sexy. He explained to me what was going to be going on and asked if I had any questions. I reminded him that I wanted to be proximal and not distal as Dr. McCarty had originally planned during consult and also reminded him about gallbladder removal. After I talked to Dr. Arnold, Dr. McCarty came back and we discussed the same as I discussed with Dr. Arnold and we were all set to go. The medicine starting working and I was wheeled to OR and then asked to slide over to gurney and while on the gurney they gave me some more medication that stung like hell and that was all I remember.
My mom says that in recovery room I was talking sensibly and showing them my stomach scars and talking so much that they were trying to shut me up, but I do not remember any of that. My mom says I was talking as if I did not have surgery.
6/7/02 - I remember being taken from recovery room 7:00am and being so thirsty, but I was only allowed to suck on this green sponge on a stick, but it was a lifesaver. It felt so good to just be able to suck on an ice-cold sponge soaked in ice water. I was then wheeled down to my room. After being wheeled to my room and being allowed to sleep for a while I was taken down to have my leak test. I was feeling fine and wanted to walk, but they would not let me walk that far. I got on the bed and they pushed me down to drink the nastiest orange stuff I had ever drank in my life. It was so nasty I almost vomited. I had no leak, so then I was wheeled back to my room to sleep.
I had other plans though. I just wanted to get up and walk and walk and walk. I was doing all that I knew to stay up. I walked around the nurse’s station so much that they all knew who I was. I was constantly getting ice and walking. The staff then brought me my lovely lunch which was whole milk (wrong kind), chicen broth, Jell-O, and grape juice. I never had such a delicious meal after surgery. I was full by the fifth bite. It was such a weird feeling. The rest of the day consisted of walking and reading ad family visiting. Dr. Brown and Dr. McCarty both came in to check in on me and I was so glad that they did. Everything was fine and my pain was minimal if any. I could not get comfortable at night to sleep. The nurses kept coming in all hours of the night anyway so sleeping was virtually impossible anyway.
6/8/02 - Next morning Dr. McCarty came in and saw me and asked about my pain and knew that I had been walking and being active and was in little pain. I was then released and my roommate Shanna came to pick me up and we went to run some errands for her because my pain was very minimal. I had a great experience and I have no complaints. I was a very satisfied customer.
6/18/02 - Looked up bills on United Healthcare website and Dr. McCarty's charges were $31,289.37. Thank God that my cost was only 100.00 to the hospital. Of course that is what he billed, but I am sure the insurance company has a set amount that they will pay. I am so happy I am not going to be in debt over hospital or surgery bills.
