Update — Two Weeks Out
Just wanted to check in. I had my surgery 6/13 and I’m recovering pretty
much on schedule, I think (and 23 lbs. gone forever!)
I had two minor complications that mhave made the last two weeks a bit
miserable, but I’m thankful that nothing more serious has arisen. First, I
think I
mentioned that I had an allergic reaction to the adhesive in the silk tapes
they covered my incisions with. This got continually worse until the itching
woke me up in the night and I wanted to scratch til I bled. Finally hauled my
butt into a dermatologist and he prescribed some heavy duty cream, and it
cleared up in two days. Don’t delay in seeing a doc if you develop a rash!
The, for the last three days I had a constant pain under the left side of my
ribcage, radiating through to my back. The only thing that brought any relief
was the Vicodin I had left over from the surgery. My doc thought it was
probably muscular, since I had no other symptoms (fever, etc.) Finally I could
stand it no more and went to the ER (my surgeon is in San Deigo, almost three
hours away, so I just went to a local hospital). Nine hours later (four and a
half of those spent waiting, in pain, on a hard chair), turns out I have a
raging kidney infection. Another lesson: if you have any unusual pains after
the
surgery, don’t just assume it’s all part of the recovery/normal. I knew in
my gut there was something wrong. Another word to the wise: don’t assume all
doctors know even the basics of gastric bypass. It was clear to me that the
ER docs knew next to nothing about my new anatomy. For example, they insisted
on giving me Pepcid, even though I told them that the pain was not from
heartburn and I had very little acid in my new stomach!
So far I have thrown up twice. The second time was on a scrambled egg I
didn’t chew enough. UGH! It stuck in my pouch and it took me an hour of
heaving
to get it up.
So, these past two weeks have not been particularly rosy, but I’m hoping
things will be looking up soon. I’m off to my in-laws’ house at the beach for a
few weeks to finish recuperating. That can only be good 
Hope everyone else is doing well!
Cheryl
Lap RNY 6/13/03
265/242