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Bea's post op laproscopic fundoplicationn Part 1 of 2

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Posted 5/12/2009 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bea,
Don't worry...the really quick fullness will get better. I remember when we went out to eat the first few weeks, my son was embarassed by my eating...he said I was acting anorexic. I'd order a half order, and eat a quarter of it! But guess what...I can eat almost a whole meal now! It stuffs me, but I'm eating quite normally. I have to remember to eat slowly, though...I sometimes get a little frisky, and irritate my wrap.

Really, you'll be eating more before you know it. Look at the bright side...it's a diet you can stick to!
Have a great night, and feel well. Enjoy exploring foods you can eat!

Bill,
Hope your pain is better today. Hang in there! Keep that great attitude of yours.
Denise
Posted 5/13/2009 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
Bea -
Hope things are still going well. I am down to 5 more days! I wish I knew what time I had to be there, but I won't know until Friday afternoon. I got all my paperwork done and couldn't believe they didn't give me any hassle. Usually it's 20 questions that is none of their business anyhow. They even suggested I start my medical leave starting last week when I called in before I even gave them the doctors orders to do so. Strange. At least I am all set now, just waiting for the 18th.

Take care,
Bill

Post Edited (opnwhl4) : 5/13/2009 9:51:22 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/13/2009 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bill,

 I was worried about you yesterday. I didnt see any posts.I heard from Denise, so i knew she was fine. How is the pain? Has it eased a bit/ 5 more days for you woot hooy . I went to the doctors office to pick upmy disability papers.  I assumed it was done. NOT!!They told me to come  back 2day. I realized they only filled out my employee disability papers and not the other set which is AETNA. Aetna has called me since Friday reuesting the doctor fill out the attending physician statement. The doctors office said they never received anything from AETNA, so I had to show them the cover letter of a fax with confirmation that it was infact sent to the suregon. I also said , "I dropped both sets off way ahead of time". So now she gives me my HR papers which by the way was not correct "Did patient require hospital stay ? She checked no. I had to correct her.Now she says, so would you like me to fill this attending physician statement. duh ?yes that would be nice. I would like to get paid to pay my bills????? She said Ok I will fill them out and fax them.  I said Great, when your done faxing to them, fax me the confirmation along with the completed attending physician statement. She said "You dont trust me to send them today" I said "Do I look like I trust you/ after I found errors on here and the fact that AETNA faxed the paperwork and I hand delivered the aetna papers with these, Do I look like I believe you?Sorry,please follow through with my request and have a nice day,I would like to go to bed 2day without any stress Thank you".

SoI never went to my HR office with the corrected  completed papers because "I was overwhelmed from this ordeal."I didnt want to go postal on the next person should they make the slightest wrong move with me. I figure wait till 2moro so my stress tolerance for idiots will go back down and I can tolerate the next idiot savant on my  journey to conquer HR with the American disability Act/Law.

Well Imgonna rest now.Oh I had mashed potatoes from Boston Market.One of the small sides ,and boy did i eat the whole thing.I dont even know  howmany spoonfuls  it was.I am sorry now I didnt count them.I just graduated Pre-kindergarten (Hopefully going  on to  kindergarten if  nothing goes wrongwith the humungous  side of mashed potatoes I ate.) Although the small side is just that to a normal  person  tome it  was  like amovie "Beatrice and the giant peach."LOL

Take care,

Bea 

Posted 5/13/2009 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
Bea -
Actually my ribs feel a bit better today and the mule isn't kicking my spine as hard either. I have to deal with Aetna also, they can be a pain in themselves sometimes. Sorry you had such a hard time with the paperwork. I couldn't believe how easy mine was this time.

Bill
Posted 5/14/2009 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bill & Denise,
I am dealing with a slight feeling ofpsychological abuse here. My family is eating pizza & garlic knots while I am in the bedroom. I asked my husband,"Please kiss me rite nowwith the garlic knot breathe." LOL.god what i wudnt do for a slice of NY pizza.It is the best. I had a carvel sundae.I only ate a quarter of it, but considering I had mashed potatoes from Boston market for lunch, I am doin great.I guess i moved on from a few teaspoons and tablesspoons to a few mouthfuls. I am still dyng for other stuff. I am thinking although I am tolerating the pureed,maybe I should just do liquids for longevity of the wrap.My mind is wondering back,while my stomach is moving forward. Sometimes my mind runs like the NYC MtA sysytem.Its like im on the local but my mind is express.lol
take care
b
Posted 5/14/2009 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
HI Bill and Bea,
Glad you're enjoying mashed potatoes, Bea...must have needed them after your workout! You sound pretty feisty, girl!

I didn't do the disability thing when I was out, because as a teacher we're allowed to collect up to 200 sick days, and I had plenty. One benefit...fortunately, I haven't taken many sick days in the 24 years I've been teaching!

Bill, I'm sure you're anxious to get the show on the road and put the surgery behind you. Best wishes to you. Hopefully you can get feeling better before you go. Hang in there!

Well...we have Grandparent's Day at school tomorrow, and it's going to be CRAZY! Gotta get ready for school, so I can get to bed at a decent hour. I need to really be on my game!
Have a great night...
Denise
Posted 5/14/2009 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Denise -
Have fun with Grandparent's day, should be fun.

Bea -
Remember it takes quite some time for your stomach to heal. Resist the urge to move ahead to fast. Like Denise said, it will probably swell more after the first week. So be very careful. I did something dumb today. My ribs were feeling quite a bit better so I went out to the garage and decided to move an old freezer that is going to get hauled off tomorrow. Shouldn't have done that! Thank goodness I still have some pain meds. I think I will be using the heating pad tonight again.
I know the feeling about the family eating whatever and you can't. They sure can be mean! Soon you will be eating normal again. Well I think it might be time for the heating pad.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/14/2009 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Bill & Denise,

 I am calm nowafter the pizza breakdown lol. Bill, do u have an agressive wife cuz she needs to  whip ya butt!! Are u nuts? Yes, I think so lol. God I hopeya better. Well My  hubby changedmy dressings on my 5 holes.Sore they were.Imnever taking pain killas again. I took a percocet last nite my 2nd onesince  the surgery and I had real  life  dreams. It was junkie status for me. Since when we die we sleep 4ver i will 4ever keep this slogan in  my mind. AWAKE 4ME!!!

nite guys have fun at grandparents day

b

Posted 5/14/2009 5:56 AM (GMT 0)
Bea -
Have a good night. get some restful relaxing sleep. It has been thunder storming here, so makes for great sleeping weather for me. Some thunder, hard rain, a 120 car train rolls by......gotta love it. I remember the goofy dreams with Percocet. I don't take them anymore. I just stick with lorcet or vicodin. That Oxy stuff sends me for a LOOP! My wife has been threatening me all night. She's to the point of breaking my ankles I think.....She has gotten to were she counts my neurontin and makes sure I take all I am supposed to. I don;t like to take them, but I get goofy and sleep all day if I stop taking them. She actually was yelling at my best friend who was over tonight about his meds. He hurt his back and has to take muscle relaxers, which he hasn't been taking. While he was here he couldn't get out of the chair and she grilled him about what he hasn't been taking. She has become such a bully after 20 years of marriage. I can't get away with anything anymore. That's probably a good thing. No, I know it's good thing!

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/14/2009 10:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bill and Bea,
Bill, I agree with Bea about the whip! You don't need to be a hero! I'm sure your family would rather have you feeling better, than have you doing bull work around the house! I hope your pain subsides soon.

Bea, being careful doesn't mean that you have to hang on to liquids, unless that's the only thing you can eat comfortably and safely. You just need to follow the advice of your surgeon, and take the eating path he recommends. You'll be eating pizza soon enough. The main thing you need to remember is to take small bites and chew thoroughly. There is a possibility that you could get yourself into a situation where something is stuck, and you don't want that. My surgeon said that "steak can be chewed to a liquid, but you can swallow a bolus of mashed potatoes that can give you trouble."

Like I said, just take your lead from your surgeon's recommendations and your wrap's ability to accept what you're eating. I had a problem around Day 4--my wrap was getting more swollen. I got spasms, and my mouth began making lots of saliva. It only lasted a day or 2, so if you experience some problems in the next couple weeks, don't panic.

Remember that I experienced some sensations that felt like heartburn (always after I overdid it). I was certain my wrap was failing. Not so. Whether the swelling was allowing some reflux, or my esophagus was experiencing pain that it interpreted as heartburn, I'll never know. However, I'm heartburn free, and can sleep laying flat, and I'm loving it. Most importantly, my asthma is better! I'm having horrible allergies right now--even with my xyzal antihistalmine, I'm having sinus and lung problems. But my lung problems are NORMAL for an asthmatic--not like I experienced before--asthma that was always on the edge of putting me in the hospital.

Well, Grandparent's Day awaits!
Have a good day, both of you.
Denise
Posted 5/14/2009 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Guys,

 I dropped off my papers to HR ,called AETNA, My papers are all in @ aetna.The clinical staff will review my paperwork, then I will start receiving 66.66 percent of my weekly  salary  not exceeding the maximum $459  weekely. So it looks like I will get the $459 weekly. I guess i will make do. i was going to go back to work but according to my doctors papers ,they have me out 5/7 thru 6/18 (approximately) Now since we go to Disneyworld every year the last week of june thru July 11. I will not go back to work until after. It would make no sense. The office girl wrote approximately which means I may or may not .Im just gonna stay home. I will tell the doctor or  he will tell me lol. So now everything seems to be falling in2 place.

Now I will call for my daughter to see which is she entitled too. She had her car accident on 4-22-09. Since she was at work but was on lunch their seems to be a dispute. I will now carefully resist from arguing with idiots. LOL . My daughter is very nonchalant. She needs me and she better get a good pair of balls cause when Im gone she will be lost.She takes after my hubby. Not amean streak in her.LOL. I will definitely get to the bottom of it. I will also call to see when or who is coming to take  pictures of her demolished car.It is in her driveway and taken upspace. It needs to be junked so I shall have a fine day TOMORROW THOUGH. I want to marinate in this good day 2day with HR & Aetna.LOL

I am gonna call the doctor change my pain pills.Bill tell ur friend ya wife is gonna whip him next lol

Take care guys, Hope grandparents day is a blast

B

Posted 5/15/2009 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bea and Bill,
Grandparent's Day was great...they had a great time with their grandchildren. It's always a fun, but exhausting day. Tonight was open House at school, so I just got home. Time for sleep!

I don't know if I'm having allergies or a cold (I hope it's a cold, but I doubt it), and today my sinuses started to hurt...headache time. I hope I won't need to go on another antibiotic. Hopefully it's just irritation. Whenever my sinuses start up, my asthma gets busy.

Oh well. The wrap/stomach is doing great...we went out for dinner between Grandparent's Day and open House...no problem eating anything. Loving that. Bill, your time for healing is coming fast...take care and get rested so you're ready for the surgery! Bea...you won't believe how fast the time goes by as you heal...you'll be eating more and a bigger variety soon.

Glad you got your disability straightened around, Bea. That must be a relief.
Hope your recovery continues to go smoothly!
Denise
Posted 5/15/2009 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys,

 wow denise, you did have a big exhausting day.Hope ya dream of sweet chocolates, rainbows,waterfalls and beaches with white sand.lol

Bill, I had the dr call  in a vicodin prescription.HE GAVE ME 90???? LOL I have 88 left of the 90 percocets he gave me. I wonder does he think I am a junkie.LOL I have low tolerance to pain being an eplieptic so I imagine that is why. Now, I am afraidto takethe vicodin becuz i read some many stories about young kids overdosing etc. I was thinking of just taken a half of 7.5 milligram. Im such a chicken when it comes to medicines.Even taking sezure meds. I do not take anything other then the crestor to control triclycerides and cholest, and an aspirin a day faithfully.I use to take my PPIsalong with this but anything that may make me woozy or have mesleepy i have always stayed away from. Maybe i will get up enuf faith to take a half we willsee. Anyway 2moro should bring a little closure as to the operation time. Good luck,

take care guys

b

Posted 5/15/2009 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Denise -
I am glad you had a good time today. Sometimes exhaustion after a good day feels wonderful.

Bea -
I had Percocet once and didn't like the effects and had the doctor switch them. I am alright with Vicodin or the Lorcet, but not Percocet. My wife's doctor gave her Percocet after her ovary surgery and her hysterectomy. She says that is the only one she prefers to prescribe. I find out tomorrow between 2 and 4 pm what time surgery is. 3 more days! I've got a busy weekend so it should go very quickly. Besides the normal softball tournament we also have my son's graduation/birthday party Saturday evening. So tomorrow I have to finish getting food and such.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/15/2009 12:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Guys,

 yes bill this is a great weekend for you.It will fly by ,the memory though will last 4ever. I was so happy & proud for my daughters sweet 16.Everything was so beautiful that I was content with going in2 surgery knowing I made her dream  come true (Without a brand new car waiting outside too) LOL. I am rooting and praying you feel as great as me.

I have not tried the vicodin as of yet,still chicken.Maybe later I will do a half a pill.Hope all is well

B

Posted 5/15/2009 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bill,
I hope you get a good surgery time. I always prefer first thing in the morning. It's so hard to wait and not eat...In fact, I chose my date contingent on it being a first thing in the morning surgery.

Have fun this weekend with your graduation, birthday, and softball tourney. Wow! You're going to be very busy. Savor every moment.

Bea, it's too bad you can't skip right to liquid Motrin or Tylenol...good luck finding something that works. Too bad they couldn't give you liquid. I don't know what the surgeons are thinking when they give us big pain pills. Maybe they think we can swallow them, but then why do we need to eat liquid or soft food post surgery?

I'm going to my GI doc on Tuesday. It'll be interesting to hear his take on everything. I'm sure he'll be surprised that I'm not off Protonix completely. My family doc has me continuing it because of my tendency towards gastritis. Bill, any questions I should ask him?

I think he'll want me to get my colonoscopy soon. I was supposed to get it in March, but it was too close to my surgery.
Well take care, both of you.
Denise
Posted 5/15/2009 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Denise -
I am not sure I have anything extra you could ask that you haven't already covered through your recovery. He may not be too surprised about you still being on Protonix. My GI wanted me to stay on the meds for 6 months after my surgery just to make things easier on my system for a while. I stopped them early on my own though. They told me that a lot of us Fundo patients stay on the meds just not as high a dose. We usually have the most damage and it takes some time to heal. You have been amazing through this whole thing. I really hope that a lot of people who are thinking of this option take the time to read your pre and post surgery posts. You have offered so much great advice and reminders.
I did get an early surgery time. I have to be there at 5:30am, so I have to leave here at 2:30am. Bad thing about living 3 hours away from the hospital. It doesn't bother me so much, but my wife isn't too happy! LOL. I am gonna get plenty of sleep, she's not. I am glad I still have 3 more years before I have to get a colonoscopy again.

Take caRE,
bILL
Posted 5/15/2009 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Guys,

 bill, Jesus, please take a nap like 9pm and wake up like 1am. Just in case to give u leeway. Im glad it is early.  i am praying for you to have a miraclous recovery such as mine.

I just ate oatmeal.yum yum. i think i will be sick of potatoes n oatmeal lol

good luk  denise at the dr.

take care

b

Posted 5/16/2009 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Bea,
The one good thing about it is I usually work 3rd shift, so staying up will be easy. I doubt if I get any sleep. I don't think I ever have before any surgery I have had.

We have had so much rain here the Saturday part of our softball tournament has been canceled and we are just going to play double elimination on Sunday. Oh, well. gives me more time to get things ready for the cookout.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/16/2009 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Enjoy your weekend, Bill. I'm glad you have some activities to keep your mind off the surgery. Best wishes for a great surgical outcome, and an uneventful hospital stay. How long do you think you'll be hospitalized? Just what are they going to do?

Bea, what did your doctor tell you to eat post surgery? When do you go back to your surgeon? I returned on Day 5, and from that time on, I could use my own judgment on food--the only requisite was that they be chewed to a liquid. That would give you a lot more interesting diet. You need to follow your own surgeon's orders...I was just wondering what you were told.

I'm back on an antibiotic and prednosone. I can't even believe how I've struggled with my asthma this spring. it's those terrible tree pollens. I still strongly feel that the surgery was helpful, and have made my lungs much better. Just shows how bad they were pre-fundoplication. My lungs were in a constant state of inflammation from GERD...whenever I got anything else (cold, allergies), my lungs reacted even more strongly.

I am so allergic to tree pollens that even the antihistamine isn't helping. I was trying to live more normally--windows open...taking my students outside for playtime, etc. I'm done with that now. Hopefully the z-pac and prednosone will get my lungs feeling better soon. I'm lucky that I have a great doctor who communicates with me via email. I emailed him last night, and he called in my meds this morning. I'll be going to see him on Monday afternoon. I am so, so sick of being sick with lung infections. My nasal allergy symptoms are pretty well controlled with nasal washings, Astelin, and Flonase daily. My lungs are just taking a beating. I'm nebulizing, and my husband is doing lung PT/postural drainage after I'm done with the nebulizer. My lungs are so tired/sore, that it hurts to cough. His hitting my back helps get mucous out without as strong a cough.

Well enough of that. Glad to hear (but not surprised) you're doing well, Bea! Good luck, Bill. Enjoy your weekend.
Denise
Posted 5/16/2009 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Denise -
He said I would be in the hospital 1 to 5 days depending on how they do it. They are going to go in and see if they can find what is causing the dysphagia. He saw something that didn't look right on the barium test. So it will be anything from just poking around to a total redo. He had a patient really similar to me he had to release a bunch of scar tissue. I am crossing my fingers it will be a one day stay. I had to stay 2 days the first time because I couldn't get anything down until after the second day. I hope the tree give up on making you and Barb miserable soon!

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/17/2009 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sure you just want them to FIX THINGS, once and for all! I hope your surgeon goes in and is able to find just what's causing the problem. I wish you all the best, and hope you don't have to stay long in the hospital.
Thanks for the good wishes. The pollen is just relentless!
Enjoy your family celebration tomorrow!
Denise
Posted 5/17/2009 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Guys,
Yesterday,we went to my adopted daughter baby shower(though not with papers) I took her in @ 8 years old.She was my daughter's kindergarten on up friend. Her step dad died,mother on drugs. I took her and raised her into a fine young lady. Anyway, we went to the baby shower in new Jersey about an hour from staten Island .I must say it was a long distance ride. I was a little nervous at other ppl's brake lites etc. Not to mention, i was uncomfortable.I made i though.My oldest biological daughter,my hubby & I all purchased the complete nursery for her. I got a little ticked that her mom didnt buy a thing,nor contribute to the shower for her inlaws.Who did a beautiful job. I felt like this was a chance for her real mom to redeem herself. I let go of the fact yesterday that she will never change.Sad for Melissa, becuz she so wants this 2 but has cum 2 terms with her. This is what will make Melissa be the perfect mom,knowing her mom wasnt sh**.
Anyway, while at the shower,I got courageous and ate some rice.I did well. I cant wait to tell my doctor on Wednesday.

Bill, I hope your doing well.2moro is the big day and as you and Denise told me, you will be on your way to recovery and b4 u know it ,it will be over. I am praying for you and rooting for chicago. Hope all is well
take care,
Bea
Posted 5/17/2009 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
Ditto, Bill! Healthy wishes!

And Bea,
It sounds like things are going well for your recovery! You never told me your surgeon's eating wishes for you.
It'll be interesting to see what he says when he sees you.
Have a great day! Sounds like you had fun at the shower. You're a good mom to take in a needy child like that.
Take care,
Denise
Posted 5/18/2009 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, I am sooooo tired. Just going to drink a couple glasses of milk and jump in bed. Probably will watch House and fall asleep. Alarm is set for 1:30am.....Dang that's early. I really appreciate all your supportand will let you know how things go.

Take care,
Bill
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