Ovarian Imaging

Well there was some confusion over the imaging. They were thinking it was abdominal, but did not realize it was for an ovarian cyst. Fresno Heart doesn't usually do that sort of imaging but they happened to have one guy who had experience with it, so he did the imaging. He pressed much harder then any person doing imaging had done on me before, it was actually rather uncomfortable. The cyst was still huge. As I left I snapped a picture of the display -  the  big black circle is my cyst!  Lisa and I named it Helga.

Upper Endoscopy

So after the horrific Manometry I was terrified of the upper endoscopy. Alicia went with me for moral support. For this one I would have an IV put it, which also scared me - second IV I've had. The IV took two tries, but she got it in. They would sedate me - I wouldn't be 'out' but they said most patients do sleep through it. My brothers both told me horror stories of their experiences, so I was a bit worried. They had me in a hospital gown, laying sideways on a bed, and had me put a plastic thing in my mouth to make it easier for them to put the tube down my through, then sedation.

Procedure was easy - I did wake once, gagging on the tube, but I fell back asleep pretty quick. The next thing I knew I was waking in recover with Alicia by my bed. Much more pleasant experience then the Manometry! The IV did leave me with a pretty bruise though!

Manometry

That sucked. Soooo completely sucked! I was scheduled for a Manometry at 10:15, I had the impression it wasn't too bad of a procedure, they would put a small tube up my nose and down my through, then have me take sips of water. They have you fast first, and they numb your nose with a spray to help with the comfort.

First off its good they had me fast, because I have one hell of a gag reflex. I have no problem with my nose being messed with, but once the tube hit my throat, my body said 'NO way!'. I threw up the little bit of water they had me swallow. The pushed it down the rest of the way quickly to get it over with. At this point its suppose to become less noticeable. Nope, not for me. My eyes watered, my nose watered, and tears ran down my face the entire time the tube was in. I tried sooo very hard to do everything they asked, but my body fought me like mad the entire time. Worst medical experience ever.

Consultation appointment with Bariatric Surgeon

So, though Dr. Beingesser recommended Dr. Swartz, and I do trust her opinion, I decided to go with Dr. Higa. Kim has been super with providing information and suggestions. Higa recommended the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG or 'sleeve) over Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. I really had gone into this thinking I would just do the Roux-en-Y like my sister did, but I trust Higa, and this procedure can be converted later if I do not have the desired results long term. He was uncertain of the ovarian cyst removal at the same time, and so added imaging of that to my list of pre-op appointments:

• Nutrition Class
• Psychological Evaluation
• Blood Labs
• Manometry
• Upper Endoscopy
• Ovarian Cyst Imaging

I am happy with my decision, we will see where this takes me next...

Surgery Ahead

I had an appointment with Dr. Beingesser, who informed me that my huge ovarian cyst should really be removed. She suggested surgery in February. She also mentioned that if I was thinking of bariatric surgery, I might be able to have both done at the same time. This sounded like a prime opportunity, like the universe was saying 'Now is the time Morgan - you have to have surgery anyways, lets get this done!' And so I left her office with a surgery date in February set and a referral to Dr. Swartz for bariatric surgery. 

Thus begins my journey.

Recovering

Most of my recovery took place on the couch. Work sent me beautiful flowers, which my cats promptly tried to eat. Going back to work on Thursday - yay!

Appendicitis surgery - yay

Onset of Pain
It started Thursday night with abdominal pain. Mostly I was uncomfortable all evening, then finally around 1am or so I decided it was not getting any better and that maybe I should go to the ER. My sister agreed - she wasn't able to go with me since she had a medical procedure scheduled herself early Friday morning. Good thing I had the car, I drove myself to Clovis Community.

To the ER
It was funny to  be checked into a hospital I worked for - gives me a whole new perspective. I waited in the waiting room for some time, in great discomfort but tolerable pain. They called me in to talk to the nurses. I described my pain and talked to the nurses. I was given a pain med and sent back out to await a blood draw. I called David, he had offered his company earlier on that night and I took him up on the offer. After being called back for blood work David showed up. We sat and waited and talked, then I tried to get some sleep. I was very tired, but the discomfort prevented me from getting any real rest.

MRI and IV
At some point I was called back again, this time for an MRI. For that they had to IV me, which meant my time in the waiting room was over. The nurse asked if I was ok to walk to the room, I told her I was. It was rather a long walk. In the room they put in my first adult IV (I am sure I had one when I was an infant and had surgery, but of course I have no memory of that).  I had to lay on a very narrow table and was wheeled into a white machine. It was all pretty fast and proved no more painful then what I had already been in. Then I was given a bed in the hallway - which proved much more comfortable then the waiting room. David was shown back to my hallway bed, and he took a seat in a chair. By this time the painkillers really started working and I was able to get some blessed sleep.

Diagnosis
At around 5 am Friday morning a doctor came to talk to me. Though I didn't have the classic rebound pain, my blood work showed an increased white blood cell count, which prompted the MRI, which showed my appendix was enlarged. It would have to come out. At the thought of surgery I started crying. The doctor assured me I would be ok, and encouraged me to inform them if I was in pain - after all, they had more pain medication then I had pain he said. Surprisingly I didn't really have pain. Sometime after 6 I called work and left messages about where  the project was that I had been working on and let them know that I wouldn't be in. i called my mother and let her know, and assured her via message that I was ok, even though I sounded like a blubbering mess.  Then I slept.

The Wait
Sleeping never felt so good. Mostly I slept all day. I woke up when my mom arrived with her laptop, I helped her get it connected to the employee internet (hehe!). Dad came too, he and mom sat by my bedside and waited. Tegmine came by too, but went home to sleep. First my surgery was to be around 9 am. Then sometime after noon. Then 5 pm. My coworkers texted me to check on how I was. The director of the ED stopped in, telling me Sipho (my manager) had told him one of his people was there and asked him what the hold up,  At one point Sipho, even stopped in - it was nice to see him. Finally they told me surgery would be near midnight for certain.

Surgery
At 11:55 it was time for surgery. I was really scared. Mom and David came up to the prep room with me. Dr. Holmes would be performing my surgery, he looked very young. I started crying again, which made me feel silly. The OR is very bright and cold. They had me shift over to the operating table which had rests to the sides for my arms. I remember feeling very unclothed and incredibly vulnerable. They put a warm blanked over me, and the anesthesiologist put the mask on and told me to count to 15. I remember struggling to breath with the mask, then I was out.

Recovery
I vaguely recall waking up in the recovery room and hurting. The nurses kept trying to talk to me, but I kept falling back asleep. Apparently the plan had been to release me right away so I could recover at home - they had asked me my preference earlier, and that had been my response. My body, however, was not cooperating and just wanted to stay asleep. I woke up fully in a private hospital room, to see my dad's face looking down at me, followed shortly by my mother. I felt pretty good, but darn sore. Mom and dad went home after being assured that I was good and on the road to recovery. David stayed, he had ordered my breakfast for me, which tasted wonderful!

I had an incredibly difficult time sitting up, my abdominal muscles were so so sore. I ended up having lunch in my room as well, which wasn't as wonderful as breakfast was, but that might have been because I was wanting to go home. By 2 pm I was released. We had to wait for a while for staff to bring a wheel chair and wheel me down to the parking lot.

Yaay home!

*written 6/22/2014