Surgery

Surgery: prep

Posted on by nszymonik

Fat Tuesday: March 17 

 Scott was great keeping me distracted and planning and preparing all the meals I would want before I had to fast and start my prep.   We had a pizza party with Scott’s Dad, Ron, and Steve and Rose.

It worked out well that they came over because I also had to go the hospital for blood work an other prep. I weighed 125 at the prep appt.  they also asked me where I got the nice bruise on my arm. To which I explained that was from a training nurse who blew the vain. My arms at this point look pretty bruised from all the needles. 

March 18, “the fast” 

Spent the day trying to be as normal as possible with the kids, having living room dance parties and just enjoying each other.  Our current jams are “uptown funk” and “Shake it off”.  Jeffrey rides his red car around and I hold Cecilia while we dance. We pretty much rock!!

Liquids only and I started prep around 4pm. With my colonoscopy, I followed the Gatorade prep.  This was a super bowel prep. It was basically two bottles of sulfate and egh.  I struggled to get the first bottle down, I can’t even describe how awful it tasted.  Little did I know this prep was going to work super fast, and by that, I mean immediately. 4 hours later, it was time to drink the second bottle, and I knew I couldn’t do it.  One swallow and I started to throw up. Luckily, I called the dr. Exchange and the surgeon was on call and called me back personally.  I explained that I couldn’t quit vomitting and he said I didn’t need to finish the  prep.  I also threw up one of three doses of antibiotics that was part of the prep.

And lucky me, I get to have routine colonoscopies for the rest of my life. I hope I have several more but man the prep sucks.

That night, it was a combo of exhaustion and illness battling in my body…Exhaustion eventually won, and I got some rest.

 Nikki Commentary: Poor Scott, gets a phone call from me, asking him to come home right away because I need to be in the bathroom, and he needs to watch the kids, and oh yes, the bathroom on the main floor will not flush. 

 After Dr. Brabbee called me back to discuss the prep, I told him to get some rest.  He responded, “I’m still at work, Kid!”

  

© Nicole Szymonik and This Is the Pause Button, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Szymonik and This Is The Pause Button with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Surgery: consult 

Posted on by nszymonik

Monday, March 16

Scott and I met with the surgeon late Monday afternoon. Lucky for me, Scott’s work has been extremely flexible through out all of this, so he came by the house to pick me up for the appt. Mind you, he hasn’t taken off any time off through out all of this.  He has only left for the appts and always went back to the office or finished his work from home. He is such a hard worker, anyways…

The surgeon reviewed the plan for the surgery, drew a diagram of the colon and explained how they would go in through the belly button, remove the tumor, about 18 inches of the colon, and reconnect it all with a titanium ring.  

He also reviewed the CT Scan results, any complications that could occur and possible scenerios of next steps. 

I told Scott I wanted a turkey sandwich post surgery and the surgeon said I wouldn’t be on solid foods until I was home from the hospital. That was when I cried. Not that I didn’t understand that he was completely rearranging my GI tract, but I realized this was really happening and it was going to be painful. 

Surgery was scheduled for Thursday, March 19. 

Nikki commentary:  at all these appts, they ask if you have an advanced directive. I guess it is time to get one. Mercy was great and they called a notary for me and within 5 minutes, I had an advanced directive. 

© Nicole Szymonik and This Is the Pause Button, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Szymonik and This Is The Pause Button with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.