Exchange City

Ok I am back. I went to visit my mom's grave this weekend. I am feeling better kinda from the cold. I have shed many tears.

I know this may sound weird but I sat there this weekend and told my mom all I have been through. I feel a little silly but at the same time I feel so good.

Well it has been an emotional weekend I will go to bed in a bit.

I will read up on all the posts. I hope all is well.

Gunner I have thought about you alot this weekend. I cant wait to hear from you.

Rebecca

Dear rebetata -

your story brings tears to my eyes.  I lost my mom almost a year ago.  I haven't yet been able to do what you did and I think it was important for you to tell her everything.  Tears are good, they are a release. 

I bet you'll sleep very well tonight with getting all of that off your chest.  Praying that you're doing well and that the infection is all gone.  Thank you for sharing your story.

xo

Thanks Getty and others for your kind thoughts this past week.  My exchange surgery on Wednesday went well.  I had a lot of pocket work done, so I'm still on percocet round the clock, but I'm actually feeling better than I expected, and I look better than I expected as well.

I did have a little scare though after my surgery.  The day after my surgery, I got a call from the hospital letting me know that one of the nurses had made a mistake that they wanted to let me know about (that intro was enough to terrify me).  In the recovery room, I was given IV fentanyl for the pain.  Apparently, the IV vials/bags hold more medicine than the normal dosage and the nurses are supposed to throw out the remaining medicine.  Somehow, the nurse used another patient's leftover medicine on me - even though each vial is clearly labeled with the patient's name.  They told me there was no chance of infection, but I was terrified until I got the results of the other patient's blood tests (luckily, it turned out that the other patient was in the hospital for in vitro, so she was very healthy and had been tested for HIV, etc.).  I was also fortunate that at least I was given the correct medicine (we both had been prescribed fentanyl), since obviously the nurse hadn't bothered to read the label, so I could have been given anything.  As I've mentioned in my earlier posts, I got staph infections after my last two surgeries, so this "mistake" was extremely scary for me.  I've had all my surgeries at NYU, which is supposedly one of the top hospitals in the country, so I still can't believe this happened.  I really like my doctors - both my BS and PS - but I'm not particularly happy with the hospital.  My parents came up to NY for my surgery, and my father is a physician, so luckily he was here and spoke with numerous doctors and administrators about what happened. 

Getty, glad to hear your surgery went well.  Gunner, sorry for all you've been going through lately.  Hopefully, you are recovering well.  Best of luck to everyone having surgery this week.

Lisa

Lisa -- wow what a story!  I'm surprised they called you and told you (frankly).  But it was the right thing to do and it's good to know that all is well... both with that and with the post-op in general!

Anna -- good luck with your fips!  How exciting to be so close to done

Rebecca -- it sounds like a really good experience in spite the tears.  Good for you for going there and for coming through the other side of all that emotion.

Although the hospital did call and tell me what happened, they waited until 5:30pm the day after my surgery to call (I was out of the hospital at 3:30pm on Wednesday and they would have realized the mistake - that my fentanyl vial was still full - that afternoon).  They obviously spent a day discussing the situation with their lawyers and risk management before someone decided that they had to call and let me know.  My father is VP of Medical Affairs at his hospital in addition to being a physician, and he was furious with both what happened and the way they handled the situation (it violated so many Joint Commission regulations).

Lilah - Thanks so much for your message.  You're always so supportive.  I'm sorry you had to go through 2 lumpectomies, chemo, and MX.  I'm glad you're done with all of that.  I'm just happy I'm done with everything now (I'm still deciding whether to get nipple reconstruction - I'm not planning to get any more procedures any time soon).  Lisa

Lilah - Congrats on your port removal!  I think it sounds like a good idea to wait for your nipple surgery.  I can definitely relate to being sick and tired of surgeries! :-) Lisa

Glad it all went well Elizabeth!  Sounds like your daughter even behaved well   Rest up and take it easy for a few days at least and wahoo it is done!

Elizabeth:  Congratulations on your surgery going well!  Rest up and take care of yourself and don't try to do too much and let yourself heal.

Lilah:  I didn't know that you still had a port in so I am glad you got it out.  I wish that I had been offered a port, because now I no longer have any veins!

Rebecca -- I'm so sorry you had such an emotional weekend, but it sounds like it was helpful for you in the long run.  Your message made me cry and I think you are extremely brave. I lost my Mom in '07 and have only been able to visit her grave once. My stepfather chose to inter her ashes in a horrible place I can't bear to visit, so I keep her picture close by and she is always with me in spirit.

Lilah -- I didn't realize you were recovering from port surgery.  It is great thing to get rid of the port -- mine was removed at first exchange in 04/09 and now the scar is barely visible.

Elizabeth -- LOVED your description of surgery day and am so glad that angel was there for you. 

I'm dreading appointment with PS today because he will likely give me a hard time about removing my drain.  Can't believe I did that -- am thinking it was an out of body experience -- LOL.  The surgery site looks as great as a flat, stitched up, bruised chest can look, but I need to hear that from PS, too. Got blood test results by mail on Saturday and my TSH is very low and cholesterol is very high (Femara??), so that is a bummer.  This crap never ends, but looking at the alternative, that's a good thing.

Have a good day... 

Gunner, Welcome home, loved the angel part of your surgery day!  Rest and get well. 

Bonnie - Still can't believe you pulled your own drain out.  Interested to hear what your PS has to say (I think you're seeing him/her this afternoon).

Firni - I also wonder whether the hospital would have called if they knew who my father was.  Also, my sister is a lawyer - she actually works in health care law representing hospitals.  Thank g-d I'm healthy and the hospital's mistake didn't cause major problems (which it certainly could have).  Emotionally/psychologically, I'm really glad my father was here to ask all the right questions and assure me that I was safe - he agreed that the story given by the nurse manager who originally called didn't make sense.  He spoke with the hospital's chief epidemiologist and asked for various reports and tests (the nurse manager said she couldn't provide the info requested).  He was originally going to meet with the CEO of the hospital, but was satisfied with his discussions with the epidemiologist.

Firni-- I am LOL : - P  Surely your PS was kidding!?  

Bonnie- I do understand your dreading the appointment with your PS today. But you had no choice, the drain was coming out! If he is a good and compassionate doctor, he will understand. Don't worry. It happens. 

I did something similar myself... but worse. I broke my little finger and my whole hand and wrist were casted. The ring and little fingers were curled up and the pointer and middle fingers straight out. It was very awkward and restrictive, try it. My first night with the cast, I was crazy, so at 2 a.m. I got out the Dremmel and cut it off! Tell me how stupid that was. The next morning I could not believe what I had done. I was embarrassed to confess to my doctor, but she was actually VERY understanding and said "it happens." And then she came up with a different treatment option.

Lisa-- I read your post about your exchange surgery. Whoa.. that's scary. I hope you are doing well. I noticed that your lumpectomy dates are pretty similar to mine 5/15 (just 1). I had BMX on 7/15. I am envious that you have already had your exchange. Hopefully, I will be able to post my exchange date next Monday afternoon after my PS appt.  

Kansasmom - I hope you get your exchange date when you see your PS next week.  And I hope your surgery is a lot less eventful than mine.  It is really nice to have the TEs out.  They were so hard and uncomfortable.  My post-surgical pain is getting better each day (I had a lot of pocket work).  This morning I only needed to take half a percocet.  Unfortunately, I have really sensitive skin.  I am allergic to latex so I had to be the first surgery of the day.  Even with all latex-free gloves, bandages, etc., I still had an allergic reaction to the bandages and the betadine they used to clean me before surgery and now have terrible hives all over my chest and stomach.  Very itchy, but better than being in pain. :-)

Firni... BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Loved it!