My hell continued..

First topic message reminder :

I agree, it is so confusing!!
They did a relatively new process using a bear clip to clamp the hole. So because I was 'fixed' I started on a clear fluid diet. But the next morning there was stuff in my drain bag. So they admitted me to get more tests done, I drank blue dye yesterday to see if it would come out but it didn't, so that's a good sign, but I still have something being drained out of my body, so tomorrow another endoscopy to check it out!
In Brisbane alone now, my husband had to go home to our children, I will just fly home when I get discharged.

6 MONTHS today.....
The longest most guelling, most traumatic, most exciting, most dissapointing, most learning, most accepting, most painful months of my life.
Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement and support. You have helped in ways you will never understand.
Loads and loads of love
Alana

Merry Christmas, and congratulations on your acceptance into University! Yes, with your experience, you will make an EXCELLENT and empathetic counselor.

So glad to hear you are feling better Larns - you had us worried for a while. Also glad you are seeing a counsellor.
I really hope your chrissy is fabulous!!!

Thanks gals. :0)

Doing pretty much most things now, who could believe that I have entered the other side of this!!
I have days where the emotional trauma runs deep and I cant seem to think about anything else, however the majority of the time I am fine. (thankfully)
The counsellor is helping :0)
The dietician says I need to double my protein intake, so I am working on that as well.

I got accepted for a Uni position next year, Bachelor of Psychology here I come.. I wonder if I could specialise in trauma.. I think I already have qualification with that!! ;)

Looking forward to Christmas with my cherubs and wish you all a wonderful christmas full of happiness and joy.. and for goodness sakes PLEASE travel safely.
xoxoxoxoxo

I am just so glad that finally, things are looking up for you, and that one day you will be able to get some of the benefits of this operation!

Your holiday sounds amazing, and I am glad you are seeing a counselor. You have some big hairy life issues to deal with. Least of all, the fact that you may have faced dying!

Glad to hear that Hubby wants to remarry you!

Hahahahahahahaha

Well maybe if they removed my brain I would not be so confused with my strange feelings atm!!

xx

LOL! I read that as 'THEY REMOVED MY BRAIN!!!!'

It has been a long day.

16.5 weeks out.....

Good Afternoon guys!
Its stinking hot in Gladstone today, thats for sure!!
All going well here, guess what happened last Tuesday?? THEY REMOVED MY DRAIN!!! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
I officially have no more foreign things hanging out of me! Just have to get rid of this last dressing and other than a bit of shrinking and quite a few belly scars, ill be back to normal!

So to celebrate and to have some togetherness with my family we went to Heron Island for a mini-holiday.. OMG it was amazing.. highly recommended!! The kids have been much calmer since we arrived home and I have finally decided to speak to a counselor.. I guess im not that great at opening up.


Oh and my husband wants to marry me again! How lucky am I!





Will touch base again after (hopefully my last) Trip to Brisbane on Tuesday, and so help me god if there is something wrong with me again someone better come and save the person who tells me any bad news!! :0)

Loads of Love

Alana

ps/ anyone on facebook feel free to add me or look me up, Larns tubby to terrific
https://www.facebook.com/#!/Larns5

Hi Alana, yiou truly are an inspiration, so brave and strong, be assured that you have many admirers of your great qualities and have given us all something to think about, God Bless you, your wonderful hubby and your beautiful children, I hope you have the most wonderful simplest Happy family Christmas. Hugs from Janie.

Hi Alana

I'm very happy to hear that you are on the mend. It's been a long, awful time for you, and it's great that you not only survived, but even kept your sense of humour intact!

Yes, your hubby sounds wonderful. It's great when they step up when they're needed most, isn't it?

Darn bumpy roads.

Yours is the third story I have heard about that developed a leak after travelling on country roads and then being sent home by the local hospital.

Gosh I hope I don't have the same (or similar) problems when my op comes due but even hearing the horror stories hasn't put me off. I have heard more horror stories from the band than the sleeve and I know I need the operation so I will be travelling full steam ahead.

I agree with you....you do have an amazing husband.

Alana, pleased to hear you are now on the mend.
Your hubby sounds like an amazing man.

Alana
So glad to hear that you are mending slowly but well.
wow that husband of yours what can I say ......amazing just amazing !!Definitely a keeper !!!
Great post and interesting that you still have confidence in your surgeon.It really is a case of walk a mile in my shoes.
keep positive and well

all the best to your family and friends .

Glad to hear things are looking up for you. I too have a husband just like yours. Even though my surgery was relatively smooth sailing he left our huge farming enterpirise, in the hands of capable workmen, and flew to Sydney with me and stayed the 2 weeks I had to stay there. In the past he has had to put up with me flying to Sydney at the drop of a hat to be with my dad who regularly got air lifted to St Vincent's Hospital. He never complained, never faltered and just got on and organised things for our daughter and made sure I was coping OK in Sydney. We truly have a rare thing Larns, husbands who will do anything for us no matter what. They are definitely keepers, lol.

Glad to hear you are finally on the mend.

Hi There!

Its been awhile.
I am doing alright, I still have the drain in my stomach (15 weeks now) I am starting to lose weight, but I have lost the care factor about my weight to be honest. I am just so bloody happy to be alive, I am actually throwing a party on December 10th, the ''Alana Survived Party'' lol, When I was in ICU I said to my husband that I was going to have a party if I survived.. So I am!!
This has changed my life dramatically. I had to withdraw from University wthout penalty, but now have to redo it all :( My kids are somewhat effected, although hopefully they are young enough they will bounce beack, we have a very lively happy bouncing family. We are loud and laugh alot and I wouldnt change it for the world!! Every now and then one of them will say something which breaks my heart, mainly about me being sick, or having people look after them etc.
My husband.... I just dont know where to start with him. I knew that we had a good relationship, but this has shown me what an amazing husband I really have! When I initially had the surgery he was fantastic, he drove 3 hours a day to see me and made sure I was comfortable. Then when I was in incredible pain at home for those 2 days he stayed very patient with me, tried his hardest to get me what I wanted, would take the kids to the park to play so they wouldnt be making too much noise while I was supposed to be resting. We made arrangements swiftly when I got the ambulance to the hospital so he could join me, he never showed any frustration with me at all in that very very hard awful time. When he called the surgeon to discuss my condition he stayed calm and made arrangements for the children imeadiately so he could take me to the hospital. He then stayed calm and didnt take his eyes off e while i was being resuscitated, probably terribly frightened at what was before him, he stayed strong for me. When I was stabilised enough to be flown to Rockhampton, He was just as upset as I was at how terribe the situation was. He managed to contact family, pack my bags and send me away all the while frightened that he may never see me again. As soon as the surgeon called to say I was in surgery he travelled to Rockhampton To make sure he was there when I came out of surgery. He travelled every day for 28 days to the hospital to see me (3hrs a day), he took my stuff home to wash and dry before returning it, he managed to keep everything calm. In hospital he would help me when there were no nurses around to help, and in his own words ''I have done alot of things this past month I never thought I'd do'' ranging from helping me in the toilet, showering me, helping me to move around, helping me with the IV lines and machines I was hooked up to. Learning how to use everything so when I came home he knew what to do. Nothing has been too yucky for him to do, including giving me panadol PR (I think I was more uncomfortable with it than him!)
I love my husband! As I said, I knew I loved him before, but geez I absolutely freaking LOVE my husband now. :0)


Would I do this again had I known what was going to happen? NO
Do I regret this? I thought I did, but I dont
Do I recommend my surgeon? Sure, he has been absolutely wonderful
Do I recommend this surgery? I really just dont know. Is the risk of complication really worth losing your life..

My surgeon was Dr Andrew Russell. He has been nothing short of a gentleman. Nothing has seemed to big or small for him and when he felt maybe I needed another opinion, he sent me to his seniors in Brisbane. I would use Dr Russell again for other surgeries, I would use him for my children. I do not believe what has happened is a result of his workmanship, I believe I was just a tad unlucky and maybe an extra night in hospital could have made all of the difference, but hindsight is a lovely thing! ;)

Cheers
Alana

Hi Larns hope all is well with you and all is sorted out finally! Was just wondering who your surgeon was? Dr J Greenslade? if so I would really like to know if you were his first leak and how he handled the whole thing or what you thought of him?? Thanks.

Hi larns
Havent heard form you or glenmaree in a while hope you both are OK and leaks sealed.

PS I dont go into diary area so have no idea if you have posted elsewhere

Hi Larn

I hpe all is okay with you - Iam sending lots of positive thughts your way

Glenmaree

Hi Larn I was wondering how you are and how the leak is going? I am praying it is fixed and you have flown home already?

And should I be watching ACA for your story?

Hope all is well, positive vibes your way!

What a pity we're in different hospitals! I could be supporting you too. Still in ICU?
They have gone either endescopically or laporascopically to fix me each time.
It's rough...

Hi Larnie

It's a roller coaster ride from hell - I hope your leak has finally been fixed. I am curious - each ime they have attempted a repair has is beed endoscopy or full on surgery. Each time they want to do something I panic- terrified that I won;t wake up or if I do I am on life support - not a nice feeling. Positive thouughts being sent you way fro me



Glenmaree

I agree, it is so confusing!!
They did a relatively new process using a bear clip to clamp the hole. So because I was 'fixed' I started on a clear fluid diet. But the next morning there was stuff in my drain bag. So they admitted me to get more tests done, I drank blue dye yesterday to see if it would come out but it didn't, so that's a good sign, but I still have something being drained out of my body, so tomorrow another endoscopy to check it out!
In Brisbane alone now, my husband had to go home to our children, I will just fly home when I get discharged.