At 8:30 (EARLY for once!!) the driver showed up and we all staggered down to the lobby for our ride to the Radiology Clinic to x-ray our stomachs and check for leaks. All but one of us got into the van and we all started crying. We were tired, in pain, miserable trying to drink that crap and I think we had just all had enough. We sobbed awhile waiting for the last patient (and his wife) and then they closed us in and we drove the very few blocks to the Radiology place.
As we walked in, we looked like quite the miserable bunch. Some were crying, some were vomiting and some were just hunched over in pain and miserable. I was the latter. I just felt miserable. I still hadn't gotten more than about half of my barium down and I was still trying to get it down, but I really didn't want to throw up in this public place either. I had my emesis basin with me, just in case. There were Mexican citizens there, waiting for x-rays or ultrasounds, etc. They were all looking at us like were crazy. Some were dressed, partially, some were in pjs. We also got reunited with the other patients that had been sleeved the same day but had been sent to the recovery house. My roommate from the first night was there, with her drain tube hanging out of her pants and her "blood grenade" as Joshua called it hanging out for all to see. There were lots of odd looks. I imagine the Mexican citizens wondered what in the world was going on! There was a lot of whispering for sure. Here is a picture of my drain tube and "blood grenade" from that day --
It took them about 15 minutes of waiting there in discomfort before they finally started calling our names and taking us back for the one x-ray. We had to swallow about an ounce of contrast all in one swallow which was super tough as well and then they would snap the x-ray. Within moments we were told that we were leak free and sent back out to the waiting room. I opted to purchase my x-ray for $20 (talk about a racket - we had already paid for the x-ray in the surgery fee as far as I was concerned) and brought it home for my doctor.
It was very relieving to know that I didn't have any leaks and that I was cleared for sipping on broth, but it took most of that day to recover from the test. I was very sore and began having diarrhea that was like very heavy liquid. I'm sure that was the barium barreling it's way out. I was happy to get it out.
We were told that they would again return for us at 2pm for meds and an IV, but all of us opted to just stay at the hotel. None of us wanted to travel those bumpy roads for a weak solution of a pain med that really didn't help. It just wasn't worth it. We opted to be picked up at 7pm for a trip to the hospital for removal of our IV, meds, dressing changes and removal of the drain.
They told us they would be coming at 2pm anyway for any of us (or our guests) that wanted to go on a short shopping trip that afternoon. None of us were up to going, but my son and one of the patients' mothers wanted to go. We got a call in our room about 1:30 saying that the driver would arrive in 20 minutes. I turned off the tv and tried to nap. After 2.5 hours, my son came back to the room, irritated that they had never shown up! He called the hospital and was told that there had been a misunderstanding and a driver would be there shortly. 40 minutes later they showed up and took them shopping. Horrible communication and no real sense of responsibility to the patients or their guests. :(
The driver was of course late again and it was almost 8 by the time we arrived at the hospital. I told the nurse that I wasn't able to have Penicillin again, and he informed us all that he wasn't giving any anyway and that we should start taking the pills given to us the first morning after surgery. He was totally unconcerned with my welts or allergic reaction. He then attempted to give us a bag of IV fluids but all of our IV lines were collapsed and we were unable to get anything into our veins. He pushed the fluid through the tubing, trying to get my vein to accept it, but it just burned and hurt and leaked under my skin and outside of it too. He offered to give us a pain shot in the muscle in our butts instead, or to give us a new IV for that purpose. I refused both as I was in enough pain and I just couldn't really take the thought of more pain for a ridiculous dose of something that wouldn't help anyway.
He removed our IVs from our hands and that was nice. It was sore by this point and a pleasure to get it out. Two weeks later, I still have a scab on that site, so the IV was obviously large, but it just didn't last.
Next came the drain removals. I was last which wasn't the best, as I got to listen to the others in the room before me. Most made at least some noise and one lady came out crying from it. I asked the nurse how long the tube was and he showed me about 10 inches with his hand. No big deal! I got this! He had me breathe deeply in and then out slowly as he pulled the damn thing out. It was WAY longer than 10" and I ran out of air on the exhale as he finished, but it was out! I couldn't believe how much better I felt having that thing out. It was almost immediate! All of us were very wiped out. It had been a very emotional and painful 3 days and I think all of us were anxious to get on our flights home the next day.
We went back to the hotel and relaxed. Out driver was to pick us up at 7am for the airport, so I tried to get some sleep. Finally we were going home!!!
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