ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: NL on April 18, 2009, 03:52:26 pm
-
Hi Everyone,
I spoke to Peggy (GARZAP) last night and she sounded great - very happy and very relieved. She had her retro surgery on Tuesday morning at House (Drs. Friedman and Schwartz) and was released from the hospital on Friday evening. She flew in from Michigan for her surgery, so she'll be staying a week or so at Seton Hall. Post-op she had no facial issues, minimal dizziness, and some headache that was easily relieved with the pain meds.
The best news of all is that they were able to completely save her hearing - she feels very blessed.
She's looking forward to getting on-line again soon, but in the meantime asked that I pass on her good news and update.
Here's a pic we took on the day before her surgery when she met with our little "LA Welcoming Committee."
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3451120991_a020275eeb.jpg)
Lainie, Nancy, Peggy, and David, 4-12-09
Way to go Peggy - looking forward to seeing you here again soon!
Nancy
-
Great News! And as always...the welcoming committee looks AWESOME!! So wenderful that you all take time to do this!
K
-
Well, that outcome wins the prize, for sure.
Amazing! Great job, GARZAP!
Nancy
-
Nancy ~
Wow! Great news about a great outcome. Thanks for the update! :)
Jim
-
I agree, the whole committee looks great. I'm thinking I need to get going on some hats...
Congratulations to Peggy, it sounds like a home run.
Steve - the guy in the blue hat. ;D
-
YAY! Have been checking in for word on GP and am tickled to hear this good news.
:D
-
Nancy -
thanks for the wonderful update on Peggy. Hearing! Yea!!! ;D
Thanks for the great picture of the LA Gang and Peggy, also. As others have said, you all look awesome.
Jan
-
Thanks, Nancy! That's great to hear! Did she get to the Farmer's Market, I wonder?
Cindy
-
What great news for Peggy!! Welcome to postie-land and you arrive with your hearing you lucky lady!
The welcoming committee looks great! It is such a treat to meet other posties, what a blessing!
-
Great looking group :) Thank you for the update Nancy.
Congrats to Peggy, that's great that they saved her hearing.
Glad she's doing so well, all our best,
Rich & Scarlett
-
Hi All,
I spoke to Peggy last night - she said she's still doing well and has been relaxing at Seton Hall since her release from the hospital last Friday.
Today she'll go in for her follow-up, and will see if she can get the OK to leave town a little earlier than originally planned. If not, she's still thinking about taking in a few LA sights before going back to Michigan. Guess she's feeling pretty good! (I stayed fairly close to home at 7 days post-op for fear of getting a sudden nap attack out in public. :D )
So Cindy, maybe she'll make it to the Farmers Market and The Grove after all. ;)
Either way, I'm sure she'll be back on-line soon. ;D
Nancy
-
Great news...nice pic....hope for a speedy recovery.
-
Hi everyone!!!
We had tried to get an earlier flight home but found out it would have cost us another $1000 or so we gave up on the idea and decided to stay hoping that I would feel well enough to at least do something a few days before we came home...we were bored!!
My husband happened to mention this to a guy from Minnesota who he met at Seton Hall kitchen who was there with his Mom for AN issues. He happened to work for Northwest Airline and said "Let me see what I can do"....He ended up getting us a flight out for no additional cost!!! So, we are home, but still whirling from Dr. appts all day Wednesday, then going to the airport Wed afternoon, and flying out of LA at 5:50pm. I did rest, everywhere I could find a couch between appts, while waiting for the cab, in the airport, on the plane. I made it all without a wheelchair too. Now am resting at home in my wonderful recliner. So, we didn't see any of LA, but oh well, another time.
Thanks everyone for all your well-wishes and prayers, to Nancy, Laine and Dave my welcoming committee, all of you were wonderful, encouraging and very much appreciated. After thinking about our stay at Seton Hall (which was wonderful) there is one thing that you might offer to do (I didn't think to ask). Ask if you can pick up some staple type groceries for people without cars, like eggs bread juice soup, etc. That would have saved us a lot of money and there are no grocery stores within safe walking distance near the hospital. Just a suggestion.
As for "my story" I plan to write up something somewhere (my profile?) I don't know where to put it, but I'll figure it out. I want new people to hear about my very sucessfull surgery.
To Nancy, thanks again so much, I really appreciated your care and concern.. Oh, and we'll be "playing it forward" for the the good deeds of the Man from Minnesota from Northwest. Bless you all
-
Welcome back, postie.
Good to hear from you ;D
Jan
-
Hey Peggy
Sorry we missed you before you headed home, but great news that you were able to work it out with the flight. I am glad that we all had a chance together while you were here and that surgery went so well. Enjoy home -- especially your recliner and get plenty of rest. Please keep us posted on your recovery.
My best
David
-
Hey, Peggy! Know you're so glad to be home...and to be a new postie! How great was that to have strings pulled for you with the airline! ANers do seem to be the nicest people...you really got to see some super nice ones while in LA!
Continue to take it easy and heal well,
Cindy
-
Peggy~
Glad you are home safe and sound!!
K
-
Great news that you are home and resting in your own recliner! What a feeling that is! Don't forget to take a breather here and there :).
Ernie
-
Hi, Peggy ~
Well done! It's always good to be home. Enjoy yours. L.A. will (probably) be there in the future. By the way, I love my recliner, too. :)
Jim
-
Hey Peggy
Thanks for brining up the issue of staples. We have offered in the past -- and did for Beth Reed -- but it always seemed like everyone was well-stocked. We will make sure to go back to asking. Since none of us stayed at Seton -- we really don't know what would help out. If some of you Seton Alums would offer some suggestions, we can be better prepared -- all Beth wanted was Strawberries and applesauce. You're right Peggy, there isn't much in the way there of shopping. The closest real store is a mile away -- and I am sure one can only tolerate Burger King for so long.
David
-
Hi Dave,
Seton Hall was great. There were things in the refrigerator that people wrote "Share" on and that meant you were to help yourself. Someone left little yogurts and every morning at 6am I had one with my pills!! We also both enjoyed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich one night as well. So we did fine. My husband was able to find a good Mexican restuarant, and a Polo Loco that had great chicken as well as Burger King and the Vincents Cafeteria all within less than a mile (very steep hills though)
Take Care
-
Since none of us stayed at Seton -- we really don't know what would help out. If some of you Seton Alums would offer some suggestions, we can be better prepared
I'll bet I'm going to be in the vast minority with this comment, but my husband and I both thought the St. Vincent's food was pretty good. We ate a lot of our meals there -- either in the hospital cafeteria or as "take-out" in the Seton commons room on our floor. When I was a patient there in January '08 there were always lots of fresh fruits and veggies in the salad bar and the tuna fish sandwiches were great. There was generally at least one hot entree that was appealing. The steroids really increased my appetite, and I couldn't wait for mealtime while I was still in the hospital.
That being said, we were awfully glad that we rented a car (with a GPS!), and I would really encourage people to do that. We were pleasantly surprised with the L.A. traffic and freeways -- not nearly as intimidating as we had expected -- and we did lots of touring, both before and after my surgery. It would have been considerably less pleasant had we been stuck on the House/St. Vincent's "campus" for two weeks.
I think the "L.A. Welcoming Committee" is the greatest! It's such a thoughtful gesture, and I'm sure the folks you help are more appreciative than you can ever imagine. I just wish it had been formed before my surgery! Please keep up the good work.
Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
-
What kind of clothes did you all wear while at Seton and flying home -- sort of while in transition from hospital gown to normalcy?
I can't quite get my mind around it with the stomach incision happening as well. I assume jeans and regular waist clothes are not comfortable because of that. Knit dress, cropped yoga pants come to mind, with V-neck T-shirts with large neck opening to pull over head?
I am kind of imagining shuffling around in a button-down housedress and tricked-out walker, then I remember I won't suddenly be 93 years old. :o
-
That was a funny mental image, Lilan!! ;D Thanks for the chuckle!
K
-
What kind of clothes did you all wear while at Seton and flying home -- sort of while in transition from hospital gown to normalcy?
Gosh, I transitioned to normal clothes as soon as I was discharged.
I wore things that buttoned or zippered for blouses or sweaters. The bandage prevents you from pulling things over your head. I also wore slip on shoes cause you don't want to bend over to fidget with shoelaces and such.
Best of luck,
Kate
-
Hi Peggy!
I didn't get a chance to check in with you yesterday after your appointment, and then I see you back to posting today...from home! That's great - I'm so glad you were able to make the arrangements to go home on the earlier flight without the extra charge. (And that's pretty impressive that you made it through the airport without the wheelchair!)
Sorry you didn't get to do any sight-seeing - at least this time out ;) - but I'm so glad you're back at home in the comfort of your recliner. ;D
(And like David, said, we didn't realize you were in need of some good munchies - we would have brought you something much more tasty than a PB & J sandwich! ;))
Enjoy the recliner - and all those naps in your future - and please keep us updated!
Nancy
P.S. - Lilan - I went home with loose workout pants with a drawstring waist, a zip-up hoodie, and slip on sketchers. We only had to drive about 20 minutes home, but I'm sure that would be comfy on a flight, too.
-
HI Lilian,
I wore comfy jog pants and zip up hoodie, tennis shoes. They will give you a bag to put these in when you change into your beautiful hospital attire. My hubbby just brought the same bag back to me for the ride home. Only other thing I took was chap stick. Seriously you won't need anything else. When I got home to Seton Hall I put on my own comfy jammies (neckline didn't seem to matter bandage is already off) For the walking in the halls and eating in the kitchen I just added my lightweight robe.
Nancy,
Had we ended up staying longer it probably would have dawned on me to ask for groceries, duh. I know you would have helped us out!! 45 right now in Michigan, supposed to have two days of 80, Len says I'm going out on the patio for awhile :)
-
So, Garzap, you stayed at Seton till time to go home and didn't really need "street clothes" except for flying?
How many days were you there? I want to fly home on a Sunday, and am debating whether to pick Tue or Thu for surgery (10 vs. 12 days before flight home). I vary and am now leaning toward staying Tue-following Sun, 12 days total, surgery Thu and flying home 10 days later.
(Apologies for slight hijack of thread, but invaluable to talk to someone also from Midwest who JUST did this.)
-
So, Garzap, you stayed at Seton till time to go home and didn't really need "street clothes" except for flying?
I want to fly home on a Sunday, and am debating whether to pick Tue or Thu for surgery (10 vs. 12 days before flight home). I vary and am now leaning toward staying Tue-following Sun, 12 days total, surgery Thu and flying home 10 days later.
Your "12 days total" plan sounds like a good one -- typically House releases patients to fly home 10 days after surgery. You're very likely to feel well enough to get out and about after your surgery, so you should probably have some "street clothes" handy. I know that I (and at least a couple of other patients who had their surgery the same day I did) were ambulatory as soon as we were released to Seton from the hospital and wore "regular clothes."
Best wishes as your surgery date approaches.
Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
-
So good to know! Thanks! :)
-
Hi Lilian, I had two sets of street clothes, one I wore to the pre-op appts, and one I never wore. Also, forgot to mention that the scar on the belly not even noticeable as far as being painfull We were at Seton Hall for 10 days $650.00. Depending on your symptoms (they say you usually keep the symptoms you go in with (tinitus, headaches, etc.) you may want to stay 12. My only symptom was the hearing loss. I did have headaches but not until after I found out what I had, so I'm thinking they were more stress related. We were pretty bored though, but then I didn't leave Seton Hall tiil the day I left. Rest, Rest Rest.