I apologize for not doing this sooner. I thought I would be so nervous that I would do a post the night before surgery telling you about the two-day stomach/intestine cleansing (absolutely as horrible as you can imagine, especially when everyone else around you is having Easter dinner!). Anyway, I managed to survive the cleansing and make it Monday morning to the hospital without any trouble. I will admit that I was starving! (Try surviving on jello, propel, and water for 2 days while emptying your contents constantly.)

Day of Surgery
I arrived at the hospital around 6:00 am. My surgery was the second of the day so I didn't get my IV  and all until around 9. That went well with the exception of the IV needle. The first time the nurse tried to stick it in the middle of the back side of my right arm. Well she wasn't successful, I had to ask her to stop because she was digging in my arm (under the skin) with the needle looking for the vein. After using the vein I suggested (in the back of my left hand) she was successful. I still have the bruise on my right arm from her digging. That was truly the worst of my day of surgery. After that I was rolled down to the pre operating room where people having surgery lie around in their beds waiting for the surgeon and anesthesiologist to come around and say good morning and reassure you that everything will be okay. Even at this point I'm still not scared. I trust Dr. Rashid so I wasn't worried. My only concern was that my liver would be small enough so that the retractor can hold it up so they can get to my stomach. I was told during my surgeon's visit that if my liver is too heavy they will wake me up without completing the surgery and I will have to loose some weight before they can reschedule. MY fear was invalid. I went into surgery around 11 and around 3 I was waking up un the operating recovery room with other post op patients. I must admit when I woke up I panicked. I didn't feel any pain or anything weird around my abdomen so I thought maybe my worst fear had come true I DID HAVE A FAT LIVER!! I felt my stomach until I could identify any sign of bandages. I finally found them and calmed down. I remember asking the nurse if they were finished. Next thing I know I'm in my private room with my friends and family. The next 24 hours were euphoric. (I wasn't aware until Wednesday that the euphoria was morphine induced.) I walked that afternoon with no problem. Didn't sleep too well not really because of pain but because the nurses kept coming to check on me, take my vitals, and bring me my allowed 1oz of ice every two hours (that's right 1oz of ice every two hours). Getting the ice was like an incredible treat because you will be very dehydrated after surgery (make sure you pack carmex or chapstick). 

Days after surgery

Tuesday at 2 I was released from the hospital and made it home without pain or problem. I walked about a ½ mile that afternoon just around my neighborhood. I didn’t walk fast or anything just kind of strolled. I wasn’t hungry at all. That was especially weird because I was starving on Monday and here it is 36 hours later and I have no hunger sensation at all. I had a half an individual sugar free jello for dinner and it stayed down fine. I weighed myself and I was heavier than before the surgery. Not much heavier, and I know it is from the gas and swollen insides, but still having gastric bypass surgery you don’t expect to come home weighing more than when you left. I took my pain medication because I wanted to sleep and went to bed around 9.

Wednesday may as well have been called horrible day. I didn’t sleep very well Tuesday night. I had terrible gas pain. It was raining terribly so I couldn’t walk outdoors, so I just paced in my hallway to try to walk away the gas and pain. I didn’t want to eat but I had to. Everything fruity tastes bad. It’s too sweet. I had jello again and about 2 oz of broth for lunch and dinner. I took pain meds in the afternoon and before bed so I slept most of the day away.

Thursday was a better day. I was passing gas, so the pain was lessened. My mother was on her way to visit so I felt better. I got up, got dressed, and ate, I had broth because I just didn’t feel like having anything sweet. Walked around outside and inside the apartment. The gas was almost completely gone and so was the pain. The day was 100 times better than Wednesday. 

Three days post-op and I feel well.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday went by quickly. I spent alot of time at the mall with my family. It was good because I walked alot without thinking about it. I also went shopping for new clothes (in smaller sizes). I was so excited! I drove for the first time with no pain. Not very far just a 15 minute drive to the mall.

It's Monday now and I'm feeling great. I haven't weighed myself yet but I will soon. I will post pictures with descriptions and weights as soon as possible.