Things have been going pretty well for me since surgery, and I have been improving every day.  Until yesterday...

Yesterday Scott bought a handheld shower attachment for me to use.  He has been helping me shower, but last time he just stayed in there and I did it myself.  So yesterday about 6ish I decided to take my own shower.  It was about 10 minutes and was fine.  When I was done I yelled for Scott to come help me dry off, and he got there in two seconds.  I remember saying I feel dizzy.  After that I completely passed out!  He said I was out for about 20 seconds, and then incoherent for about a minute and a half.  I remember saying just let me sleep.  He got me up and sat me on the bed and called 911.  The squad came over and since I just had the surgery made me go to ER.  They did  bloodwork and gave me an IV of fluids.  I was there for over four hours.  They don't know for sure why I passed out.  My white cells were high, and the Dr said that could be iron deficiency.  Otherwise they chalked it up to lower caloric intake.  I go for my two-week followup with  Dr. Anderson on Thursday so will talk to her then.

Apparently I knocked stuff around in the bathroom pretty good, but Scott was able to catch  me and soften my fall a little.  But today I feel like I got hit by a mack truck.  I am getting  a huge bruise on my left thigh, about the size of a piece of bread, and I am red and sore on a couple of places on my neck.  Just generally very sore all over.  It even hurts just to walk.  I am thanking God though that Scott was there cause it could have been so much worse. 

Today he is watching me like a hawk needless to say!

My surgery took place on Tuesday, August 19th at 8 am.  As you know I was scheduled to have laprascopic RNY.  Due to my large hietal hernia, and the fact that it was basically engulfing my stomach, Dr. Anderson had to end up opening me up.  So not only do I have the small incisions from the lap tools, but also the midline incision that goes from my breastbone to my bellybutton - it is a beast!.  When I woke up I asked the nurse in Recovery and she explained it to me.  However, in all my fog I still have questions that I will ask in my follow-up.

The day started out fine.  I was awake at 4:15.  I actually slept pretty well the night before.  Got to the hospital at 6 and only had to wait about 15 minutes before I could go back.  I had to give a urine sample to make sure I was not pregnant and I could not go!  I tried three times.  I don't know if I was empty from not having much the day before or just nerves.  They ended up having to draw blood.  And no I am not pregnant.

I met with a nurse, the anestesiologist and his assistant and finally Dr. Anderson.  Scott stayed with me the whole time, and my Mom and Brother took turns about.  My Mom said a prayer and held my hand and of course we cried together.  I was trying my hardest not to cry!  The anesthesiologist was supposed to give me some liquid courage, but for whatever reason I didn't get any.  I had to hand over my glasses before they wheeled me into the OR, and I could not see a thing.  I only remember being wheeled in, and helping myself from my bed over the other.  I don't remember getting drugs, oxygen mask, counting down, nothing.  Next thing I know I woke up in recovery with a mouth like a dessert.  The nurse allwed me to have ice chips thank God.  I got wheeled to my room after a couple of hours as my breathing was shallow and they wanted to keep an eye on me.  The surgery overall took an hour and a half.

My stay in the hospital was OK.  Most of my nurses were great, except for a few.  I was on some great drugs until they took the pump away from me on Wednesday morning.  I have been told that I spoke with certain people but honestly don't remember a whole lot.  I remember that I did not want to go to sleep.  I think I was scared I would miss something.  An Occupational Therapist came and showed me how to get up and down off the toilet, and another made me get up and down off of the flat bed, and that hurt like you would not imagine.  I cried like a baby and shortly after the nurse brought me some Lortab and a muscle relaxer.  I was let out of the hospital on Thursday afternoon around 4.

I am almost a week post-op now.  I am so tired of laying flat on my back, or in the recliner.  I am only taking my Lortab once every 24 hours now.  I take it at night to help me sleep through the night since I can't get comfy.  I have had a couple of showers since I've been home and that has been really hard.  Thank God Scott has been so wonderful in helping me.  There is no way I could do it without him.  My parents are coming up to spend some time with me on Wednesday.  Scott went back to work today and I was bored to tears.  I watched a Bridezilla marathon.  My Mom is going to bring me a bunch of books to read so that should help.  The dogs have been great.  It's like they sense that they are not supposed to come too close to me, or touch me.  I was worried about that, but it has not been an issue.

I have to go back to work in four weeks.  I hope this will be enough time to get completely healed.  I am taking all my supplements, getting in all my protein and water, and taking care of my incisions.  I am still wearing my binder that goes around my body.  When I go without I feel like everything is going to fall apart.  I am probably just being paranoid.  Everyone says I am doing great.  I have nothing to compare it to, so I will take their word for it.

Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and prayers that were sent my way. 

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth 
Would care to know my name 
Would care to feel my hurt 
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star 
Would choose to light the way 
For my ever wandering heart 

Not because of who I am 
But because of what You've done 
Not because of what I've done 
But because of who You are 

I am a flower quickly fading 
Here today and gone tomorrow 
A wave tossed in the ocean 
A vapor in the wind 
Still You hear me when I'm calling 
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling 
And You've told me who I am 
I am Yours, I am Yours 

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin 
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again 
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea 
Would call out through the rain 
And calm the storm in me 

Not because of who I am 
But because of what You've done 
Not because of what I've done 
But because of who You are 

I am a flower quickly fading 
Here today and gone tomorrow 
A wave tossed in the ocean 
A vapor in the wind 
Still You hear me when I'm calling 
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling 
And You've told me who I am 
I am Yours 

Not because of who I am 
But because of what You've done 
Not because of what I've done 
But because of who You are 

I am a flower quickly fading 
Here today and gone tomorrow 
A wave tossed in the ocean 
A vapor in the wind 
Still You hear me when I'm calling 
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling 
And You've told me who I am 
I am Yours 

I am Yours 
Whom shall I fear 
Whom shall I fear 
'Cause I am Yours 
I am Yours