Tuesday will be three weeks post-op

Dec 28, 2008

So I haven't updated yet since the surgery but I haven't been able to get my words together until now.  It has been rather busy since I last updated in September.

I was finally given a surgery date for December in October.  I had about 6 weeks to prepare this time around.  I was able to get short-term disability for work to cover my three weeks off.  I also had enough time to spread duties throughout my team so hopefully they were all able to keep their heads above water while I was out.  It was also my 30th birthday in November and I was able to celebrate with my friends and family. 

The pre-op diet was really hard.  I still had a hard time with the protein drinks but I kept trying them and dropped myself of soda.  I am not sure how much weight I lost because when I went in for surgery I didn't realize they wouldn't weigh me before the actual surgery.

Surgery went pretty well but I had a few small pitfalls.  When they first were waking me from the anesthesia, I was not very responsive so they had to put me back under to give me more medicine to wake me up.  The next day I should have had my upper GI test but I had no voice.  They needed to make sure that nothing in my throat was damaged so an ENT specialist was called in to do some tests.  Luckily, nothing was found so I was able have my upper GI the following day.  I was finally given water Thursday afternoon and protein drinks Friday and sent home to my parents.

I can't tell you how thankful I am that I went to my parents house.  I really don't know what I would have done had I been home alone.  The recovery has been very long and feels very slow.  I am finally eating small portions of diced proteins and smooth foods.  I was very tired and weak up until last week.  I am still not doing great but definitely better than I was a week ago. 

I know this is not going to be an easy road but I don't know what I was expecting.  My advice to others is that surgery is never what you expect.

If my parents scale is correct, I have lost about 24 pounds already.  That leaves less than 50 to a goal weight.  I return to the surgeon and the nutritionist on the 5th.  I was scheduled to return to work on the 30th but I may wait until Friday.  My strength has not been the highest yet and I am not sure what a day at work will do to me....

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