diana44
Day 6 Post Op
Sep 10, 2013
My first day off pain meds! Yeay!!!! Holy cow -- I can think straight. Still can't drive though. My low belly is still swollen and tender and pushing on the brake makes those tummy muscles contract. I gave it a good ole college try today and turned around and went back home.
Collins had to go to a few doctors appointments downtown that he's put off to care for me. So, I sent him on his way and I've been here by myself today. I've done a lot of walking. I've had a lot of gas pains and cramps where the hiatial hernia was repaired. It feels like a gas bubble is hovering over it again. My solution is to walk and walk some more. It does seem to help a lot.
I've been getting in more protein today. I started mixing a non-dairy protein drink w/ my milk to boost my protein intake and that seems to be working well. I'm probably drinking about 1/2 of my fluids. It's hard to try and get 64 oz in. My doc said shoot for 32 to 48 oz & if I got dehydrated, I could always come by his office and get some fluids. So far, I feel o.k. So, I just keep forcing as many liquids as possible.
Collins made a stewed roast w/ veggies in the crockpot and poured a couple of ounces of highly strained broth off for me. OMG! I was in heaven! It tasted so good! I savored every single sip! After my 10th grimace and "owie" he finally took it away from me. Still can't do warm liquids. I think I managed an ounce of it and it was awesome. It was amazing that I was satisfied w/ just that little bit.
I actually woke up hungry this morning & I hope that sound and feeling was my tummy grumbling. So, it was off to chocolate milk slurries. Yum! Actually, I'm one of those people who find something they like and will eat it over and over again until I grow tired of it. So, I'm doing well with the milk.
My biggest enemy is boredom! I'm used to working 40+ hrs a week and this is driving me crazy to just lay around the house. So, I think maybe I'll plan a movie day tomorrow!
All's well in the land of the losing! Oh, weighed in @ 266 this morning. Wow! Although I will share weight loss was not my primary reason for seeking this surgery. I have severe arthritis in my joints (back, knees, and ankle) and since I'm in recovery I can't take narcotic pain meds. Even if I could, I work w/ patients all day and could not place others at risk being cloudy due to opiate pain meds.
I had been in chronic pain for 2+ yrs prior to the surgery. My rheumatologist and ortheapedic said getting the weight off would significantly decrease my pain levels. It wouldn't change the damage, but it would help with the pain.
Which became the driving force for my surgery -- to live life without pain. Every pound that I lose takes pressure off my joints so I'm so excited. This was my decision. My PCP doc did not agree with my decision and I suffered through a long lecture of bypass failures from his point of view.
On April 26th I took control of my life and began this journey. I went to all the appointments, came up w/ all the money, worked full time, and lived my life going through all the hoops and clearances. It is such a relief to be on the recovery end of this journey as I begin healing. I feel like spirit that was beat up a little through this process is healing as well and is recharging for this recovery.
It's such a relief to be a success! FINALLY!
