fudgefree
Post op report
Mar 21, 2009
3-12-2009 I was fortunate to be scheduled for the "early" WLS procedure ...got to the hospital to check in before sunrise.
With all the coaching from my OH pal (The Dutchman's Wife) who had the procedure just the week before @ same facility, I was more comfortable with what to expect pre-op & post op.
I awoke in post op unable to breathe - I'm guessing they must have just removed the tube. I recall thinking ...OMG they'll have to do a "trachea" if I they can't get me to breathe. It could have only been 30 seconds but I recall every moment.
From the dry gasping to the staff squeezing my neck while instructing me to relax & ordering the other staff to get "breathing treatment. Just a few shallow inhales of that gaseous concoction & the airways reopened...Whew...
It was about noonish as I recall looking at the clock on the wall.
Then we waited for a room/bed upstairs to open for my relocation....that was about 4 pm.
I got to do my first walk around the "floor" that evening & got my first post op weight @ 249 lbs in the hospital sleeping gown. I got another walk around about 3-4 am on Friday too. Friday the cath was removed which was less uncomfortable than I recall from my second child's birth. They also delivered lunch (jello & broth) and my first cups of water. I was so thirsty...that was all I could do to drink. Watch the clock - 1 oz every 15 minutes. By the time my medical "team" arrived to check in on me, I had gotten down about 8 oz of water & had no trouble going potty.
So, I got the clearance for release Friday evening ...hurray...
But then came the drainage tube removal ...that I didn't like !
The next few days @ home were uneventful....I barely got up & down out of the Lazy Boy chair to walk around the house as prescribed to mitigate the risk of blood clots ..LOL.
By day 5ish...I started to get "food mares"...dreams of eating sees candies & lays potato chip...and after each nap was awoken by pain in the WLS site...dream dumping I'm calling it...LOL
By 3-19-2009, I'm on track for minimum quantity of Protein & Water
I'm not looking forward to the staple removal procedure...but equally can't stand these metal protruding items either.
My left shoulder however has been hurting since day 2...I keep a heating pad handy which is causing prickly heat bumps. I'm wondering if it's air bubbles or just muscle breaking down too quickly due to inadequate protein intake the first 5 days.
Coughing & Sneezing is awful too. The milk for protein drinks creates mucus (spelling?) for me.
The other side affect I believe from the Lovenox shots I've been easily prone to nose bleeding.
Still, based on what I've been reading in OH blogs, overall it sounds like we're both doing well without any serious side affects. Hurray !
