Lunasweetz69
Post op 6 days
May 04, 2014
Surgery went well April 28th, 2014. I ended up with 3 surgeries in 1. I had my band removed, sleeve put in, and a diaphragmatic hernia repair and a ton of scar tissue removed. M-F was pure hell. It was actually more painful than my csection recovery...which really surprised me. With surgery lasting 2.5hr and the gas inserted for lap surgery....ooooooh my left shoulder. I remember having neck pain after my lap band, but this was horrible. I felt as if I was shot in my shoulder. I had to much swelling that I couldn't really get liquids down until Saturday...my day of revival! I was threatened with an ER visit if I didn't push thru the liquids. I better be dying before I go to the ER. Getting heckled for it just pissed me off, but solidified my view on it. I was in a semi coma all week. I went from super active to super zombie. Yes the pain meds, anaesthsia helps too, but oh lord! Another thing that didn't help recovery...dermatitis on my abd. I told them I am allergic to the adhesives on those damn drapes. Thank god I found an unopened steroid cream from my csection when I discovered that lil tid bit. So pain and itching is sooooooo much. Started my cycle too...after skipping the inactives. Why does it have to be so hard for me. Why can't I just be like most pts and breeze thru with minimal misery??
I am glad I am in a better place physically. I am still on clear liquids. I can't say I feel physical hunger, but the mental hunger is pure torture. I daydream of licking foods. I don't so much want to eat them, I just want to taste them. I am surprised I am not having dreams about it. The TV commercials are cruel. My husband buying shrimp for the grill tonight is definitely the most upsetting. But I know I will survive.
I bought V8 fusion pom-blueberry. Its the 1st drink with some sugar in it. 10g of sugar. I diluted it with water, but I am still freaked a lil about dumping syndrome. Popsicles are a godsend. My moms home made chicken soup broth is great. That's the most nutrients I have gotten all week. But I am soooooo ready for full liquids and soft foods. I am most excited about fat free sugar free jello and cream of wheat.
I am miserable mentally. Before it was the feeling like an invalid that upset me. Now its the mental hunger. Food is thrown in front of me from every angle. I want shrimp, sushi, full soups, hell even just cream of wheat! I know this too shall pass, but I am not sure how I got thru it the 1st time. I have been thru this battle before. I am down 10lbs from surgery, which is a yay. I just wish I would be able to get some kind of counseling. Nutritional counseling might be helpful with making me more fulfilled with my small meals. Its $25 to see Emily. But I think I need professional mental counseling.
Clearly all bariatric pts can benefits from counseling, but again, I am just not in a good place. I think once I advance my diet and my wt comes off, I will be happier. Maybe I am just in the stage 1 blues. The meds, clear liquids, and pain can make anyone crazy.
Ironically, the majority of the pain has been in my left shoulder. I have weened myself off the pain meds. My abd muscles are sore. Coughing is definitely not fun. Most of my abd pain is in my right side....totally opposite side.
My 1st real outing was to the supermarket (asking for it??). I did pretty good with the walking. Not too winded. Granted I need to take a 3h nap afterwards lol. I made it to check out and had to go to the car because I had a coughing fit which really hurt.
Any type of prolonged movement lands me straight on my ass. I had to lay down after a shower! Kind of cracks me up because I am about 85lb lighter than when I started this bariatric journey. I should be mentally prepared and stronger. But somehow, I am just not.
But I will take it one day at a time.
