my surgery

Oct 24, 2010

Well I am 12 days out and thought it was time to tell about my surgery experience. I haven't really been online much since coming home, but the first week I really didn't feel up to it. I was on liquids and feeling kind of wimpy.

The week of surgery just seems like a blur now. Mon, Oct 11 I met with my surgeon and his nurse for the pre op visit. I had a list of questions for them and they answered everything without making me feel like I was taking up their time. My dr asked me if I was absolutely sure that I wanted to do this. He told me that I had until the moment that they were putting me to sleep that I could cancel, no problem. I had to keep telling him, I am NOT gonna back out. I was very prepared mentally and physically.
I did not have to be on a special diet before surgery, just eat lite the day before and nothing after midnight.I also did not have to do any colon cleansing the night before-so very happy about that!!  I do wish however that they would have warned me that I would not be able to have ANYTHING to drink, not even one lousy ice chip, until the swallow test the day after the surgery. They would not even let me rinse my mouth and spit. The nurses on the afternoon/night shift did give me the citrus flavored mouth moistening swabs. Those swabs were like heaven on a stick :)!!
A couple of hours after recovery I asked if I could sit up in the chair and when I would be able to walk. Surgery was at 8AM and at around 6PM I was up walking. I was hurting quite a bit and was holding on to that morphine pump button like a baby holding on to their blankie.
The next day around 11 AM they brought me to radiology for the swallow test. The stuff I had to drink was soooo nasty. I was having A LOT of nausea and I thought I was gonna vomit for sure, but luckily I didn't.
After the go ahead was given for me to be able to get started on clear liquids they brought me my 1st meal which was 1 oz of Tang and 1oz of chicken broth. I was told to slowly sip the oz of liquid in 2-3 slow sips. They also brought in a stack of the medicine cups (the kind that come with childrens liquid meds) and a 6 oz cup of Tang and another 6 oz cup of water. I had to drink it from the little med cups slowly and use a new one each time. That is how they kept track of how much I was drinking.
Other than the pain which I expected, and the nausea that I also expected it was not a bad experience. The nurses were all wonderful. I even had a RN that I knew very well. My next door neighbor that I have lived next to for 12 years(our kids play together all the time). I didn't know that she worked there, I know that is pitiful when you don't know where your neighbor works! She had the lap band 1 year ago and has lost 100 lbs, she and I will start walking together at the local park as soon as I am up to long walks.
I was in for 2 nights and was so ready to get home.
I went in to have staples removed 1 week out and have lost 11 pounds. So far I have had no regrets and haven't had any problems with dumping. I have only had what I was told I could have, just having trouble getting all of the water in. The one thing that I am not doing as often as I should is the walking. Tomorrow I plan on actually getting dressed and walking down the sidewalk, not to far but I want to start increasing the length of my walks every few days. I have a 2 story house and have been using the stairs a couple of times a day for some exercise.
I felt better today and had more energy than I have in a very long time. I just don't want to push it until I get the last sutures removed where the drain wicks were(that had closed up with fluid build up behind them). They will be removed on Wed.
Well it is 3:00 AM and I need to go back to sleep. Sorry this is so long winded, just wanted to get my experience down. If anyone needs a good bariatric surgeon in southwest Louisiana, I would recommend Dr. Shimer and his staff. I absolutely love those people in that office. So very nice, friendly, and sincere about helping answer any questions or concerns.
TTL from the losers bench...YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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