What a Journey

Sep 21, 2013

So, today is my 3rd day post op, and what a journey this has been!  I have to say that I have prayed and meditated on my surgery and recovery for months leading up to the day, that everything would happen without complication and that the recovery would be seamless, but never did I expect it to go this smoothly!  

The day of surgery I was to arrive at the hospital at 11:45am, with the surgery scheduled at 12:45.  Well...everything was delayed almost 3 hours due to the case before me taking longer than previously expected, so I didn't go in until after 3pm, and made it back into recovery by 6pm.  In recovery I recall begging the nurses to let me get up and begin walking and they thought I was NUTS!  I was so uncomfortable on the bed that my back was aching me and I could feel the gas building up, so in my slightly drugged up state I saw no other option but to get up and walk, which needless to say, due to the impact of the drugs and anesthesia, I was not allowed to do.  Once I was brought to my room, I began taking some "steps" towards walking my self. I would sit with my feet off of the edge of the bed and when no one was looking, stand up beside my bed...what can I say, I'm a rebel!  After the first night I no longer had any need for pain medication and the next morning I was up and walking laps around the hospital.  I felt great, with very minimal pain, and had my mind set on the fact that I would NOT be spending more than 2 nights in the hospital.  The day after surgery I was advanced to stage 1 (1oz of water every hour).  That evening I felt what I thought were severe hunger pangs, and I asked if I could advance to protein shakes, but I was told that I could not, so I took pepcid, a dose of IV pain med, and anti-nausea meds, fell asleep and the pangs went away, and have not since returned.  Yesterday, my diet was advanced to clear liquids (water, broth, crystal light, sf popsicles) and my 2 oz of protein shake 3x a day and so after my first "meal" I was cleared for discharge, and was sent home around noon.  Less than 48 hours post op.  Today is day 3 and I work up feeling the most like myself, since the surgery.  My daughter is 3 and is so happy to have my back home.  We took a long walk with the dog this morning, ran into some friends while out, and we will be heading back out to the park in a little while.  I am enjoying this new life, where I now feel that I am in full control of my decisions over food!  Although my intake is currently highly restricted, I feel so liberated!

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