I'm home!

Well, I finally made it home last night. I'm feeling OK, not the greatest, but good enough that I'm not taking any pain meds at home. The surgery went good, with the exception of my O2 levels dropping. They went into 40's during surgery and kept dropping into the 50's- 70's range after surgery. O2 sats should stay in the 90's-100 range. I was sent home with a big oxygen tank and 4 small ones for when I have to leave the house. I have to use it 24/7 until they send me to a pulmonologist to find out the cause of them dropping so low.My entire chest is sore, and I can't take very deep breaths so I don't know if its from the surgery or something going on with my lungs. I'm having nasty diarreah, and I sure hope it goes away real soon. I don't want to take anything to stop it right now becasue I am trying to get the gas out and don't want it blocked, it is painful enough as it is. I'm trying to get my protein in, and was doing good until, I tried the "new strawberry sorbet unjury" dang that is some nasty stuff, I think the prostat is better, I'm actually able to get it down with no problem. So far nothing has tasted too sweet, just not tasting like much of anything right now, in fact it all taste the same to me. Yes, visions of juicy steaks and baked potatoes are floating through my head, so it's going to be a rough couple of weeks until I can start on the full liquids. Well, I'm going to update my profile then lay down for a while. Take care! Hugs! Mary

Hi Mary, It was so good to read your update and see that you are home and doing pretty well. I was getting worried about you. Hope you can get the O2 thing straightened out soon. Believe me the juicy steak and baked potato isn't all it's cracked up to be; I say that because my husband and I are on another "last supper" weekend since we start the non-surgical Optifast program on Tuesday (since surgery wasn't covered), and I think I am to the point I am literally sick of food! Enjoy your "tool" of not being able to eat all that unhealthy stuff! You're going to do great!! Again, I'm so glad you are home and hope you're feeling better than ever soon. Keep us posted! Kathleen

Hey Mary, I am glad you are home and doing better. Take it easy and get lots of rest. Take care of yourself and I look forward to seeing Mary the loser real soon. Pam

Glad to hear you are home! Please take good care of yourself, and keep us updated on your oxygen issue! My husband has been hospitalized before for his oxygen dropping too low with his asthma, so I know how bad your o2 got! wow. I'll keep you in my prayers! Praying for a smooth recovery from here on out! (((HUGS))) Blessings, Elizabeth

SO glad youre home and doing okay! I pray they find out whats causing the o2 problems soon!!! i know those tanks can be such a pain, my dad used to have to sleep with one every night before cpap was invented.. but his wasnt related to your problem, his was sleep apnea.. i hate u had to stay over, but im glad they kept a good eye on you! ive been wanting to call soo bad, and my dang cell phone decided to just kick the bucket... what we thought they "Fixed" , evidently isnt fixable.. the board is bent or something and whenever i try to push any buttons it goes bizerk!!!! monday i have to do an insurance claim on it ugh. But none the less.. your husband is a sweetheart and everytime i would call he would just thank me for being there, and im like "but im not there, weve been sick" and hes like but youre checking on her! so he made me feel better! You gotta good one there! Keep us posted on the o2 levels!! and how everything is going mary!!! Miss you!!! Jen

Mary, I know you are glad to me home. Hopefully you will be able to get an appointment with the pulmonologist quickly and be able to find out what is going on with the O2 levels. Just remember you have a tons of people out here praying for you and that care about you. And if you need anything just say the word and you got it. I hope to see you soon!!! Cynthia

Oh mary!!! I'm so glad that you are getting most of your protein in! You don't know how important that is. My first week was rough because I didn't get hardly any in. Yes, the first week is the toughest!!! It was the longest dang wee****il I could start full liquids but after that, things got soooooo much better. Please call me if you have any questions or just need to talk....814-0693. If it wasn't for people on here and calling Jen and Kathy every hour, I would have gone crazy!!! I hate that you had those complications but they will get better and it will pass. The diarrhea will go away soon but DO NOT trust a fart!!! I know....Been there done that.....if you gotta poot....be on the toliet!!! Keep moving to help get the gas out. My mom was with me and had me out at Target the day after I came home. It will help if you get moving. Take your pain meds if you need them...they are great!!! LOL!!! They made me sleep like a baby! call if you need anything. Rachel

MARY, SO GLAD YOU HOME AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WENT WELL W/ THE SURGERY. I KNOW HOW YOU'RE FEELING, HAD MY SURGERY ON THE 13th OF OCT. AND HAD O2 TILL I WENT HOME. IF THEY SENT HOME THE INCENTIVE SPIROMETER W/ YOU TRY AND USE IT AT LEAST EVERY 4 HOURS. THIS MIGHT HELP. TAKE YOUR TIME W/ EVERYTHING YOU DO AND REST WHEN YOUR BODY TELLS YOU TO REST. IT DOES GET BETTER. IN FACT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING BETTER THAN I AM W/ THE PROTEIN. I CAN'T STOMACH (LITTERALLY) ANY OF THE PROTEIN SHAKES, AND I'VE TRIED JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM, DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I'VE EVEN TRIED THE ANY WHEY PROTEIN IN MY FOODS AND COULDN'T STOMACH THAT EITHER. JUST TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME AND THINGS WILL GET BETTER. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY. DONNA

Mary, I'm so thankful you are home. You will definitely start to feel better now. These next phases will go very quickly. Before you know it, you will be having "wow" moments. Also, I had real bad shoulder pain from gas. A heating pad that vibrated worked great. And, Melissa advised me not to be in such a hurry to get rid of the pain meds. She was right. I began taking 1/2 in the am and 1/2 at bedtime. It really made a huge difference. Do what is best for you and rest to allow your body to heal. Hugs, Melony

Welcome Home! Hate that you had, and are having, the O2 problems. When is your appt. with the pulmonlogist? It sounds like you are doing just fine with the protein ... Prostat doesn't play around! When I had my surgery, every one told me that the first week was the tough one, and after that every day will be better than the one before it. I hope that's your experience! Thinking of you lots ... Dawn