Shove over guys!
I did it.
Well it is done. : ) Thanks for being here.
I got home today actually feeling pretty good even if I am very tiered. Surgery was sped up by two hours and than delayed a hour so in all I went in an hour early what ever that means when you are diligently not looking at any clock.
The worst of the wait was my own head. I made it through to the part where they are putting in the IV ready to take me down. This is in a teaching hospital so I know they are all only 2 months into this new ‘Dr’ part of their life and well their experience is slim. But I am a good target and let them have at it as I know the pressures working in a related discipline. This poor new anesthesiologist went fishing in the back of my hand. I was not thrilled but I let her try and she finally quit. OK next try on my wrist. She will get this one. . . . NO she was fishing AGAIN!! I lost all nerve I just about passed out. Thankfully they got me settled down before a full faint and she actually had gotten it in my hand. (And the vein never blew over the next 3 ½ days!)
After that I remember going into the operating room and slipping over to the ‘real’ bed and being asked to breathe. That was all she wrote. They all said I would be asked to walk that first day. Thank god they did not. That second day was what I hope was my only ‘WTF did I do to myself?’ day. I could not believe that I was ever going to be able to sit up never mind ever feel ok again IN MY LIFE. I am not one prone to exaggeration but this was awful. I felt worse than I did after I had been in a bad car accident.
Truth be told I did get up and I did walk and I walked and walked and walked it felt better to walk than just sit still and feel pain. SO I walked. I have seven holes in my abdomen. Don’t know what they were doing but I am healing great in the short term. Just tiered and don’t touch my belly or make me laugh!
I am on the losing side and I have no idea what to do here except ‘One day at a time and drink first and walk second.’ Thanks for all of you encouragement and great ideas!.
Marc
Yup, you feel like you'd been hit by a truck when you wake up. But I was really surprised at how self-sufficient I was once I was home. Climbing stairs, while not a treat, was a lot easier than I expected. I recall feeling that it took 4-6 weeks to get to the point where I no longer felt that the surgeon had tied my sutures too tight (but it's amazing how that feeling sloowly disappears as you heal!)
Hmmm... what else can I offer to a new-op? Aside from expecting the inevitable 2,3 or 4 week stall, keep in mind that you initially won't feel as full as you eventually will once you're on full foods. Plus, your new pouch really isn't completely innervated and healed up, so take it easy and measure your food early out.
Welcome to the bench!
/Steve
I am feeling full OR maybe just little desire to eat. More than a mouthfull and I am in pain. Only one instance where I really wanted to eat but something that was a definate NO-NO. Watching my daughter eat chicken nuggests and FRIES!
Mostly I eat now because I need the protienn and I need the water. Not beacuse anything tatses good or really has my interest.
Marc
