Home and doing great!

I was released yesterday and meant to post this but just didn't get to it (who knew drinking could be such a big job!)

The surgery went well. In fact, Dr Ganta said it was text book. No problems, nothing that made him concerned at all. I am amazed by how little pain I've had. To be honest, I think most of my discomfort has been caused by horrible gas. Passing gas is dicey at this pint and whoever said to never trust a fart knew what he was talking about!

A couple of things I wasn't prepared for. 1. I have zero desire for food. I'd be perfectly happy sipping my water and drinking my protein mix. 2. I have this little ball that is connected to my incisions by tubing. Apparently it is delivering pain medication directly to where the Dr. cut. It will run out in a few days and I'll remove it. Anyone else had one of these. http://www.askyoursurgeon.com/onqsolution.php So far, I think the thing is great but I'll let you know what I think after removing it. 3. Gas. I honestly wasn't ready for the gas. Gas is not a big deal but for the first couple of days, it hurt and pushing ver hard was out of the question. My Dr. said walking was the best thing I could do for it and again he was right (it's like he knows what he's talking about.

My biggest concern so far is my blood sugar. I think I had set myself to expect this surgery to be a magic bullet that was going to cure my diabetes right out of the gate. My sugars have been at 200 - 250 since the recovery room and nothing seems to be helping that much. For those of you who have been able to stop all diabetes meds, please tell me your story. How long did it take and what were your sugars like right after surgery. If my diabetes isn't impacted by this sugar I'm going to be seriously devastated.

Thanks for all the kind words and pre-op prayers. You are a great bunch of guys!

Mars

Welcome home.
I'm glad to hear that everything went well for you.
keep up the walking and the sipping.  It sounds like you are on the right track.

Best wishes to you and your new life.

Scott

Hey Mars, welcome home, glad everything went so well.  Amazing isn't it.  Had mine on 9/15, so just about a week ahead of you.  The gas was the only real ***** about all this.  For the first six days, I had this horrible bloated feeling and could hardly get anything down.  Was hard for me to determine if I was feeling fullness, bloating, or pain.  After the six days, it eased up and that made all the difference in the world.  I also had the little ball of pain meds, but they removed that before I went home.  I've been on insulin for years, and still out of control anywhere from 250 to over 300.  The pre-op diet brought it down, and they took my blood sugars about 3 times/day in the hospital and was running around 114!  My surgeon took me off my insulin.  Check it every morning and its been running 107.  But hang in there, I bet it gets better.  Have seen a few people post that their sugars went down after a few weeks.  Wonder if it's up because of the trauma of the surgery to your body.  My wife's blood sugar went up after surgery to her knee.  I had trouble with blood pressure.  Was high in the hospital, but down now.  Hang in there, it gets better!  Michael

Those pain meds must be wonderful. I got to get me one of lil ball things.  That's why there isn't a lot of pain.

Blood sugars will take more than a day to disappear

You're pooping anesthetic and gasses too yet.

We're glad you're back. Keep your spirits up and walk walk walk sip sip sip

The protein may help healing

Glad to hear everything went and is still going well! Your surgery and experience sounds exactly like mine. Textbook operation, little to no pian, and no desire for food. I still don;t have much desire for food, and I am 5 months post-op. I think that is a good thing!

Congrats to ya and welcome to the Loser's Bench! Hang on for a WILD RIDE brother!! 

Good to see you back and doing well.  Sip Sip Sip.

Blood sugar...I've heard days (off meds in the hospital) to weeks or months.  I don't have diabetes but going to enough suppport groups and being online here I know for many it can take awhile.  So when your thinking least about your blood sugar...it will be corrected!!  Concerning the gas...these are a few ideas I have heard over the years...your results may vary.

Bend over and try and touch your toes or try and tie your shoes from a standing position.  Get down and roll on the floor (clean floor...watch the wounds).  Do it slowly, but try and get in different angles.  Try pushing the gas out with your hands.  Almost like you would work out a charlie horse, but in your belly area.  Lastly...walking.  In a few days the gas will be gone.  Force yourself to eat.  Yes you don't feel like it, but these days are very important.  Try and get the max out of all items.  Follow doctors orders.  If you don't eat you can lose muscle mass...so force down the boring stuff now and you'll get rewarded with better stuff down the road.  It gets better every day.  Walk...sip...rest...repeat.  Brian

Mars, glad your doing well, as far as the diabetes. Your sugar is not only driven by the foods we eat, but by lack of sleep, caffeine, stress and trauma. Give it a couple weeks, for me I went from high B/S & insulin to nothing in two weeks but still test each morning. Good Luck! Rocky Top

Hey Mars,

Glad to see you up and moving around. I had mine 8/25. Still very fresh in my mind. I wish I had had one of those balls!!! But all in all it was good.

Now drink your protein drinks and walk your ass off.  Your on your way to your new life.

Marc

Mars,
Congrats on the feeling great. I had prepared myself mentally for the pain and discomfort and Walk walk walk. That helped me with gas.
Jim