Oh Happy Day!! May 23

It's coming true! I'll have my lap RNY first thing Monday morning after next! (Hope no one is hung over in the OR...) I'm so happy to join the losers of the world! Angela in Oklahoma

WTG, I have my EGD that day. Good luck and keep us posted.

Hope your EGD went uneventfully! My Lap RNY was almost pleasant! (PCA MS & Toradol are MY friends!) Most discomfort came from NG tube - suction on medium intermittent - I felt the pull on every internal suture! Once I got it turned down to low intermittent I was much better. Once I got the NG tube out, I was tons better! My doc & staff were amazed with my progress. I did what every nurse knows to do. TC&DB, feet on the floor the same day as surgery and walking the halls at least qshift. It's Post-Op day #5 and I walked a mile (in bits and pieces), went to Tai Chi class (albiet most of my work was done sitting or at a very low level - I was moving and breathing!) and, I'm eating pureed foods very well! Got in 70 oz water and 92 grams of protien today! So, you asked for an update - you probably got more than you wanted - but it was theraputic to write the details to you! Peace, Angela in Oklahoma

Yiiippppeeeee!!!! I'm so happy that your date came so soon after approval. That bodes well for me, too, I hope. I'll be following you down your path of losing soon!!! Bonnie B

Angela, WTG Congrats!! We will be thinking of you ! Hugs, Pam

Angela You are amazing! Tai Chi, walking a mile on day 5. You inspire me with hope! Please feel free to share all recovery details. Did you have the Lap RNY? Or the open RNY? I'm curious about the NG tube. I've had one in the past, absolutely hated it, dread having it again. I keep hoping it won't be needed. So share, please.... Sandie

Hi Sandie! I'm delighted to share my story as I feel like it's a miracle! I had Lap RNY and chole. I had told my family I MUST be on my feet the afternoon of surgery (I was scheduled at 0730 on Monday) preferably within one hour of getting to my room. Well - that was a target... but within three hours I was up! Walked in the room and started from that moment with walking at least every 6 hrs. By midnight I was walking the hall - able to go about 8 rooms down and back without just collapsing... but I was slow and SOB! I also had a massage of my feet, legs and light effleurage of my belly Monday evening. (I am also a massage therapist) I had had a massage Sunday morning - lavendar neat - and then another full body massage on Sunday night. I'd been taking Tai Chi 2 hrs 3X/wk for 2 months. And, I saw a Chinese doctor (the Tai Chi instructor) for acupuncture, cupping, and herbal support two weeks before surgery. Drank astragulus tea, green tea, age Mung Beans, Tofu, Apples, Pears, Sunflower seeds and plenty of water for two weeks too. My surgeon puts in NG tubes and foleys in surgery. One of the other local docs doesn't even put in NGs. I'll tell you what... I could feel it pulling on my internal sutures. When I realized it was cyclic -this "discomfort" - I asked the suction to be turned from Intermediate to Low intermittent. That helped tremendously even tho staff said that was unusual for suction to be decreased, they complied! Post Op day 1 I went for a gastrograffin study. The pouch didn't leak BUT there was so much edema that nothing would go through. So... another day of the NG tube, plus iced NS lavages - 20cc q 6h. And - I increased my consumption of ice chips to chill the area. Had another massage (MD condoned this) and focus was on Back, Neck, shoulders, and arm without IV. Post Op day 2 I had scant bowel sounds and so we pulled the NG. I had a clear liquid lunch (ate it {maybe 120cc} with a spoon over about an hour) and by dinner was advanced to full liq. It's kinda scary to put anything down. I mean - I coated my spoon and called that a sip! And then, we switched from PCA MS to Lortab. Tablets! Those were scary... but no problems. Anyway... that's the initial post-op story. I had pureed foods starting Post Op day 3 and haven't had one stitch of trouble since then! Went to Tai Chi on post op day 5. Stood for about 30 minutes of practice and then completed the class sitting. Day 7 more standing. Day 9 - only 30 minutes of class as I was late. (Been out shopping and running errands for 5 hrs!?) So - move, move, move, TC&DB (I started that in PACU) - two of my incisions bled when I did that - not really that much bleeding but enough that I remember! Oh - menses started 2 weeks early on POD#2 - apparently that's very common. Been getting in about 70 Gms protien over 14 hrs a day - taking a little something about q2h - including two protien shakes. Getting in >70 oz fluid a day - mostly water. And that's the gist of my post op experience! Any specifics you are wondering about, Sandi? Angela Lap RNY 5/23/05 288/268/?

Angela, Your story is amazing. I'm glad to hear you embracing alternative medicine for support. I am a big believer in acupuncture & massage. I avail myself of them as often as possible. Aromatherapy is a wonderful adjunct. Sometimes I think that the tiger balm lotion helps almost as much as the acupuncture. I'm surprised at how rapidly your diet advanced. My surgeon is one of those 6wks on fluids guys. How is your feeling of satiety? Your energy level is clearly not a problem. Any headaches? The bulk of your protein is clearly coming from the 2 protein shakes and I plan to follow a similar path to avoid malnutrition. The early onset menses is likely r/t free flowing estrogen release with fat dissolution. How are your moods? Any lability? I hope I'm not being intrusive. I'm married and a little concerned for the fallout of moodiness. I read about the moodiness attendant on the free flow of estrogen. Thank you again, Sandie

Dear Sandie, I'm glad to share in the hopes it helps you or others. My feeling of satiety? Give me a 1/4 - 1/3 c of solids (fish - tilapia tonight) and I'm full for 3 to 4 hours. I'm trying to drink up to 15 minutes before eating and then not drinking for an hour after eating. The shakes I treat as fluid - but they do fill me up. I drink an 8 oz shake in about 15-30 minutes. I've been a bit of a clock watcher to keep my nutrition going... I could probably go 6 hours without feeling "hungry" for now. The only headaches I had were with the DuoNeb updrafts scheduled q6h in the hospital. Boy - those were real head splitters. I fineally caught on... I had thought it was due to my absence of beta blocker med which I take for migraine prevention. But - declining the updrafts brought me sweet relief in about 6 hours. I don't feel moody at all. I've got such an attitude of gratitude for this miracle that it's hard for me to be anything but joyous! My energy is a little less today than yesterday. I had a B12 inj. at the Dr. office yesterday - to "ward of fatigue" and so now... I'm fatigued! Talk about suggestable!!!! But, I've taken a nap today - walked my mile, planted a few peppers in the back yard... gotten in my protien and fluid. I know tomorrow will be a new day! I wonder what is the benefit to being soley on liquids for 6 weeks post-op? It was scary to eat real food - even in the hospital - but I think that's part of what is keeping my metabolism cranked up and my energy level high. (That and Juice Plus caplets daily...) Yes, aromatherapy is wonderful - the lavander neat I had pre-op was the great indulgance and highly theraputic for me. I'm happy to share - if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask! Peace, Angela in Ok Lap RNY 5/23/05 288/265/?

Angela, You sound like you're doing really well. My MD tells me that I have to take B12 SL for the rest of my life, 1 x wk. He also says the 1600 of Calcium Citrate is essential along with a good daily vitamin and at least 60gm of Protein per day. As for the 6wks on fluids, did I mention that my Doc is a military officer? LOL He had an early patient death from an anastomotic leak and it almost killed him. He tends to be very strict due to that experience. I respect him and I trust him. He places a JP drain too so that any hint of leak is very early detected. He told me about that patient death in our first meeting. His openess was very refreshing. Your wt loss is phenomenal isn't it? I mean really, today is 6/5 and you're only 13d out and have lost 23#. Bless you for sharing. Please keep posting. I will be out of commission for about a week because my surgery is in Ventura CA (8hrs from my home) and I won't have access to a computer during my hospital stay. I will be anxious to hear anything you have to say. Sandie