10 days post-op

Nov 04, 2010

What a ride it has been since the first day of my pre-op liquid diet! Not a ride that I had much trouble with, either. Some parts were not fun, of course. But, overall, I will say that things have gone better than planned. I have officially lost 25 lbs since the first day of my pre-op liquid diet on October 15th! How thrilling it is for me to say that! :)
I have to admit, just for the record, that I did a few minor cheats on my pre-op liquid diet. Not cookies and candy or any huge portions. Just a few nibbles of nutritious food. No worse for the wear, though.
The weekend before my surgery, I was cleaning the house like a mad woman to get everything just the way I wanted it and needed it for my arrival back home post surgery. It did look quite fabulous, I must say! But, since coming back home, I haven't felt like doing much housework, and my husband is not really the homemaker type, apparently. And things around here are beginning to fall apart again. I will probably cave and get things cleaned up this weekend again. With his help, most certainly.
On Monday, October 25th, I woke up at 6:30 a.m. and was due to arrive at the hospital at 10 a.m. I didn't sleep too well the night before, but I did manage to catch a few hours of sleep anyway. I got my 4 year-old ready for pre-school and dropped him off (we just live across the street). Everything was mostly ready to go after that, and we were out the door headed for Omaha by 8:45 a.m. I remember nothing of the ride down, I was sooo nervous. Got to the hospital about 5 minutes late. They were cool, though, thankfully. Checked in and was taken back within 15 minutes. Got all the pre-op business done (gown, non-skid socks, IV, urine sample, etc.) Oh yeah, had just gotten my period on Friday night, and Monday was about the first heavy-flow day. Lovely. I made my phone calls to my mama, my brother, and my best friend. Waited, got doped up on Versed...that was fun! It felt like laying down in bed after a long night of drinking, then I fell asleep for about 20 minutes. Woke up feeling good, at about 12:30. Didn't get anymore Versed and didn't get taken back to the O.R. until 1:15 p.m. I was pretty nervous during that time of waiting. But, visiting with my family and friends on the phone, chatting with the husband, and the Euchre application on my phone kept me busy. :) When they came to take me back, I had a huge lump in my throat, and all I could think about was my son and my mom. But, I sucked it up, and gave myself a little pep talk, and said I'm ready...take me away. After getting back to the O.R., I was out within 10 minutes, and the next thing I know, I was waking up in recovery. Lots of gas pain, and couldn't keep my eyes open. Pretty normal. I wasn't totally coherent until about 8 p.m. that evening. Wow. That means I missed the first half of Dancing With The Stars, dang it! LOL...
I don't remember much of the first night, I know I got up during the night to walk and couldn't get past the door due to the nausea and dizziness. So, back to bed I went. A couple of hours after that, I went ahead and tried again and made it a little further. That was the story with the walking. Further and further each time.
Didn't have any struggles with keeping things down, except one time, I felt as though I was going to vomit, but I held it back, and was glad I did! The nurses were simply the best! Amazing women and men. Loved them. Almost didn't want to go home, they took such good care of me! :D
I advanced more and more each day with liquids and was feeling fine with that, and still am. Started with some cottage cheese on this Tuesday after my one week follow up appointment, and am doing well with this stage of the diet.
When it was time to be discharged, the nurse (my fav, Tammi) took out my Pain Buster line and my penrose drain. Pain Buster removal was fine. Drain was mildly painful, but not bad at all. Still have some drainage from that site, but it is healing nicely. No problems thus far, and am glad that I bit the bullet and went through with the surgery. Since coming home last Thursday, I have been able to walk about a 1/2 mile for five out of those seven days. Hope I can continue that...don't know as winter is upon us.  Will have to check out the free gym at the high school.
More to come soon, friends. And thank you for all of your support thus far! I am very appreciative of all your kind words! Huggins to all!

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