Post-Surgery Update

May 02, 2011

I just realized I haven't posted on here since my surgery. Time really starts to fly after the surgery. I had my surgery January 19th 2011. It went well, no pain, I never used the morphine drip or took any pain killers after. The gas bothered me a bit, but once that started to move around, everything felt better. I didn't realize that they didn't let you drink for 2 days after surgery! My throat was so sore from the tube, and the hospital was super dry, so I was dying for a drink. Towards the end of day 2, I finally got to have a sip of water, but by then I was afraid of putting anything in my new pouch! I got over that fear though, and started on the clear fluids in the hospital. The hospital stay itself was not good, everyone was very nice, but it's so loud, I didn't get any sleep, and they are all over you with vitals every 2 hours, poking and prodding. It was nice to get the monitors off, the IVs out, and be able to walk around freely,  but then that just makes it weirder, because you have to stay in the hospital, but you're not sick, and you feel fine. It's like being forced to stay in a hotel with strangers, and nothing to do. Enough complaining though, it's only 3 nights, and then you are free.
   Once home, everything went pretty well, I felt a bit weak, but good. I got sick of broth and jello very quickly, but I wasn't about to start the next phase early, so for the second week I pretty much lived on water, tea and Crystal Light. After week 2, when I could start on full fluids, it got a little better. I added mild hot sauce to my strained cream soups, which helped a bit. I do have to say though, I got hit pretty hard with depression after the first week, which I knew was a possibility, but it was tough to get through. After week 4, I was allowed to start on soft food, and I was back at work by that point, both of which helped to make me start to feel better. Between weeks 5 and 6, the depression lifted, and everything got so much better. During the dark period, I really questioned if I had made the right decision, but now I know I did. I just wish at week 2 or 3, I knew that in just a couple more weeks, everything would turn around.
   At week 12, when I could add in fresh fruits and vegetables to my diet, I even started to feel, "normal" again! I have had no issues with food, after I got over the constant nausea while on liquids. I have not thrown up at all. The bowel movements, which go though some weird phases, seem to have hit a rhythm, everything is good.
   I just had my 3 month follow up, and evrything looks good. I have been slow to get back into the exercise, I still amd self conscious about having people see me exercising. I have started back at yoga, which is a pretty accepting place, so I am starting to gain confidence. I have even taken a couple aerial yoga classes, where you do yoga on ropes suspended from the ceiling! It's pretty cool, and absolutely not something I would have even considered trying a year ago!
   It's very liberating to see the new person underneath as your old self starts to melt away.

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