First Blog Post Surgery

Apr 04, 2010

Yea, surgery accomplished.  I met two wonderful ladies (Keely & Courtney) at the hospital who were also patients of Dr. Barker's who I hope to have a lifetime friendship with as we start this new journey together.  Also, my sister's mother in law (Pam) was there, so having four people going through it the same day and having them to talk to as well as my sister who is 3 years 3 months out has been really helpful.  The surgery itself was painful when I was in recovery.  I have a low pain tolerance and it appeared a few of the others were taking it far better than I. 

I never moved below a level 8 the first day, but the second day it was looking much better and I was never above a 5, so success was finally starting to set in.  The more I drank, the more I needed to go to the bathroom, the more I wanted to walk and pretty soon I was just completely ready to come home because I felt I was more a nurse to myself than the actual nurses I had assigned to my room. 

I passed other nurses in the hall who seemed to have more compassion for my well being than my very own nurses.  We had our group meeting around 6pm on Tuesday where the six patients of Dr. B all came together and we listened to the hospital internal medicine doctor tell us about what to expect the next few days and answered general questions before visiting each one of us individually.  I was so ready for a shower and wanting to go home by the time he got to my room and he agreed due the fact my blood work and pain level was lower and I appeared to be doing really well so he let me go.  I took a shower (my nurse freaked out, but the doctor said I could, he even said I could remove bandages as long as I put new ones on and kept them covered and do not scrub site). 

My nurse was always say no, you can't do that, the doctor's don't allow that, then dr. Barker's nurse or Dr. Child's would tell me something contrary and she would just blow up at me.  I said I am doing what the doctor said I could do and if you need his advice/permission then go call him.  As if I would harm myself or do something without the doctor giving me the okay. I was not impressed with most of the nurses at Pine Creek Medical Center and was so glad to get home and not have to have a nurse tell me I couldn't do something when I read in the book I could or was told by doctor I could.  I think she woke up on the wrong side of the bed and/or hates her job. She had no compassion and when she came in the room it was as if she would hurry in for whatever she was trying to do per her rounds and would rush out without asking if I needed anything or if there was anything she could do for me before she left. 

I've slowly been walking everyday more an more.  Today I am pretty sure I reached 30 minutes but not all at once, more like 10 minutes at a time and I'll continue each day.  The more I walk the more energy I seem to have but the hardest part of coming home was getting in/out of the bed.  I suggest if you have a elevated bed or recliner, that might be the best place to sleep the first night or two.  I've been off pain meds since Saturday am around 9.  I've had a few little minor aches/pains but nothing severe and now I'm looking forward to soft/blended foods tomorrow.

I'll write more soon.  I am not exactly sure how much I've lost because they didn't weigh us at the hospital day of surgery but the Saturday before I weighed at a friend's and I was at 236 which was I believe my lowest weight since I started the journey.  My initial weight when I went to Dr Barker's office in November was 243. 

I want to wait until I get all the gas/bloating out and for my first follow up appointment next Wednesday to really know how much I've lost on the liquid diet.  I started my period Thursday after I came home from surgery so I'm sure I also have some water retention/bloating from it as well.

Stay Tuned..........

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