5 days post op!

Mar 03, 2009

Well, today marks 5 days post op for me, having had my RNY on 2/26/09.  According to my surgeon, it was a boring surgery.  Meaning, everything went smoothly and he also told my husband that I did not bleed a lot.  OK, so that was his story - now mine:
My first few hours were tough and I got sick a few times after getting out of bed, bringing up blood.  All normal per the nurse and it did get less and less each time until I was just dry-heaving.  I had a morphine drip that was on PCA, but I was afraid to use it because I didn't want to vomit again and I thought that might be part of the problem.  So, I wasn't in tremendous pain anyway, however, I did use the morphine sparingly.  The first night was terrible as I got no sleep at all having to get out of bed every hour to use the bathroom.  I had to call the nurses to unhook me from all my monitors and unplug my IV every time.  Well, they were busy and couldn't come immediately (understandable) but I really had to go!  At times the pressure in my bladder was a greater pain than my incisions!  Then I was having trouble feeling like my bladder was emptying completely and I still had to go but nothing would happen.  So I asked for a catheter.  (I know, who the heck ASKS for that? But I have a history of my bladder "freaking" out after anesthesia and I've had to have that before - I knew what was happening.)  My doc ok'd a foley but just until 7 am.  Great, I thought, maybe I'll get some sleep.  But then the nurses waited 2-3 more hours before they tried to put one in.  Many attempts by two nurses later, i still had no cath.  They couldn't "find" my bladder!  Perhaps it was a result of the bladder lift I had a few years ago, but still I was in pain.  Then the rest of the night was every hour on the hour like clockwork - unhook me and to the bathroom!

The next day proved a bit better, but I was still uncomfortable.  The bladder issue seemed to resolve by mid-morning.  My surgeon came to see me and told me that he thought I should stay another night.  No going home the next day for me as I had hoped.  I was pleasantly surprised at the smallness of my incisions, 4 very tiny and one slightly larger than that one - all able to be covered by surgical band-aid smaller than a regular band-aid.  Thank God for that.  I was not in terrible pain, but more sore - feeling like some beat me up on the inside.  Definitely tolerable.  Later that eve at dinner time I took in my first "meal" of broth, tea and crystal light.  I took a few sips of each and was done.  That night I slept a lot better (two-hour stretches!) and was able to disconnect myself when I needed to go to the restroom. That sure made things easier!

The next morning I was up early and feeling pretty good.  I had kept down what I had consumed the night before and ate my breakfast of the same that morning.  By 9:30 am my doc had come in to see me and said I could go home anytime I wanted.  I was home by 11:30!!!!

First day home: all I wanted was a shower and sleep, which is exactly what I did!  Man, did that feel good.  Since that day I have slowly felt better each day, except I am terribly weak now.  I have absolutely zero energy.  Partly why I have taken until now to post - I haven't even had energy to be on the computer!  I have been on the clear liquids phase of the post-op diet and getting pretty bored with it at this point.  I can't wait until Friday when I can have full liquids - my first choice is going to be very diluted cream of wheat!  Sad that that sounds sooo yummy to me right now, right?  I am not really hungry but I am struggling with wanting food - especially pizza - if I see one more pizza hut/papa johns/dominos pizza commercial on tv i think i may scream!  That and chocolate!  I miss chocolate!  Ok, feels better to get that off my chest.
I am also struggling with these odd gastric feelings and "noises" that are emanating from my body that I have no control over!  It's so weird and it's uncomfortable too.  It seems to happen most when I drink tea or water or iced tea, but not when I eat broth or water-ice or jello.  I am not sure what to make of this feeling, but hope it passes soon.

I guess that pretty much brings me up-to-date about everything - I am hanging in there - getting better each day and oh - I almost forgot the most important thing - I am down a total of 17 pounds so far (since pre-op diet started 2/12) and that is pretty amazing!!!!

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About Me
Location
27.6
BMI
RNY
Surgery
02/26/2009
Surgery Date
Jan 01, 2009
Member Since

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