Lisa87

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I know what you're thinking..... Surgery on Friday the thirteenth..... Just another day to me! LOL! Well not really because this was MY WLS date!!!! I got this date because someone had cancelled! I didn't even hesitate to say yes! I wanted this surgery before Christmas Break so I would have time to recouperate enough to head back to school in January. It just couldn't have worked out any better!

My hubby and best friend went with me. We left our house a t 5 am. I had to be there by 7:15 and my surgery was scheduled for 10:00. We parked and walked in the hospital and they had someone whisk me right away.I was taken back to a pre surgery room. I got all dressed up in a hospital gown, TED hose, and yellow booties with rubber on the bottom. Then they started with the fluids. An IV was all set up. I went through almost 2 bags of fluid before surgery. I must have peed 6 times. I was not scared. I felt calm wash over me. I was steadfast in my decision. I was ready for this life changing event and I knew in my heart this is just what I needed. I had run amuck all my life with food. No one telling me NO! I had no boundries and there wasn't a food out there that I didn't like. I ate all the time. If I felt like I wanted something I just found it and ate it! No rhyme or reason! But at 44, and a lifetime of trying to control this demon,I decided it was time to do something different. I had been dieting since the age of 13. Some success, but mostly not. Like so many others I would regain the weight plus more!!!! At 243 lbs and only 5 foot four inches - I had turned into a fire plug! I was the heaviest in my family and I have 3 brothers who all weigh 160-185, and they are 15-25 years older than me!!!!! 

Lucky for me my surgeon was running ahead of schedule so I would be in the OR before 10:00 am. He came in to talk. I was surprised to learn I had a hiatal hernia that needed to be repaired. I had not been experiencing any symptoms. Who knew!?!?! One of the OR nurses came in and walked me down to the operating room. It was filled with people all gowned and masked up. I was put on the table and given something in my IV and the next thing I knew I was waking up. I had a sharp pain on the left side of my belly button. I let the nurse know and they gave me something. I was GROGGY!!!!! for a while. I barely remember the trip to my room! Crazy! It's just like a blur!

The nurses on the floor were great to me for the 3 days I was in the hospital. I was up and walking right away. It hurt getting out of the bed, but boy did I feel better after walking.... By the second day I got out of the bed and sat in the chair. So much better! I kept walking everyday, a little bit more each time, and by the 3 day I had walked 5 miles! I was proud of myself. 

I was ready to go home, but kinda nervous too! I hoped I had prepared enough prior to surgery to make for a smooth transition. I had my little bowls, spoons, and food all ready! I camped out on the sofa. I was super comfy there. I kept strange hours for about the first week. I would get up and walk like I did at the hospital. That is one thing they really want you to do to stave off blood clots. I wore the TED hose and gave my self Lovenox injections. I also had to take Carafate 4 times a day and omprezole 1x a day. It's quite a juggle to do all this plus get your fluids in, vitamins in, food in, etc............

After about a week, I felt I had a pretty good handle on everything. I was even starting to venture out on small excursions with my family. I would take my water, protein shake , food, and vitamins wherever we went. Everyday things got easier and easier!

I am almost 4 weeks out now. I went back to work and am being ever so diligent to pack what I need to survive!!! LOL !!!!!

I am down 25 lbs! I think is AWESOME!!!!!! This is going to be great! A journey of a lifetime! I have been given this gift and I am not going to squander it!