lyndaaaaaaa

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After I whined about the pain this morning, I thought I would post something positive.  Getting in the fluids have not been a problem with me at all.  I was always a water drinker ... FREAKED if I forgot my water bottle, but still some on here have said that that could change. 

Here is what I was able to get in today...

16 oz. water
7 oz chicken broth
2.5 oz. popsicle
8 oz. protein shake  (20 grams)

15 oz. water w/powdered vitamins
6 or so spoonfuls of cream of chicken soup
15 oz water/tea
2 oz. jello (guessing .. .who knows ... LOL)
__________
62.5

I'll still have some water by my bed tonight and won't sleep for a while .. things are not going bad ... I was concerned about not being able to move around too much, but that is no longer a concern thanks to all that posted today.

You'll all be FINE when you hit the loser's bench !

Lynda

I posted this as a question, but want to put it on my blog so I remember how I felt.

I still feel so bloated ... I have to hold my belly up when I walk.  I CANNOT lay on my side, which stinks because not only am I a side sleeper, but being on my back is "killing" it.  Doctor gave me liquid codeine tylenol 3, which helps in moderation and takes me an hour to drink .. sip of codeine ... sip of water...  I have darvocet pils which work better, but I cut one pill into about 10 little pieces so that also takes a good hour to get down and I worry about the pills in my belly, although the doctor says it is OK.  I THINK I am doing OK with the liquids ... NOT 64, but I think at least half ... I am going to totally keep track today.  I still hurt quite a bit when I move and the meds have worn off.

Does this all sound normal ?  It just seems that some people flew out of the hospital overnight and were back to work or "walking the mall" in 3 or 4 days.  I work from home designing websites ... I have made some changes, etc... but anything that takes any real concentration ..
NAHHHH  .   Luckily, I told people I was off this week, and have a vacation message on my email.  But Monday I must drive to the doctor's for my post op (65 miles).  My mom is a retired nurse and she asked if I was given Versed, which I was.  She said it causes amnesia, so I know that is part of my "problem".

My surgery was done at Kaiser in Harbor City.  I was supposed to be there at 9:30, but they called when I was on my way and said that if I could get there earlier, they would be ready for me.  When I got there and went to check in, I was greeted warmly and told they were expecting me!  Within a few minutes I was called back, changed into gown, vitals taken, and met with the anesthesiologist.  My husband came back, they gave me something to "relax me" and that's about all I remember until I woke up !!  My husband says I WAS awake until they brought me into the operating room, but I really don't remember being wheeled down there.  When they were trying to wake me up in recovery, I was confused because I couldn't recall even being brought to surgery.  GEESH .. as i think about it I don"t remember if i was in pain after i woke up it"s all a blur. Must have been some good drugs !

The first two days I remember discomfort and lack of mental focus.  I, like most, had a morpheine pump.  It took me about half a day to realize that the morpheine was not helping me.  They switched me to dilaudid, and that helped a lot.  Then it took me another almost day to realize i should be hitting that baby much more than I was.  I don't think I realized right away that it was OK to hit it every 10 minutes.  By Saturday night, I had that down, and every time I was awakened for "vitals" (every hour and a half approx.), I hit that pump and was put right back to sleep.

You want to know where/how it hurt.  I know I wanted to know that before surgery.  I also had my gallbladder out.  So I kind of hurt where my stomach was as well as where my gallbladder was.  It was manageable when the meds were working, painful when they were wearing off.  If I was just laying still, it wasn't too bad... but when I had to get up, it was bad.  I have NO stomach muscles and am not sure that would help anyway.  Getting up puts pressure on the surgery site, so it hurts ... and still hurts today.  I also cannot lay on my side ... it feels like it is pulling on my stomach when I do ... not good .. I am a side sleeper so I cannot wait until that gets better.  Is it painful ?  Yes, it can be.  Unbearable ... nah.  I have to say that my belly right now is UGLY .. LOL .. I'll have to have hubby take a picture.  It is bloated, bruised, with 5 incision marks.  It is also a little "rashy" but not itchy.  I was given heperon shots in my lower stomach as a blood thinner... those areas are also bruised.  There is an indentation where my stomach used to be... someone said it could be how the gas is in there, too.  It's getting better each day.

I felt really foggy for a few days.  That is getting better today.  I stayed in the hospital 4 days.  I still felt drained and in pain on Sunday morning when Dr. Zane came by, so he wanted to keep me another day.  By late Sunday, I could have gone home but it was too late .. the drs. had left, etc.  My husband had to pick me up after work yesterday (he's a teacher), so I got home pretty late because of that.

Today, I am doing OK with getting in the liquids.  I've had some tea, and some water.  I got this ProStat 64 stuff .. you get 30 grams of protein for 2 tablespoons .. it is a bit thick and sweet, but tastes like citrus.  I should be able to get in one serving today, and at least 30 oz. of water... so not too bad ! 

I was sent home with tylenol 3 liquid, which is OK ... but I have darvocet, too.  I cut up one pill into about 8 little pieces.  It is ok, but hard to get in much "pill-wise".  Just laying here with my laptop on my belly (yep), I feel fine.

So far, overall, not a bad experience ...!

I'm nervous deep in the pit of my soul.  I do know I'll be ok.  I do know this is NORMAL.  Don't even have a specific thing I am nervous about ... just trembling a bit from nerves and excitement.  Hard to wrap my brain around the fact that this will finally and forever help me to lose this "damn" weight.  I'm tired of always telling my husband I don't feel good.  I want to be the wife he married.  I want to run with my son before it is too late and he has moved on to his own life.

Thank you to everyone on the board who has answered ALL of my questions, plus some! 

I'm all packed except for the last minute things like my zune, and moisturizer for my face !  I have protein drinks, jello, pudding, unflavored protein powder, chicken borth flavored protein powder, refried beans, cream of chicken soup, yogurt ... I think I am prepared.  I'm also ready for the fact that I have NO idea what to expect until this happens !

Lynda

My surgery is scheduled for March 6th.  I've been sick now since Feb. 6th so that kind of stinks, but I guess it is getting me used to not eating much !!  Still hoping to have a few "last meals" ... Yes, I know I will be able to eat stuff down the line, but I might not like sushi as much as I like it now ... raw fish might gross me out after surgery !!  

Tomorrow I meet with Dr. Zane and get my surgery date.  I sure hope it isn't too far out.  I have been struggling with gallbladder issues and cannot wait to get rid of it!  I've had a lot of "big" events the last couple of weeks that I have been limping my way through .. my son's (13 - 15) rock band tried out for America's got talent on Friday ... we had to get UP at 3 a.m. to head to los angeles ... but it went really really well ... this Friday night they are playing at the famous Whisky a go go in west hollywood ... mornings and nights are TOUGH on me ... so, again, I limp on through it with joy .

Looking forward to getting RID of the PAiN and starting on my journey to health !