First Days Post-Op

Mar 16, 2013

I made it. The surgery wasn't anything I expected. My initial thought was "pain" yet so many people told me their stories and I thought that the pain couldn't nearly be as bad as I anticipated. This was my first major surgery and not only did I have the RNY, but also had my gall bladder removed. Waking up the day after surgery in the ICU and being forced to perform some minor bodily scrub down was excruciating. But I powered through and once the drainage tubes were removed, things felt almost normal again.

I've recovered a lot of my energy, although my body is still tender in places of course. I'm anxious to return home as the hospital bed is becoming uncomfortable. Normally I sleep on my stomach or side and this is nearly impossible here.  I'm also still nervous as to how to exactly go about the next few phases: How much of my liquid diet should I be expected to eat per meal? How many grams of carbs should be my max per meal? If I manage to avoid dumping syndrome during the liquid phase, will I be less likely to experience it further down the road? Unfortunately this is when the language barrier comes into play. While my doctor and hospital staff have been exceptional, it is sometimes difficult to communicate. I'm hopeful that I can find most of my answers through OH and the friends that I have made here.

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