Mistletoe76
I am home!
Aug 29, 2008
My surgery wound up not starting until after 4pm on Wednesday and it took longer as my liver was quite large. Dr. Kim needed to make two more laprascopic insicions to get a better view because of it. I was in recovery until around 9:30 pm and then was moved to a room. I was so HOT! That is about all I can remember.
At 5am one of the male nurses had me sit up in a chair for an hour which wasn't the most comfortable for me. They removed my catheter, I went to the bathroom and then for a walk. I was feeling pretty darn good.
At 8am I began the water trials and I finished those at 11am. I tolerated them well and wasn't naseous so they brought me Broth and Jello. I had two spoons of each and was done. I was not hungry (and still aren't) but I figured I had better eat.
Hubby and I walked a bit aiming for a long walk up and down the corridor every hour unless I was sleeping. I have to say that I haven't been very gassy like others talk about. Maybe that will come more but in the hospital I didn't have very much...maybe 2-3 times.
My first roommate went home at 11am on Thursday and she had the same surgery with the same doctor as me but on Monday. She was quite swollen so they had her stay an extra night. After she left I was alone in the room but it was neat. I was at the end of the corridor so I didn't hear a lot going on outside and the nurses let me keep the door mostly closed. Mark and I were able to sneak in a nap in the afternoon and that was great. I was tired!
Around 5pm they brought me my dinner tray with the broth and jello and just as I started to eat the nurse came in and said that I needed to switch rooms. So we packed my stuff up and walked down the hall. The charge nurse whom I've met at a few support group meetings said that I looked great and that I was doing really well. She apologized about me having to switch rooms but they needed a male room. It didn't bother me though so I said it wasn't a problem.
The only bad thing is that I was now right in front of the nurses desk/station so it was loud and bright all night long! The docs came by in the morning and said that I would be going home today...WOO HOO!!! So at 10:30am they came with a wheelchair and off we went. OMG I wasn't prepared for how often I needed to urinate though. I went like 5 times that morning and then we had to stop twice on our 90 minute drive home.
The car ride didn't bother me at all. Mark was worried about the bumps in the road and he's had a few hernia surgeries (3 in the last 4 years) and those were always the worst for him. I used a pillow over my tummy but none of the bumps even bothered me.
I've been sipping on Cyrstal Light with Any Whey Protein Powder and then eating jello as my "meals." I think I will have some broth this morning and then maybe a Carnation IB No sugar added for my protein. We'lll see.
Thank you all for your support!!! I truly appreciate each one of you!
Thanks for listening!
Melissa
Today is my Surgery!
Aug 26, 2008
I feel like I am prepared for it and am very anxious to see how the journey will go for me.
As long as everything goes well I am supposed to be home from the hospital on Friday morning. Mark was able to take 6 days off of work so he won't go back until Tuesday, September 2nd. I'm grateful that he was able to get the time off.
So here I go leaving for the hospital at 8:30 am on Wednesday August 27, 2008. I leave here weighing 284 pounds with a BMI of 51.9. I want to remember that so a year from today I can see how I've done. I have taken some pictures this morning too so I can keep up with progress pictures.
By the way....I AM HUNGRY!!!!!
EEEk it is getting close!
Aug 15, 2008
Last night I had a dream that I lost 3 pounds during the first two weeks after surgery and the Dr. was dissapointed and of course so was I.
I have to thank my husband for being my rock!! We discuss our fears and concerns every night as we lay in bed ready to drift off to sleep. Wait maybe that is why I'm dreaming about it so much, lol. Anyway...I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have his support now and always.
I am REALLY looking forward to tomorrow as it is my last Support Group meeting before my surgery. I'm hoping to get any last minute pointers that anyone has to offer. I have learned more from the group and this board than the Doctor's office, lol. Maybe that is because I NEVER have any questions! Though I did jot a few questions down to ask at my pre-op appointments. They are scheduled for this Tuesday, August 19th. My hubby *should* be able to go with me and I sure hope he is. I'd like him to see the Clinic. Doctor/nurses and hospital before the big day.
Less than 6 weeks to go
Jul 21, 2008
I am vigilant about attending my support groups and I go to them twice per month. I really look forward to them and know that they are going to be vital to my success after surgery. This past Saturday there was a woman who just had the surgery 5 days before hand and she has the same doctor as I do. I appreciated hearing her story as well as learning more about the hospital visit.
I am still concentrating on my exercise and enjoying the Wii Fit and Raquetball. I hope to get some tennis in 2-3 times over the next week too. Hopefully the humidity will stay away though to allow the outdoor activity again.
4th of July
Jul 07, 2008
On Friday, the 4th, we took our 3 nieces to Sesame Place. Kayla (7), Lilly (6) and Loren (almost 5) had a great time there! Unfortunately it started to sprinkle and we were all getting ready to enter the kiddie pools. We still went in but it was FREEZING!! We stayed in for about 30 minutes and then we went on a ride where all of us got into a large round raft and we went down the water slides. We started off on one slide then it dropped us into a large pool, then another slide/pool, and the last large drop slide and pool. The girls loved it and I took some pics of that! For a 30+ minute wait on line the ride lasted all of 1-2 minutes as always.
We dried off and spent the rest of the day on the dry rides after we ate lunch. I ran out of film as I only brought a water proof disposable camera there or else I would have taken more pics!
We left at 4pm and went to my BIL/SIL's for dinner. We decided to go out to the Texas Roadhouse since my FIL/MIL hadn't been there before. They just loved it and it is a great restaurant for children because they can be loud since they just blend in with the rest of the noise, lol.
The rain set in again but on the way back from the restaurant (nearly 10pm) we caught fireworks during our drive in the car. Kayla proclaimed that "this is the best 4th of July EVER!"
Exercising and loving it!
Jun 29, 2008
Today hubby and I went to one of the gym's on the Army Base and we played raquetball for 45 minutes. It was awesome! Mark's been wanting me to play for a few months now but I was too self conscious as I was picturing a court with a window where passerby's could watch. However the only opening was an apartment style peep hole!
It was an incredible workout and I was soaked to the bones! Over the last 10 days I have worked out for 9 of them. This is certainly a first for me but I know it is because I am enjoying all of my workouts. All I needed to do was find activities that I enjoy. I will soon be the athlete that I once was....I know that she is trapped in this shell somewhere deep inside!
So my new routines consist of Wii Fit, Tennis, Outdoor walking, WATP videos and Raquetball. I know that I need to add on my free weights to do some arm toning exercises though. I will put them in my bedroom tonight and try to us them for 15 minutes each night like I used to this way I can try to avoid the saggy bat wings post op, lol.
Wii Fit....LOVE IT!
Jun 24, 2008
So I played last night and tonight and I am waking up 30 minutes early tomorrow to play again before work. My favorite games are the Super Hula Hoop and tonight I did 734 spins of the hula in 3 minutes! I also like the Soccer Heading and Table Tilt games a lot. I've played every game available so far and enjoyed all except the tight rope walking.
Tomorrow night DH and I are going to try the 2 Person Run. He did the single run tonight and scored 102% which was awesome! He kept a fast pace the entire time and I couldn't imagine doing that myself. Hopefully he'll take it easy on me tomorrow, lol.
I don't want to get burnt out on it so I will continue alternating Tennis, Walking outdoors, WATP videos along with the Wii Fit workouts.
I'm loving Summer!
Jun 23, 2008
Today my husband got a Wii Fit at Gamestop too! He used $100 in Visa gift cards that I received from Xmas and purchased it for us. I can't wait to try it out tonight! I'm happy that I have different things to do to stay active! I'm doing a 3 days on and 1 day off workout schedule right now. It's been working really well. Tonight was SUPPOSED to be my off day but since the Wii Fit is home I'll have to use it tonight and take tomorrow off, lol.
I'll be sure to post about it tomorrow!
Father's Day :0(
Jun 15, 2008
DH will be heading to Iraq 4 months after my surgery. When he returns home (assuming it is ONLY 12 months long this time) I'll be 16 months post op. We'll have a short time to wait to reach 18 months post op then we can restart trying. By then we will be married for THIRTEEN years!! My how our lives will change! If it all works out I will be 34 years old and Mark will be 36 years old by the time I deliver. Ok, getting ahead of myself...sure am. I'm a planner...can you tell?
Beautiful day!
Jun 15, 2008
