6/9/09 one week after surgery

One week ago, I had my Open DS surgery.  I just started to think about it and realized that some of the details are getting foggy so before I forget the important stuff...let me get my experience down for all of you.  Those that have come before me and shared their stories now have my respect and my intentions are to pay it forward.  I remember eagerly awaiting for just these as a pre-op.  
The infamous "Buchwald bowel prep" had me almost to my knees the day before surgery.  I had to drink 128 oz of a product called golytely (renamed go effing crazy) in 3 hours!  If I was lucky, there was maybe 3 hours of sleep that night.  Arrived with DH at the hospital at 630am.  By 815am, The Dr B had been in.  We had a last moment of discussing common channel length and then, I put it in his hands.  Iv started and a last kiss with the hubby and the next time it was 530 in the evening.   My very first "what the hell did I do?"  Phone calls came in for me that I have no recollection of.  I know I received a call from my sister in Malawi.  All I could say was that i had been hit by a bus or a train, take your pick!  It took a while for the nurses to get my pain under control and then when they did, I said, "Lets go for a walk!"  It seem insane but I remember reading posts on the board, time and time again saying that the walking was gonna be the best for me in the long run.   The days seemed to crawl and yet my main focus was get well and go home.  I begged to have the NG tube taken out as my throat was so raw, I couldn't even talk by Friday.  On Sat morning, the NG tube was taken out and PT came in to work with me on taking a shower.....oh, rapture!  I was put on clear liquids and on Sunday moved to full liquids and discharged from the hospital.    So, today I started pureed foods and I got up this morning and ate a soft cooked egg.  My new innards are working pretty well.  Alot of noise and grumbling and gas so I am assuming I may have become "lactose intolerant".  I will deal with that.
Dr Buchwald gave me a 75 cc common channel and I think about a 4-5 oz sleeve.  I am grateful.   Getting my fluids in is a constant struggle but I Will not take this job lightly.  For the next 6 weeks, I will get well and strong.  Thanks to all of you that have given such a huge base of info to go to.   This forum does so much good! 
Thank you to my 2 precious angels.  Both beautiful and loving women that I am proud to say I already adore!
Now, I am needing a quick bite and a nap...best to all.

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