And in the beginning.....

Aug 09, 2010

My journey to wls surgery started two years ago when after yet another diet, I regained all the weight plus more.
I was then at my highest weight ever.  Enough is enough.  I decided that the RNY would be the best wls for me. 
My health insurance has an exclusion for weight loss surgery and I was self pay.  I looked far and wide and
wide and found a hospital in another state with a great surgeon.  They charged what the insurance company
would have paid them.  The hospitals near me would either not consider a self pay patient or charged more
than double.  I think I had an Angel pointing me in the right direction.

Pre-op I read everything I could get my hands on. I ordered shake samples and found the ones I like.  So far I still
like them post op.  I found out what vitamins and supplements I would need and started taking them.  I exercised
and got myself a lot stronger before surgery too.

The two weeks before surgery I was on the pre-op diet. The day before I found myself strangely calm.  Of course
that could be because I was weak from the pre-op diet!  The surgery they told me went great.  I had to
trust them on that since I didn't wake up until several hours later in my hospital room.  Don't remember a thing
from the recovery room. I was up in my room that night and walking the halls the next morning.
One of the nursed called the wls patients the "Pole Walkers" since we were always out there.

I did have some nausea for a few days.  The doctor ordered a motion sickness patch
the next morning and that helped a lot.  There was little pain, mostly soreness.  I did have throbbing pain in my
left nostril and left side of my throat which was very unpleasant.  I can understand the throat being sore from
being entubated, but my nostril??   That resolved by the second or third day.  I did pass gas the second day and even pooped a little. 

The 30cc of water an hour started the day surgery and was a bit of a challenge.  The second day I was required
to drink two 8 oz. protein drinks and sufficient water for them to send me home.  There was no way I was not going
home that day so I managed to get the required amount down and was home that afternoon.  Yippee!

I have felt extremely bloated since surgery from all the air they pumped in and the IV fluids caused a 4 pound weight gain.
The more I walk the less I feel bloated so I try to walk a lot.  First couple of days home I walked several times a day going
short distances.  Yesterday I went for almost two miles.  The last mile wasn't pretty but I got it done and felt much better later. 
I had done a lot of walking and biking before surgery and I think that helped a lot.  Of course, everyone is different.

I am surprised that I actually find food appealing.  No cravings and I feel too full all the time to want to eat, but it
looks good and smells good.  If I don't see it or smell it I really don't think about it.  I won't mind if it seems less
appealing over time though.  It will be nice to be off the liquid portion of the diet though.

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