Stephieb1999

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Dr Hipp removed 51 of my staples today.  He left the bottom third or so in due to the drainage and put me on antibiotics just in case there's an infection brewing.  I go back next Wednesday to get them removed.

I've officially lost 47 pounds since surgery, 86 pounds total.  I'm so excited.  It doesn't show yet, but I do notice that walking is easier for me.

I got incredibly tired today with my trip to Gainesville.  I know I haven't gotten in nearly enough fluids, and hardly any protein.  I napped for a few hours when I made it back home.  Currently working hard on sip sip sipping.  My nutritionist did move me to soft foods today, which will be a nice change.

I have a 9:30 appointment tomorrow to finally get these staples out.  They've started really itching!  I also been experiencing drainage from my midline incision a little below my belly button.  The nurse still doesn't seem concerned about it as long as it doesn't have an odor and I don't have a fever.  The surgeon will see tomorrow and hopefully reassure me that it's "normal".

Am still on full liquids, but honestly am barely making my fluid intake, much less trying much in the way of other stuff.  I'm pushing really hard to get the protein shakes in, but I really want the watery liquids because my mouth gets so dry. 

Been getting in some pretty good walking...much more than I was able to do 60 pounds ago!  I'm actually going around the block!  My dog is also loving the extra time outdoors.

Can't wait to weigh tomorrow and see how much I've lost since surgery!

Well, still feeling kinda icky, but the worst of it seems to be behind me.  The coughing really sucks.  Not sure if it's because of the constant coughing over the past several days, but I've developed some drainage from the lower part of my incision.  The nurse says it could just be fluids that would have surfaced anyway, they didn't seem concerned about it at all.  She told me to put pressure around the staples after I bathe and use a warm, wet compress to help draw the fluids to the surface.  I've been using a moist heating pad for the past 2 days, and not only does it feel REALLY GOOD with this chilly weather, but it seems to be doing it's job because I had a lot of fluid come out of the incision over night.


I got moved to full liquids yesterday, but I wasn't feeling well, so didn't get all my fluids in, nor did I add anything new to my diet except some grits.  I did fine with it, and ended up having some for lunch today as well.  I plan on trying some yogurt and cream soup today.

As of today, I've been out of work for 2 full weeks, and my boss hasn't even called to check up on me.  I sure hope I have a job when I feel up to going back in a couple of weeks.  Kind of makes me a bit concerned. 

Well, it was only a matter of time.  My mom, who has been staying with me practically around the clock since my surgery, has finally passed me her head cold.  It isn't pretty.  Coughing and sneezing are hell for my abdomen!  I just hope this passes quickly. 

Called the surgeon's office, and they said I could take Tylenol products, but not  aspirins or ibuprofens.  Soooooo....I've been chugging liquid Tylenol Cold with refreshing citrus burst.  The only thing refreshing about it is when  it's actually out of my mouth and I'm flushing with juice.  YUCK...worse than my liquid pain medicine ever thought about tasting. 

Also used some nose spray and rubbed my chest with Vick's salve, neither have seemed to do much good up to this point. 

I seem to be stronger today, tho, and am walking around better - still pretty slow and controlled, though.  My dogsitter brought my little peke-a-poo back today.  He just turned a year old in December, so is still ver y puppyish, so we were a bit afraid he'd get under my feet and trip me up, but so far so good.

Got released yesterday, but the surgeon didn't do his rounds until 6pm.  He got held up in surgery and asked if I was ready to kill him.  haha  It only took about an hour or so afterwards to get released, and I was on my way home about 7:30, pulling into the driveway at 9.  The ride home was very bumpy and uncomfortable, but I managed.  Was so glad to see my recliner!!

I actually had my surgery on Monday morning.  They did manage to get the cyst out.  Found it was attached to my fallopian tube, so the gynecologist was called in and removed that sucker.  My surgeon said it was the biggest cyst he'd ever seen.  They took a picture of it, and as soon as I get back to work, I'll scan it and post for anyone interested.  2 gallons of fluid were drained from it, and in total, it weighed about 20 pounds.  I'm still in shock over that.

He then managed to get the bypass accomplished as well.  Because of the humongous size of that cyst, they couldn't do it laproscopically.  According to my surgeon, mine is the longest incision he's ever done.  I asked if I get a prize or something...largest cyst AND biggest incision he's ever made.  Was actually quite humorous because I was quite famous at the hospital during my stay there.  Apparently my big 'ol cyst was the talk of the nurse's station.

My family said when Dr Hipp came to them after completion of my surgery, he had a huge smile on his face.  He was thrilled with the outcome of the surgery, and thus far, couldn't be happier with my recovery.  I'm not really in pain, just discomfort from the gas moving around.  I've got someone getting Mylecon (sp) drops for me today, so that should alleviate those gurgles and pressures.  I still can't bend forward far enough to do the things I need to do because of this accordion of staples down my entire abdomen, but my reach is getting further and further every day.  Hopefully in a few days, I'll be fully self-sufficient.

I thank everyone for the prayers and well-wishes, and especially a big "Thank You" to Kim for being my angel.  I much appreciate your support.

My staples will come out on Wednesday the 14th.  When I made that appointment this morning, we went over my intake, and if I get 35-45 ounces in today, the nutritionist said I could move from clear liquids to full liquids tomorrow. 

I'm about to go make my first journey out of the house for the day.  My house is tiny, so I really don't have walking room.  Gonna go walk to the stop sign and back.  Hopefully the stairs won't be too tricky.  :)

Went back to the surgery center yesterday for my last consult.  The surgeon isn't sure if he'll be able to do my bypass Monday as scheduled or not.  This cyst in my abdomen is so large, and they aren't sure where it's coming from, so he doesn't know if he'll have a difficult time removing it or not.  If it doesn't take too long and isn't attached to anything major, then he'll be able to do them both.  He said best case scenerio he'll get the cyst and the bypass done, both laproscopically.  But if the cyst removal takes too long or is complicated, he doesn't want me on the operating table for 8 hours, so he'll get the cyst and reschedule the bypass in about 6 weeks.  

Financially that will be devastating.  Lord willing, everything will turn out.

The first day on the pre-op diet I felt like I was starving.  As soon as I got off work, I couldn't drive fast enough to Wendy's to get chili and a baked potato.  Luckily I've not had that problem since.  I space my protein drinks 3 hours apart, then with the one meal, I'm pretty well satisfied throughout the day. I do better when I'm at home than when I'm at work, which seems like it should be backwards. 

Right now I'm just using the Atkins and Wal-mart brand ready to drink shakes.  I've got an order placed with bariatric eating which should arrive Monday and one with vitalady which should arrive Tuesday.  I tried to get items with a ton of protein in 3 ounce servings.  That way I'll be set for a while post op.

I've been thinking a lot about this mass in my abdomen.  Luckily the surgeon doesn't want to see me before my already scheduled appointment on Wednesday.  I'm a little nervous that he won't be able to do the bypass laproscopically now.  Guess I'll know more on Wednesday.

Well, everything looked good today.  The only issue that came up was they found a mass in my abdomen.  The radiologist says it looks very simple in structure, but I was actually too big to be put in the CAT scan machine to take a better look at it.  They kept calling it a "watermelon".  Apparently it's a little bigger than a 2-liter soda bottle.  That's a tremendous size!  The radiologist is going to call my surgeon, but is unsure whether he'll actually want to see me before my next scheduled visit with him on the 24th.  Supposedly he can just remove it when he's doing the bypass.

Was a very trying day, extremely exhausting, and I'm so glad it's behind me!

Well, got a call yesterday from the nutritionist.  They're wanting me on a modified liquid diet for 2 weeks before surgery.  Problem is...there isn't a full 2 weeks to do this in.  I've got to go to Wal-mart today and pick up some of those protein shakes.  I was told 4 per day as a meal replacement, then one meal with limited calories.

I've got pre-op testing on Wednesday the 17th, so really looking forward to that.  Still can't believe how rapidly things are progressing.