stephkd
1 week out -- some musings
Jun 06, 2011
Surgery was June 1, and as far as I can tell was absolutely textbook. Shoulder pain from the gas was sharper than expected, but fortunately only lasted a couple of days. Incision pain has eased considerably, to the point that I don't take any pain meds at all, and wasn't fazed by a sneezing fit yesterday (coughing/sneezing/yawning are the BANES of post-op abdominal surgery!).
I've been experiencing many things that others have written about -- difficulty in getting everything in, realization that I've lost my "best friend", wondering if my life will ever get back to *normal*, etc. -- but have been able to deal with it all because of what I've read here on OH. Knowing what to expect makes a HUGE difference!
I'm curious, though, if I will experience what folks have written about as far as changes in how others interact with you (I've read where people are astonished at how others now smile/speak/engage with them when they hadn't before). I'm questioning whether I will experience this because, since I was laid off the week before surgery, I won't be going back into the same environment I had been in for the last 11 years, and so won't have a basis for comparison. But as someone wrote, is it really a change in others because they're finally noticing "us" rather than the flab, or is it a change in US because of new-found confidence?
Now I'm just impatient/anxious to get past the drugery of post-op liquids and lack of energy, and on to My Life 2.0!
2 comments
I've been experiencing many things that others have written about -- difficulty in getting everything in, realization that I've lost my "best friend", wondering if my life will ever get back to *normal*, etc. -- but have been able to deal with it all because of what I've read here on OH. Knowing what to expect makes a HUGE difference!
I'm curious, though, if I will experience what folks have written about as far as changes in how others interact with you (I've read where people are astonished at how others now smile/speak/engage with them when they hadn't before). I'm questioning whether I will experience this because, since I was laid off the week before surgery, I won't be going back into the same environment I had been in for the last 11 years, and so won't have a basis for comparison. But as someone wrote, is it really a change in others because they're finally noticing "us" rather than the flab, or is it a change in US because of new-found confidence?
Now I'm just impatient/anxious to get past the drugery of post-op liquids and lack of energy, and on to My Life 2.0!
This adventure starts tomorrow!
May 30, 2011
I've never done a blog entry, so thought I should at least document some things before my "big day".
When I first started considering WLS last December (2010), I could never have imagined what would happen before I could actually take this step. Let's just say I've been making up for all those quiet years where nothing too dramatic ever happened. As you read this, bear in mind that I was also trying to do all my required appointments, food diaries, etc. plus an extra EKG, stress test, and 2 sleep studies amidst the drama that has become 2011 for me.
JANUARY: Mom went into the hospital. I had moved mom up from Texas to Ohio in 2007 because of her increasing dementia, and she had been living in a retirement community with some home health assistance. After a week in the hospital and 2 weeks in rehab, mom went back to her apartment; however, it soon became apparent that she really could not live unassisted any longer.
FEBRUARY: Started doing research and making arrangements for mom to move into an assisted living place with memory care. Started packing her place (2-bedroom apartment with LOTS of breakable pictures, glassware, and knick-knacks). Move scheduled for 3rd Sat in March.
MARCH: Dad went into the hospital (in Houston) on the 5th. Re-scheduled mom's move to 2nd Sat, and flew down afterwards. Very stressful week. My sister (who also lives in Ohio, but 2 hours away) and I assumed that dad would end up in long-term care, and we would have to take turns flying down every month to take care of the house and his finances (we had tried to get him to move up to be closer to us, but to no avail).
APRIL: My sister lost her job on the 4th. Dad died on the 5th. There are far too many ramifications from this to go into here,
MAY: I got my surgery date and went to pre-op session on the 19th, had begun doing paperwork for FMLA leave at work.... and was laid off on May 24th.
JUNE: My surgery is on the 1st and I'm PRAYING that it will mark the beginning of a change for the better in my life!
Karen
0 comments
When I first started considering WLS last December (2010), I could never have imagined what would happen before I could actually take this step. Let's just say I've been making up for all those quiet years where nothing too dramatic ever happened. As you read this, bear in mind that I was also trying to do all my required appointments, food diaries, etc. plus an extra EKG, stress test, and 2 sleep studies amidst the drama that has become 2011 for me.
JANUARY: Mom went into the hospital. I had moved mom up from Texas to Ohio in 2007 because of her increasing dementia, and she had been living in a retirement community with some home health assistance. After a week in the hospital and 2 weeks in rehab, mom went back to her apartment; however, it soon became apparent that she really could not live unassisted any longer.
FEBRUARY: Started doing research and making arrangements for mom to move into an assisted living place with memory care. Started packing her place (2-bedroom apartment with LOTS of breakable pictures, glassware, and knick-knacks). Move scheduled for 3rd Sat in March.
MARCH: Dad went into the hospital (in Houston) on the 5th. Re-scheduled mom's move to 2nd Sat, and flew down afterwards. Very stressful week. My sister (who also lives in Ohio, but 2 hours away) and I assumed that dad would end up in long-term care, and we would have to take turns flying down every month to take care of the house and his finances (we had tried to get him to move up to be closer to us, but to no avail).
APRIL: My sister lost her job on the 4th. Dad died on the 5th. There are far too many ramifications from this to go into here,
MAY: I got my surgery date and went to pre-op session on the 19th, had begun doing paperwork for FMLA leave at work.... and was laid off on May 24th.
JUNE: My surgery is on the 1st and I'm PRAYING that it will mark the beginning of a change for the better in my life!
Karen
About Me
Columbus, OH
Location
33.9
BMI
Surgery
06/01/2011
Surgery Date
Jan 08, 2011
Member Since
