Spring of Wellness

Oct 23, 2008

I sprung another leak last night. Damn it!!!!  If I sit up wrong, look left or anything that involves a combo of the two, chances are I'm going to spring a leak. I've had some drainage since day 1, but now it's changing color. Not in a bad way though... It's just blood now instead of drainage.  Look at the lap picture of day 9. You'll see what I mean. The steristrips gap when I sit up, bend, lean, cough or breath. Then if I do too much of that activity, it breaks the scab and starts all over again. 

 UGH!! I have been through 2 bottles of peroxide all ready to get the stains out. This is getting really old. I'm afraid I'm going  to have a huge  scar now. Not my primary concern, but it is one. I'm just waiting for the office to call me back. I don't know how to stop it. Throw a butterfly on it and ace bandage my tummy? I Just don't want them to tell me to come back in (TO DENVER) so they can throw another stitch on there.

P.S. It's not super hot or red, I have no fever, there looks to be no puss, doesn't smell funky (although I can't very well bend that far) and I'm feeling ok generally.


2 OZ Mocha Please!

Oct 23, 2008

2 oz mocha please...

 

You know I love coffee right? Up until about 2 weeks ago, coffee was the sole object of my affection. The only thing that would or could make me more excited is J holding a mocha. So you see, I'm obsessed. Here lies the dilemma.

During my pre-op diet, I detoxed from coffee. I had 3 days of headaches, a lovely day of vomiting during that time and viola. Coffee Free. It's now been 11 days since I've had a coffee. This is exciting uncharted territory because I LOVE a good mocha. I don't want to stop living my caffeine obsessed lifestyle. Hanging at the coffee shop, listen to music, chatting with people. I have considered switching permanently to decaf. I would still get a smidge of the caffeine that I love so much without the dehydration affects of the fully leaded. What to do.... I would have made fun of the person getting the decaf. I would still make fun of them only i'm going to have to make fun of myself. I used to have a mantra that said, "Death before decaf!"

I'm lost and can't find my self....what do I do? Even if I do keep my coffee, I'm only going to be able to drink like two ounces, so whats the point?


New Gas Solutions

Oct 19, 2008

Yes- I have an exciting new gas solution for you that will blow GAS X out of the air.

http://www.herbsmd.com/detail/Gasalia-5574.htm

I found this at my local Co-op. If you don't have one near you, try maybe WHOLEFOODS or any little hippie store that is infused with patchouli. Just kidding...sort of.

The Gasalia by Boiron is an all natural homeopathic medicine that will not leave my side for the next few weeks. Last night I took two and dissolved them under the tongue as instructed. I let out like 7 of the strongest, bestest, loudest burps that I have in years. I was totally unrepentant because it was such an amazing relief!

I woke up and took two more.

gas city

Oct 17, 2008

I am 4 days post op and working on getting all the gas out but this is a new one. Yesterday, I noticed a sort of fizz happening. Like when you drop an alka seltzer in water, plop-plop, Fizz, Fizz.
When I'm laying down or reclining, I can hear/feel this weird little fizz  bubbles of air. I think it's gas coming up but I'm not quite sure. So I think I'll just keep walking. I'm sure my neighbs think I'm a freak at this point.  Walk, Walk, Walk!

This ever happen to anyone else. All these new bodily functions are foreign to me. LOL!!!

Today I decided that maybe a little hot cocoa would help open things up down there. Some people say they have trouble in the mornings and that tea will help. So I had a few sips of SF Cocoa. Thats sugar free not San Francisco. Either way it helped. I've had a few bites of small curd cottage cheese and I'm feeling ok. Still full of gas, but alright other than that.

Surgery

Oct 16, 2008

On Tuesday I had my surgery. I had a tad bit of trouble with nausea and dizzyness. I spent 5 hours between the 2 recovery areas.

But lets go back a little bit. When we got to the hospital, we checked in and they took me back in a little area so I could change and they could give me my IV. I was in a pediatric room with a rainforest theme and oddly it was very calming. During that prep time, the heparin shot was the worst of it. That little shot stung!!!!

I don't remember when they gave me the happy shot. I do remember being wheeled into the OR and asking if they had fleece for the table because it was so cold. I often make jokes when nervous...I don't know what that is all about. I talked to Yolanda about getting my boots after surgery and she offered to take me. She said I had come to right OR suite to talk fashioin. But I don't remember a bit after that. The Anest.DR. was pushing meds into my IV so I was out!

When I came to in the recovery, I was asking for Nurse Amy, but she wasn't around. I think she was in surgery already with someone else. But Nurse Mary came to my aid. She kept asking me how the pain was and If I said it was still hurting, she'd give me more happiness in the IV. The pain was mostly the gas. This cycle went on about 2 hours.

After the initial recovery, they moved me back to the day surgery recovery. I took a bit of a nap while my hubby went for my meds. When he got back, I tried to get dressed, but passed out. I was complaining of major nausea, so they also gave me something extra for that. I was pretty medicated. I finally got my act together and we took a cab about 3 blocks to the hotel. It was a pretty rough night at the hotel. But the hubby kept me plenty medicated.

The next morning we got up and half an hour later, the shuttle called to say they were 4 minutes away. WHAT? they were an hour early. So we just through everything into the bags and we were off to the airport. When we got there, I got a wheelchair. The only time I had to get out was to get through the metal detector. The good news there was that they just wheeled me past everyone else. Haa Haa to all the suckers in line. They pulled my bags though and the TSA took my pudding. It was .1 oz over the allowed limit. Darn it!

Jeremy kept me even more loaded for the flight which was perfect. There was very little turbulance. The ride home was a different story. The meds were wearing off and the road was rough. A lot of pot holes and bumps going over the bridges. That started to hurt, but even then, I was in and out of conciousness. I preferred the out for certain.

We got home last night and I just shuffled around the house trying to shake loose the gas in my chest.  I had my first meal and I don't think it went well. i had some refried beans but they were too thick I think. I had like 6 baby bites with my new baby spoon and I started getting this pain under my breastbone. You know, they tell you no liquids during your meal because it flushes the food too quickly. so I thought that I would drink and it would help flush it through, but that wasn't the case. I think It just sat there. I got up and moved around. Within 30 minutes or so, it started calming down. That was a little scary.

More details to follow......

hurl, gurgle...gurgle, hurl!

Oct 12, 2008

*** the answering service transcribed the phone number wrong, we got that straight and the MD called back in like 45 seconds. wow!***

I'm struggling with the pre-op clear liquids. I'm really shaky now, dizzy too. I'm having troubles getting up and down the stairs. I had a crazy headache this morning and ended up hurling a few times. I think I'm having a caffeine withdrawl and it sucks! Oh...And I'm on my cycle too. Darn!

I called the MD on call this morning and he hasn't bothered to call back yet....I'm a little disappointed there

But my new band buddy Teri came through. She got her band in Sept and is doing great. She told me that they had OK'd her to have a protein drink by Ensure called Enlive. It's a clear protein so you're still ok on the diet. They also ok'd unflavored protein powder in her broth.  Did I mention that Teri rocks!!!

So I'm sitting here waiting for the MD to call so I can get permission to make some protein broth and down a few Tylenol PM's.

Tonight we leave for Cour d'alene so we are a smidge closer to the airport. I'm starting to get scared, but I know it will all be fine. I have an amazing support system and Jeremy is the most amazing husband ever . As I type, he is down at the laundrymat washing all the bedding and lap blankets.

Anybody have a pork chop?

Oct 11, 2008

Things are kind of crazy right now. I've started my 3 and a half day clear liquid diet and am starving to death!!!  Today I had like 4 different kinds of broth, a sugar free popcicle and some water. Oh and I juiced the salsa....don't ask. 

We drove to every store in Moscow looking for a sugar free sorbet. If that wasn't hard enough, It had to not have any red food dye. The list from the MD specified no food dye.  But on the same list, they specified that I could have Ocean Spray sugar free juice with splenda and also sugar free kool-aid. Have you ever seen either one of those without Red  40? They don't exist.

I've been getting really shaky off and on today and started to get a little cranky and wierd. I think it's a combination of sugar and caffeine withdrawl. I'm hoping I mostly can nap tomorrow so I don't have to hear my belly roar. It actually quite embarrasing.

Tomorrow we're headed up to see our friend Add and Nathan. I'm really bummed that I can't eat any of Add's cooking. She's sad about it too, but it's nothing compared to my sadness and hunger. Boo to the clear liquid diet!!!

All set and waiting...

Oct 09, 2008

I had my blood drawn today. I got my air tickets and money in order. Lodging is set. I've already got my vitamins, gas-x and what not together. I made a general list of "allowed" foods for my hubby to follow. I'd be really upset if while doped up he tried to feed me Taco Bell. That would be really bad

I got my EIT approved for a week off of work and have arranged for others to cover me while I'm gone. I have even created a phone tree so my hubby doesn't have to call everyone to let them know I'm doing well. PLEASE LET ME DO WELL!!!!

Is there anything I'm forgetting? My kitties will do fine for 3 days without us, but the neighbors are going to keep an eye on them anyway. Mike loves an excuse to come play with them.

Now I just have to get through the 3 days of clear liquids before the surgery.  My god, I'm scared, nervous and so freaking excited to start my new life.

I've been eating a bunch of stuff that I probably won't get for a while. I bought a pomegranate at the store last night. YUM! I'm getting drunk on Friday with the neighbors, my hubby and we're going to celebrate what is to come. Silly, but I think it's important to mark this occasion.

Delayed

Oct 01, 2008

Damn! Delayed because the MD is going to be on-call. Lucky me it's only a day. My new Birthday has been moved to 10/14.

I *Heart* Dr. Thomas R Brown

Sep 28, 2008

I met with the entire team and really enjoyed my day. I did a review on their page- feel free to check it out.  All in all, they were great to me. I highly recommend Dr. Brown so far.

I'll know more after 10/13. I've got a hot date!

About Me
Ewa Beach, HI
Location
45.8
BMI
RNY
Surgery
05/21/2019
Surgery Date
Aug 11, 2008
Member Since

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