See you all on the Other Side!!
Good news is I lost 41 lbs in 13 days. I am eating, but having some trouble.
As for my food issues, they are working themselves out. I'm noticing that I can't eat too much dairy or cheese. I also dumped last night. I'm not sure if it was the Mashed potatoes or the room temp tea.
As for my thoughts on my surgery and stay in the hospital, I have this to say. My nurses on days, not the CNA's or Nurse's assistants, I could have done without. My nurse on Thursday night, I could have done without, but for the most part, I loved my nurses on at night! My nurses that I had in PACU, I felt bad for, mostly because I think I was a PITA when I was in PACU.
For those who are pre-op, let me tell you something. Don't let them tell you that you can't walk when you want to. It is your right to get up and walk if you want to. It took me a little over a day and a half to get up and walking, because the nurses wanted to keep me in bed. (Also because I was in PACU, which is a step down from ICU.) If it wasn't for me shortcircuiting out my hospital room, I would have been in bed longer then that. So don't let them tell you that you can't get up and walk. And don't let them tell you that you can't get up and just sit. Just remember that these are your rights after surgery and that the sitting up and walking is the only way of moving things along so you can get out faster and go home.
However the instant energy kick is fighting with my infection I have. It's really making it rough to have the energy from the shot because I really feel like napping from the infection. Its either that or the Antibiotics are kicking my ass all over the place, which is what happens when I take them at first.
I don't know how it started, and my Primary has ideas, but no hard evidence. It could be from the subcutaneous stitches healing and there was some kind of sludge or bacteria there and pow, there went an infection... no one knows.
I really don't care, as long as it's healed up and fast.
I hate being down for so long.
On a lighter note, I have been becoming an angel to someone, I know that probably right now, she's still in PACU, in pain. I will say this if she's reading this down the line.
(Stepping on said soapbox)
The Pain is Temporary. Part of why I didn't have as much pain was because I took the epidural. Yeah the Epidural hurt and I don't recommend it for that reason when it was put in, BUT, it did help down the line with the pain index. The losing side is so much better, even tho I still struggle with eating from time to time. (I eat too fast and that's why.) The second day (Which was that Friday I was in) was the best along the lines of walking. I wish I felt up to it with the discomfort in my stomach, since the one nurse just flushed away after an Upper GI. That night, tho, I was up to it, and I did walk. The walking does make things better, matter of fact, doing anything made things better. Things we used to take for grant it, like sitting, sleeping, walking.
Just take it easy at first and listen to your body. The more rest you get, the better off you will feel when it comes time to being anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks out. I feel great at 5 weeks out, and I'm already down 72 lbs.
(Stepping off said soap box)
Seriously, I consider her like my little sis that I never had, and have helped her through out this. It's rough seeing someone you feel like that for and it actually throws the whole WLS thing into perspective.
Plus when I needed Friends, they were there for me (along with many others who called, and Don and Christine, who stopped up and see me) and I couldn't ask for a great bunch of friends. I also couldn't ask for a really great bunch of, hmmm, Family is what the word I think is. Seems like everyone who has had surgery and has a really good support backing them, like University of Penn does, Things turn into Family. One member's down and you know their last name, you call them and see how things are. Or like I did yesterday, I found out that there was a possibly that Marybeth could have been alone and all, so I had my mom take the time off and we hightailed it down there as soon as we could. I'm kinda glad I did... I don't feel like I was moral support per say, but I did get to show my actual soft side. (Contrary to popular belief, I do have a soft side.... LOL)
Anyhow, enough about that. I still have the infection. I have open holes on my incision, and I do know that the drainage is gunky yellow gray. I think that a visit to my surgeon may be in order. It's a shame, because other then the food issues and this infection and open incision, I feel great for the first time ever. Poor me, I'm actually up, doing dishes, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and running after 3 dogs. LOL
I was at a shower yesterday, and let me tell you. The people who put it together, which would be my brother's girlfriend's mother and them guys, Had NO IDEA of what a post op diet would be like, and what exactly happens if you eat the wrong things.
That's it really. I'm just looking forward to an arrival from Baby Shane in December sometime.
I finally became an aunt on December 27, 2002. Baby Shane was born at 7:17 pm, weighed in at 7 lbs, 10 oz, and is a JOY to have around. He's still quiet, and that somewhat surprises me. His picture is up on my Pics page.
I'm Sorry that I haven't updated as of late, but it's been sheer hell for me in general.
New Stats are up on the Stats Page, and yes, you read that correctly, I'm down 103 lbs as of December 16th. I'm 197 lbs away from my goal of 180, and only 217 lbs from my ideal goal. Maybe this time next year, I can think of some reconstructive work, because lord knows I'm going to need it!
Other then that, the biggest milestones I've had are the fact that normal steps I can walk like an actual regular person, I am starting to swim out of my size 13 shoes, I am walking 4 miles and soemtimes, I'm outwalking my mother, and sorry to the gentlemen, but ladies will know this one all too well.... I get my time of the month now. Oh and I can feel my shoulder bones too!
The only bad pieces of news I have are that I'm still open at my incision, but it's the size of a Pinhead, compared to when my surgeon saw it, which was the size of a pea, and that when you get the flu, it's lousy, but not as bad as if a normal person would. Yes, you throw up, but it isn't like you used to throw up before surgery, since the stomach acid isn't there anymore. (Gross I know, but had to be said.) Also, at my last check-up with Dr Williams, there was talk that my Gall Bladder may be going downhill, which is common after this type of surgery. I guess you take the bitter with the sweet as far as this goes.
Other then that... all is well.