17 days post op

I am struggling getting my strength back and have just let my online activities take a back seat.

I went to the doctor last Friday for my first follow-up visit. He was very pleased with my progress and said that the pain I am experiencing is natural. I learned that the sharp pain I feel in the lower left side is not from where the stomach or intestines were cut but instead it is from where muscles were stitched up. I did not realize that any muscles had been cut so it is not surprising that is what is giving me fits. I am allergic to various meds so I am still trying to find one that will knock the edge off the pain. Lortab would be the drug of choice but I can't take it. I ended up on Tramadol/Ultram which is just a step above Tylenol.

Everything else is going well. The doctor took out the drain I was wearing. I had been emptying it just once a day and there was little "activity" going on by the time I went into the office. Couple of little stitches held it in place. I have learned from a friend who also had this surgery that her drain was not stitched in and her doctor had her take hers out herself at home. Yuck! She was freaked out by how long the portion was that was inside. I am glad I did not have to do it myself and really did not even have to look at it that much.

I was seeing the doctor on Friday and the original plan was for me to come back on Monday to have the staples removed. Because everything was healing so well they took out the 17 staples while I was there on Friday. Two staples in one location, three in another, four in another and 5 in the remaining two places. Only felt one little tug the nurse was so good taking them out.

I am sure everything is going to heal and fade but for now I look a bit like a battlefield. On my right collarbone are several little holes from the central line they inserted during the second surgery and the staples that held it in place. It was great having it in the hospital because anytime they needed to draw blood or give me an injection, they just did it in this central line. They also gave me TPN nutrition in this line as well as antibiotics. Since it was stapled in place the marks now look like an odd bite mark. LOL

Tip if you have this surgery or ever have a central line: Have the nurse tape it down. We had more trouble trying to get me up and walking with this central line and it was always getting tugged by my hospital gown because of the awkward placement. It was day four before a nurse suggested the tape and it made a big difference.

Then there are the five incision sites and the hole left by the drain. I look like a game of "Who Sunk My Battleship?"

I have lost 15 more pounds since the surgery for a total of 30 since this process started in October.

I have graduated to a pureed diet. I am taking it easy on the solid foods but did have mushed up green beans, broccoli/rice casserole and turkey last weekend when my family was gathered to celebrate Christmas. I have also enjoyed scrambled eggs, Smoothie King shakes and lots of soup. I need to go see the nutritionist to make sure I am on track. I do not think I am getting enough protein. Gotta work on that.

So far I have not experienced any "dumping." Yeah!!

First post since surgery

I had my gastric bypass surgery on Monday, Dec 8 but things did not go exactly as expected. I spent the entire day in recovery having difficulty waking up and breathing. In hind sight this may have been the result of me being sick with a pretty significant viral cold in the ten days prior to the surgery. I do not think my lungs were as clear as I probably needed them to be prior to surgery. Going into the hospital I felt strong enough, just coughing a lot.

By that night my fever was up and my blood pressure was dropping. The doctors determined the best thing to do was go back in and look for a leak. The symptoms were classic for a leak. So, 7 AM on Tuesday I was back in surgery ... another round of sedation, intubation and reopening five of the six laproscopic sites. Fortunately they did not find any indication of a leak but better to err on the side of caution was fine with me.

I spent Tuesday in recovery as well. My poor daughter had taken off work but spent the first two days hanging out in the waiting room. I was originally to be released on Wednesday but instead it was another day of just trying to regain my strength. I was worthless in trying to communicate with anyone. I was too tired to take calls or return ones either. I just wanted to sleep - and avoid coughing!!

The most difficult thing during this time was the fact that I was not allowed to have anything by mouth. No sips of water. No ice chips. Nothing. So, from midnight on Sunday until 8:30 PM on Thursday I found myself desperate for moisture. I was allowed to brush my teeth with a serious warning to not allow anything go down my throat. Given how sore I was at the time I knew I did not want to risk nausea. After I started being allowed liquids I immediately began to feel my strength returning. I was released from the hospital on Saturday.

My parents stayed with me until Tuesday morning. By that time I felt strong enough to care for myself. My focus is on staying adequately hydrated. I am on a full liquid diet for 14 days.

Because my stomach pouch is so small I have to be very careful getting in the liquids as well as my prescribed medications. For the first few days I was not to take more than 1 oz every 15 minutes for a total of four ounces an hour. Because of my allergies we have faced a challenge getting a pain med that is effective yet small enough to swallow. I was supposed to crush the tablets but they made everything so bitter I could not handle it. I took a pill cutter and sliced the tabs into eighths. Then it took an hour to get the equivalent of one pill down. Fortunately I have a pretty high pain tolerance but I have still faced some tough hours.

I am writing all of this out since I know I will soon forget the details and I think it will be interesting to read this in the months to come and be grateful for how far I have progressed.

Currently I am able to "eat" sugar free Jello, high protein smoothies, tomato soup, chicken noodle soup broth, broccoli/cheese soup, Crystal Light, sugar free Koolaid, water. Woo!! Oh, yeah. I am also drinking sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast which is the best! And, I drink Boost. So far I have not had any nausea for which I am very grateful.

I am giving myself a shot in the stomach each day of a blood thinner to prevent blood clots associated with abdominal surgery. I am taking antibiotics 3X day. I use my spectrometer breathing machine several times a day to strengthen my lungs. I probably should be walking more but the weather outside has gotten so cold my exercise is limited to my trips back and forth to the bathroom.

The most painful location is on the left side internally, half way between my breast and my hip. I do not know if that is where the sewn up side of the larger stomach portion sits or maybe it is where the intestines were cut. Regardless, I find wearing a wrap around velcor binder to help with the pain.

Last minute prep

Okay. This is it. Tomorow morning I have my surgery. I have been on soft foods then liquids and then clear liquids for the last ten days and you'd think my colon would be clean, right? I guess someone does not think so because I had to do some kind of colon cleanse this evening. Yuck! I do not think there is anything in there to work on but my system is in distress. I feel a little nauseous but nothing worse ... yet. It has only been an hour since I drank the stuff.

This past week I went to another support group meeting and we learned that the bariatric coordinator is moving on to another job. I feel a bit nervouse since I was counting on her for questions I had in the future. She has been through this and you can tell she has been very involved in the process for all the others that attend these meetings. I guess I will find another support buddy. I am happy for her new opportunity.

I have lost 16 lbs since I first decided to pursue this step. The first thing I did was stop drinking carbonated drinks. You can't have them after gastric and I knew that would be my biggest challenge since I am addicted to Dr. Pepper. In two months I cheated four times so I think that is pretty good.

My daughter will be with me in the morning so I am grateful she is close by. My parents will come later this week.

Gotta run ..... LOL

The countdown has begun

I have been considering this for years and finally I am taking action. In one week I will be having gastric bypass. It is a very dramatic and life altering step but I am so ready. I know a dozen people who have done this and not a one has told me they regret it.

Thanksgiving Day, 2008 was my last day to follow my old eating patterns. I started on a soft diet on Friday and this is the end of day three. Fortunately, I have been very sick with a head cold so that has killed my appetite which has helped.

I ventured out this afternoon with a trip to Walmart. I am stocked up on broth, sugar free jello, koolaid, protein drinks and bottled water. I have sugar free applesauce, sugar free Carnation instant breakfast and yogurt.

My pill regime includes prescription Vitamin D weekly, Vitamin B-12 weekly, Biotin, two Flintstones complete chewables and chewable Calcium Citrate wafers four times a day. That is in addition to the 8 prescriptions I already take. Hopefully, as I lose weight, I will be able to wean off the meds for what is affectionately known as my "co-morbidities." I have several that have all shown up in the last few years. Type II Diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and arthritis. Lucky me.

I will not post my pictures on my other blog but here is where I hope to watch myself shrink. This picture is from October, 2008.