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.

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.