Update! I did it!!

Well my surgery went off without a hitch! It went just a little over an hour. I barely remember any of the pre-op stuff. There were two minor complications. One is that the gas they pumped into my abdomen some how caused a pinched nerve in my left shoulder. It was probably the worst pain I felt in my whole recovery. The second was that upon finishing up my surgery, one of the tools they use caught on some stomach muscle and cut it. This required the surgeon to put in "lateral stitches" to pull the skin tissue close to the muscle to stop the bleeding. So I had a bit of a divet at that incision site. That incision was the only one that hurt me in my recovery.

After my surgery was over, I went to a recovery area for about an hour or two. The only part of this I remember was waking up with horrible pain in my shoulder and the nurse telling me why. The next thing I remember is seeing Joel briefly in my room. I was originally supposed to be in a shared room, but a private room became available so they let me wait for that one. It was really great to see Joel even if it was just for a few minutes. I was truly blessed to have that private room though. I don't think I would have done very well in a room with two old men in it. So I was very thankful for that.

My recovery in the hospital was filled with a lot of sleeping, some walking, and lots of swabs for my mouth. I was not allowed anything to drink at all for 24 hours after my surgery. Then I went to x-ray to do a swallow test to be sure there wasn't any leaks in the new pouch. Once I passed that test I was cleared for clear liquids. When my "meal" of 1 oz of chicken broth, 1 oz of sugar free jello, and 1 oz of apple juice came to me, I was so excited! It tasted like the best thing I have ever eaten. The second day of recovery was better than the first. After my swallow test, my pain pump was removed and replaced by liquid Loratab. I also got my catheter taken out, which was great! I had to write down all of my liquid intake so they could be sure I was able to get in enough liquids. I was able to walk more easily without the catheter.

In the afternoon, Joel and the kids came to see me. It was great to see them, but it was harder than I thought it would be to have them there. The kids wanted to be on the bed with me, but I was much too sore for that. Joel also bought me some beautiful roses, but I was worried about them tipping over so asked him to bring them back home. It was very sweet of him though. He knows how much I love flowers. So they didn't stay very long, but it was great to see them.

That night I was able to get some pretty good sleep. The next morning was filled with lots of different things to get me ready to go home. They called me in a script for some anti-nausea medication since I was having some problems with nausea. I saw my surgeon again, and he said I was doing really well. My drain came out the night before but leaked several times, so it took a while to get a good enough bandage on it. They got me some supplies to make sure I could change the dressing on that drain site as needed. I was able to put some normal clothes on again and get my IV taken out. I got weighed again before coming home. Joel and the kids showed up at about 1pm. I decided to walk to the car myself. I had asked for another dose of my pain medication since I knew my time for that was coming up and the car ride would be long, but they could not give me anymore until 1:30pm. We couldn't wait for that. So I just had to suffer through it. That was the worst car ride of my life! Half way home my pain meds wore off completely. I was so glad when we arrived at home so I could just pass out on the couch for a while. And pass out I did! After some pain meds of course.

That week was very hard at home. I was having real trouble with anything resembling anything sweet, even sugar free things. This really limited the things I could have so I wasn't getting in enough protein at all. I was at least getting in enough liquids and trying to get protein in when ever possible. Then once I passed the one week mark things started to change for the better. I kept retrying things to see if they could be tolerated, and finally some things could be. So this opened up a lot of options again. Just in time too as I was getting really sick of broth!

I went in on the 6th for my post op appointment. I was back to what I weighed when I went in for my surgery. I was happy with this as I gained 13 lbs in the hospital from all the IV fluids. Things are going well with my recovery. Eating is also getting better.

Today I decided to get on my scale just to see because I was curious. I was so surprised by the number that I had to check it several times and have Joel witness it. I had gone down from 304 on Wednesday the 6th to 293 lbs! That is really incredible! I am really encouraged by this. Now I know I can do it.

So that's my update for now. I will try to write more than I have been.

Getting close to the wire!

Well, Tuesday is the big day! Today I started my clear liquid diet and that yucky drink. It hasn't been too bad. I keep wanting to get something normal for my food, but I have been sticking to the clear liquids only. So I am proud of myself. I am still at my goal weight, so that is a good thing. I have gotten a bit of some sinus junk going on, but not sure why. It could be a cold, it could be the dry air, it could be the visit from Aunt Flo... I really don't know. I don't actually feel sick. It is just that I can't breathe very well out of my nose. So who knows.

I did ask for a blessing last night just to be on the safe side. It was a very nice and encouraging blessing. It helped me have some reassurance that we are doing the right thing and that it will all work out fine.

It has been a really hard week though. I had to give my dog back to her breeder for some complicated reasons. We also have been puppy-sitting this week. The pup should be going home tonight, though. It has been a long two weeks with the puppy. I will be happy when he goes to his home. I had forgotten how tough it is to have a puppy in the house. I have had to do a TON of laundry because of it. Good thing we had lots of cleaner here. ;)

Well I have made a check list for hubby of things to take care of while I am in the hospital and what things to bring me when I come home. I have caught up on the laundry, and we cleaned up yesterday. Now tomorrow I need to wash the bedding for the guinea pigs so they will be ok while I am gone. I wash their bedding once a week. So they are almost due. I am sure they won't mind if it is a day or two early.

Tomorrow is another day and the day before my surgery so I am sure I will be writing more tomorrow.

The Waiting Game

Now that I have finished all of my pre-surgery items, I need to just wait until my surgery date. I do have a pre-surgery meeting with my surgeon and the hospital, but that is still a week and a half away at least. So that does still leave some time to sit and wait. Luckily we are puppy sitting during that time for a family from church to help pass the time.

I am so excited for my new lease on life to begin. As I loose this weight, the whole world will open back up again. I have been so restricted by my weight for so long that it will be so wonderful to experience what I have not been able to in the past. A year or two from now I should be well on my way to being my goal weight of 150lbs. I have not been that weight since my sophomore and junior years in highschool. So this will be quite a change and will be wonderful for our whole family.

I just hope the time will go by quickly.

The Date!

Last week I got "the call"! The surgeon's office called to let me know that insurance approved my surgery. Yay! Then they were able to give me the date for my surgery. I will be having my RNY surgery on December 29th, 2009 at 9:30am. I am really excited. I have some serious prep work to do the week before surgery, but as far as most of the other prep work I needed to do, I am finished! Whoo hoo. I have lost all my pre-op weight that I needed to. I just need to make sure I at least maintain that until my surgery date. I know I can do it.