Donna B.

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Hello.  Today I went for my first post op visit since surgery.  Their scales showed me a 19 lb loss but they used my pre op appointment which was a week before surgery as my starting weight.  On my scales on the morning of surgery, I had gained 2-3 lbs from their scales weight so I guess that is about right.  My scales say I've lost 23 lbs and that's what I'm going with!!  Besides, I always weigh first thing in the morning and this was at around 3 p.m. on their scales so I'm thinking my scale is probably pretty close to theirs.  Anywhoo, I'm sticking with mine!!!  

My visit went really well.  My surgeon was pleased with my progress and with how well I am healing.  The only bad thing is my iron level is low so that means another supplement.  I'm already so constipated that it ain't even funny and when I told him that, he said to add another Colace and some MOM if I need it. Man, I feel like a walking drug store!!  But we have to do what we have to do to be healthy I guess.  My nut increased my protein from 59 grams (which I thought was too low all along) to 73 grams!!!  Crap, I have no idea how I'm supposed to get all that in but I will do my best.  I have to increase my water intake from 48 oz to 64 oz.  That's going to be a struggle too but I will do it somehow!

I don't have to go back until Oct. 4th so hopefully by then I will be down at least 50 lbs!!  Till next time. . .

Hello all.  Well, I came home from the hospital yesterday and thought I'd post about my journey.  **WARNING** Some of this is not too pleasant so if you are faint of heart, stop reading now!!  Let me preface this post first by saying that my hubby and I are legally seperated and have been for a while now but remain good friends and since we aren't divorced yet, I refer to him in this post as my hubby.  This is just clarification for anyone reading this that thinks we may still be living a "married" life.  He did stay the night before surgery at my house (slept in the spare room!) just because I had to be at the hospital so early in the morning and as he lives about 45 minutes away from me, it was more feasible for him to stay here. And the only other family I have here is my Mom who was staying with my 14 year old so that is why hubby stayed with me in the hospital.  He was a huge help and I appreciate all that he has done for me.  Anywho, just wanted to clarify things a bit on that subject.

O.K., the hospital called me on Monday afternoon to tell me that surgery was scheduled for 7 a.m. and to check in at surgical services at 6 a.m.  I was to take a shower Monday night using bacterial soap and then again on Tuesday morning.  My surgeon does not require a bowel prep the day before but I guess I think I'm smarter than him or something because I decided I was going to drink some of that nasty magnesium citrate just to ensure that I was good and cleaned out.  So on Monday when I got home from work I measured out 8 ozs of that foul stuff and drank it.  The bottle said that it should start working anywhere from one hour to six hours after injesting it.  So I waited and waited and waited.  Nothing happened.  Around 10:30 p.m. I decided I should drink the other 2 oz that was left in the bottle so I did.  Went to bed around 11 p.m.  Nothing happening.  Got up at 4 a.m. to get my shower and get ready to go to the hospital.  Had my shower and was waiting for hubby to get ready when I felt the rumbling in the tummy.  No cramping or anything, just thought I'd better go sit on the pot for a while.  Well, I barely made it!!!  Not to be gross or anything, but it was pure water coming out of me.  So I thought, alrighty then, this is a good thing.  Well, I ended up going about 5 times in 20 minutes before we left for the hospital.  So I figured surely I must be empty now, right?? WRONG!!!!!  We are driving to Winston and almost got to the hospital when it hit me again!!  There was nowhere to stop to go to the bathroom so I am franticly praying that I can hold it till we get there.  Well, guess what ~~ yep, I didn't make it!!  Crapped right there all over myself in hubby's car!!!!  I thought I would die on the spot!!!  We got to the hospital and I had a towel that was in hubby's car so I wrapped that around me and went into the bathroom and cleaned myself up as best as I could!!  I was mortified!!!!  I threw my underwear away and cleaned up my pants as much as possible.  Thank goodness, it didn't make too much of a mess but I still ended up going about 5 or 6 more times before I was taken back for surgery!  So a word of advice ~~ don't think you are smarter than your doctor ~ if he doesn't say to do something, don't do it!!!

So we checked in at Surgical Services and then they called us back about 5 minutes later.  I had to get undressed and put on one of the lovely hospital gowns and socks.  The "put you to sleep guys" came in and started an IV and got me checked in.  I guess they must have given me some happy juice cause the next thing I remember is telling hubby good-bye and then I remember seeing those big lights in the OR and then I remember waking up moaning and someone telling me to take good deep breathes.  Man, I was in some kind of pain!!  I kept telling the nurse I was sorry for moaning and that I was hurting and she was telling me it was o.k. and to just breathe.  Then I remember a bumpy ride to my room and then I must have slept for a while because I woke up with oxygen in my nose and someone trying to take my vital signs.  I slept on and off for most of the evening (thanks to good pain medicine).  My mouth was very dry and they let me have an ice chip every once in a while and hubby kept chap stick on my lips.  I was able to get up and go pee so I was glad I didn't have any trouble with that.  

Wednesday I was feeling somewhat better and was able to get up and walk some and I think that really helped.  I still felt really tired but was able to sleep quite a bit and some friends from work stopped by for a few minutes that evening to see me.  I did not get anything to eat on Tuesday or Wednesday.  Breakfast was a cup of coffee which I didn't even touch and lunch was a bottle of water which I tried to sip on but I didn't really want it so it was hard to make myself drink.  They did bring me some diluted grape juice but after 2 sips my pouch was like "Um, no thank you!" so I didn't do too well with that either.  The nurse gave me some apple juice and I was able to tolerate it better than the grape juice.  

Thursday I was ready to go home!!  Fuzz came by that morning and said that they would be giving me some pureed food and if I tolerated that well, I could go home that afternoon.  Well, my food never got there till around noon and it was nasty!!  Pureed chicken, sweet potatoes, veggie soup, and peaches.  I managed a few bites of the sweet potatoes, a bite of the soup and a bite of the peaches.  I attempted a bite of the chicken but UUUUGGGHHH!!!!  Nasty!!  Anyway, Susan came by when I was eating and did my discharge teaching and then I went home around 1 p.m.  Oh, I almost forgot ~ I weighed 6 lbs more when I got home from the hospital than I did when I went in on Tuesday morning!

Today is Friday and I can honestly say that so far today has been the best day for me.  I am struggling to get in enough water and I don't want to eat but am making myself so that I can stay hydrated and keep my energy level up.  Well, I'm off to fix a protein shake and take a shower.  I'll update more later!  

Till next time. . .