Rough Recovery
Hi all,
This is the first time I have had strength to post since my surgery on January 31, 2007.
My surgery went well. The day after surgery, my heart rate was high so my surgeon ordered blood work. It showed a low hemoglobin count. I was monitored carfully and when I did not improve, was given a blood transfusion. This is rare in this type of procedure so I was pretty scared. Also rare but the source of my mystery bleeding was my now very purple bruised stomach. The transfution helped but I stayed in the hospital for another day. Since my release from the hospital, I have had more feeling crummy days than not. I am having trouble getting in my protein and my fluids. I am still nauseous, everything tastes too sweet and even the broth makes me nauseous.
Thank goodness for water, it is the only thing that is working right in my mind.
I had my first post op visit with my surgeon last Thursday and he is a wonderful man.
He removed my staples and drain (ouch) and went on to tell me that I wasn't doing anything wrong. If my body tells me to sleep, I should sleep. My body is telling me that alot. I have no energy and am pretty discouraged even though I am trying to make this work. I guess my expectations were to high. It seems like most folks on the board are doing much better than me. Thanks for listening.
I am so sorry that you are having such a rough time Mary. I also had complications after surgery. They kept me in the hospital an extra 3 days and my stomach was also totally purple. I must say after 3 weeks the bruising has completely disappeared. I spent most of my first 2 weeks out sleeping. I could barely eat. Nothing tasted good to me. Even after 3 1/2 weeks out I am still nauseous a lot of the time but it really does get better every day.
I also thought my expectations were too high. I thought I would be back at work after a week. I am usually very resilliant and after having each of my 6 kids I was up and about in no time but this time my body had other ideas for me and I am beginning to accept what my body is telling me and slowing down. First I thought I had made a huge mistake with this surgery but now that I have lost 30 lbs. in 3 1/2 weeks my perspective is changing and I am slowly coming through a difficult recovery and I know that one day I will say it was all worth it.
Rest as much as you can and remember that you are not alone out there and it will get better everyday.
Take care
Sharon
Sharon, I hate to hear that you've had these complications. That's pretty serious stuff, but I hope that the worst is behind you now.
If it helps, I share in some of your feelings that you're having. The crummy feelings, and not being able to get down all my fluids & protein, the sweet taste, and the nausea. I have all that from time to time and I've had little-to-no complications. So I think that's probably common.
I wish you lots of healing. Hopefully you'll get past this soon and start losing, then it can all feel worthwhile. *hug*
-Cathryn
Mary, I am so sorry you had to go through all that. I had pain complications and my tummy was very bruised after as well. I still have one incision that has some bruising but it is slowely going away.
I hope that in the next couple of weeks you will get to feeling a little more normal. I still am having some moments where my tummy is upset and I usually just take a nap to get through it. I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers for better healing and no more nausea (sp). Keep us updated hon. I am happy to hear from you though and that you are home!!
((((hugs))))
Anna
Mary,
I am so sorry you are going thru this. I too have had a rough recovery. About 2 and a half weeks into this we found out I had C-diff, a bad bacterial infection for which I am taking flagyl. The doctor's office is telling me the same thing rest when your body tells you and try to get the fluids in. Don't worry about all the proteins at this time. I get very tired and am depressed. I had a hysterectomy in June and got thru it with flying colors. My expectations were way too high that it would be that way again.
Hang in there we will get to the feel good side just will take us a little longer.
Hugs to you.
Jan
Mary,
I am sorry to hear you've been feeling so crummy since surgery.
It will get better with time. Each person's recovery is so different so it's hard to guage how bad it will be on your body. Although my recovery has been fairly quick, I too felt disappointed at first because I was in a lot more pain the first few days than I had expected. I think we somehow place higher importance on the good things we hear before surgery and try to downplay the bad. But that's a normal coping machanism. When you want something as much as each of us on this board wants weight loss, we tend to accentuate the positive aspects and disregard the negative ones. Somehow after surgery the tables change and we start to ask ourselves crazy questions, like "what have I done?" ...it's normal. But I think as we get farther and farther from the pain of the surgery itself, and the postive effects of the weight loss begin to be more apparent, each of us, in our own way, will be looking back on these days and saying "I am so happy I did this, it wasn't that bad after all."
Like you said, just listen to your body and get rest. In time you will feel better, just take it easy.
((sending up prayers for you))
Lori
Laura 
Just chiming in here to say that I too had complications although the docs never figured out what the problem was. Just 4 hours after I was discharged from the hospital I was back in the ER and stayed in the hospital another 5 days after that!
My white blood cell count was high as well as my liver enzymes, I think at one point I was jaundiced.
Recovery has been very slow for me and eating is such a hard thing to do now.
Sure some people are doing better but there are a lot of us on here that are walking right alongside of you taking the long way around this healing.
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