I'd slap my heels together. . . if I could just figure out which was is up.

Okay....this is going to be a rather drug-induced update. Absolutely no problems with the surgery itself--I was calm (doing laundry with about 2 hours before my surgery), humorous (flirted with one of my surgery techs, Jerry, called him Mr. January throughout my stay), and painfree (*THANK GOD FOR LIQUID VICODIN! ZOOM-ZOOM-ZOOMEE!). Then the day after...oh my. My experience with surgery is rather limited, a gallbladder removal years ago, so I had forgotten--oh, how I had forgotten--about the nausea. It was like every drunken hangover I ever had in college rolled up into one marvelous morning. And dry heaves..dry heaves with nothing in my gut except this tight wad of pain that my surgeon says is the primary incision. Thankfully, 10 minutes after they discovered my nausea, I discovered the joys of scappolamine. Because I had nausea and couldn't start eating right away, they kept for me an extra day. Pam from Richmond on this board was AWESOME!!!! She was walk-walk-walking right away and had a really great attitude. Thanks, Pam, for keeping me inspired. I know we didn't do the IV-shuffle together, but I'm thinking right now...tummy tuck tango? Whaddaya think? My nursing staff was superb. Mary Alice of St. Vincent's BCU is now my fairy godmother. She was a real trooper and kept me in line. As for my parents, there's just not a better set out there. My mom--with her diabetes, congestive heart failure, fibromyalgia, and chronic vertigo--was my biggest cheerleader and residen****er pusher. My dad? What can I say about a man who still calls me "child" and kisses me gently on the nose when he thinks I'm sleeping? As for my DH, there's a special place only he can have in my heart. When he could, he was there. When I got home, though, I was his completely and he has taken superlative care of me--making me puddings and soups and protein drinks, helping me shower, and even doing the nightly "garden" patrol with me outside when the humuture finally drops below 103 degrees. He was so scared--God bless him--that the meeting he HAD to go to during my surgery time, he said NO to at the last minute. As he put it when I was doing my first walk and was suprised to see him there, "The only place I ever want to be is by your side, so quit complaining and walk!" Gotta love a man who's as grouchy as me! I have no idea if I've lost anything, don't care. I'm just thrilled I had the courage to do this for myself. For those of you still waiting for your July date, stay positive, drink your water, consume your protein FIRST, exercise, exercise, exercise, and be good to yourself. All the best! EL

So glad you are back and on your way to being a loser!! Woo Hoo! Your hospital experience was a lot better than mine!