I survived!!!

Well, I made it!!   I was released yesterday afternoon around 2pm with a prescription for codeine. Naturally some pain in the stomach at the incision and drain sites. However, it's not as bad as the chest pain that I am experiencing.  Dr. K seems to think that some of the gases are coming up and causing some grief.  However, it's nothing to worry about just yet.  I try keeping that in mind while I am wincing in pain when it happens.  I can't tell just yet, but the pain seems to be getting less intense over time.

At this point. I am moving around very well, all things considered. I can negotiate my truck as a passenger, stairs, couch, and toilet with minor discomfort. I haven't tried the bed yet. I may live on my couch for a couple days. I've already grabbed a couple naps since I'm sure that everybody knows that if you're looking for sleep, the hospital ain't the place to get it.

With that said, I think that it will be a quick recovery process for me.  I figure I'll be close to 100% by early next week.  I am thinking that I'll be going to the EBSG meeting on Monday night.

Thanks to everyone who wished me luck and put me in their thoughts.  It seemed to work.  :)

Cheers!
-- Xcalibur  

 

Hey Xcalibur  --way to go.Sounds like you are doing great. So true about the hospital...no rest at all. How is this week so far?

How are you finding the full liquid diet? How is your energy?

Wishing you all the best

Hi NewLeaf!

This week, so far, has been pretty amazing.  I am doing much better than I expected considering that I was in major pain leaving the hospital.  I know, that's to be expected, but I figured I would be recouperating 2-3 weeks and sleeping a lot.

Well, as a of this morning, I am pretty much done with the codeine.  I am functioning at about 90%.  I only issues I have are with getting my right sock on and tying my shoes due to the bigger incision where my drain was located.  However, at this rate, I'll have that tackled in the next couple of days.

As for the diet, I have to admit that it takes some getting used to.  I have no appetite and drinking seems like a chore since you have to do it constantly all day long.  Not to mention, it is somewhat of a pain since I have to try to get 85-100g of protein into my diet.  This pretty much limits me to mostly skim milk/Ensure and other types of liquid protient type things.  So far, I've been overdosing on skim/chocolate milk. I'll probably use up the rest of my ensure over the week.  My dietician doesn't want me using it once I move to solids next Wednesday.  I can't wait.  I've already planned out breakfast.  A poached egg on a slice of toast.  :)

As for energy, I don't seem to have any loss.  Granted, it may be that I am sleeping more than I did before surgery.  I had pretty bad sleeping habits before surgery.  Normally, I would come home at 6pm, eat, fall alseep on the couch, and then get up at 2 or 3am for the remainder of the day.  Repeat until the weekend where i would catch up on my ZZZZs by sleeping 12 hours a day.  It was a vicious cycle.

The only real change that I can see to pin down in my body temperature. I always seem to feel cold.  When the house is at 21 degrees, I am under blankets and my teeth are chattering.  I've heard from others that this can be a common side effect of surgery and that it will come back after a while.  However, my brother is 2 year out from his RNY and he always seems to be cold.  I guess I had better invest in a sweater company stock.  :)

With that said, I would suspect that I would be going back to work pretty quick, if it were not for the fact that I am going to take some vacation leave.  I can't wait for the new year and get back to work.  I figure I'll have dropped another 40 lbs by then, which would make it 100 lbs from my highest point.  Not too shabby, if I can say so.  Or is that not too flabby?  Hmmm....

Cheers!
-- Xcalibur

Very cool!
Where did you get your surgery done?

Antonella