Approved, nervous - has anyone done this alone?

Hi all, it has been great reading about you all. Its been a huge help. Well I was approved in 2 weeks by Healthlink and I am so thankful...but now I am so nervous. Is this normal? I have been in the process since August and considering it for two years, so I am well educated and confident, but now that its around the corner in two weeks, I am apprehensive, scared, nervous and excited. I have had surgery before so I am prepared for the pain and hospital stay, I think its the post op life I am freaked about. Does it come naturaly this change? What should I be on the look out for, or what advice do you have for me in preparing for when I get home - you know they stuff the Drs don't or can;t tell you? Secondly I am single, live alone and although I have friends and family - none live near by. My sister will come for the surgery week, and I am a pretty independent person any way...but has anyone else done this alone? Any advice on how long I should plan on having people around me on a 24 hr or half day basis? Thanks for any help or advice. Cheers, Sara Jane

Hi Sara Jane Good luck to you on your upcoming surgery! It is perfectly normal to be experiencing ALL of those emotions, and more. The switch over to post-op life was the most difficult, and I can only speak for me of course, nearing the end of the second week of liquids. I just got really emotional about EVERYTHING! The advice someone gave me was to keep only positive people around. Noone who is going to question your decision or give you a "told you so" type attitude! Positive attitudes only allowed Time really does fly though. I'm now 5 and 1/2 months out and am not quite sure where the time has gone! I did stay with my mom for a while post-op but even with open rny, I was up driving by day 10. Watch your endurance, it'll be wiped out for a while, just take frequent rest breaks. I'd have someone on speed dial just in case I know there're people here who have gone home post-op who live alone, so hopefully they'll be able to let you know how things went for them! Good luck to you!! Cathy 300/204/145 -96!!

Cathy - Thanks for the words of encouragement..it gives me a better relief of mind. It looks like you are doing real well, congratulations! Ill be sure to fill ya in later. Thanks again. Sara Jane Surgery Date 12/7/04 348/-/160

Sarah Jane, I'm also single, live alone (well, the cats don't count) and have no family close by. I'm in the middle of doing this alone right now. Do not be afraid to rely on your friends who offer their help. You will need some help. There were things I didn't think of.. like groceries for when I went off my liquid diet.. getting my prescriptions refilled.. changing the cat boxes.. just stuff I didn't think of. I have, thankfully, some VERY good friends (BISCUIT) and I live in a town full of friendly and helpful people so I've been able to get the things I needed that I was unable to get for myself. I can't stress enough how each person is different in their recovery. I have been fortunate with no complications but I do still have my stupid drain in. I know others who went home without their drains and still others who had it in longer than one week. Have LOTS of pillows to prop you up when you sleep. It will be a long time before you can sleep on your side again and getting up from a fully reclined position (especially in those first days home) is really difficult without help of some sort. Start working on your upper arm strength because you're going to rely on them to move you around once you're home. It's hard to get all the food and water in. I never though I'd have trouble with it, but I do. Food holds no appeal at all so you literally have to remind yourself to eat. Set yourself a schedule and try to follow it as best you can. I can't think of any other advice but if you ever want to talk to someone who's also doing this alone, please feel free to email me. Stef

Stef - thanks so much for your advice and support. I too have a couple of cats at home to care for me. hahaha I am glad to have someone to chat with on the aloneness issue. Also - we will have to talk opera as I used to work in the business as an artistic administrator. Ill be sure to email later. Cheers, Sara Jane