Good morning everyone!!

I just woke up at 2:30 in quite a bit of pain, guess that's what I get for not taking meds for 7 hours because I was sleeping. Guess I'm going to set an alarm to take my pain meds routinely for the next few days.

Things are going ok. I am struggling to get my fluid intake in because I feel so full I feel like I'll puke. What's more important my 2 oz of food 3 times a day or my fluid intake? I can't remember what they told me.

My vision is still horribly blurry. Sure hope that goes away. Is that contributed to the pain meds, surgery, or what? It's so bad that I've had to have people read me things because I couldn't see it right.

Special thanks to Terry, Tracy, and Karen for coming to visit. Also, got to see and chat with Michelle for a brief time before she was released to go home. The gift basket was such a sweet gift. I've already used the pill organizer and splitter.

OH has been such an inspiration and support for me. I'm so excited to meet more of you. I'm hoping to make it to the clothing exchange, we'll see!

Good morning everyone!

Good morning Melissa. I hope you were able to get some more rest. You should probably call your nut to be sure, but I would guess that it is more important to get your water & protein drinks in than your food. You don't want to get dehydrated. My vision wasn't affected by the surgery at all but I know that your sugar levels, hydration, blood pressure, can all have factors with it. Once that you are stable with getting everything in every day, perhaps you should have your glass script rechecked.

Bill & I are going to go up to Castleton's Petsmart at noon so we can look at a couple of sheperd mixes that will be there. Other than that, my day will be spent wrapping. I got quite abit done yesterday, but far from done! I have some orders out that should be arriving soon. I'd like to have everything here already wrapped before they arrive. I do have some more stuff to go buy too...like the grandkids clothes (Yay  Burlington's!!). I can't afford to get the adult kids clothes this Christmas like I normally would do but I told Tiffany that I would keep an eye out at the clothing exchange AFTER everyone gets done. She's ~24-26. Shellie is ~28 and Nikki is ~16-18. Jay & Rod are both 44/30, XXXL. Nikki is Jay's gf..obviously..the smallest one of the bunch! LOL! The clothes that people have given me for them have really come in handy and they really appreciate it.

Ok..time to quit procrastinating & go wrap!

Sherri

Good Morning Melissa!

It was great to get to sit down and chat  with you before I left to come home.

I have been having difficulty getting my fluids in too.  I've handled the small  meals OK but I'm having a hard time getting all of this cordinated.  My hubby has been a big help as a reminder service. :-)

As for your blurry vision, you're NOT alone.  I've been having a very difficult time seeing since they rolled me onto the unit after surgery.  Mostly anything closer than arms length has been impossible to see.  Since eyes are my job, I was especially freaked.  I've come up with 2 reasons Melissa...Either our corneas are very dry from our lids not being taped during surgery and from the O2 in our face for 3 days....OR  the pain medication kept our pupils partially dilated and unable to accomodate for intermediate and near vision.  My vision seems to be clearing some this AM , partly because I swore off the pain meds in an effort to straighten my vision out.

 
Keep us posted on how you're doing...

Michelle

Michelle, my vision is clearing up today too. Wish someone would have warned me about that! ;o)  Glad to know I'm not the only one struggling with getting everything in. I'm hoping that since today is my first full day home, I'll be more successful. I'm using the schedule page that they gave us in our binder at the preop class. I shrunk it down t fit into a small notebook  and have taped them on every page.

Thanks everyone!!

good morning all!

Melissa so glad to hear you slept so well.  It is a rude awakening tho after your pain meds wear off.  LOL  Hope you continue to do so well.  Michelle, hope you are doing well too. 

Dawn, don't forget to tell Christina hello for me.  My prayers are with all of you.

I am going to my sister's today for our family  Christmas on my side of the family.  I can't wait.  It's always so fun.  

I will be having my granddogger overnight tonight.  It will be the first sleepover that I have had her.  I am a little excited and a little nervous.  She doesn't behave as well as my Reese.  So we will see how it goes.  I am sure they will both be in the bed with me.  I may not get any sleep at all between the 2 dogs, the cat and the DH.

Hope you all have a terrific day. 

Huge hugs,
Tracy

I'll tell you what helped me - you ladies can take it for what its worth, 'k?

I used the Calendar function in Outlook.  I set recurring reminders for each thing I had to take and when.  I wrote it all down and scheduled it out.  Now, each morning I print that day's calendar page.  As I take a particular vitamin or med, I cross it off by highlighting it.  On the side task list, I put my weight for that day (yes I'm weighing every day.... can't help it.... this is so cool!) and what I ate for each meal.  I use the bottom half to indicate when I've reached my required fluids and what I've had for protein.  I punch this with a 3 hole punch and put it in my pre op binder so I'll have it when I see the surgeon and nut.

Sorry you both are still in pain.  I came home on a Thursday, and that Saturday was the last day I took any pain medication. 

Yesterday, I went shopping!!  Woo Hoo!   I did wait till late at night - didn't want anyone running into tender tummy.  But I did ok.

I didn't have problems with blurry vision.  But then again, I have a very high pain threshold, and didn't take much in the way of pain meds.  Bet it is the pain meds.

Melissa:

WOW... It was like I was reading my own experience when I was reading your post.

On the fluid... I completely understand!  Be very careful to sip.  I noticed that as long as I sip I do not get that feeling of being full and having my little tummy shoot pains for a minute or so.  As far as which one is more important... BOTH are important.  Keep that bottle in your hand unless it is meal time and then when that 30 minute mark after you eat hits... put it right back in your hand.  Sip every couple of minutes.  It does seriously take some getting used to and it will be difficult because you are feeling that full feeling followed most likely by a little bit of tummy pain.... but you CAN do it.  Remember also that fluid is "all" fluid not jus****er.  Right now we are on that "full liquid" diet so from what I have been told "full liquid" is "fluid" by their definition.  Someone will correct me if I am wrong.  So... you are getting in 6 ounces of "fluid" from the "food" you eat.... your "full liquid" diet.  I told Dr. Gupta at my first post-op that I was having this same problem that you are having and she had told me that I need to get in at least 64 ounces.  She said she knows it is difficult to do at first but to keep working on it.  I do better and better every day.  You can do it... I know you can!

Another thing I also experienced was the vision difference.  This will readjust itself.  I am not exactly sure WHAT causes this but a close friend of mine who is a Doctor up in Ft. Wayne told me that as long as it straightens out then great.  IF it does not straighten out before your post op appointment with your surgeon make absolutely sure that you mention it to them.  Mine did straighten out... about 2 weeks after the surgery... and everything is fine now... so be patient.  Use this time to get up and do your walking every couple of hours, and catch up on some TV shows... you can always watch TV online also if you need other shows to watch...  If you are in school... like I am... E-mail your professors and let them know that you are having this issue and ask them if they would be willing to work with you for a bit until your vision straightens out.  It will... just give your body some time. 

Oh... and another thing don't forget to use the food and exercise journal that should be in your little binder from the nutrition class.  That has helped me to keep track of my fluid intake.  ALSO, if you have Excel and would like it send me your E-mail and I will E-mail you a Excel spreadsheet that I made that helps me to keep track through a graph my weight and measurement changes.  I just did this up because I wanted my husband to be able to see changes that may occur when I may not have lost weight in pounds but am losing inches.  It also helps me too.

I'm here if you need me also.... I am very close to you on when you had your surgery and seem to be experiencing the same things just before you.  One step at a time... one step at a time.  BTW... I have family that lives in Danville.  Course Danville is growing quickly so you may not know them.

TTYL

my vision is still somewhat blurred since surgery(5 months ago).  I am going to see the doc in Jan to see if I need new glasses cause I can't see and I just got new glasses last Jan.

Jeannie