I am home !!!

First I want to thank everyone for their kind words and prayers, I honestly don't think I would have made it this far without them. I got home last night around 8 pm. And OMG that drive home was terrible even with the pain meds. I then proceeded to make a huge mistake by getting into my bed. I thought I was going to die. I could not get up, I could not reach the phone, nothing. But I took some slow breaths and in a few minutes it was ok. I had some complications in the hospital, my BP and pulse kept going up, then I got a fever, and my O2 sats kept dropping done to like 80%. So it was rough going for the first few days. I also got a real scare, the dr found 3 lymph nodes that were really enlarged, so he sent a biopsy off, and said it was not cancer, but I spent and extra 1 1/2 hrs in the OR. I was scared to death. I am having a lot of pain, but I am still forcing my self to get up and walk (not as much as I need to though). Eating has been ok, pudding is now my new best friend. Home health nurses will be coming by everyday to check the drainage from my incisions (I ended up with 7, 8 counting the drain tube). Well enough for now, I hope everyone is doing great. I will talk to you later. --Angela

Angela, its great to hear you are home, sorry you had some extra problems. Keep your chin up, waking around the house really dooes help. Take care of yourself. Jane 296/178/150 311 highest wt 6 mths before surgery

Still keeping u in my prayers and it will get better the first 3-4 weeks are the worst! U will get thru this and be so much happier and healthier..Depression was a big problem for me post op, well a day or 2 the first week home. If u feel the need to talk just email me anytime. Its normal for this to happen but u aren't alone! Hugs Angela [email protected] [email protected] messenger

Thanks Angela, really. I appreciate it. I have noticed that I am feeling a bit depressed, but mostly because I thought I would be up and around by now. This pain is scaring me. I was up and about in 3 days after my c-section, but this is something else. I am taking 2 different pain pills I alternate them every other hour just to be able to breath and move. I push my self to walk when they have kicked in but I am nowhere where other people are 4 days out. --Angela

I will say a prayer for you and I hope you are up and "running" around soon. My surgery date is June 9 and I am excited and nervous at the same time. If you need anything, email me anytime. I hope it gets easier for you soon. Angie

I had the open and the first few days were horrible and hear I am getting excited about my tummy tuck coming up when every one says its more painful. lol. I must be nuts! The depression is normal but if u feel that way for more than a day or so call your dr and get some meds! U don't have to feel depressed. Your poor body has been thru the ringer and it just needs time. Every day will get better I promise! That first week I called my insurance co to see if I could have it reversed I was so depressed. I kept thinking oh man, what have I done! But, 14 months later, -160 less, I am so happy! I have no regrets and would do it all again. The first month u r going to be learning what u can tolerate. Don't wear yourself out and take one day at a time. If u need to talk u can call me anytime. I am always up till 11pm or so. 270-360-0231 cause everyone on here that has had surgery knows where u r and what u r going thru and I promise, it does get better. I'm here if u need me! Hugs Angela

Thank you Angela. I guess it only really bothers me when my family calls and says you should be doing this by now, or don't just sit around taking pain pills, etc. How do they know? And yeah, I have had a few episodes of what have I done, and can I get this reversed, etc. But today seems better. I was taking paxil before surgery, I need to check with the Dr. and see if I can start taking it again. And by the way, you are not crazy, I plan on having the plastics too (someday,,hopefully). I really cant imagine the pain being any worse though. Did you ever find out when you get to have it done? Or are you still "going through the process" with getting insurance to pay? Thanks again, you are always so kind and sweet. Talk to you later. --Angela

They don't know how u r feeling. They have no idea. They might just be worried about u and not know how to show it without worrying u. I don't know. My parents both were scared to death and worried and not real supportive but they got over it. Your paxil should help. Or Zoloft used to really help me before surgery. I would get so down and depressed and feeling sorry for myself and Zoloft helped things roll off my shoulders alot easier. I am approved for a tummy tuck but I have to see my pcp in June and July to document my rash and hernia and then I can get it scheduled right after my last appt the first of July. U r welcome for everything and I do know how u feel. Its hard, very hard. BUT, and u will get tired of hearing this, it will get better. Take care Ange

I forgot to put this in here, I mostly was on our downstairs couch the first few days. I tried going upstairs that first night when I got home but I couldn't lay down. Our couch had recyliners on both ends so I did that. I had to holler upstairs to my hubby when I had to pee though. Boy, am I glad we moved! No stairs now to bother with when I have my TT. Also, I made myself get up and walk as often as I could, probably not often enough, but 2-3 times before lunch and after. Then when I was 3 weeks out, still weak and feeling crappy my hubby who has always been super supportive told me to get off my butt and wash the dishes. I was a little ticked at first, but he was right. It had been 3 weeks and I wasn't going to get any stronger just sitting around. I didn't even feel like getting online at all that first week or so. It really does get better each day. After I was home for maybe 4 nights I got to where I could go upstairs and sleep in my bed. That helped alot. I did have a drain in each side but was careful and slept alot better in bed. Hope u get to feeling better soon... We go thru Smiths Grove, well pass it on 65, every other weekend. Maybe one of these days I can meet ya at Mickey D's and we can split a chicken breast, lol Take care of yourself Angela

Lucky for me, no stairs. LOL. But I am doing the recliner thing. I just can't get comfortable anywhere. I can sit for a few minutes, I can stand for a few, walk a few, lay down a few, etc. But I start aching and hurting, it vaires, sometimes a real sharp pain, sometimes a dull ache, and sometimes just breathtaking everthing. I make myself walk from one end of the house to the other 4-5 times every time I get up to do something which is quite often going to the bathroom. I can't wait til that slows down. I think all in all I am just really weak and sore. I looked at my stomach earlier and about died, those bruises are getting bigger it seems and I keep finding more and more of them. Some from the actual surgery and a lot from the ten thousand times they did blood work. I did lay down in the bed for about an hour today and that felt good, I can't wait til I can just hop in and roll all over the place. But I think for tonight I will be back in the recliner. Also, I was going to ask you, did you have a lot of sweating after surgery. I will be fine one minute and the next pouring in sweat, like my hair will be competely soaked and my clothes too. And I can't figure out why. I will be freezing, then hot, then normal, ahhhhhhh. I can't wait til I am feeling better, take a long hot shower, and cuddle up in my bed with my daughter. I haven't seen her is 5 days and it seems like a lifetime already. My parents are bringing her home Tuesday, I thougt it would be best if she did not see the drain tubes and such. Well, I just took a pain pill about 20 minutes ago and it is starting to kick in, so I will talk later. --Angela