Thursday is the big day!!!

Hi everyone...I have 4 days left...I saw the surgeon(Aslam) on Friday and I am very comfortable with him...I was really impressed with his surgical assistant...He sat and explained everything to me and my husband...I understand alot more now...I am very nervous but I am at peace with making this decision...My nervousness comes from not knowing what will happen after the fact....I know I will get through this because I have my family and I have my internet family....I really appreciate all the support and information you have all given me...Well I start my liquids Tuesday and the wonderful poop juice on Wednesday...Woo Hoo...I will try and post soon after surgery...Thanks Again....Helen

Hi Helen, It's normal to be nervous, I hardly slept the night before surgery, but I was so busy the day of, that I felt kinda foolish afterwards. The apprehension is normal. It's a big step to a great life! My hubby still is surprised when he comes home. He tells me he has new wife after each trip. It's really nice! From the spouses point of view, he knew the weight would come off, he just did not expect it to happen so fast. Another thing, he would compliment me on looking so good, my reply was that I didn't feel that different. The problem turned out, that when I was huge, I thought of myself when I was small, while in the Air Force, now that I have lost the weight, I see myself as huge. It's a real mind trip! It helped to talk to each other, now I see myself like he does. I am so much happier now that I do. Energy increased with weight loss but the emotional energy was two fold when it finally sunk into my thick head what he was telling me. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Cindy

Hi Helen You are right about our family online. I had 40% support from our online family, 40% from my church and 10% from my relatives. My own brother that lives 1/8 mile from me, the one that cried that he didn't want me to have to operation, he hasn't called me once since I have been home. He did come to see me on Thusday for about 10 minutes and talked to the other guy in the room for 5 of those minutes. He doesn't work so has no excuse that I know of. You will be fine. The pain meds do wonders. Ask for a extend an arm gripping tool. Maine Care pays for it. You will want to to reach down and pull up the sheet that covers your privates, pick up things etc. I wish I had it all the time I was there. When you go home ask for pain pills not liquids. I wish I had the pills. They brought me the liquid pain killer in a neat syring type holder. I thought that would be good to have a safer to take than a pill. The only gave me the liquid and not the syring. You'll be in our prayers. God Bless you Ron

Hi Helen, I also had Dr. Aslam do my surgery. My surgery date was January 22nd. I agree Dr. Aslams Surgical assistant is the best. One thing that I did find is that the pain meds are there for a reason. The nurses at Maine General are awesome and you will be given the clean suringes everyday to put your own fluids and meds into your feeding tube. I was also given several suringes to take with me when I left the hospital. I think you will find the liquid is easier then having to crush a pill and disolve it everytime. The only advice other then that I have for you while in the hospital is WALK , WALK , WALK dont wait for them to come get you, call them. My roommate and I had surgery almost together one day apart and if i wasnt asking her to go for a walk she was asking me. We would go down the hall and get the other girl that had surgery on the same day and bring her with us....if she wanted to go that is.....Although the nurses are great they are busy you have to take the initiative. Good luck stay positive and you will do just fine. Dawn

i hope all goes well for you on thursday and you will be in our thoughts we are like a famil and i can't wait to see all those great updates melissa