BACK HOME AND FEELING FINE

HEY EVERYONE, WELL GOT HOME LAST NIGHT AROUND 9:30 FROM MUSC. HAD THE SURGERY ON FRIDAY THE 13th. EVERYTHING WENT FINE. I GOT REALLY NERVOUS IN HOLDING, THINKING, DO I REALLY WANT TO DO THIS? THEN IN RECOVERY I STARTED THINKING, WHY DID I DO THIS, I WANT TO GO BACK AND START OVER AND BE MY NORMAL SELF AGAIN. HAS ANYONE ELSE FELT LIKE THIS? HAVE BEEN FEELING FINE, NO PROBLEMS OR PAINS EXCEPT FOR THE FLIPPIN DRAIN, IT'S A PAIN AND LEAKING ALL AROUND THE SITE. WHICH IS MAKING A LOT OF LAUNDRY. ANY SUGGESTIONS? THOSE WHO HAS SURGERY AT MUSC, HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE BOOK FOR MEALS. I JUST FINISHED BREAKFAST AND NOW IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR THE SECOND MEAL. HELP I'LL BE TAKING THAT 2.5 -3 HOUR TRIP AGIAN ON THURSDAY TO HAVE THE DRAIN REMOVED. HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE AT MUSC. DR. BYRNE'S THE GREATEST AS WAS ALL THE NURSING STAFF. COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER EXPERIENCE. THANKS TO ALL FOR THE PRAYERS AND SUPPORT DONNA, SFY

So glad to hear youre a loser now I used plenty of gauze and Glad press n' seal (like for food) on top of that to seal it tight.. to keep the leakage from leaking.. and kept changing my gauze when it got "full". But i had a glove like drain, not a tube or anything so it depends on what u got i guess. the food, i cant help ya there, i didnt have food for a while.. and the buyers remorse. i think everyone has a little bit of "what the hell have i done" after surgery lol. its normal.. you will be fine and do great!!!!! Jen

HEY JEN, PEEL AND STICK WHAT A GREAT IDEA, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT. THANKS FOR THE TIP AND THE ECOURAGEMENT. DR. BYRNE AND HIS STAFF ALLOW YOU TO EAT FOOD PROCESSED LIKE BABY FOOD. DAY AFTER SURGERY I WAS DRINKING JUICE AND DAY OF DISCHARGE I HAD GRITS FOR BREAKFAST, CREAM SOUP FOR LUNCH. AND THE SAME FOR DINNER AS I DIDN'T LEAVE THE HOSP. TILL 6pm. I JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT I CONTINUE ON THIS JOURNEY AS I HAVE BEGUN, W/O COMPLICATIONS. THANKS AGAIN, DONNA, SFY

WooHoo Donna!!!! Congrats on being a LOSER!!!!!! I used tons of gauze and tape. Someone mentioned a kotex once. I did not try it but I am sure they work!!!! Everyone goes through a ton of emotiions after, just remember why you did it.....to get your life back!!!!!!!!! Melissa

MELISSA, THANKS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT. KOTEX HAVEN'T SEEN THOSE THINGS IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. CAN YOU IMAGINE GOING TO THE DR'S OFFICE TO HAVE THE DRAIN OUT AND YOU FORGOT TO REMOVE THE KOTEX? DONNA, SFY

Yea Donna is on the losing side. Congrats and Welcome. I had the same quesiton about the meal schedule MUSC has in there book. I was told, get in what you can. But make sure you get those fluids in because that will get you back in the hospital faster than anything. You probably will not ba getting all the protein they recommen, unless you get one of those protein drinks that is loaded with it. I never could drink those. Just concentrate on fluids and protein and you will do fine, that is what I did and I have had not trouble. I am glad you had such a wonderful experience, Dr B and his group are great. Julie

Julie, no problem w/ fluids, I can drink and drink and drink. I think they're alittle crazy to ask us to take in all of that food. I didn't eat six meals before the surgery so I don't know how I'm going to eat them now. I've tried the "hank" protein drink and it wasn't to bad. But it is so expensive. Will con't to look around and taste. Thanks again for the encouragment, donna, sfy

Hi Donna ! CONGRATS on coming through with FLYING COLORS!! I hope you have a very UNeventful recovery! Save room on the loser bench for me.. I'll be there shortly!

STEPHANIE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE HAVING YOUR SURGERY BUT IF IT'S MUSC YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE. THE DR'S ARE GREAT AND CARING, THE STAFF THE SAME. I DIDN'T EVEN MIND THE STUDENTS. EVERYONE IS THERE FOR YOU AND YOUR NEEDS. GOOD LUCK W/ YOU UP COMMING SURGERY. DONNA, SFY.

Donna, If you go to CVS or somewhere, they have the tape that is like a breathable material, very soft like fleece, and I used that with the sterile gauze pads around it. I had to make the tape very teeny so it did not get on my skin but a little bit, and just wrapped that sucker up. I also wore sweats or pj pants that had pockets to put my drain in, and also you can use a big ole safety pin to pin it up. When I went back to the doctor, I just used my pockets and they thought that was funny. I did one time drop it in the shower, it fell off the soap dish, and it yanked hard, but not out. Just take a pain pill before your next visit, and you will be okay....it didn't hurt to pull out, but it felt really funky!! So, I am now looking at joining a gym or something and hopefully I can find one or something....not sure. My goal this year is to get into shape, now that I am at goal, I can work out..and not feel self consious about it. I did not follow the book by the way. I sort of did on timing, but not the recipes. I bought Any Whey protein powder, which by the way I saw in Vitamin Shoppe yesterday, and mixed it with cream of wheat and grits, and warm water and made it really runny like they told you to. I also drank the Protein Delite shakes and drank propel and my hubby made me propel slushies and it was really good. Choc. and vanilla pudding with protein powder mixed in, and also some benefiber...start that now!! ricotta cheese with a little protein powder, and then a splash of pizza quick sauce for flavor and then bits of mozerella cheese on it and pop in micro for 20 secs....very runny and yummy. refried beans mixed with cheese and warm water, heated and make it like a slurry. Dr. B said we can eat anything as long as it was like applesauce. Shrimp with some tuna salad maker...low sugar, so no worries, touch of lemon juice, no pepper or salt...its too much, then pulse and make a shrimp paste. If I coulda had a cracker...yum! It was really good, and use tuna too...makes a great meal for lunch and dinner you can also blend up a roasted chicken and make it like baby food, and add a little chicken broth to it to make it kinda soupy....yummy. I can't think of others, but that was enough for variety for 4 weeks. I was craving veggies, didn't need them, but wanted them, so I would boil some green peas and mash em for flavor. Also, the Idaho potatoes, the package that is 4 cheese, individual servings, flavored, and would make it like soup with protein powder was very good. Take care and God Bless!!! I know Dawn loved the stallone puddings, I didn't care for em Deb