Surgery Monday, home last night, feeling great!

Got home at about 9pm last night.  I feel great.  Most pain is from a deep incision with multiple layers of stitches.  I have fibroids in my uterus, surgeon knew about them but when my surgery started, they were so big he scrubbed out and called a GYN surgeon and facetimed sending her pics.  I knew I needed a hysterectomy but had to lose weight first.  I DID NOT know how big they'd gotten and that they had now extended to my ovaries.  Took a biopsy of the ovarian masses...fingers crossed they're also benign.  In any event, ilooks like in early December I'll be having the hysterectomy I've been needing for years lol.

After that shock, though, the surgery went great.  I feel fabulous except for that incision sight hurts like a ***** when I get up and down.  No real issues with the CO2 under-skin bubbles.  Wayyyy less painful that the big one I had in '91 after my lap gall bladder!  SO yay for that.

So far no nausea at all, getting my liquids in good, and with Lortab for the overall pain I can't complain at all.  So happy I made this decision an SO HAPPY it's finally done!!

For what it's worth, if you're having any WLS procedure done in the St. Louis area, I highly recommend SSM DePaul.  The facility, doctors, nurses, support staff...everyone was outstanding and it was the most pleasant hospital experience I've ever had.  I have an even bigger crush on my surgeon, Dr. Andrew Wheeler, than I did before surgery * giggles * 

I have one big questions for everyone...slept last night in my recliner, but I'm a side sleeper by nature.  Anyone just sleep in their beds after surgery, or how long did you have to wait before you could?

Thank heavens for this board, I feel so great being able to talk to people who have been through this!!

So glad that things went well for you.  I'm also wanting to see all of the answers to the bed sleeping question!

I m so glad your surgery went well.  It is also good that they discovered the masses and that you are moving to take care of those, as well.  I hope the WLS will be as successful for you as it has been for me.  I lost 225 pounds, and I've been maintaining at a normal BMI for over 2 years. 

When I had the surgery, I would have been happy just to be below 300 pounds again.  I never thought I'd make it below 200 pounds, much less to 160 pounds.  WLS is an amazing tool.  Its not easy.  I have to be aware and disciplined in my eating every day.  But it is possible now - before surgery it wasn't.

My best advice for you is to take it slow.  Give yourself time to heal and get used to your new tummy.  And don't worry about how fast you lose the weight.  As someone said to me early out  "this is a marathon, not a sprint."  Its a lifelong effort and as long as we keep to our eating plans, we will get to goal eventually.

best wishes,

Carol

Congratulations on your success!  Yes, I'm under 300 for the first time in a couple decades, so I totally understand.

I am also a side sleeper, so the first week was a challenge.  I would end up propping pillows behind my back while sitting in bed to get comfortable enough to nod off.  

By the middle of the second week, I could easily get to sleep on my right side.  The challenge was the flipping to the left periodically, as we side sleepers do.  My left side had more discomfort than anywhere else.  Of course, I only used extra strength Tylenol for pain.  

I'm 3 weeks out today and am sleeping like a baby. 

It will get better!! 

P.

Thanks for this!  I'm going to try laying down later today and see what happens...I laid the recliner all the way back and slept a bit today, and i use a small bed wedge so I'm thinking it's not much different.  But I just don't rest well on my back, so the recliner isn't going to cut it for long lol.  Fingers crossed I can get back into my bed very soon!  

i used my recliner for a while. Best wises to you and good health

I slept on the couch surrounded by pillows in my nest for almost a week before laying flat on the bed. It wasn't the laying down or side sleeping that got to me... It was trying to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Or up for the day. It pulled on the new tummy. 

I actually tried the bed with a nap this afternoon...it was great!  I use one of those 7-inch foam bed wedges, and it was just right. The only problem is I tend to push up with my right arm to sit up and get out of bed--THAT was a bad idea! lol  The right side is my most painful incision, so once I figured that out and maneuvered around to push up with my left, it was all good.  Definitely going to try sleeping there tonight!

As for turning over, I've been a "get out of bed and turn around and get back into bed" person for years and years, so no strain of turning over, just gotta remember that pushing up with my left arm part!

Welcome home

Welcome to the Loser's Bench

Welcome to the new you

Welcome to the healthier you

Sorry about the extra needed surgery....bummer

About sleeping.....I'm a stomach sleeper..... The first night at home I slept in a recliner...still had some leftover tiredness from anesthesia, etc. The second through about 4 days later I slept on my right side (sort of) with pillows propping me up back and front. Turning was very uncomfortable for the first few days. By the end of the first week I was pretty comfortable on my side with maybe one pillow to act kind of like I had binding there. Within maybe a week after that I was fine. Based on the fact that you had other stuff going on, it might take you a bit longer, but before you know it, you'll have forgotten it....and the scale will start to make you have great big smiles on your face!