What an experience!  I had my surgery on Tuesday around 1:30 pm and I arrive home yesterday at 2:30pm.

What was the experience like?  I can honestly say that the pain associated with the incisions was minimal.  I was truly expecting pain in the stomach region.  I must say however that I had quite a bit of back pain.  Some suggested that it was due to the way I had to lay during the actual surgicial process due to the breathing tubes they inserted while others say it is due to the gas that they pump into your abdominal cavity during surgery moving around.  All I could say is thank god for the great nursing staff who supplied me with cold compresses I could lay on and it seemed to be the only thing tat help with the back pain.  On Wednesday morning the pain was much more tolerable.

My surgeon, Dr. Wallance was a great confort to me in explaining everything in great detail.  He came by while I was waiting to be carried into the operating room, stopped by in the recovery room to tell me everything went perfectly and stopped by on Tuesday to ensure that I could continue asking questions and also allowed him time to provide coaching for me to keep up with drinking water and walking.  He made it clear that my only job in the hospital was to drink water and walk, everything else would be taken care of my others.

The nursing staff was great at the hospital.  Each of them were specialist in handling gastric bypass patients and know what I was experiencing.  They were very supportive and let me pretty much do what I wanted, when I wanted and were there when I asked for pain medication when needed.

Now that I am back home, I have already had one dinner (last night, pureed turkey) and I just finished breakfast.  I am having no issues with drinking water.  Getting my protein in will take time and Dr. Wallace does not expect me to hit my goal of protein intake until about one week out.

Overall, I am excited at the moment since it was way less tramatic than I was expecting.  I just  hope everything continues this way for the next several months and I find myself dropping the weight.  I have already lost 10 pounds just over the last few days, but this would be mostly water loss I am sure.

Thanks for the well wishes.  I will try and keep things updated.

 

Hey gang -

Episode 5 is up..   The Thanksgiving episode with a yummy recipe for a SF pumpkin pie

www.bariatrictv.com

Male or Female? You might not have known this, but a lot of non -living objects are actually either male or female. Here are some examples:
FREEZER BAGS: They are male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.
PHOTOCOPIERS: These are female, because once turned off; it takes a while to warm them up again.
They are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can also wreak havoc if you push the wrong Buttons.
TIRES: Tires are male, because they go bald easily and are often over inflated
HOT AIR BALLOONS: Also a male object, because to get them to go anywhere, you have to light a fire under their butt.
SPONGES: These are female, because they are soft, squeezable and retain water.
WEB PAGES:
Female, because they're constantly being looked at and frequently getting hit on.
TRAINS: Definitely male, because they always use the same old lines for picking up people.
EGG TIMERS: Egg timers are female because, over time, all the weight shifts to the bottom.
HAMMERS: Male, because in the last 5000 years, they've hardly changed at all, and are occasionally handy to have around.
THE REMOTE CONTROL: Female. Ha! You probably thought it would be male, but consider this: It easily gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't always know which buttons to push, he just keeps trying

Well, it is one day before surgery.  I am beginning to get nervous but excited at the same time.  I am really looking forward to changing my life and hopefully get off of the drugs and CPAP for the first time in 5 years.

Everything is set.  MY wife and I did some shopping to prepare for the return home from the hospital on Thursday.  You know, for a big guy I sure do not want any pain.  I sure hope that the pain killers work out!

I will check back in when I get out of the hospital!

 

That is going to be so great for the two of you to be in this together! What a support system!
My date is 12/10...getting excited!
Good luck to you and your wife.