Another quick update -

Hello again, my OH peeps.  It's early Monday afternoon and I've just managed to take a shower on my own!  I'm managing my pain with 1/2 a percocet every 5-6 hours and am getting around far better than I'd ever dared to hope.  Sleeping (relatively) comfortably in bed, napping on and off during the day.  Walking for 10-15 minutes at a time several times throughout the day.  Don't have much of an appetite, but am eating good proteins, dairy, fruits and a few veggies. 

My Mom's hanging out with me today, but I think I'll try being on my own tomorrow.  My incision doesn't really hurt, but my tightened abdominal muscles are pretty sore.  Able to get up and down stairs slowly but okay. 

Got a good look at myself today - think I'm going to be amazed at the results when the swelling goes down.  I'm wearing an abdominal binder, which keeps my midsection from getting a build-up of fluids.  Unfortunately, those fluids have to have somewhere to go, so they've landed on my hips.  At this point, I'm giving J-Lo a run for her money...  I weigh about the same thing I did when I went into the hospital last Wednesday, but I think I'm probably carrying aroun 5-10 pounds of excess fluids.  So not sure where I'll land as it relates to weight, but time will tell. 

Anyway, was in the basement by the computer while Mom was putting in a load of laundry, and wanted to stop by and say "hi."  I hope you are all doing well and I look forward to catching up on everyone's posts when I can sit in front of the computer for a longer period of time -

Peace, love, out -

Kellie

Glad to hear things are going well Kellie!  Still sending lots of good speedy recovery thoughts your way! Sounds like your doing great.

Thanks for the continuing encouragement Jan - I appreciate it! 

How's your Mom doing???

Kellie

She's getting better everyday, almost back to her old self ... not sure if that's good or bad? ;) Honestly I'm happy and it's a good thing.

We have 3 DR's appointments tomorrow - Surgeon, hopefully the rest of her staples come out, Oncologist, for the first time, and then a kidney specialist.

Thanks for asking Kellie!

What an encouraging update.  Sounds like you are doing very well.  Continued success during your recovery!

I'm doing much better than I ever dared hope - it's really amazing how different this recovery has been from my RNY; a totally different experience....

Kellie

Wow - your ability to update us so soon after major surgery eases my fears a bit (a teeny tiny bit) about my future plastics.  Still praying for you ~Clinell

Thanks, Clinell.  It wasn't a walk in the park, but it's been manageable.  You'll handle it just fine when you get there!!!  Thanks for keeping me in your prayers :-)

Kellie

Kellie - wow! you sound like you are doing great!  i wish i had that darn binder thingy, i had my gall bladder out last week (lap), and i'm still so damn swollen, i look PG!  keep up the good rehab, good for YOU!  lys

The binder is a blessing and a curse.  Blessing because it keeps the excess fluids from building up around my incision site, so it should heal nice and flat.  Curse because it squeezes my entire mid-section from just above my pubic bone to just under my breasts!  It feels great when I can take it off to shower, but it also feels great to put it back on when I'm done.  It helps minimize the movement of my abdomen, so it's easier to get around. 

Hope your swelling goes down soon!!!

Kellie