And it was the fifth day...
(I sent this as a report to a lot of people in my e-mail address book but thought it might be helpful for those who are awaiting or contemplating WLS)
Monday was day compared to Sunday as night. Sunday, I didn't have the energy to do much more than pour a protein drink from the fridge. When I finished the blender container, I could have cared less about rinsing it out and getting it ready for the next day. Monday, I made jello, made the protein drink for today, reached something on the top shelf of the cupboard (with the help of a wooden spoon), and picked up a box of jello I dropped on the floor. As a result, Carol has been "released" from her nursing duties and is now allowed to hassle me to her heart's content. What a difference a day makes. Sunday, I was expecting that when I got to Cleveland Clinic for my post-op visit on Monday, I would get dropped off and search out the nearest transport wheel chair to get me to where I needed to go. Monday upon arrival, I took off and made the four-or-five minute walk in about six or seven minutes - and then retraced the route upon leaving. Then, when I got home, I walked to the far end of our block and back in about eight minutes. Didn't quite get in the half-hour of walking they are hoping for, but what a difference a day makes. Sunday, my wife was telling me about some of the ills of the computer and a couple issues with billing statements coming through electronically, and I unenthusiastically responded, "Yes, dear," although I did have to get the Internet up and running for her. Monday, I attacked the other issues and got frustrated with the voice queues and on hold crap while waiting for live people to help me. Ah, yes - normalcy strikes again. What a difference a day makes. Three good things that came out of my Monday appointment. First was the sense of humor of the RN who met with me. As she listened to my stomach for the telltale sounds that would assure her that everything was working, she put the stethoscope down on the lower part of my stomach and IMMEDIATELY said, "Ah, yes, the whole band is playing!" -- a great metaphor to this hackneyed musician. Second was that on Friday, the beginning of the second week post-surgery, I can start "real food" again, albeit in pureed texture. We need to gradually increase the texture of the food for the benefit of the healing stomach. So I'll be on purees for a couple of weeks. The third is that none of the medical personnel I talked with on Monday could believe that I have not had to take one iota of pain meds since coming home. I just love being the poster child! Now all that said, I'm not getting overconfident. I'm only planning on steppin' out of the house twice more this week - once for a clergy luncheon on Wednesday and then for Kiwanis on Thursday. I will be at church on Sunday and will preside as we receive new members, but otherwise I am a worshipping member of the congregation that day - a welcome and unusual role for me to be in! So I am playing things low key and letting the abdominal healing take its course without my interference. Next week I'm contemplating a light schedule for the body in order to avoid any type of setback - but the mind is already starting to shift into a higher gear. Since I'm not on pain meds, I can technically drive as needed, but I'm going to wait until some of the sneezing and coughing discomfort lessens (yeah, not everything is picture perfect right now). All of this is made possible because of all the good "peeps" around me -- my family peeps, my medical care peeps, my Internet advisor peeps, my transportation peeps, my lawn care peeps, and, most importantly, my prayer peeps. That's the story on the fifth day post-op. And it is all good! bdb
Monday was day compared to Sunday as night. Sunday, I didn't have the energy to do much more than pour a protein drink from the fridge. When I finished the blender container, I could have cared less about rinsing it out and getting it ready for the next day. Monday, I made jello, made the protein drink for today, reached something on the top shelf of the cupboard (with the help of a wooden spoon), and picked up a box of jello I dropped on the floor. As a result, Carol has been "released" from her nursing duties and is now allowed to hassle me to her heart's content. What a difference a day makes. Sunday, I was expecting that when I got to Cleveland Clinic for my post-op visit on Monday, I would get dropped off and search out the nearest transport wheel chair to get me to where I needed to go. Monday upon arrival, I took off and made the four-or-five minute walk in about six or seven minutes - and then retraced the route upon leaving. Then, when I got home, I walked to the far end of our block and back in about eight minutes. Didn't quite get in the half-hour of walking they are hoping for, but what a difference a day makes. Sunday, my wife was telling me about some of the ills of the computer and a couple issues with billing statements coming through electronically, and I unenthusiastically responded, "Yes, dear," although I did have to get the Internet up and running for her. Monday, I attacked the other issues and got frustrated with the voice queues and on hold crap while waiting for live people to help me. Ah, yes - normalcy strikes again. What a difference a day makes. Three good things that came out of my Monday appointment. First was the sense of humor of the RN who met with me. As she listened to my stomach for the telltale sounds that would assure her that everything was working, she put the stethoscope down on the lower part of my stomach and IMMEDIATELY said, "Ah, yes, the whole band is playing!" -- a great metaphor to this hackneyed musician. Second was that on Friday, the beginning of the second week post-surgery, I can start "real food" again, albeit in pureed texture. We need to gradually increase the texture of the food for the benefit of the healing stomach. So I'll be on purees for a couple of weeks. The third is that none of the medical personnel I talked with on Monday could believe that I have not had to take one iota of pain meds since coming home. I just love being the poster child! Now all that said, I'm not getting overconfident. I'm only planning on steppin' out of the house twice more this week - once for a clergy luncheon on Wednesday and then for Kiwanis on Thursday. I will be at church on Sunday and will preside as we receive new members, but otherwise I am a worshipping member of the congregation that day - a welcome and unusual role for me to be in! So I am playing things low key and letting the abdominal healing take its course without my interference. Next week I'm contemplating a light schedule for the body in order to avoid any type of setback - but the mind is already starting to shift into a higher gear. Since I'm not on pain meds, I can technically drive as needed, but I'm going to wait until some of the sneezing and coughing discomfort lessens (yeah, not everything is picture perfect right now). All of this is made possible because of all the good "peeps" around me -- my family peeps, my medical care peeps, my Internet advisor peeps, my transportation peeps, my lawn care peeps, and, most importantly, my prayer peeps. That's the story on the fifth day post-op. And it is all good! bdb
Onward and DOWNward,
Brian Burke - Wellington OH
Brian Burke - Wellington OH
For someone who had his file submitted to insurance today, thank you for your narrative! Knowing so few people who have been through WLS it is nice to hear how things go. I am scared and taking it one day at a time and knowing (more than I would have hoped) how things take time and I need to be patient. Which at this point is hard. I struggle with the hurry up and wait that happens with this process. It is hard to have no control. I am riding my stationary bike and working on my diet. I gave up sodas a week ago and am working on doing many other things so I guess I am doing something, and should be content to do what I can. Thank you again.
This I do for me! 
Jim,
Enhance your calm!
Patience is not my greatest virtue either! 
Riding your stationary bike and working on the diet are good pre-op things to be doing. It will help get your mind set for everything to be done after surgery. Trying drinking more water too pre-op and I will warn you that finding protein drinks that you like is a pain in the butt. What will taste good pre-op will taste like the inside of a dirty oil pan post-op!
Weight loss is a MARATHON not a sprint! Can tell you it is a rush of a ride. We're all here to help each other or kick somebody's ass if they need it!
Enhance your calm!
Patience is not my greatest virtue either! Riding your stationary bike and working on the diet are good pre-op things to be doing. It will help get your mind set for everything to be done after surgery. Trying drinking more water too pre-op and I will warn you that finding protein drinks that you like is a pain in the butt. What will taste good pre-op will taste like the inside of a dirty oil pan post-op!
Weight loss is a MARATHON not a sprint! Can tell you it is a rush of a ride. We're all here to help each other or kick somebody's ass if they need it! Never, and I mean NEVER, trust a fart!! 
I don't know how many more narratives like that I'll have, because from here on it seems like it's just going to be a matter of getting back up to speed.
My advice is to put the fear away and focus on the excitement and the anticipation. It's like falling off a log. I walked a few steps from the gurney to the OR table, and there could have been a lot of apprehension in wondering if I wanted to lay down on the table. But I did unhesitatingly, and after two or three more minutes of conversation, the next thing I remember is the recovery room.
I started the process in October '08 with a WLS seminar, got my insurance approval in late February but chose to wait until after Easter (a busy time for me as a minister) to have the surgery done. The surgery itself isn't the end result - it's the starter's pistol signaling the beginning of the marathon. Now that the surgery is past, the whole point of the surgery begins to take shape.
What helped me was reading everything I could find (including this auspicious - and sometimes suspicious - forum) about RNY, preop and post op. They haven't thrown anything at me that I wasn't already aware of. Except the colon cleanse (as for a colonoscopy) two days before surgery ... I wasn't expecting that!!! But at least it was only a quart instead of the whole gallon.
I just got back from a 21-minute, 0.9 mile walk. I'll do something similar after supper.
Don't be afraid to ask questions and share your experience. Everybody is here to support each other!
My advice is to put the fear away and focus on the excitement and the anticipation. It's like falling off a log. I walked a few steps from the gurney to the OR table, and there could have been a lot of apprehension in wondering if I wanted to lay down on the table. But I did unhesitatingly, and after two or three more minutes of conversation, the next thing I remember is the recovery room.
I started the process in October '08 with a WLS seminar, got my insurance approval in late February but chose to wait until after Easter (a busy time for me as a minister) to have the surgery done. The surgery itself isn't the end result - it's the starter's pistol signaling the beginning of the marathon. Now that the surgery is past, the whole point of the surgery begins to take shape.
What helped me was reading everything I could find (including this auspicious - and sometimes suspicious - forum) about RNY, preop and post op. They haven't thrown anything at me that I wasn't already aware of. Except the colon cleanse (as for a colonoscopy) two days before surgery ... I wasn't expecting that!!! But at least it was only a quart instead of the whole gallon.
I just got back from a 21-minute, 0.9 mile walk. I'll do something similar after supper.
Don't be afraid to ask questions and share your experience. Everybody is here to support each other!
Onward and DOWNward,
Brian Burke - Wellington OH
Brian Burke - Wellington OH
Jim -
One more thought:
On your ticker, I see it shows a one-pound weight loss. Are you starting from your highest weight or are you starting from a weight in the last couple of days. If you at least put in a starting weight of when you started the process, you'll see that you have already accomplished something in weight loss - a super psychological boost every time you look at the ticker. If the one-pound is, in fact, your starting point, then let's hope that tomorrow it's two pounds, and three pounds on Friday, and...
One more thought:
On your ticker, I see it shows a one-pound weight loss. Are you starting from your highest weight or are you starting from a weight in the last couple of days. If you at least put in a starting weight of when you started the process, you'll see that you have already accomplished something in weight loss - a super psychological boost every time you look at the ticker. If the one-pound is, in fact, your starting point, then let's hope that tomorrow it's two pounds, and three pounds on Friday, and...
Onward and DOWNward,
Brian Burke - Wellington OH
Brian Burke - Wellington OH
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