I'm home!

Hello great people of my support groups!

I am home.  I have had 1/2 oz. of scrambled eggs and 1.5 oz of tuna along with all the fluids I can consume at the designated times.  Oddly enough, I'm doing better with plain ice chips and water than with flavored stuff.  I'll start my protein drinks on Thursday and that will be interesting I fear.

They used super glue on my incisions rather than those steri-strips that make me turn all red and itchy.  If you don't get along with something, find out if there's an alternative.  I look lovely with my five bruised places.  Clint has given me my 3rd Lovenox shot under the supervision of the nurse this morning -- no problem and his injection seems to hurt less than the other two.  Must be all the love.....[mushy, gushy].

The last pain meds I took was at midnight last night but I'll probably use some tonight to get some sleep.  The incision sites hurt but only if I move too much or try to bend over.  It is so true to get up and walk, walk, walk, and belch, belch, belch.  You'll feel so much better.  I walked and sucked down ice chips about every three hours because that's when the pain meds tended to wake me up.

For the women -- the odd thing is the side of my boobs ache -- just like when you have too much caffeine in your system.  If I rub down my sides, it subsides.

The real scary thing to me but not to the doctor or the nuses is the hugely swollen legs and feet I have due to the pumping of all the IV fluid.  I was "stubborn" giving up my urine so they pushed the fluids and now I'm paying for it.  I haven't weighed and theres no need as I know this fluid build-up would give me a false reading.

In a nutshell, this is major surgery.  You are going to hurt and experience discomfort at various times.  BUT, so far I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Most importantly, listen to your body.

Thanks for all the prayers.  God is indeed very, very good.
 

Lelia, welcome home, welcome to the losing side of surgery.  You are right on the fluid from the IV's, that will disappear quickly, and keep you from being too dehydrated for the next couple of days.  Trick to get the fluid to shift is to drink even more fluids.

Listen to your body, sip, sip, sip and share your progress.  Thanks for the update.  Rest as  you need during this recovery time.  Hugs

Welcome home, So glad you came through ok.   Take realy good care of your self.   I also was super glued too.   Be really careful with the sites.   Get alot of rest. God bless ya.

So good to hear from you! I am so glad to hear all is well and you seem to be handling everything geat so far! Sounds like your doc is similar to mine in that you were not started out on a liquid diet post op. I wasn't either, and we are the rare ones. But to be honest, it didn't cause me any troubles, so i am glad i didn't have to start at liquids only.

I dd not experience the boob ache, but bet it is just from pressure than was put on nerves or pressure points during surgery. Or even from "air" they put into you migrating up to that area.

Definately do not let the swollen legs scare you. I had that too, and it will pass. meanwhile, look at it as insurance to keep you hydrated. Be sure to get those walks in, elevate your legs when sitting or laying and get lots of fluids in.

Welcome to our losers bench! Glad to have you here with us!
hugs!

welcome home from the hospital.  sounds like everything is going great, that is good.  will be scooting on over on the loser's bench.  good luck. vick

You sound like you are doing great, Leila!  I was dumb enough to get on the scale right away only find that I was at my pre-op weight of 281.  I cried for an hour and then called the surgeon.  I went in and my blood pressure was a little high so they told me to start taking my BP meds again.  The weight from the fluids were gone within 48 hours.  Those IV fluids will eventually flush out, I promise.

It sounds like you have the right mind-set and pretty soon you'll be thin and this post-op stuff will be just a memory.

Colleen

I am home, too!  Also had my surgery on 3/25 and I am doing the liquids only.  I am starting to move around more and the "air" is starting to leave...lol. 

I am looking forward to getting my swelling down (I look bigger than before) and getting the steri-strips off (5 or 6 days). 

I am so happy that I have all of you to share this with and also to hear that it is all normal. 

I'll be keeping you up to date as I progress...

Rebecca