Hey there friends! Checking in with an update.

Well here I sit typing to you all from Mexico. The weather has been awesome, especially compared to back home in Colorado. Guess the day after I left it got REALLY cold and even some snow in the lower elevations. Here, sunshine and 70's for the most part. I am not outside in it alot, but 3 or 4 times a day for a walk. I am thinking if it is one of the warmer days again tomorrow, I may sit by the pool and read a while, soak up that vitamin D!

I am doing well. Pain? YEP... but no where near as much as the first go round back in February. But I had ALOT done then. Have been struggling with using the restroom, holding fluids (about 10 lbs worth!) and an ornery drain. But all in all doing great. Asked the doc for Lasix for the fluid retention and he brought it to me today. Have to wait until tomorrow morning to take it tho, as I don't want to be up all night having to go potty. If this fluid doesn't get outta me soon, my skin is going to be all stretched out again! LOL. (Gosh I hope that can't happen).

It hurts going from sitting to laying, and laying to sitting. Also a little sore going from sitting to standing if I have sat for more than 15 minutes or so. Seems like things just get tight and when I stand it feels like it is pulling on suture lines. After a few minutes it improves.

Surgery went great. The surgeon let me come back to the hotel the day I had the surgery, at my request, because I came through so well and was doing so good after.  He wouldn't have let me come back to the hotel even doing that well, if I were not a nurse. Glad he had faith in me. I never rest well in a hospital.

I hope you are all well. Thank you to everyone who has extended well wishes, prayers, and has kept me in their thoughts during this time. I do so appreciate it!
Hugs to you all!

glad to hear that you made it through surgery well.  Be careful with that lasix.  dont want you to get dehydrated or anything!!! 

Endo is tomorrow.  I am a little nervous.  More nervous about being awake for it.  Not sure what they will give me to knock me out.  But if its naything like what they gave me for my colonoscopy, then I am screwed.  I was awake the whole time for that.  It didnt bother me because I couldnt see what he was doing.  Something about seeing the tube in front of my eyes.. or even the possibilty of it, is freaking me out a tad bit....  We shall see. 

anyways.  You take care of yourself.  Get some rest and try not to overdue things.  I am getting rest as well this week.  Off for 3 whole days.  Work friday-sat-sunday.  Not sure what I will work the following week. 

huggles

Ohhh wishing you a smooth and unaware endoscopy. When I had mine, they gave me something that made it almost as if I were out, but wasn't quite.. but either way was unaware really of what was going on. Hope it is that way for you.

I will take care and try to take it easy. Thank you! Enjoy those 3 days off.. sounds great.
Hugs back at ya!

slept right thru it.  Dont know why I was so worried about it.  Oh well.  2 more appt next week and then I am done.  2 weeks of the clear liquid diet... then I will be once again KNOCKED  out with some good stuff and having my life changing surgery.

Hope that you are doing well :)

Did find out that I have gastritis and a hiatal hernia.  Both of which he says will not interfere with the surgery.  He said he could fix the hernia during surgery if he needed to.   He did make the comment that the endoscope always makes things look bigger.

So glad to hear you slept through it! Also glad nothing going on to interfere. Hope your gastritis improves and the hernia repair is done during surgery so you do not have to have it fixed later. 

Wow... your arrival to the losers bench is almost here! Are you getting excited?  What is the date of surgery? Seems like it will fall around Christmas if it is 2 weeks away. What a great way to begin your new year.. with a new outlook for a very healthy future!

I am doing well. Definately tender and sometimes out and out pain, but for the most part not bad at all. If I wasn't so stubborn about taking pain meds, my discomfort and pain wouldn't escalate nearly as much. But I always wait until i am really hurting. Except I now take tylenol before trying to go to sleep to help curb discomfort. I am well on the mend now, each day a bit better.

Hey stop trying to be so TOUGH!!!!  I have to tell that to my patients all  the time.  Remember that you heal better when your body is not stressed.  Pain is a form of STRESS!!!! 

As far as when my surgery is..  it is actually Jan 3rd.  So it is a month away from today.  I see my surgeon and the anesthesiologist next week.  So after that, it will be 3 weeks away.  I am getting a bit anxious.  More ready for it to just get here NOW!  My sister is coming up the weekend before Christmas, so that should help pass some of the time.  I also should really be unpacking, but I keep procrastinating.  I mean.. i got the necessities unpacked.. maybe I will just hide the rest in closets to get the boxes out of the middle of the floor in the rooms.. atleast until after my sisters visit.  We shall see.  Maybe I will get focused and get a burst of ENERGY!!!!!

I know I know... us nurses can be the worst patients can't we? LOL. I have all of my drains out now...YEAYYYYYY!!!!! Feel so much more comfortable now. Today has been very good for me. Feeling so much better and resting a bit better too. I actually got 4 1/2 hrs sleep last night, which is a vast improvement, and took a 2 1/2 hr nap today. Felt great when I got up from my nap. Now I just have to watch myself, so I don't over do things.. another of my bad habits when I start to feel better. Doing too much too soon. So I am watching myself and reminding myself that I WILL pay for it if i overdo things.

As it is, I get home Dec 5th, then my daughter comes here December 8th and I will have my grandson (5 months old) for 12 days, 24 / 7. And hubby can only help so much (very little) as he is blind from the accident 3 1/2 years ago. This should be interesting, as just having him for 24 hours can be very tiring on me under normal conditions. I have a friend and my Daughter in law on standby status to help as needed.

You just be sure that whatever you do, you are not trying to unpack and put the house together while you are home after surgery. I forbid it! LOL. Rest and recoupe during that time before you have to go back to work! I remember the 3 weeks before my RNY. Once I got through all the hoops it was exactly 3 weeks and 1 day from scheduling, until my surgery. I thought it was going to feel like forever, but it really slipped by pretty quickly for me. Hope it does the same for you!
Hugs to you.

Glad you are on the mend.  Your journey through this is an inspiration.

Thank you so much. How is your mother doing in her journey? Does she need any questions answered or anything? Let her know I am thinking of her, and you are such a good son!
Thank you for your support and encouragement. Even us support group leaders need support on this journey.

I was so glad to hear all went well for you, Sorry your having some pain.... I can relate....... Hope your recovery is fast and peaceful.... Enjoy the warm weather ...... Its freezing in Tx Brrrrrrrr!  I will continue to have you in my thoughts and prayers ....  Enjoy as much as you can... HUGS!


Lisa