I got my sleeve on Monday June 25 th at 12 noon. When I woke up from the anesthesia I had tremendous gas pains (which pain meds do NOT help! ) So I had my husband help me to my feet and walked. I walked that recovery room at least 30 times...and it helped !! My advice as soon as you open your eyes MOVE !! There was a guy who had gotten the surgery a couple of hours before me by the same surgeon and he refused to get up and walk. That man was in so much pain he was crying ! I told his girlfriend that I had the same surgery and I know its uncomfortable but he has to move and he won't be in as much pain. She finally convinced him to get up and just take a couple of steps and he was shocked how just the little bit of movement alleviated his pain.
The key to a painless recovery is to move !!
Anyway Tuesday morning I was still in the recovery room when then brought me down for my swallow test. It wasn't that bad. After all the horror stories I heard I was expecting it to be horrible but not so much Anyway I passed !! Thank God I was so happy because I was dying of thirst!! They brought me back to the recovery room where I patiently awaited my doctor to give me the all clear to have some water. That all clear came about an hour later. The nurse came to me with a medicine cup with 1 tsp of water in it. I was like really are you kidding me I'm dying over here. She said lets just try a lil bit. I took a small sip and within minutes I was sick to my stomach!! I dry gagged for about 5 minutes and was in so much pain! I thought my stomach burst-ed open. My blood pressure spiked to 190/130 my pulse was 120 I thought I was dying. It was the worst feeling of my life. They pushed some pain meds and got me to relax and finally my vitals came down and the pain subsided. When I awoke they told me to hold off until Wednesday before I try again and I was happy to oblige. Wednesday morning came too soon because I was so scared to drink anything. I was still in the recovery room due to the bad reaction I had to the water. My nurse came over with some unsweetened ice tea. She convinced me to take a sip and it wasn't too bad. I still felt extremely nauseated but no vomiting. So I felt like... Ok I'm healing. Finally Wednesday night I was moved to a regular room.
Once I was in a regular room the good pain meds stopped and it wasn't so bad...lol...Until I went into a coughing fit. I was in so much pain I asked the nurse for stronger pain meds and she said let me ask the Resident. The resident ( an a*****e) came over by this time I was in tears. He said I really don't want you dependent on the pain medicine. I thought I was going to rip his juggler out. I said are your kidding me!! What am I a junkie. I just had 80% of my stomach removed less that 48 hrs ago. I have been walking and doing great without the assistance of any pain medicine stronger than Tylenol. I am in serious pain right now and your doubting weather or not I really need it. Just give me the medicine or get my Doctor your boss on the phone now !! So he finally ordered it. When I saw my Doctor the next morning I told him and he was not a happy camper, because he knows that I am not a complainer and he apologized. Anyway after that fiasco I was still having difficulty tolerated liquids so I was kept until Friday morning when I was able to demonstrate that I can hold it down.
Friday I get home and my husband drops off my prescriptions (Nexium and Caltrate (?) liquid) and of course my insurance didn't cover the liquid so I had to get the pills and crush them. Ugh so disgusting!!
Now I am home and went from not being able to tolerate liquids well on Thursday to drinking my protein shake today Sunday. Granted it takes me an hour to drink it but I still get it down. I got on the scale today and am down 10 lbs from Monday !!!! I couldn't be happier. Now off to the boardwalk for a stroll with my kiddies Talk to you all soon.
Lisa
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