I am Finally On The Other Side..I am now Post-Op. August 8th I awoke, cool as a cucumber. Today was the day that my life would forever change. Today was the day that I would be getting my vertical sleeve gastrectomy. When I arrived at the hospital at 530AM I was quickly greeted and prepped for surgery and asked a gazillion questions. My husband waited with me until 7AM when I was swept off to the OR. As I sat on the operating table I saw my refection through the mirrored light. Goodbye old friend I said to myself. I prayed silently the prayer that my daughter and I say every night together "Now I lay me down to sleep" and before I knew it I was in LaLa land. Next thing I knew I awoke. Ughhh the GAS. More pain killers Please. I stayed in ICU over night where I was bothered every hour or so to get up and walk to the bathroom. 5 more minutes I pleaded like a teenager. I was so incredibly naseaus but scared to death to vomit that I didnt want to move much. The few times I did get up I had to stop myself from getting sick. Finally the next morning I did my Barium swallow to check for leaks. As yucky as that stuff was it felt soooo nice going down my dry sore throat! Everything looked great and I finally got to meet my new stomach on the utrasound machine. Like a new momma seeing her unborn baby during an ultrasound..It looked like a little jelly bean..awe so cute lololol. When the moved me to a new room I was Incredibly nauseous from the wheel chair ride. The room smelled like food or I was just HYPER sensitive. I quickly realized 1 day Post-op that it was the pain killers making me so sick. So I decided to forgo the meds! I felt much better after that. I took a few sips of chicken broth but as I stared at my bottles of water piling up from meal trays I really wanted nothing at all I began walking the halls but really just wanted to go home to my kids ang husband. The gas was still horrible. So bad that it felt like it was all the way up to my throat. On day 3 I put on my makeup brushed my hair and I was out the door. As I emerged from the hospital in my wheel chair I felt like a new person, it was my rebirth. My husband greeted me at the door and helped me to the car. On the way home every bump in the road hurt since I was no longer on pain meds. When I got home I was welcomed by my two girls who were sooo excited to see me they were pulling on my dress.. Mommy I missed you..up up. It was heart breaking that after being away from them for 3 days I couldnt scoop them up and smoothing them with kisses. I layed on the couch and tried to rest as they climbed all over me, kissing me : ) I ate nothing and vowed to start the following day with my Isopures. First day home I started my Isopures at 9am sipping slowly. I went to my parents so the kids could go in the pool and my parents were cooking dinner for everyone. I showered, put on makeup, slipped into a sundress, dryed my hair and we were off. It felt great to look like a normal person again. My parents said I looked great, like I never had surgery. I spent the day hanging out and sipping on my isopure. By 10Pm that Isopure was only 3/4's of the way finished. Never mind chicken broth or anything else. I couldnt even finish that with a full days effort. When I weight myself I had gained 11 pounds since my pre-op surgery day weigh in. I knew it was from all the gas and fluids in the hospital but called the nurse to check. A few days later i was down for a total of 17 lbs since i started my pre-op diet. People were already saying how I look like I lost weight. 6 Days post-op was my daughters 3rd birthday party. I got in my car and we drove to the mall/movie theather. We walked around the malI and she picked out 1 special gift! We saw a movie and headed home. I wasnt up to having a full 4 hour dinner party so we just did cake and coffee. 30 people arrived at my house. I felt great! I was running around like I was back to my old self. Cutting cake, serving coffee, helping my little one blow out her candles and open presents! I was a little sore after the night was over but that was understandable. So here I am 7 days post -op. I was 230 lbs the day before my pre-op diet started. As of last night I weighed 213lbs. Later on today I have my 1 week post-op appointment wih Dr. Barkan. I pray he puts me on full liquids. Missing my Protein shakes and yogurts!!!
