bobbyswife

The first few days are the worst! You'll do fine, just stay focused.

I'm 6 days post op and the 14 day pre op was by far the worst part. Get through that and you're golden!

I'm posting this because when I was pre-op I wanted to hear about everyone's experience, so hopefully this will help someone. Thank you to everyone that has been checking on me. I really feel the love So, my surgery was Thursday, Dec. 18th. When I got to the hospital they took me back to get changed into a robe and they weighed me, started my IV, and I answered the usual repeat questions (name, what surgery are you having, etc.). Then, they let my husband and best friends into that room with me. The anesthesiologist came in to introduce himself and we chatted for a little bit. I was scheduled for 2 pm but they must have been running early because about 1:30 they were telling me it was time to go. I walked into the OR with a team of nurses that were so sweet and got myself up onto the operating table. You lay with both arms out to your sides on separate arm boards to stabilize you. The last thing I remember the anesthesiologist and the nurses were asking me if I was ready for Christmas and I was telling them that I had finished all my shopping before the surgery so I didn't have to worry about that. The next thing I know I'm waking up in the OR in a lot of pain. I remember moving my arms around a lot and trying to sit up and hold my stomach and the nurses rushing to me and telling me to lie back down and try to relax. They must have knocked me out again because my next memory was being wheeled into my hospital room where I would stay the night. I don't remember much about that except that my husband was there and my best friend. I just remember saying over and over again that my chest hurts. As it turns out I had a very large hernia that needed to be repaired. The dr. said that if he had not repaired it, my tiny new tummy would get pulled up into my esophagus because the hole from the hernia was so large. I truly believe that hernia has been the cause of most of my pain. I had access to a morphine pump that I could push every 6 minutes if I wanted it. That was heaven. I took every advantage of that thing, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I took the approach that I am normally a very strong woman, but at that moment I was at my weakest and I was going to allow myself to be comfortable and not feel bad about hitting "the juice" every chance that machine would let me. When I started waking with less pain I would space out my "hits" on the morphine drip. Then I transitioned into liquid Lortab, and managed fine with just that. Apparently I was peeing into my catheter like a champ because every nurse commented on how often they had to empty it. They said they wished every patient peed as much as me. I guess that's a good thing so I didn't retain too much of the constant fluids I was receiving. They had me up and walking a few hours after surgery. They would hook this strap around me, just under my boobs and the nurse held onto it just in case I was falling or passing out. Walking felt really great. Much better than I thought it would. Friday night about 6:30 pm I was discharged and came home. Since then I've been living in my recliner and I get up to walk as often as I think about it. Usually every hour or so. My husband has been my hero. He fills a small medicine cup with liquids or liquid Protein and has me sip on it constantly and refills it every time it's empty. I takes about 6-8 sips to finish one medicine cup. The gas pains are no joke at all. I never got them in my shoulders or back, but my abdomen and chest have been very tender and painful, and you can hear my tummy making sounds from across the room. I've been living on Gas-X strips which do help a little and I have to take my spasm meds around the clock to control the spasms. Because of the hernia repair, each sip feels like a golf ball that is trying to travel down very slowly. Today is the first day that feeling has started to dissipate. Now, the most frequent pain I get is from filling up too much on liquids. Last night I tried a Jello. It was one of the small cups of the ready to eat kind. I ate about 1/2 of it and I'm not sure if it was dumping or what, but I had a horrible experience. My left ear starting ringing, and then my hands, feet and face starting tingling like they were "asleep" and I got really hot, dizzy, nauseas, and short of breath. It was pretty terrifying. My husband was able to walk me outside to get some fresh, cool air and it started to get a little better. When he finally got me back inside and into my chair it subsided even more, but it took about 30 minutes to get over it. If that was dumping syndrome from eating too fast or too much, rest assured I will NEVER do that again. I slept through the night last night for the first time since I've been home and today I'm doing a better job of tracking my protein in addition to just the liquids. So far today I've had about 40 gm of protein and that's not too shabby for 4 days post op if you ask me, but I'm shooting for 60 by this evening. I feel like today I am getting over the hump and finally recovering well. The lack of energy is the biggest challenge now, as just showering and the usual daily regime is too much sometimes. I'm taking it day by day. I don't know how people go back to work after 1 week, they are truly amazing creatures to do that. I go back on Jan 5th. Hope this has helped some of you newbies understand the post op process a little more, but remember that everyone is different.

That's awesome! Keep us posted!

Not me

@@Jij how are you now?

Welcome! You'll find lots of good support here!

Congrats!!!

@@collinus Welcome to the club!

People are stupid.

Merry Christmas to you, too! You will do great, keep us posted!

@@onmywaytoonederland I'm doing ok. I'm not gonna lie, it has been rough at times, but nothing that anyone can't get through. My biggest problems have been gas and swallowing because of the hernia repair, but that's finally getting a little better. I slept through the night for the first time last night and today I feel a little stronger.

Thanks guys. Yes I'm in my room and should be going home Friday night

Congratulations! Use this website as a great support system and get as much education as you can. Being armed with loads of knowledge will prepare you. Best wishes!

@@kellogirl428 Welcome! Yes, some doctors advise that you go ahead and start a high protein / low carb diet for the few months leading up to surgery. You should also go ahead and get off caffeine, carbonation, and alcohol. Start taking really tiny bites of food and chew them thoroughly, don't drink 15 mins before a meal or until 30 mins after. Take these changes in stages, don't try to do them all at once. Then, when you're closer your dr. will put you on a pre-op diet that she/he deems necessary in order to shrink your liver and get it ready for surgery. Best of luck to you!

Yep, in fact I'm planning on it!

mmmmmm salad.......

I'm APPROVED! The insurance company was dragging it out but I'm FINALLY set for 12/18!!!!!

And it will be all you think about morning and night until then! I'm ready to start living my life on the sleeved side!

Congrats, Grammy!

You can do this! Hang tough!

It really does get easier. I did shakes for 14 days and today is clear liquids only, no protein shakes. Talk about starving! But, tomorrow I'll be on the other side and then I get to start over with protein shakes lol. Gotta love the cycle!

Advocate for yourself! I hope you get your revision!