GettingItDone

Not sure this will help anyone since everyone’s experience seems to be different, but I thought I would offer up how it went for me. Arrived at hospital at 5:30am Dec. 3rd – around 6:00am taken back to weigh (lost 20 pounds after two weeks on liquid diet) then to my room, changed into gown and those hospital socks. Nurse took my vitals and went over my medical history and such. My family and a friend who had the surgery over a year ago waited with me until 6:45am when I was taken to pre-op to meet the anesthetist who went over my medical history again then he found a vein that would work for the IV. Given some “happy juice” in the IV and wheeled back to OR – scooted over to a table that looked much too narrow, but it held me up. Given the “real happy juice” and that was it. Woke up in recovery and felt OK – dozed off a couple of times then was back in my room with the family and friend around 9:00am. Nurse brought in some ice chips, water and cup of Jell-O. Between dozing off and not wanting to swallow anything it took me about an hour to get down about six ounces of water and a few ice chips (never opened the Jell-O). Nurse gave me a dose of Loritab, checked my vitals, gave me a goodie bag that included a “coughing pillow” and one of those breathing apparatuses you have to suck on to keep your lungs healthy. Then around 11:00am I was allowed to walk out of the hospital and headed to our son’s home. Spent most of the rest of the day dozing off and on, but got up every 30 minutes to walk around a bit and sip some water. Headed home around 4:00pm still with no pain only a little light-headed and a minor sore throat - took another dose of Loritab about 6:00pm just as a precaution. Tired a couple of bites of Jell-O and drank about 10 ounces of water. Tried to sleep in the bed that night, but to no avail – I don’t like sleeping on my back and it was a little uncomfortable on my side so I headed to the recliner – slept pretty good. Next morning (Friday) and still no pain only a little soreness around my abdomen - had a cup of coffee. Did my best to take in some liquids through out the day, but only managed to have about 24 ounces of water, half a Popsicle and a couple of spoons of Jell-O. Found if I drank too much I got tightness in my chest which tells me to stop putting stuff in my mouth. Had no appetite or hunger pains and feel pretty good except for a minor headache and I move slow when getting up after sitting due to a little soreness around my incisions. Tried the bed again, but headed to the recliner after an hour of lying on my back. Saturday morning and still no pain – don’t feel like drinking much of anything, but had half of a Popsicle. Felt nauseated after doing the breathing apparatus thing – felt like my lungs where pressing on my chest when they inflated – plan not to drink anything a few minutes before I do it again. All in all this has been pretty easy. Monday I am supposed to be able to have Slim Fast (which I hate – thanks for the recall) – then on Friday I can have soft foods. Don’t know when the appetite will come back, but for now I am glad I don’t have one.

I am a week and a half into the pre-op liquid diet and want to make sure I am not drinking too much broth. I am having about 24 oz. a day of either chicken, beef or vegetable broth. Three Slim Fasts a day, maybe one or two sugar free popsicles and a cup of sugar free jello at most.