Hey Guys!!!

First, let me thanks you all for the kind and loving messages, emails, profile posts, etc... Ya'll know how to make a girl feel loved!!! ... Today, I'm a little tired and achy... I coughed a bunch last night, trying to catch a little cold... but, I'm not in any significant pain and all my drinking yesterday is causing that gas to rise and want out!! LOL... I'm not complaining!! I've had 2 popsicles, 24 oz of Water and I've been upstairs to spend time w/ my niece and nephew..

So, on surgery day, Monday the 19th, I arrived at the hospital and we couldn't find a close spot, so we parked in the middle of this huge lot... I held a conversation w/ my best friend all the way there... not winded at all, no sweating... in fact is was a BEAUTIFUL, sunny day in Chicago!! My best friend told me she was gonna have to get some saran wrap for my pants... I was like what??

Anyway, I'm so used to going to see my wonderful pulmonologist, after we checked in at the front desk, we sashayed to the elevators, up to the 3rd floor... walked down the long, winding hallway, only to realize.... we were supposed to be on the 1st floor at one day surgery check in!!! LOL...

So, I get there and see my gyn, she grabs me into a big hug and says how proud she is that I'm taking this step... I get to my little cubby and immediately get a "way too big gown".. that felt good!! And they started IVs and stuff.. that was 10:35 am... By 1pm I'd talked to all the nurses on the floor, my anesthesiologist, pulmonologist and my gen prac.. but I haven't seen my surgeon!! He's totally backed up in the ER, as Monday was the last day for them to do any surgeries for this year...

After waiting for another 3 hours, I was taken to holding and has some awesome nurses there too.. answering my questions.. Finally my surgeon appears and is very apologetic for keeping me waiting... He told my friend he would start with in the hour and take about 75-80 minutes... I remember being wheeled into the OR (my bed has this little mattress on it that inflated and stuff to help w/ circulation).... the nurses put the warm blankets on the table and had me scoot over... Dr. Gabriel (anesthesiologist) told me he was putting something in my IV to relax me... and I was OUT!!!

I remember waking up in PACU covered in warm blankets w/ the work nausea I've EVER had!!!! Nurses were great... Helped me w/ it... then the pain hit... I didn't have to say a word.. They were right there... at about 9pm or so, I was taken to my room.. (Rm 255) ... I was out of it!! My nurse and patient care prac. were awesome... At 2 am, they came and got me out of bed to sit in a chair for a few hours (she gave me pain meds before I moved)... I remember saying to myself.. Oh God, girl.. why didn't you just get a hair cut!! LOL.. then, I was I like.. I wanted this, I need this, I'm going to do THIS!!!!.

From that moment, I was determined to do everything I was asked, even when I just wanted to cry!!! The pain the first night was OMG!!!!! I was helped out of bed several times, as I had a catheter and drain.. but I sat up and rolled, etc. on command! LOL..

Later that day, my doctors visited, each asking of I was in pain.. I wasn't in really significant pain and the morphine made me so sick, I wanted to jump out of the window!!!... So, i took just one more shot of it..

My nurses spoiled me!! They said I was their best bariatric patient ever!!! YEAH!!!

Had my barium test, (little bumpy ride down stairs, but I didn't complain, because I'm doing this!!)...it went great.. Barium made me nauseous... so in the room, got some zofran... Later that afternoon, the catheter and drain were removed, oh and my 2nd IV was taken out too.. FREEDOM!!!!

I felt like a new woman!!! I immediately started getting up and using the bathroom unassisted w/ that darn IV pole!! UGH!!!... My room was right across from the nurses station, so I couldn't move w/o someone running in to see if I was ok....

I had several severe bouts of nausea throughout the day and night, but I never threw up.. My nurse, Miss Lori, told me.. girl, i want to see the hem of this gown, flying in the wind.... starting in a hour!!! I said yes ma'am...

I got up an hour later and walked two of the LONGEST laps of my life!!!.. But, it got easier each time!! I had some pain after wards, so I had a dose of liquid pain med.. no more since...

I sat in a chair, had a few visitors and calls... my 6 sisters sent me the biggest, most beautiful vase of red roses!! The card said, "We'll see you when you're skinny-er"!!!! I was so happy... (my family lives in the south FL, TX, TN, VA, and MS).. I didn't want them to come up to Chicago right now... I am fine...

Anyway, I slept A LOT!!! I walked, slept, walked slept....Wednesday morning, my doctors came by and told me how proud they were of me and I'm going to be one of their greatest success stories (no pressure doc... huh!?!! LOL) My pulmonologist told me that he was prescribing some HBP meds for the next month... because my BP would not come down after I left recovery... IDKY... so, I have 2 meds to take daily...

Before I was discharged, one of the nurse came into my room and said... You know what darling, you're gonna make it!! You will be very successful... And if you EVER need to hear that, when you're feeling low, call my number on the bottom of your discharge papers!!! You are going to make it!!!!

The ride home was surreal, because my life is totally different ALREADY... My decision to go through w/ WLS has impacted so many people around me...more on that later... But, thanks guys!! SO much... Your encouragement, love, excitement and knowledge helped me make it through 6 months!!! and now..... I'm sleeved and excited!!!!!

Thank you for sharing your experience!! I can't wait to be where you are!! Keep us updated

^{I was wondering how you did/were doing. I am so happy for you. Welcome to the loser's bench. It does get easier everyday. YAYYYYY!!!!! I am so happy for you. Did I mention that already. You deserve it twice.}

Such an Up-lifting story! I love it!

Boy I wish I had 6 sisters (I'm an only child). I had one daughter she was work enough I can't imagine 6 girls in one house... LOL

God Bless you on your WL Journey!!

favoredone,,,this is so funny..I thought Willow was talking about me so I was searching this post and thought I was losing my mind till I re read your original post.

I have 6 sisters as well..and a brother..LOL All this time we've talked,,I musta missed it!

Peacequeen, LOL.. that's funny!!

I really needed to re-read this post... Helped me resolve a few things!!!... I have to finsh each day knowing that I did my best to use my sleeve optimally!!!.. Lately, I've been kind of coasting.. I'm very encouraged!!