A week ago I was just getting my bearings on what I had just gone through. I asked myself, "Did I just agree to have 2/3 of my stomach removed, who does that?" The pain last week was pretty unbearable and I think the worst part was them making you try to cough to open up your lungs. Don't these nurses know I was just stabbed 6 times in the stomach, the last thing I want to do is cough.

The week has been going well. I have been home since Sunday afternoon and I am getting used to this new lifestyle. Beforehand I was under the impression I could just pick up and go back to work on Tuesday. I figured a 4-day weekend was plenty of time to recover from major surgery. I'm a little dumb. On Tuesday the alarm went off and I couldn't move. I could reach for my phone and pecked a short message to my boss saying I might not make it today. She may have thought I might not come into work but I honestly felt I just wasn't going to make it, period. I went through the day trying to figure out the best ways to maneuver my body to minimize the agony of recovery. Wednesday was much better than Tuesday but I still called off just in case.

I talked to my boss earlier in the week and told her that I should be ready to go in order to pull reports and crunch numbers on Thursday in anticipation of a Monday morning deadline. I told myself this was it, I have had 5 days off, get back to work. Did I mention I am a little dumb. On Thursday morning I logged onto my computer and started to catch up on what I had missed over the past week. I got a call from my boss checking to see how I was doing. After a few minutes of talking she stopped me and told me to listen. She wasn't convinced I sounded in the right mind to get back to work. I had told her previously that the doctor's office recommended 4 - 6 weeks off from work in order to properly recover. In an email right before "stomach surgery" (I did not tell her what the actual surgery was) I told her that the doctor had recommended 4 weeks and I told the doctor he's crazy. She wisely read between the lines of that earlier email and told me I should seriously take the time I need in order to properly heal and be in the right state of mind when I return. I took her advice and contact my surgeon's office to complete the FMLA forms. They did it immediately and I am scheduled to be home from work till April 7.

Late yesterday afternoon I realized that I was not in the best shape physically and mentally to take on the daily grind of work even from home. I feel very fatigued and at times a little dizzy. I am trying my best to eat when i am supposed to but that has been a challenge when you feel like taking a nap for 4 hours, which is through 2 meals. I will get there but I have never had such a desire to start eating blended tuna with a little mayo in my life. I have 7 more days before I hit that reality. For now it's a steady diet of Kefir and Soup.

Dearest Co-Cub Lover

As we find with our beloved Cubs...we have to be patient and wait

Your body is healing from the inside out...so you may not think it's any big deal, but DUDE, you just had SURGERY!!! Get that ?!?! SURGERY!!

Your body needs to recover, the first few days you are still just recovering from the anesthesia...

It will take time... take a walk when you can (and the stupid weather permits) at least walk in place if you can't go outside... to keep things moving on your insides...

Take it easy, relax, follow the plan... you will be fine... and you will WIN (like the Cubs will...someday ...)

Thanks

Congrats on the weight loss so far! I am 2 weeks post up and I am going back to work Monday. I was like you, planning on having surgery on a Tuesday and ready to go back to work next Monday. I think that we don't realize right away how major this surgery is, at least I didn't. Anyway, I feel good now and I think I'm ready to go back. Get some rest and wishing you a speedy recovery!

Amazing how our bodies overrule our dumb thinking. Rest is the best thing for healing. I'm glad you have a good boss and you are taking the time off to recuperate. I'm18 days out and need a nap some days. Listen to your body and your doctor. A yr from now you'll be healthier, happier and a lot thinner.

The Cubs have a new Spring Training facility named Riverview Park here by Phoenix. The Sox have a nice facility here also. Got to go to the crosstown game here last year. Sox won.

Good luck and hang in there, it does get better.

Hey dude, thanks for sharing! Your boss sounds like one of the good ones. Going back to work 5 days later would be CRAY-CRAY!

Edited March 8, 201412 yr by SarahChavaBlingstein

I'm so glad I found this. I'm 22, had my surgery Monday, March 3. And was convinced it would be a breeze to recover. (And I'm a nurse!)

Well the past few days? Hell. I was starting to think I was the only one having a hard recover process. I've learned I can't tolerate milk, I have horrible gas even from sipping water. And phenergan and naps are a staple in my day to day plans.

I'm actually kinda scared, the realization of how serious a surgery this was and how hard this is, is a bit overwhelming.

As of now I barely can get my protein shakes down, let alone all the water.

Slow but steady, right?

I'm so glad I found this. I'm 22, had my surgery Monday, March 3. And was convinced it would be a breeze to recover. (And I'm a nurse!) <br> Well the past few days? Hell. I was starting to think I was the only one having a hard recover process. I've learned I can't tolerate milk, I have horrible gas even from sipping Water. And phenergan and naps are a staple in my day to day plans. <br> I'm actually kinda scared, the realization of how serious a surgery this was and how hard this is, is a bit overwhelming. <br> As of now I barely can get my Protein shakes down, let alone all the water. <br> Slow but steady, right?

I too got sleeved Monday and had the band removed at the same time. It has been a rough week . Today was better gas wise but now I have a UTI from the catheter . Trying to force fluids and really wiped out. I keep thinking the worst is behind us.