... not a creature was sleeping because OMG IT'S FINALLY HERE!

I didn't sleep a wink last night because there were just too many thoughts to be had. I hope I can sleep tonight. I feel tired enough and I'll go lie down in a bit to see what happens.

There aren't very many times in your life that divide so neatly into a "before" and an "after". Before tomorrow, my life was one way. After tomorrow, it will be another way. That doesn't happen often, and many times it's only tragedy that bifurcates your life in that way. There was before. And now there is after.

That's not the case here. I'm happy that it will. Ecstatic, even. And I'm ready. It's been a year-long process and I've read what that needed to be read, researched what needed to be researched, learned what needs to be known.

But I am still acutely aware that my life will change tomorrow. And that feels really big.

Edited January 6, 201511 yr by anaxila

Good luck!

Well we you put it like that.....it does feel big

Awesomeness!

Good luck!!!!!

I don't have a surgery date yet, but have thought these same thought! Most life changing events are out of our control. This is one we have chosen. It is both scary and exciting at the same time. Please let us know how you do!

I wish you all the best!!!

Good luck

You got this!! you have worked hard and prepared. Now tell us how it went!!!

@@Laurac727, it went well. According to the surgeon, everything went exactly as planned, textbook surgery beginning to end. I was pretty wrecked the whole first day, but was up for my first walk at 7am the following morning and got better throughout the day. I went home from the hospital exactly as planned, after dinner the day following surgery.

Things at home the first night were definitely the roughest part so far, and not by a little. The ride home from the hospital was terribly painful - I felt like I was being jostled by every pebble we drove over - and getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and re-up on pain meds nearly did me in. It was very difficult to get in and out of a normal bed and I was very emotional from lack of sleep, discomfort, and general dislike of being sick.

Today was my first full day at home, and it's been amazing to see myself feeling so much better so quickly. They sent me home with super-powerful meds (liquid Oxy), and with the amount of money I spent on them I plan to get my money's worth. Still, I found myself going 7 hours between doses today (instead of 4 as instructed) and didn't feel terrible. Each dose knocks me out for at least an hour, so there's been a lot of napping going on.

The scariest part has been how hard it is to get in my Water and Protein. The meds knocked me out pretty hard, so I spent 6 hours of the day in various naps. But while I was awake and trying to stay on top of my intake, I only managed to get in 19 oz of water and 18g of protein all day. I'm going to have to see what I can do about that tomorrow. I won't be able to heal at a decent rate with that level of intake and 140 calories in a whole day.

Thank you for sharing your story. It really helps us a lot,

Relax take it slow it's really common not to be able to get much down your first few days. It'll get there slowly for mow just relax and stay comfortable, try to get up and walk a bit if you can it helps with the gas. Congratulations on your new life!

I knew you would do great! I am so happy for you. You got this remember sip walk protein, sip walk protein, sip walk protein! That is what they say. Maybe maybe next Tuesday at my appt I will get a step closer with all prep tasks done should know something soon. Please keep us updated thinking n rooting for you

I feel the same way too! I will have my surgery tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. This will be a new beginning for me. I've been up since sunday night thinking about my life and how it will change and the changes I have to make.

@@sammyc59, congratulations! Please check in as soon as you can and tell us how you're doing. I did manage to sleep (quite well, actually) the night before surgery. I guess I got all my nerves out the previous nights, and was too exhausted to stay up worrying and more. We're all rooting for you!

Had surgery on the 13th @ 4pm.surgery ended around 8. I'm doing fine. No complications!! Of course pain but I'm able to control medication as needed. I did my swallow x-ray and it was fine just laying here watching TV and feeling really blessed with how everything is going.