Question and Answer from the patient!

My brother and his wife stopped by last night and stayed over. My family is heading to the beach.  They played with Lauren this morning on the trampoline. I probably won't do that for a

while.. 

Lots of folks have been asking questions about the procedure. Here is my point of view. This is not from my doctor and it's not medical approved. It's my opinion. Every patient is very different and ALL the doctors have a different methods.

Are you hungry? No. Not one bit. They say during the first seven days after surgery your goal is to consume 64 ounces of fluids per day. Hahaha. That is not happening. You are also suppose to have 75(+/-) grams of protein. Not happening either. I hope to make improvement over the weekend. Monday I move to a pureed soft diet (that includes eggs and soft fruits!!!!) Stoked about that!

What can you eat?
Once I finish the 8 week recovery process I can eat whatever my heart desires; just not in big proportions. Unlike the Lap Band the stomach isn't restricted so there’s nothing for food to get caught on. But, right now I can't eat anything solid- I will spend six weeks developing new habits.  They say I will make changes to the food I want- There is a chance I will not enjoy what I used too. 

Do you get sick?Not yet. However, I am getting about 2-3 ounces per meal. I also feel like Thanksgiving over and over. You know where you eat too much and lay around moaning...  Dumping/vomiting doesn't always happen with the sleeve. My stomach muscles would cry if I vomited. 

How fast have you lost the weight? 
From my highest weight I have lost 33 pounds. I am averaging about a pound a day. This will slow down.. 


What do you find most different since the surgery?
My bloated belly.. I dread to eat. I want to eat ice chips and be done. 

I have been overweight all my life and am seriously considering having a gastric sleeve. Any advice?
Today: Contact your insurance and see what they can pay. (this could change as time goes on)
This weekend: Look online at the doctors who do the surgery. If they are local- go to every doctor's seminar and learn their method. They are not the same!!!  I only went to one seminar- a big regret of mine. I like my doctor but, each doctor has a very different method. Several folks I know used doctors in Mexico or Canada.. There are several in the state. My insurance led me to my doctor.  

What is your biggest fear? 
Other than it not working??  My skin being in bad shape. Though that fear has left. I have Rodan and Field products that will help me out. I will share more soon. 

How did you feel immediately after surgery?
Dry mouth, regretful, groggy, tired, excited

How long did you stay in the hospital? 
Surgery was Monday. Recovery took almost 8 hours (very rough). Tuesday= Ice chips were my new love. Wednesday jello and chicken broth  was the most delish thing ever!

How long until you feel fine? (everyone has a different answer). I hope soon! 

Does it feel tight or like anything is left in your stomach??
I feel like I had major tummy surgery. No desire to eat.  I also think gas is making me feel bloated/full. 

Cheers to each day improving! 

Day 3 of Post op and first day "home"

Type of surgery I had..

First off, I should never doubt my friends support for our family. You guys made the hospital stay bearable.

Overall, I feel good for just having major surgery. Slow, very sore and still groggy. 

I am still on my liquid diet till Monday. We have that covered. It's very challenging for me to drink what I have. I have no hunger and no desire to eat. I just have cottonmouth and some gas.

On top of all this I hurt my knee- very minor scrape but, using my knees to position myself make it very painful. I also stub my pinky toe in the hospital on my IV cart. Bruised and bleed a lot.  So, if I could quit

My minor knee injury

injuring myself maybe I could start focusing on my stomach healing!!   Above in the picture in the incisions. (See I am keeping this real!). 

If you want to bring food for us- just bring enough for John and Lauren (2 servings max). Next week while I will be eating soft/mushy foods- I will be limited and I need to make good food choices..  Each meal I get 1/8 of a cup of two different things. So my portion sizes are way small. My first goal over the week is to work on getting plenty of protein and drinking plenty of water.. 

I am hoping I can quit pain meds tomorrow and once I am off of them then I can drive. I know that will not be today or tomorrow. So, perhaps driving Monday will be more realistic.  I am walking like an elderly person still yet.

NO REGRETS! Thankful to be on the flip side!

The Post Op Review-unedited

I am not going to sugar coat this experience. Because I want people to know the real deal.

Communication about the exact time of surgery was not very clear. (I plan to report this through evalution). We were told Surgery was scheduled for 1pm and found out it was in fact scheduled for 3:55 and started at 5:45.  For several reasons you can imagine- it was not a fun day.. My momma and John stuck by with me! I had a bad headache all day(Monday).. So bad the bright lights and coolness in pre opt- made the headache worse and I was given Valium (twice) and finally post surgery it was gone. The anesthetic drug cocktail they gave me was super strong due to my family history of MH.. That made recover much rougher!! It was after 9 (I think) when I got to my room.. My mom is a caregiver by profession and as you can imagine she was not going  to let me stay alone. I was having some buyers remorse at that moment. I was so thirsty and my mouth was so dry-I was not prepared for that feeling. Morphine doesn't help the thirsty feeling. 

Lessons Learned:

• CALL the business day morning before surgery and confirm time. (I never got a confirmation call).
• Prepare for someone to stay with you the first night. If you don't need it then you can send them home. 
• Ask people to text before visiting. (That was so helpful for me!)
• Bring chapstick! (Thankfully, I was warned)

I woke up feel very un-rested today but, I feel so much better than last night except I was so thirsty. I finally received 1 oz out ice chips every 30 minutes at around 10am.  I also walked around the floor 6+ times. The doctor says I am doing great.  My night nurse says I get clear liquid sat 6 am tomorrow. I am super pumped about that! 

Mama Rho and Lauren

Pretty excited about the new life! No pain- no gain!

Tomorrow we should head home! Super big hugs to all texted, facebook, call or stop by. YOU made the day fly by. Mama Rho is very tired and I will blame the mistakes on the morphine. 

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” ― Maya Angelou

The Loser's Bench

Restart

New Life

Rebirth

Surgery -Anniversary 

Reset

A new beginning

Call it what you want! Tomorrow I am choosing to make a change in my life. I have absolutely the most supportive husband. I have 2 sweet (and challenging) girls, I have a fantastic support group of friends and a pretty awesome family. All these people loved me at 350 pounds.. All these people rejoiced with me when I lost weight. These fine people want me to be healthy and feel my BEST. No offense, but, I am so blessed! 

I encourage you to take the first step in Restarting your life. Get Healthy! Just take 1 step forward. Some of you that will mean drinking a glass of water, start taking a multivitamin, go for a walk, looking at the nutrition label, make an appointment with a therapist, pray, make an appointment with your PCP... Just do something to improve your life. 
I am ready to be sleeved. I do realize this surgery is only part of my journey  I am thankful that God gave me this journey. 

Continuing to live a life with no regrets. 

I know this verse was not written for me tomorrow but, it's a great verse.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:

The old has gone, the new is here!