A whole new life....after surgery

It's been a long time since I blogged about my RNY experience. I had the surgery 4/20/09. From the day I picked up the pre-op food until surgery day, I lost 12 lbs. I was excited because I lost some weight.

Overall, the pre-op food was ok. I figured out that the dinners I selected were just disgusting. They looked like dog food. So, my husband actually drove back to Grand Rapids and got me the microwavable meals to eat for dinner. That went much better. But I have to say, the night before surgery I was so sick of eating all the time I thought I was going to lose my mind.

We stayed the night in Grand Rapids since I had to be at the hospital at 7:30 a.m. and I didn't want to get up too early. That whole night I laid awake worrying about whether there would be complications or if I would even die during the surgery.

We got up and drove to the hospital. I got checked in and weighed. They put me in a holding room where I got changed and the IV was set up. Eventually I was sent to the surgical holding room. That's where I really started panicking. I was about to call the whole off. The anesthiologist came and administered the drugs to get me relaxed then I was wheeled into the operating room.

Who knows now long later, I woke up in the recovery room. I came around enough to go to my regular room. I was uncomfortable because of the angle of the bed. I was told that the angle of the bed was the best for post-op. I guess it helps prevent reflux. I really enjoyed the morphine pump. I don't think I walked as much as they wanted but I was really tired from not sleeping well Sunday night and the morphine didn't help.

When I woke up Tuesday I was informed that I would be starting to drink the protein shakes. If I wanted to leave that day I had to get 4 oz. down in 4 hours. It was really hard. I was still just so tired. Eventually, the nurse unhooked my IV, so I was without the morphine. She gave me some liquid vicodin, but that was the most digusting stuff I have ever had to drink. Around 1 pm. I got out of the hospital.

On the drive home I was dozing off and on. When I got home, my husband gave me a dose of the liquid vicodin. That started a long afternoon, evening, and night of throwing up. I think I got a little dehyrated combined with the pain not being controlled. Eventually, popsicles helped get me rehydrated and I slept for a while.

Wednesday morning was the day that my husband got me on schedule. He had me working on getting the 1oz. protein shakes down and taking my medicine. By that evening I was feeling human again, I wasn't doing much but I could hold a conversation.

By the end of the first week I was feeling good. I started wandering out for short shopping trips.

I bought a Magic Bullet blender to help mix the shakes better. It did wonders for taking out the grit. But the 2 weeks worth of protein shakes for meals was getting to me.

I went back to the surgeons office the first week of May for my 2 week checkup. The doctor said the laprascopic incisions were healing very well. I also met with the dietician. I was given a whole new diet of soft foods. Cottage cheese, skim milk, and yogurt. Also, I was instructed to get 64 oz. of water in per day.

Then I went back June 2 for my 6 week checkup. I met with the dietician first. I was given clearance to eat virtually anything that was within reason. I was instructed to stay away from any high fat or high sugar foods. Then I met with the Physcians Assistant. He was pleased with my loss but mentioned that if I had been able to get more water in that I would have had an even better loss. I had been struggling to get 32 oz of water in per day. Next I met with the exercise physiologist. He was pleased to hear that we joined the YMCA. He said that I should plan on working out everyday with 4 workouts per week being the minimum. He also said that exercise doesn't have to be work, it can be fun and relaxing like a bike ride. That meeting went well.

I left the surgeons office and drove home. I stopped at Wendy's and got some chili. I got back on the highway and 5 minutes later I was puking in a plastic bag. I had puke all over the front of me. Not the best ride home.