Yesterday I drove to Geisinger, Danville for my post-op appointment...I thought 11 days was too soon for that, but could not get the appointment changed...so I drove there and took my daughter with me to help.

The appointments went well. My surgeon is the best!..best at her job, and best at treating patients like human beings...etc. She is up on all the latest research, as well. It was good to see her, and we gave her a small jar of our home-made jam...which she was so happy to get. I had put 2x2's on each of my 6 slices, for extra protection, and when the surgeon went to look at the incision sites, the tape had causes an inflamed, red, itchy reaction everywhere there was tape.

As it turns out, the backs of my calves had been painful, especially the left one, for a couple days after I got home from the hospital. I thought they were sore from my junky recliner foot rest, but turns out they might have been clots forming. I did walk, several times per day and had the pressure boots on in the hospital. There was swelling in the ankles and lower legs, and my daughter put the stockings on and we elevated the legs with pillows when I was sleeping or trying to rest a bit, and that took care of it...but the doctor sure was concerned. Thank goodness I was able to give myself the blood-thinner shots, because I think they helped. Apparently, the amount of pain I have felt is "normal," though I was illprepared for it! I am right on track for healing, and should get my energy back in 6 weeks. Still not allowed to lift or bend or squalt for anything...which I am fine with. My bowels had not moved, so I now have Miralax to take...fun, fun, fun! I also mentioned to the surgeon that the nursing care I received caused me setbacks, and I wondered if anything was going to change, and she told me that the doctors have been trying to change the nursing care--lack of--but that the hospital considers doctors to be "employees" and the hospital will not listen to doctors. Go figure!

The nutritionist said I can have eggs, cottage cheese, and ricotta cheese...and all I like of those is eggs, but Honestly, I am satisfied with my few protein shakes and crystal lite. The problem wiht that nutritionist is he wanted to touch my incisions, and he did NOT wash his hands! I had to tell him "don't touch me, you didn't wash your hands." He then told me that he washed before he came in the room. I said, "but you touched the doorknob, the computer keyboard, the mouse, and other things, and I don't do germs, and don't want an infection." Then he got up and sanitized--instead of washing...but he still didn't get to touch me much.

The nurse put the bp cuff on me the wrong way, AGAIN, and did not clean the cuff. I asked her if it was cleaned when she was about to put it on me, and she said, "we don't clean those between patients." I said, please clean it, because I don't want other people's germs on me." She reluctantly cleaned it. Then she put the thing on my arm with a big gap at the elbow point, and tight at the top...I told her it was not on right, and that I'm sick and tired of getting black and blue marks on my arms. She kept adjusting it wrongly, and so I had to show her to criss cross the velcro a little so that the tops and bottoms had even space betwee the cuff and arm. After that, she put her thumb on the stethoscope...also wrong procedure--since the thumb has a pulse that can be mistaken for a person's heart beat. The other nurse at the other apointment did the same thing....and I told them both that I've been through nursing school, and know how to take a bp, and this isn't it. I'm going to write the hospital administrators a letter to try and change some of these problems. I still have black and blue marks at the top of my arms from when i was in the hospital.

I had a couple other things to write, but can't remember what they were...the brain is still half in a fog.

I have lost 3 more pounds, and have not been this "light" since about 6 years agoo when I was putting myself through undergrad school...and on the rise as far as weight goes. It's sweet to be losing weight. I have visions of myself going upstairs to my massive amount of clothes in all sizes, and trying on some pretty things!....nice jeans, here we come!

I am worried that I will gain weight back at the 6 month mark...the doctor said that's a critical time for a lot of bariatric patients...I'm worried, but have no plans to gain weight... I want it off, and then to work at keeping it off. What a waste to have the surgery, go through living hell, and then gain the weight back! I guess it's something to beware of, and work on not having it happen.

Went for a drive to the store to stock up on food for the children...made me tired and drained...at least I am up and around, getting exercise. My belly does not like pants, or sitting in a car. I'm looking forward to being all better...and having lost the weight, and being able to eat normally.