nursesettie

Good morning....
 
Day six found me feeling fine physically. I drove. I grocery shopped. I took the kids to McDonald's.
 
Being in the kitchen is hard for me. I have children that must be fed. While preparing plates of burgers and chips for my two youngest kids, I dropped a chip on the counter. I reflectively reached down and popped it in my mouth. Of course I immediately spit it out. However, the incident left me wondering.....
 
This morning I woke with an epiphany!
 
What I am going through each day post-surgery is the major reason that patients must go through "training" for surgery. All of the nutrition training was to help with the actual - in your face - reality that I cannot, under any condition, pop chips or anything else in my mouth without thinking. Nutrition training was to help train my mind to tune out the billions of food commercials as I watch TV during my recovery. Nutrition training was giving me a foundation or a home base to turn to when I feel that I must have something to eat or I will die. Nutrition training was to give me something to think about and cling to when my mind is going crazy and I panic because today's stress cannot be fixed by food.
 
Had I not had the time before surgery hearing about and thinking about what I must do after surgery, I would be a big fat failure. I would have been one of the people who cheats themselves by eating what shouldn't be eaten and stretched my stomach right back out to hold my dear and faithful friend, Food. I am not one of those and refuse to succumb to the overwhelming temptation to do so. I will hold on to my goal and let my goal be my friend. (My goal is to be healthy and active.)
 
I will survive. I am woman. Hear me roar! (You have to be over 50 to get this.)

My revision surgery was on June 10th 2013. I arrived at the hospital at 10 am. My surgery was was set to begin at noon. However due to an emergency, he was called away. We didn't get started until 1:45. I remember being rolled into the operating room. The next thing I remember was waking up in my room. It was 9:40 at night. Dr. Simon had no trouble removing my slipped lap-band and constructing my new sleeve. He was happy to report that I had little damage from the band. No hernias. Minimal scarring.
 
At first I felt like I was hit by a train. But, the pain meds they gave me worked well and I slept throughout the night. The next morning I was up walking. I walked 1.5 miles. I passed my water test and was then brought my lunch. (Tea, chicken broth, and jello) I had minor discomfort. But I was exhausted. I slept most of the day.
 
The following day I was released. I was sent home with a PPI and a pain med. Once home I put myself on a schedule and continued to sip sip sip. I have had no issues with my sleeve. It likes both hot and cold liquids. I also have had no nausea or gas pain. In fact, I felt so good that I stopped taking my pain meds after two nights at home. I just didn't need them.
 
I am one week post op. I am down 14 lbs!!!!!!! I am on liquids until Wednesday. Then I get to move to mushies!!!! I can't wait to have some refried beans. I am not hunger but every time I see a Taco Bell commercial I crave Mexican. HEAD HUNGER!!!! (Oh and by the way..... I hate Taco Bell! But, if I don't get some real food soon I might just lick a taco shell!)
 
Oh..... I forgot one major thing. I had an allergic reaction to the surgical glue. Very painful and itchy. My incision sites were all blistered up by day three. I have to take Benadryl around the clock. It is however, healing nicely.
 
Well, I wish I had more to report. It has actually been pretty uneventful. May your surgery go as well as mine!

I am so happy that I had the sleeve surgery. My life changed almost immediately. I got rid of the C-pak machine for my sleep apnea and no longer take high blood pressure meds! My knees and feet no longer ache from the 207 pounds I was carrying around. And I have discovered that I am tolerating the climate heat like never before. I have actually worked in my flower beds this summer! I am 9 months out from my surgery, weigh 149 ( down 58 pounds)! I want to lose another 14 pounds. My weight loss has been on a stall but I understand what is happening and I am staying on course with exercise and diet. I know that weight loss will continue with my efforts. This experience has been a miracle for me. I just wanted to feel better! My energy level is astonishing! I am loving my sleeve! No regrets at all! It was an answer to a prayer for me!