Where are our sleevies?

[Soon2BMiniMommy 92]

We know you're probably recuperating and trying to find your way back to some semblance of normal, but check in when you can.....we're worried about you and want to be sure everyone is okay!!!:grouphug4: Hope all is well and remember, sip, sip, walk, rest, repeat!!!

Love you guys! Be strong and heal fast!

[Mim 0]

No need to worry, just pulling myself out of the fog.....

My surgery was Monday, 10/3 with Dr. Aceves. Since my surgery was the 2nd of the day, I was given a sedative to relax. The rest of the day is a blur. I remember people coming in to get me....blur........I remember looking up at the ceiling as I was being wheeled to surgery......blur.........I remember someone telling me to turn on my side and bend my knees for the spinal block....blur.....and OUT.

I don't remember recovery at all. The next thing I remember is being back in my room, thinking it must be over and then falling back asleep again. I was in and out of sleep for the rest of the night, knowing that nurses came in and out, taking my temp and blood pressure, but not really ever becoming fully alert.

Sometime early Tuesday morning, I told one of the nurses I needed to use the bathroom. Although I stumbled a bit, I made the trip successfully and immediately fell back asleep. Later that morning, they brought me those infamous 4 little cups of blue "apple juice." They weren't good, but they were tolerable. I sipped and slept, sipped and slept, sipped and slept for hours. Several times that day, Dr. Aceves, Dr. Campos and the nurses came in and told me to try to get up and walk. I'd answer "Sure, ok." with every good intention of doing it, but I'd always fall back asleep. I really had a tough time coming out of all that med-induced sleepiness.

By late afternoon Tuesday, I finally got up and walked the halls. I was completely pain-free (yes, really.....it must have been the spinal block), but I felt unsteady on my feet and climbed back into bed about 5 minutes later. Tuesday night was pretty much the same as Monday night, but I woke up Wednesday morning feeling alert and energetic. I took a shower and even put on a little make-up!

Wednesday, I walked several times, visited my neighbors, sipped tea and finally got a bowl of that wonderful chicken broth everybody raves about. Yes, it IS that good.

By the time I left on Thursday morning, I felt pretty good - minimal pain and absolutely no nausea. It may have been this sense of well-being that caused me to completely overdo it on Friday. BIG Mistake!

I met up with a friend Friday afternoon to do a "little" shopping that turned into a 5-hour shopping spree. I thought I was listening to my body.......I sipped Isopure all day........I took sitting breaks pretty often, but by the time I got home, I felt awful. My abdomen was completely swollen with Fluid and gas. I looked 9 months pregnant and felt equally uncomfortable. That was the first time all week I broke down emotionally. I remembered reading somewhere that Day 4 after surgery was the worst..........and that was definitely true for me!

So, I sobbed myself to sleep Friday night and woke up Saturday with renewed energy and renewed resolve. I really took it easy that day. I stayed in all morning, sipping Protein and napping. By 3:00 pm, I felt good enough to take my son to a birthday party. It was a huge event, and EVERY single person there must have told me to eat......twice! But I politely told them I had eaten before I came and continued to sip on my bottled Water. The party lasted about two hours and I was definitely ready to come home by then. I went to bed about 7:30 pm, slept pretty soundly, and here I am at 5:00 am on Sunday, finally getting on the Internet for the first time since surgery.

To sum up, I've really had a fairly easy recovery. Considering the mess my Band had made of my stomach and liver (Dr. Aceves told me it was NOT and easy revision) I've had very little pain except for the incision sights. I've experienced none of the shoulder "gas" pain I had with the Band surgery. I've had no nausea or stomach pain......just a lot of gas and gurgling. No doubt about it, those first four days kicked my butt, however, I think I'm over the "hump" now. I have one more week of recovery before I have to go back to work and I'm sooooo glad I didn't try to rush it and go back any sooner.

I hope all my fellow October sleevers are well, whether you are just home from surgery or about to have it. Take it easy and follow the rules........you'll do great!

[lisajxoxo 11]

Thank you so much for the update! Soooo glad you're doing well. ... and no more 5 hour shopping sprees (unless it's online)!!! LOL!!!

[his2my2our4 120]

Congrats on such a smooth recovery! Take care of yourself!!

Kristin

[5McK 10]

I had my surgery last Thursday (the 6th) at about noon. Surgery went well and I did have to have a hernia repaired. I slept on and off most of the day, but I made sure to get up and walk around every few hours. Pain was tolerable and I didn't have the aches in my shoulder or neck like some describe. Friday I was released and slept most of the way home. Come to think of it, I slept most of Friday.

Saturday I felt better and only took 4 naps! But I had a hard time getting liquids in. I only drank about 16 ounces.

Yesterday I went on a walk around my neighborhood and felt pretty good. I managed to stay awake all day and got 32 ounces of liquid in (one was a Protein drink with 42g of protein!).

This morning I woke up feeling so much better! I'm feeling about 80% today! I'm able to concentrate, but now I'm bored!!! I'm off work all week and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself!!!

[Soon2BMiniMommy 92]

Wow, you guys are amazing, and giving me such hope that I will be just fine after surgery! I love that you took 'only' 4 naps, 5!! Heh heh...

Yah, no more 5 hour shopping sprees, Mim...wow!

So proud of you guys!!