claudia P.
6.5 weeks out
Aug 31, 2008
Life has not been without its ups and downs, but today I feel good. I've had a roller coast with something causing pain, but they can't figure it out. It's hard cramping that envelopes my entire abdomen and back. Last weekend they put me back in the hospital and pumped me with Morphine and fluids while they ct scanned it all and did an upper endoscopy. Everything normal. I get that, but I'd like to know what is causing the problem so I can avoid it. Frustrating! In between the three episodes of this that I have had, I am pain free and feel good. I am not eating enough. Some of that is fear, because I don't want food to get stuck or come back up. Part of it is just finding something appetizing to eat. (I had ceviche the other day and that was so yummy. Best thing I've eaten in a while!) Or, I get all ready to eat something and four bites later, I'm done. Ugh, my head hunger is not happy with me! LOL Also, little problem figuring out the drinking... because it seems like I am always waiting to eat because of drinking or waiting to drink because of eating. I think I just need to schedule everything and I'll be fine. Not complaining, just sharing here. I'm still excited about it all. I had my hair cut shorter yesterday where I can do it now that my face is slimmer. Then, I shopped for some clothes, a couple of sizes smaller.... needed some suits for an upcoming business trip. Hopefully they will be easily altered later. Well, that's all here. I hope everyone is having a fantastic Labor Day weekend!
two weeks and counting
Jul 31, 2008
So by now, I have gone through the worst or so they say. I have seriously mourned food but since starting on the mushy stuff yesterday, I am feeling a little better about it. Those were the best refried beans I have ever had! I also had some cottage cheese and... a decaf non-fat latte. That was sheer heaven! Don't get me wrong, I still have some head hunger, mostly just cravings. I see my family eat dinner, or lunch or whatever and I think, gosh I'd just like to be "normal" and eat a sandwich, or a taco. Problem was, I wasn't "normal" before the surgery and went to extremes. Not one taco, but four. One sandwich, but with half a bag of chips. Not one cookie, but six. (I told you I am addicted to cookies!) So, this is my new normal and I'm sure I will grow to love it. (Phillipians 4:13) Right now, I'm looking forward to going back to the office tomorrow. I'm seriously suffering from house-atosis as my husband describes it. I look forward to getting back to some serious work and engage my brain again. Day-time television is just not for me! Be blessed in all you do! Oh yeah... forgot, I'm down 38 pounds since starting my pre-surgery liquid diet.
Home!
Jul 19, 2008
Here I am, take a look at me on the loser's bench! Yippee!
Now... a couple of things. Whoever didn't have pain, I am sooo jealous! Man, that hiatal hernia repair was the worst.... and then the pain on my sides, probably from muscles being cut. Don't laugh, I do too have muscles! ;-) And.... those of you who say you're not hungry, I sooo wish that were true of me. I am freaking starving! I want pizza, a salami sandwich, SOMETHING I can taste. Doc's instructions included no pepper... gosh, take a girl's fun away!
Seriously, the hospital stay was probably considered "uneventful" from their standpoint. I was up the first evening and did a lap... that was around the 3rd floor of our hospital. You had to walk right by the nurse's station... they would all give you encouring words as you went by. My husband and sister stayed with me the first night, just my sister the 2nd and no one the third night. The good thing was that on the third day I was taking enough fluid in that they took out my IV. That made it easier for me to get up and go to the restroom at night by myself. Then, I started "sipping" my lunch on Thursday and I had what appears to have been dumping. I got nauseaus, chilly, and a headache. I told the doc about it when he came in and he surmised that I ate too quickly. He may have been correct...it's hard to tell. Anyway I had completed 10 laps yesterday and was in a lot of pain as well... so the doc said my vitals were good and I could go home or stay another night, no pressure from him either way. When the swing shift nurse, whom I knew wanted to leave early and could if I left, told me she didn't feel good about sending me home in the pain I was in, I knew that I had to stay. So I did, until about noon today when they were all done with me. Now I'm home. Yippee
Here's a couple things about the surgery that suprised me. Even with all I had done, it was only a two hour surgery!
You can't "strain" to push out gas, because it hurst... so you just have to let it come."
Hurts like hell to twist around and wipe when you have a BM... yes, I had one before I left the hospital.
To get out of your bed the best way... put the head all the way up and the center all the way down. Getting out of bed hurts!
Try to get someone to stay in the hospital with you... it will make your life so much easier.
Now, I'm waiting for my angel Tammi to come home and we'll be on the loser's bench together! =) cjp
Now... a couple of things. Whoever didn't have pain, I am sooo jealous! Man, that hiatal hernia repair was the worst.... and then the pain on my sides, probably from muscles being cut. Don't laugh, I do too have muscles! ;-) And.... those of you who say you're not hungry, I sooo wish that were true of me. I am freaking starving! I want pizza, a salami sandwich, SOMETHING I can taste. Doc's instructions included no pepper... gosh, take a girl's fun away!
Seriously, the hospital stay was probably considered "uneventful" from their standpoint. I was up the first evening and did a lap... that was around the 3rd floor of our hospital. You had to walk right by the nurse's station... they would all give you encouring words as you went by. My husband and sister stayed with me the first night, just my sister the 2nd and no one the third night. The good thing was that on the third day I was taking enough fluid in that they took out my IV. That made it easier for me to get up and go to the restroom at night by myself. Then, I started "sipping" my lunch on Thursday and I had what appears to have been dumping. I got nauseaus, chilly, and a headache. I told the doc about it when he came in and he surmised that I ate too quickly. He may have been correct...it's hard to tell. Anyway I had completed 10 laps yesterday and was in a lot of pain as well... so the doc said my vitals were good and I could go home or stay another night, no pressure from him either way. When the swing shift nurse, whom I knew wanted to leave early and could if I left, told me she didn't feel good about sending me home in the pain I was in, I knew that I had to stay. So I did, until about noon today when they were all done with me. Now I'm home. Yippee
Here's a couple things about the surgery that suprised me. Even with all I had done, it was only a two hour surgery!
You can't "strain" to push out gas, because it hurst... so you just have to let it come."
Hurts like hell to twist around and wipe when you have a BM... yes, I had one before I left the hospital.
To get out of your bed the best way... put the head all the way up and the center all the way down. Getting out of bed hurts!
Try to get someone to stay in the hospital with you... it will make your life so much easier.
Now, I'm waiting for my angel Tammi to come home and we'll be on the loser's bench together! =) cjp
Right around the corner!
Jul 10, 2008
Okay, this is my first post and so bear with me!
First and foremost, let me thank my Angel, Tammi (httpwwwtammi.com here on OH) for her wonderful, caring friendship! What a blessing she is to me! We are having our RNY done on the same day, albeit two states away from each other! Surgery is next Wednesday, the 16th. (OMG!) It has been just great to have someone go through every step of the process with you. Someone who knows how it feels to doubt, to be in pain, to have crazy thoughts, etc. Thanks Tammi for being my "ace in the hole"!!
Okay, back to my regularly scheduled panic attack! What am I thinking? I'm gonna let someone (pretty much a stranger) cut up my insides and re-route them. The doc is also fixing my hiatal hernia and removing my gallbladder. I really like my doc, the couple of times I've met him. He takes his time to explain everything and even put up with my husband harshly explaining how he doesn't like surgeries. (Bless Dr. Koura, he said he doesn't like them either, but I need this one.) Anyway, I feel as though I am in good, skilled hands.
Well, only a few days left til I hit the loser's bench. I'm very excited, and yes, nervous, but I'll get over that. In the interim, I have a TON of work to get done so I'm off to do that. Blessings to all.
First and foremost, let me thank my Angel, Tammi (httpwwwtammi.com here on OH) for her wonderful, caring friendship! What a blessing she is to me! We are having our RNY done on the same day, albeit two states away from each other! Surgery is next Wednesday, the 16th. (OMG!) It has been just great to have someone go through every step of the process with you. Someone who knows how it feels to doubt, to be in pain, to have crazy thoughts, etc. Thanks Tammi for being my "ace in the hole"!!
Okay, back to my regularly scheduled panic attack! What am I thinking? I'm gonna let someone (pretty much a stranger) cut up my insides and re-route them. The doc is also fixing my hiatal hernia and removing my gallbladder. I really like my doc, the couple of times I've met him. He takes his time to explain everything and even put up with my husband harshly explaining how he doesn't like surgeries. (Bless Dr. Koura, he said he doesn't like them either, but I need this one.) Anyway, I feel as though I am in good, skilled hands.
Well, only a few days left til I hit the loser's bench. I'm very excited, and yes, nervous, but I'll get over that. In the interim, I have a TON of work to get done so I'm off to do that. Blessings to all.
