Puttingme1st
Final days of Pre-op and Surgery Day...
May 21, 2012
It's been a while since I last posted because I kept putting it off saying that I wanted to include this and that event in my next post and then I look up and it's one week post-op. So I guess I should back up and I should apologize, in advance, for another lengthy couple of posts!The pre-op diet was difficult, but successful. On the day of surgery I weighed in at 301.0 which represented a total loss of 21 pounds. I was completely astounded. My personal goal was to be under 300 pounds, but I was very pleased with the 301. I won't pretend that I was perfect during the pre-op diet and that I didn't eat things that I shouldn't have, but I struggled, slipped, and kept my commitment to the pre-op diet. I never gave up even though at times I failed, but I'm proud of myself for doing what I could to stick to the plan and ultimately it paid off. My surgeon wanted me to lose 20 pounds pre-surgery and I hit that mark!
Literally one week before surgery I got the worst cold. I called the surgeon's office and they told me that as long as I didn't get a fever or a persistent cough then my surgeon would be unlikely to postpone! I was doing everything in my power to get rid of that dang cold. I was googling home remedies, cold medicine, nasal spray....anything I could think of...that damn cold hang on for a whole week.
The morning of surgery I went to the hospital not knowing whether the surgery would go forward, but there was something in me that knew that if it was postponed there was a chance that I might not go forward. The week leading up to that surgery I was terrified. I had never had surgery before. I was scared of possible risks and complications. I was scared to change my whole life. I have been overweight my entire life...on some level it became a part of my identity. I wasn't sure who I would be without the weight and that scared me. I was scared for my relationship...this man fell in love with me the way I was...he loved me the way I was...he was attracted to the woman I was...will he feel the same way about the woman I will become? I had so many fears and I have been known to let those fears drive my choices and I just knew that if May 14th wasn't the date...it probably would never happen.
The surgery went forward...I was terrified! My blood pressure that morning was 204/98. My body was showing my fear. My boyfriend and I arrived at the hospital and everything went exactly as everyone had informed that it would. I kissed him goodbye, hugged my sister and they wheeled me into the OR...I moved over to the operating table, they told me they put "something" in my IV that was going to make me sleepy...the next thing I know I woke up in recovery. There was a tube in my throat that was making me gag and that caused me so much pain. They finally took the tube out and I was able to relax. And pretty much slept until they wheeled me into my room where I met up with my family. the pain wasn't unbearable, but I was definitely not comfortable. I couldn't lay on my side, which is customary for me, so I couldn't get comfortable. Then the gas pains started. I had read about it, but I had no clue what to expect. It was VERY painful and so uncomfortable. I slept off an on until the evening when they got me up to start walking around which wasn't too difficult...except for getting up out of the bed.
The next morning I felt worlds better. I finally got to check out my scars in the mirror which weren't bad at all. I had my leak test which was gross! The doctor came to see me, told me that I was doing great, that they could take the JP drain out and I could go home if I was able to tolerate the fluids. They brought my first tray and water and it went down ok so it was time to go home!! So far things were about what I expected.
