I'm post-op...wow!

So I made it to the losers bench. I survived my surgery. I was able to go home yesterday (Friday) and today I am feeling sore but it is bearable pain. Last night I must have moved wrong because I was in pain and hubby had to get up and get my pain medication. Otherwise I haven’t taken any pain medication today.

It is so amazing all the things that have changed already. I have no desire to eat food. It is really odd. River made some ground turkey Mexican style and the smell of it made me nauseous. This used to be one of my favorite foods. My other favorite is fruit punch flavored crystal light. I had some when I got home and it tasted different. I like it but it isn’t as good to me as it was prior to my surgery. It is so weird that your taste buds do change.

So right now I am trying to get in 30 ounces of fluid (water, crystal light, broth) plus 5 ounces of my protein shake. It doesn’t seem like a whole lot but really it is so hard to get in that fluid. I’m getting in 3 ounces a hour but then don’t get anything when I take my naps so it sort of puts me back. I’m not supposed to have any more than 3 ounces per hour. I am literally using one of those 1 ounce medicine cups to measure and then have a piece of paper to chart how much I’m drinking per hour. As of right now I’ve had 28 ounces of liquid I’m almost at my goal. J I also have to fit in a chewable multi-vitamin (twice a day) plus an anti-acid pill daily.

On Tuesday I move on to what is called “slider foods” which are foods that you really don’t have to chew a whole lot and just slide right down. So I will get 3 meals a day and will only get 2 ounces of yogurt, eggs (1/2 egg either hard boiled or scrambled) or cottage cheese. Luckily I really do love all 3 of those items so I will probably have eggs for breakfast and then coordinate cottage cheese and yogurt for lunch and dinner. On Monday I will be making an appointment to see my surgeon which I will see the following week. I will also continue to sip 3 ounces of fluids the other hours.

As far as the pain goes as I mentioned it is bearable. When I woke up from the anesthesia I was in a lot of pain. But it turns out it was not only surgery pain but I had the triple whammy. I also had really bad cramps and gas. Ugghhhh it hurt. The gas comes and goes. Right now I am fine but when I sip I guess I get some air bubbles and seem to cause a slight disturbance. At least I’m able to pass the gas now. The day of surgery I wasn’t able to at all and the day after I was passing by burping a lot. Oh I had the hiccups a few times too and that definitely hurt! I’ve been taking my walks but I am so weak and exhausted that I feel like I am sleeping a lot. I just listen to my body and do whatever it says. If it is tired then it must need sleep to heal so I take naps. Lots of little naps and a few big naps. J

Visitors are welcomed I just ask you let me know when you are going to be here so I can be sure I am not asleep when you show up. J If you don’t have my address just email me.

I want to thank you for your emails, text messages, facebook messages, prayers and positive vibes. They really brought a smile to my face to see all of the love and support I had after surgery. It means so much to me. It is so hard to believe I am now post-op. I really did it. I really did something for myself without letting fear rule. I have goose bumps right now as this is such a huge step for me. Not to mention I wasn’t even nervous. Day of surgery I was totally calm. I’m convinced this is something that God wanted as a part of my journey. He knows best. I am so grateful for the prayers as well as I know God was hugging me during my surgery. It was a great experience considering. Plus I had wonderful nurses at the hospital. Although they were constantly checking on me I know they were doing their job. I even got a card from them when I left the hospital, it was a nice touch.

Alright, I need to go sip and may even go to bed early. But just wanted to send out this as I said I would. All is well. Let the new journey begin…

P.S. Happy Father’s Day to all you Dad’s!

Shanda