I am not sure what I imagined post surgery would feel or be like. The days at the hospital were not as bad as I thought. The First day (Wednesday), after surgery, I had this really awful and painful bubble just under my rib cage. That's the deal with laproscopic surgery... they pump your abdomen full of air so they can do their thing. And then they pump most of it out, but they can't get all of it. And, the pain meds help with the abdominal surgical pain, but that bubble can't really respond to pain meds. So, you just have to wait for it to go on it's merry way, which it did do. But in it's own, 2 day time frame. You celebrate burps, which give relief. Some people pass gas, but my body wasn't ready for that until Friday. (oops, TMI?)
The first day I was allowed no fluids my mouth. I can't explain to you how VERY dry your mouth can feel! I hated that. They have this weird mouth gel you can use that helps some. Eventually, I begged for ice chips and they let me have some. Those were the most wonderful gift ever!
They put these massage boot things on me... they apply pressure to your feet to increase circulation and prevent blood clots. I was also hooked up to an oxygen sensor on my finger and IV lines. That made getting up to walk every 4 hours more difficult, I sorta needed an assistant to get unhooked! It was also weird (and uncomfortable) that I couldn't pee. A prior blog entry touched on that, so I won't go into that again.
But, even when my Mom left around 8:30 the first night, I was feeling pretty alert and nearly myself. I'd gotten lots of off and on naps throughout the day. I was able to call a friend and chat awhile, which was nice. The nurses and techs helped me get up during the night. I used my CPAP at night which was great as it drowned out some background noise and gave me some normalcy since I use it nightly at home. The tech would come in to check vitals throughout the night, the nurse to administer pain meds. Since the pain meds were every four hours, I asked that we do the walks on the same schedule. I was able to do several walks around the corridor by then. I couldn't get back to sleep after my first walk, but after the catheter, was able to happily returned to dreamland.
I woke up early the next morning, and was taken down to the CAT Scan room. I was feeling pretty icky then. Had a headache (my nurse asked if I typically drank a lot of caffeine ... um, yep!) and was still really tired. But they have you stand in front of the machine and drink some bitter clear stuff and take pictures .... gotta make sure there were no leaks in my pouch! Once I cleared that at 8:30, then I could have clear liquids ONLY that day. Are you aware of how very awful diet jello at the hospital is. I have no idea how they screw that up, but it's NASTY. I mostly stuck to a little chicken broth and Raspberry Crystal Light.
That morning (Thursday), I did get to take a shower. BOY did that make ALL the difference! I felt like me again! Ben came not long after, and he took my walk with me. Then, I even managed to pee on my own. Hallelujah! I'd also straightened up my room some, though, so I needed a nice nap after all that activity! (-: Mid-day, we upped my walking schedule to every 2 hours, which I did without any problem. It felt great to get up and walk.
Thursday night, I was feeling pretty good. I had more stamina and a clear head. I probably could have been ok to go home that night, but the doctor has us all stay two nights. Did the same routine over night, though I got more sleep overall and was able to sleep until 8:30 on Friday morning. I got up, got showered, and got everything packed up. Ben came around 9:30. I was ready, he was ready, but, alas, no doctor to sign a release order. I did several extra corridor walks thinking it would help the time go by faster. Wasn't until 2:30 PM that the doc released me and the paperwork was done. We were so bored by then! But, I DID go home!
My home routine has typically sleeping pretty late (up around 10 or 11), getting up and figuring out what the menu allows for breakfast, and taking my vitamins. Usually go for a walk, then talk to Ben or come up with a "project" (Saturday I made a notebook for all my bariatric info), then rest for awhile, then figure out something to eat over the next half hour, then clean up the kitchen (Ben tries, and helps, but... ) then enjoy visitors or get out to a store. Then figure out something for dinner, then a little TV (I normally prefer quiet or reading), then blogging, then to bed. You know, with slight variations on the above. I hate that Ben works from 3:00-11:30, because that means I'm potentially alone most of my day. I LOVE visitors, even for quick visits.
Today I tried NO pain meds from 8AM - 3PM. And, well, that's a little premature. I was fine and not too uncomfortable, but I was also not up for doing much. I took some before the grocery store run with Mom this afternoon, and haven't had any since. Needed it for the car ride, which is typically bumpy and pain inducing. I've been doing half dose during the day and full doses at night. I think, instead, I'll do half dose at night, and more spread out half doses during the day tomorrow. I also got Tylenol, which I might switch to in a day or two. Narcotic free and able to drive if I want sounds good to me. I want to get a Pedicure.... and my car washed.
For tomorrow, since now on the new plan, I'm supposed to eat 5-6 smaller meals during the day, I might make up a chart for this next phase. I should get out and walk a little more, and drink more fluids. Charting should help me know what to do next. It doesn't seem like a lot to keep up with, and I have been jotting down what I eat, but it seems like it'll help me be more focused on doing things EXACTLY as the doctor ordered....
There you have it. All of my visitors very nicely say, "Wow, you don't LOOK like you just had surgery!". I have some moments where I don't feel great, and I'm certainly not up for lots of activity, but I'm doing very well, thanks!
PS Notice that I said I love visitors in the late afternoon and evenings.
Please call me at home first, but stop by if you're able!
"I used to be against Bariatric Surgery" post coming soon...
1 comment:
I love your posts. Keep them coming. Wish I could stop by for a visit. SOON!!
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