I am doing really well. The chiropractor fixed my neck, so that was a big deal. I forget my Tylenol often, so my pain level is really low. I've been out and about a bit. My biggest thing is my doctor has me on clear liquids until day 15. That has been the hard part right now. I am getting less than 500 calories a day. I'm not necessarily hungry, but I have low energy and feel empty. Every doctor is different. It's been hard getting on support forums and seeing that a lot of people are already doing purees. I won't hit purees for over 3 weeks. I am completely looking forward to it.
For my doctor, clear liquids means broth, water, sugar popsicles, and protein powder mixed with water. This surgery means lots of protein powders. Before surgery, I heard a lot of people having problems finding protein powders they like. I thought how great it was that I was already using powders I like. What I didn't realize is that chocolate and vanilla get very boring after awhile. I bought some sugar free Torani syrups to help mix it up, but it is very different gulping down a protein shake versus having to sip on it for awhile. Finally this week I found a brand that has fruit flavors like lemonade, peach, etc. They are Nectar by Syntrax. They have been a life saver.
I have been finding that my blood sugars are getting higher each day. I'm currently not taking any medicine because most people see their sugars drop when they aren't eating any carbs. My surgeon said she hadn't seen this before. What I learned from trying to lower my a1c pre-op suggests that my body needs some carbs to process in order to produce enough insulin. I've contacted my endocrinologist to help me decide on some medicine until I start full liquids. We will see what happens from there. Regardless, I am confident that this surgery will improve my health and possibly cure my diabetes.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Post op
When I was pregnant with my first child, the birthing coach had us watch birthing videos. There was one where the woman had an orgasmic birth. This is exactly what it sounds like it would be. She had no pain, no pain meds, and really seemed to enjoy her experience. Even though I knew it was unrealistic, I thought, "That's what I want!" Of course, I had the more traditional birth experience, pain even with pain meds and it wasn't quite as enjoyable until I got to see the baby. Luckily for the population, pain fades and I even went on to have a second child.
You would have thought I would have learned from this experience, but frankly, I'm not that smart. When I was looking into having my surgery, I was totally believing the stories where the people had surgery on Friday and were ready to go back to work on Monday. I had one guy tell me he was at the gym on day 4! I am not trying to scare people off, but I was completely unprepared for my level of pain.
Surgery - Day one:
I got to the hospital super early and was looking forward to the calming juice I was supposed to get in my IV. The anesthesiologist told me that I had to be coherent to talk to the surgeon. By the time I talked to the surgeon, everything went super fast and no calming juice for me.
After surgery was a blur. Everything went well, but my hernia repair was more extensive than they thought, so surgery time was double. That first night was awesome. My dream had come true. There was so very little pain. Why hadn't I done this sooner?
Post op - Day one - All was well until the nurses told me that they were switching off my pain pump and switching me to oral medicine instead of IV. I wasn't really concerned. I was a model patient. I had even been up and walking several times. By that afternoon, reality set in. I really think most of my pain was due to the gas they had pumped into me to expand my belly. I never knew gas pain could be so bad that the thought of dying wasn't scary. I really had to think about my kids to want to keep going on. I only broke down and cried once, but I think that was just because I was so focused on the pain that I had no energy to cry.
Post op - Day 2 - The nurses kept telling me that this was going home day. I knew better, though. There was no way my surgeon would send me home when she saw my pain level. Of course, I was wrong again. The doctor told me how great I was progressing. I figured she was lying since I wasn't at the hospital she had her practice at and didn't want to make the trip on a work day. When I started questioning why I had done this to myself, one of the nurses reminded me that I would have eventually had to do the hernia repair anyway.
The first night at home was hard. I ended up taking myself off the Vicodin and switching to Tylenol. I know Vicodin slows your bowels so I figured it wasn't helping my gas pain.
Day 3 - I took out my pain pump they put it my belly. My ab muscles started hurting like I was stabbed 6 times in the gut. Oh yeah, I was! I also had this horrible kink in my neck giving me a migraine. Maybe they positioned me weird?
Day 4 - Today has been much better. I feel human again. I've taken several walks outside. Short ones of course. I am even alone for a couple of hours. My husband is only 5 minutes away. I've gone to the bathroom by myself and have had bowel movements. I still have pain in my neck and abs, but I am using arnica gel and heating pads. I've gotten all my protein drinks in and most of my water. Finally, today, I may tell you that the process wasn't too bad. Thank God our memory of pain fades and thank you all for your prayers and support. It really got me through the worst of it.
You would have thought I would have learned from this experience, but frankly, I'm not that smart. When I was looking into having my surgery, I was totally believing the stories where the people had surgery on Friday and were ready to go back to work on Monday. I had one guy tell me he was at the gym on day 4! I am not trying to scare people off, but I was completely unprepared for my level of pain.
Surgery - Day one:
I got to the hospital super early and was looking forward to the calming juice I was supposed to get in my IV. The anesthesiologist told me that I had to be coherent to talk to the surgeon. By the time I talked to the surgeon, everything went super fast and no calming juice for me.
After surgery was a blur. Everything went well, but my hernia repair was more extensive than they thought, so surgery time was double. That first night was awesome. My dream had come true. There was so very little pain. Why hadn't I done this sooner?
Post op - Day one - All was well until the nurses told me that they were switching off my pain pump and switching me to oral medicine instead of IV. I wasn't really concerned. I was a model patient. I had even been up and walking several times. By that afternoon, reality set in. I really think most of my pain was due to the gas they had pumped into me to expand my belly. I never knew gas pain could be so bad that the thought of dying wasn't scary. I really had to think about my kids to want to keep going on. I only broke down and cried once, but I think that was just because I was so focused on the pain that I had no energy to cry.
Post op - Day 2 - The nurses kept telling me that this was going home day. I knew better, though. There was no way my surgeon would send me home when she saw my pain level. Of course, I was wrong again. The doctor told me how great I was progressing. I figured she was lying since I wasn't at the hospital she had her practice at and didn't want to make the trip on a work day. When I started questioning why I had done this to myself, one of the nurses reminded me that I would have eventually had to do the hernia repair anyway.
The first night at home was hard. I ended up taking myself off the Vicodin and switching to Tylenol. I know Vicodin slows your bowels so I figured it wasn't helping my gas pain.
Day 3 - I took out my pain pump they put it my belly. My ab muscles started hurting like I was stabbed 6 times in the gut. Oh yeah, I was! I also had this horrible kink in my neck giving me a migraine. Maybe they positioned me weird?
Day 4 - Today has been much better. I feel human again. I've taken several walks outside. Short ones of course. I am even alone for a couple of hours. My husband is only 5 minutes away. I've gone to the bathroom by myself and have had bowel movements. I still have pain in my neck and abs, but I am using arnica gel and heating pads. I've gotten all my protein drinks in and most of my water. Finally, today, I may tell you that the process wasn't too bad. Thank God our memory of pain fades and thank you all for your prayers and support. It really got me through the worst of it.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
One Day Pre-op
Surgery is tomorrow morning and some nerves have crept in. Nothing serious, just a tiny bit of, "What in the heck am I doing!". I would hope it would be natural to feel that before any major elective surgery. I have reminded myself that although the next two months will be difficult, I need to remember the long term goal. The fact is, I've done EVERYTHING I can to lose this weight. It's been effort after effort for all my adult life. I've done radical diets, major dietary changes, tons of exercise...I have lost weight only to regain when I stop being extreme. Even though I eat healthy and exercise, my blood sugars are creeping up. What a miracle it will be to cure my diabetes! There is a very good chance that today could be the last day I take diabetes medication. I know this is the solution for me to take the weight off, keep it off, and improve my health.
So the pooping juice hasn't been too bad. I would say that the clear liquids have been harder. I'm only allowed protein powder three times a day. The rest is broth, water, and sugar free popsicles. I am hungry, lethargic, and have a headache. It is completely bearable. I have pre-op at the hospital today and surgery first thing in the morning.
So the pooping juice hasn't been too bad. I would say that the clear liquids have been harder. I'm only allowed protein powder three times a day. The rest is broth, water, and sugar free popsicles. I am hungry, lethargic, and have a headache. It is completely bearable. I have pre-op at the hospital today and surgery first thing in the morning.
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