May 5th was the big day. I spent the night before crying and wondering if I was making the right decision. We hit the surgery center about 8:30 and I was wheeled back by 10:30. The next thing I remember was the intense pain just under my breast bone. The nurses said "everyone has buyers remorse at this point."
I got up and walked and slept. Ate ice chips, walked again and slept some more.
They gave me dilaudid for pain, which I am fairly certain made things worse. I can't handle that level of pain medicine.
Then they pumped me full of IV fluids that contained dextrose, so my blood sugar was 245. They gave me an insulin shot and switched the IV fluids to something else. They monitored overnight and it wasn't back to a normal until late morning the following day.
Once the dilaudid wore off, and the blood sugar was down, I felt fine. Pain level at a 2-3.
May 6th in addition to walking, I needed to drink 4-6 ounces of fluids per hour to get to go home. It was hard. With all the gas pumped into my abdomen to perform the surgery every sip of water elicited a burp to release this gas. Walking helped move the gas as well.
So this is what my tummy looked like on May 6th. The four purple looking spots are where the laparoscopic tools were inserted. The tubing is from an On-Q ball. it contained pain medicine and released continually. By Saturday the ball was empty and we removed the tubing at home.
I thought I was going to be able to do that myself. NOPE. Poor Karl had not choice but to pull the tubes out for me. (gulp)
Here is what the On-Q ball looks like. I had the bag hanging around my neck from Wednesday to Saturday. I was so glad to be rid of it!!
At home I spend most of my time sitting in the recliner dosing in and out of sleep. I wasn't in pain, but I was still tired.
Saturday I felt awful. I got my 2nd COVID shot on Friday so, I am not sure if feeling like crap was the surgery or the shot - most likely a combination of both. I was able to get water down. I COULD NOT drink the protein water I bought from my doctor. It was just GROSS.
Gatorade protein water was too sweet. I literally could stomach only water or broth. I watered down a protein shake to get my 15g of protein in a day.
Another week of clear liquids. Only no protein shakes. The protein water was not happening. I was able to get some protein powder that was flavorless and add it to some Gatorade, so I could get 15g in on Saturday. The book says "most patients have very little desire to eat." Well I don't know that I agree. I've been hungry for 2 weeks and I am ready to eat SOMETHING.
I didn't take measurements this week and although I did take pictures, I am not including them because I honestly think with the fluids and gas pumped in I appear larger. The nurse did say in the hospital sometimes people gain 5 pounds from all the fluids pumped in. The day after surgery I was up 3 pounds.
I weighed on Sunday and it looks like I've expelled the extra fluids and gas, or mostly.
So I started 4/24/2021 at 277.4 and as of 5/9/2021 I am down 13.8 pounds.
The liquid diet SUCKSSSSSS but it does jumpstart the weight loss.
Right now I am still hungry and want to eat. I am hoping at some point I can tolerate more than water to drink. I am literally counting down the hours until I can have something on the "full liquid" diet. And really 5/18/2021 I can start with canned tuna, canned chicken and mashed potatoes.
If anyone ever tell you this is the easy way out - tell them to F-off! Nothing about this has been easy.
Comments
Post a Comment