Turn your face to the sun..... - Page 4 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

ragazzarosa · 06-30-2009, 05:53 PM

Thinking of you today! Let us know when you come through...

jennylynn · 07-01-2009, 06:26 PM

You and I sound just alike. Youngest of 3, mom and I bud's, ate together to be merry :-) I almost started to cry!

I'm having surgery next week and know exactly the excitement and fear you're experiencing!

Good luck to you and I look forward to hearing more

NorCalRN · 07-03-2009, 12:16 AM

You ladies are all just too awesome for words!

I'm here, on the loser's side and finally able to communicate reasonably well. Please excuse the typos though....

We got up at 4am Tues, drove the 1 hour & 15 mins to the hospital, check in and then proceeded to sit and wait. My surgery was 3 hours late. So I started out quite nervous and scared, but towards the end of that 3 hour delay- I just want to go home....

But they came to get me, walked me into the OR, I met with my surgeon, anesthesia (he looked like that Arthur mouse characted, or a gay Eastern-European.) LOL. Anyways, they walked me in the OR, I sat up on the table, they started strapping me in and then the light went out.

Next I remember, I was in recovery and Horribly, Extremely, Uncontrollably nauseous. I was given so many drugs in PACU.... finally they wheeled me out to my room and I was so thankful that my bf was there. He put his hand on my head and my arm and that was a major reassurance for me. So for all of Tuesday and into early Wednesday morning- I was uncontrollably dry-heaving and sometimes would throw up big chunks of blood.... My surgeon came in to see me Tuesday night, and thankfully ordered round the clock anti-emetic drugs for me. I finally got some good rest in between bathroom breaks, meds, walking the halls and having fluids pushed at me. Whew.

I feel like my stomach has been kicked in a few times. I'm guessing the pain would be a bit less if it were not for all the vomiting. But, I never once needed my PCA for pain (did not really want to experience the Morphine, or any of it's side effects either). The nausea was my worst expereince.

Anyways, he sent me home last night around 8:30pm. We got home, I stripped and fell into bed. And then proceeded to be up about every hour to pee, and attempt to dry heave some more.

I think it was around 7am I finally kicked my honey out of bed to go get my prescriptions filled so I could end the nausea and dry heaves.

So. Drugs are good. Boyfriends are also good. I've already lost about 8 lbs since surgery. I'm sure it's all water weight since I haven't been able to drink much... but I can feel a difference in my Pannus. It is hanging lower, and this it is more painful to walk around. I find I have having to hold my belly up when I am walking.

Last note- I find it excruciatingly painful to drink super small sips. It seems like maybe there is gas in my new stomach that is competing for the space or something.... After some of the gas is burped up- I don't have as much pain with drinking- just discomfort. Any stories or advice in that arena would be so apprecaited!

Thanks so much to all of you- oh and i did get pics of my stomach, as well as before pics and some of my Lap sites. I'll try and post some of that tomorrow.

Phoenixfire · 07-03-2009, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCalRN

I have to say- I am SOO dang inspired by all you ladies and gents who have traveled this road before me!! I'm seeing all these numbers and I am floored! I have so much to look forward to, and you all are proving it can be done!

Welcome to the best site on the net for support and education about WLS.

Just want to invite you to check out my stats and such, since you're finding hope and encouragement by seeing us success stories. I'm 7 years post RNY, and it was the best decision I ever made. I lost all my weight quickly, and I've maintained my healthy eating habits and all of my weight loss since hitting goal. Cheers to you doing the same!

Vikkator · 07-03-2009, 06:34 AM

Welcome to the losers bench. I have some post-op words of advice:

Take your pain meds, at least for the first week. It helps you to feel better faster so you can move around with less discomfort. It also helps you sleep.

Walk whenever you can. You might feel like crap, but believe me, just get up out of bed and walk around the house, go outside or just a short walk around the yard. You'll heal faster and feel better.

Don't push it. If you're tired, rest and sleep. Surgery can take a lot out of you. Listen to your body.

I'm surprised they didn't give you nausea meds right away. I have problems with anesthesia and morphine and warned them ahead of time. The nausea and pain meds were in me before I woke up. To others out there who are pre-op, you might want to discuss any concerns you might have with pain/nausea with your doc prior to surgery.

foxyfuzz · 07-03-2009, 10:18 AM

Welcome to the other side!! You will start to slowly feel better.

As mentioned above, take your meds, sip and walk as much as you can.

You are doing great!

NorCalRN · 07-03-2009, 11:09 AM

Well,

I've never had real anesthesia before.... and as soon as I was semi-conscious I was screaming for anti-nausea meds. I got plenty, I know. They just weren't working so well. I took zero pain meds until they started want to push me taking liquids- so I had a dose of liquid vicodin after an IV dose of Compazine... after that I could sip a little more comfortably.

It still hurt SO bad when I drink, but I think I've figured out that there is gas in my tummy and there just isn't room for gas and fluids- so burping helps a bit. Now that I am home, I am alternating meds. He gave me a ton. I have used the liquid vicodin twice, the compazine I am taking every 6 hours automatically because I am so tired of dry-heaving. Then he also gave me Tramadol, Ativan, Reglan and a scopolimine (sp) patch behind my ear for the nausea. So I'm pretty well drugged. I've been sleeping pretty non stop, just get up every couple hours to pee, walk and sip. Then I am soooo drowsy I go back to bed. Sorry for all my typos... this is a tired moment.

SO for now- I just wish I had a "belly-binder" to help me hold up my belly skin. I got on the scale last night because my body shape feels different- In two days I've lost almost 10 lbs. I know it's just about all water weight, but still. My belly fat hangs very uncomfortably low... wah.

Last night was the first night I felt coherent enough to come online and write a note. I just don't have a lot of energy... haven't even talked to my mom on the phone yet. Guess I should do that huh?

Alright, well thanks again for al the kinds words and encouragement. I'm taking all your advice to heart!

oh-p.s. I dreamed of food 2 nights ago. All juciy chunks 0f food. And when I woke up I almost cried when I realized "I can't eat!" Kinda funny now though. I fully intend to follow Dr's orders for everything and not screw up this amazing chance to lose as much as possible in these first few months!

NorCalRN · 07-05-2009, 01:39 AM

Well, apparently Food Dreams are going to be around for awhile. And again- I apologize for all my typos, I need to cut my fingernails. lol.

So last night I dreamt of eating a Twix Bar. (my FAVORITE!). And all day today I was fantasizing about a melty toasted cheese sandwich. And cinnamon toast. LOL. But in the end, I've been very good and I am proud of myself. I got in 65 g protein and about 50+ oz of fluids. I think thats pretty darn good when after surgery I could barely sip at all!

No more dry-heaves, thank goodness. However I have had 2 instances where I have had a protein shake... then get a super pounding heart rate that I FEEL, like my heart is gonna jump out of my chest. This has happened twice, and it is a bit scary. Weird feeling. It has been an adjustment to drink slow sips, as I used to be a huge fluid Gulper. But I'm getting better, and able to take it a little more fluid here and there.

Been getting some good walking in. Yesterday we went to see my Horse (I miss him!), then today we went to see the movie Public Enemies, which required walking the entire length of the mall.... Then tonight, as all the fireworks were going off, we took our dogs out for a nice long walk. I wanted to make sure our puppy would not freak with fireworks. And they were both oblivious, so that was good. The walk outside made me really realize how out of it I am, and how slow I still need to take it. Still having a hard time taking deep breaths- it hurts!

Alright, well that's about it for now. I just got a bunch of self-help books about post WLS from Amazon, and I've decided to look into a Therapist as well for this journey. I have a feeling there are many reasons behind my weight that I would like to heal, you know? And do it the right way. So yah.

Happy 4th of July everyone! Thanks to all the Men and Women Soldiers who've given us this day, this freedom and this independence! God Bless!

NorCalRN · 07-06-2009, 08:29 PM

Oh man, I did so well on this liquid diet over the weekend, and now it just seems to be torturing me! Everything I try to drink is causing me SO MUCH pain! My dietitian said to slow down.... That is so hard. I'm a gulper.

My Isopure drinks feel like they get "stuck" and then it hurts, hurts, HURTS! I had some chicken broth today and that was alright, but NOTHING tastes good. I know today I am only about 1/2 way with my fluids, and about 2/3 with Protein, but I just wanna quit. I've been sleeping all day today, just feeling crappy. And definitely on my own whiny wagon about why the hell I had to mangle my insides just in order to be normal as my bf eats 2 cheeseburgers fresh off the grill and some yummy chinese chicken salad and I am sooooo hoping the next week of this liquid diet thing goes quickly cuz I want something REAL to eat. Wah.

poet_kelly · 07-06-2009, 10:21 PM

The liquid diet will be over quickly, I promise. You've come this far, you can make it a little longer. I had the same issue with it hurting to drink, and the only thing I found was that I had to take very, very tiny sips with long breaks in between sips. I'm 8 months out now, by the way, and I can't gulp, but I can take pretty regular swallows now. Do try and get all your fluids in, because if you get a little dehydrated, that can make the nausea worse.

Welcome to the loser's bench!

Kelly