Crossed Over Yeah!!

[Guest guest]

Hello Gang,

from Raleigh here.....I had my surgery on May 26th, sorry I did not

post sooner (sorry Missie). My sister Carol was visiting from the Boston

area and I wanted to spend time with her (she left yesterday).

Anyway, I wanted to share my surgery experience with you all. I checked in

Friday May 26th at 7:00am (surgery time was 1:00pm), I met Missie from

Lumberton and Darla from Charlotte (Hi Missie Hi Darla!). I was a little

nervous (allot nervous), but all the nurses were great in pre-surgery etc..

Each Medical professional introduced themselves and said what they doing.

I remember the Operating room how cold and how much metal and steel there

was. The last thing I remember saying to the nurse was 'How will you know

when I'm asleep?' She probably thought 'When you shut-up!'

I don't remember the recovery room at all. Later in my room, I was groggy

and

feeling weird and kinda awful. I had the 'dry heaves'. At one point, I

thought to

myself, 'what have I done?' My sister said I looked pale.....it took about

24 hours before I was feeling more myself again. Dr. Rutledge came in

Saturday morning to see how I was doing.....poor pitiful me, I said I was

feeling awful. He asked what was my pain level on a scale of 1-10, I said

probably a 6, he ask if I was using my Demerol pump, I said I misplaced the

pump

(he probably thought I was a ninny!). Anyway he said we'll see how you are

after noon. I remember thinking 'is he nuts? what difference will a couple

of hours make?' But he

was RIGHT, after lunch I DID feel much better, I couldn't believe it! Did

anyone else have a similar experience?

I checked out Sunday May 28th am. My sister said she though both Missie

and Darla checked out on Saturday May 27th? Is this true? I guess I was

the 'dawdler'!

I will go back to work this Tuesday June 6th, I could back on Monday, but

I'm getting my staples out on Monday and just decided one more day.

It took me about 5 days before I really felt good. I wanted to feel better

quickly so I

could show my sister some of the area. Carol did all the driving, we went

to Duke Gardens on Friday, we had a little picnic of yogurt and juice. We

went to see Mission Impossible II (great movie) at Raleigh Grande Theaters.

We also went out to two different restaurants, where I was the 'good dobbie'

and had my soup & jello. We ate at 'Sweet Tomatoes' Restaurant in Raleigh

where the two of us ate for the price of one! Carol had the salad/pasta and

I had French onion soup (yummy). I was all excited that they had orange

jello! Carol had the ice cream brownie sundae while I had my orange jello!

The greatest thing it was not difficult at all! I love this! Pre-op I

would have had to have that same brownie sundae, but I had NO DESIRE

whatsoever to have it! Since surgery I have had no cravings, no diet coke.

Pre-surgery I had to have my diet cokes and my various sugar-based products,

but post-op none, no desire, no cravings......I'm happy as a little clam!

THANK YOU Dr. Rutledge, for most of all giving me my hope back. Pre-op I

had no

hope of my life getting any better, now for the first time in almost 10

years I have hope for a better life! Just typing this is getting me

choked-up, I guess these are both happy and sad tears. Sad tears for all

the lost time for all the lost opportunities, but happy tears for the hope

of the future. Thank you Dr. Rutledge!!

Of course I know it is still very early, it's only been 10 days and that I

have a long way to go but I've already lost 16 lbs! It's a great start to a

new beginning!

That's about it, I hope I wasn't too lenghty. If anyone, esp. pre-ops want

to contact me, please feel free, I'd be happy to chat or answer any

questions/concerns etc.

To new beginnings.....

Shea

Raleigh

pre-op 303

today 287

waited since October for this wonderful surgery!