Guest guest Posted February 9, 2004 Report Share Posted February 9, 2004 Hello All! I got home from surgery today. There were some complications so I stayed a few extra days - 6 total. It feels so good to be in my home and in my own environment. I had a whirlwind of thoughts, feelings and emotions throughout this experience. As I waited in pre-op I asked the nurse if I could change my mind and she said I could. But I knew this wouldn't get easier by postponing the date. It's a scary thing for anyone going through major abdominal surgery. I wasn't suprised to see they had a box of Kleenex in each room...I'm sure they have seen many people cry as they entered the unknown. Even though this has been physically and emotionally difficult, I am not sorry. I know that my body was not going to allow itself to be normal weight on its own, no matter how hard I worked on it. I feel thankful that there is a tool such as this that will help improve my overall health. I have been crying everyday several times, but try to sit with my emotions and let them happen. I seem to be tolerating almost the same amount of fluid I was drinking pre-op, which surprises me. But I am sipping throughout the day rather than having it for planned meals so its spread out. I'm drinking my Carnation Instant Breakfast/Protein Mix, lots of water and have had sugar free Jell-O, popcicles and bouillon. I started my vitamins - Flinstone Chewables without any ill effects. And I don't think I will need any pain meds. But I will get some to have on hand. I have been so fortunate to have supportive friends visit me to help me process through my experience. And a special thank you to my Angel, LORI who has been an extraordinary friend. Today she stopped at the store to pick up what I needed. We spend many hours on the phone over the past 2 weeks, she spend 7 hours at the hospital with my family, and today we met for the first time. We are aware of meeting each other about 15 years ago, but those memories were faint. I don't think anyone can totally emotionally prepare themselves for this journey. The depth of the experience comes only when you are living it. I can learn from others who have had the surgery, listen to my educators at the hospital and read anything I can get my hands on. But the physical and emotional aspects are ours alone each with their own uniqueness. I have a vision of my life transforming in drastic ways that I can only dream about now. I am looking forward to the journey. And I don't mean just the aspect of losing weight. I am already growing as a human being and get excited about what is over the next horizon. Honestly, when I was in the hospital I felt so much pain I didn't know how I was going to get through it. I felt so out of control with tubes and IV's all over my body and depending on nurses to take care of me. It's a helpless feeling. But these 6 days have had it's own individual journey. I started with being demanding and feeling that all nurses were inadequate to understanding that they were there for me. I cried with a nurse as I left to apologize to her. Even tho she didn't see that in me, I needed to say it for myself. To admit when I have wronged someone. This is actually a journal entry for myself. Thank you for listening! Patti T. SMDC, Duluth, MN Dr. Jon Krook Lap RNY 2/3/2004 308/140 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2004 Report Share Posted February 9, 2004 Hello All! I got home from surgery today. There were some complications so I stayed a few extra days - 6 total. It feels so good to be in my home and in my own environment. I had a whirlwind of thoughts, feelings and emotions throughout this experience. As I waited in pre-op I asked the nurse if I could change my mind and she said I could. But I knew this wouldn't get easier by postponing the date. It's a scary thing for anyone going through major abdominal surgery. I wasn't suprised to see they had a box of Kleenex in each room...I'm sure they have seen many people cry as they entered the unknown. Even though this has been physically and emotionally difficult, I am not sorry. I know that my body was not going to allow itself to be normal weight on its own, no matter how hard I worked on it. I feel thankful that there is a tool such as this that will help improve my overall health. I have been crying everyday several times, but try to sit with my emotions and let them happen. I seem to be tolerating almost the same amount of fluid I was drinking pre-op, which surprises me. But I am sipping throughout the day rather than having it for planned meals so its spread out. I'm drinking my Carnation Instant Breakfast/Protein Mix, lots of water and have had sugar free Jell-O, popcicles and bouillon. I started my vitamins - Flinstone Chewables without any ill effects. And I don't think I will need any pain meds. But I will get some to have on hand. I have been so fortunate to have supportive friends visit me to help me process through my experience. And a special thank you to my Angel, LORI who has been an extraordinary friend. Today she stopped at the store to pick up what I needed. We spend many hours on the phone over the past 2 weeks, she spend 7 hours at the hospital with my family, and today we met for the first time. We are aware of meeting each other about 15 years ago, but those memories were faint. I don't think anyone can totally emotionally prepare themselves for this journey. The depth of the experience comes only when you are living it. I can learn from others who have had the surgery, listen to my educators at the hospital and read anything I can get my hands on. But the physical and emotional aspects are ours alone each with their own uniqueness. I have a vision of my life transforming in drastic ways that I can only dream about now. I am looking forward to the journey. And I don't mean just the aspect of losing weight. I am already growing as a human being and get excited about what is over the next horizon. Honestly, when I was in the hospital I felt so much pain I didn't know how I was going to get through it. I felt so out of control with tubes and IV's all over my body and depending on nurses to take care of me. It's a helpless feeling. But these 6 days have had it's own individual journey. I started with being demanding and feeling that all nurses were inadequate to understanding that they were there for me. I cried with a nurse as I left to apologize to her. Even tho she didn't see that in me, I needed to say it for myself. To admit when I have wronged someone. This is actually a journal entry for myself. Thank you for listening! Patti T. SMDC, Duluth, MN Dr. Jon Krook Lap RNY 2/3/2004 308/140 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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