My Experience (Long)

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone!!!

Yes I am alive!!! I just returned from Durham on Monday and was so

exhausted I went to bed early. I actually went to work yesterday and

all went well. I also saw my PCP today, got my staples taken

out........and have lost 10 lbs in 6 days. I'm learning that I need

to eat more often so I can have energy. I was so scared to eat while

I was in Durham, but am learning as I go. I am eating broth soups,

tomato soup, yogurt, saltine crackers and sipping on Gatorade.

My surgery was on 11/8 and took approximately 25 minutes. I had " dry

heaves " for hours and finally the last shot (#3) took those away. I

only used the pain pump twice, but didn't really do much walking

around right after surgery. I tried to walk around 10:00 or so that

night, but got dizzy and the dry heaves returned. I decided to just

rest and try walking in the morning. I slept well that night and by

7:00 a.m. I was cruising the 5th floor.

I want to tell all of the pre-ops that not everyone is up and going

right after the surgery. All of the emails I saw from post ops were

saying that they were walking at the mall, the fair, etc. right after

surgery, and that is what I expected to be able to do. I thought

because I could not get up and walk around, go to the mall, etc. that

there was something wrong with me. I experienced back pain and I

could barely stand for a few minutes. I called Dr. R and we talked

for a while and I realized that I was just someone who needed to

rest. I also figured that my back pain was a result of lying

on the operating table, laying in the uncomfortable hospital bed, and

also sleeping on the hotel bed which was totally uncomfortable. I

wish that the post ops who had the experience I did of no energy and

not being able to get up and around as quickly as some would have

posted their experiences so we all could have a well rounded " visual "

of what happens after surgery. A couple of my littermates were also

as tired as I was so I knew then that I wasn't alone. On day 4 I was

actually able to get up and go to the movies with my husband and

(from CA).

I was so lucky to have Rikki in the hospital with me. Of course, I

told her that if she continued to make me laugh I would have to stop

visiting her........thought my staples were going to burst......LOL.

Gwen and Glo also visited me in the hospital. I was coming alive at

that time.....LOL and Glo assured me that by 10pm or 11pm I would be

feeling better and she was right. Glo looks great and is full of

energy. I talked to Gwen for a while she is such a sweetheart. I

felt so bad because I knew I was drifting in and out, but she

understood. My prayers are with her that she will be able to have

her surgery very soon. I wish I could be there in Durham for her to

give her the support that she gave to me and everyone else.

I also met Trudy (Judy stood me up and left to go home) LOL. I am so

glad I met Trudy and her husband. I even saw Trudy with her teeth!!!

LOL I felt like I knew her forever!!

I also got to meet Jenn and Cat. Jenn gave me so much information and

helped me out a lot on my way to Durham. I was so glad to be in

clinic with her when she learned that she had lost 14 lbs.......it

was a great moment and I am so proud of her.

I met Lara and she (and her husband and mother) are such wonderful

people. I was very lucky to have her as a littermate and wish her

the best of luck.

I also met Doris and her husband. Doris is 1 year post-op, down 94

lbs and looks wonderful. Her husband gave my husband a lot of tips

on how to help me in my new transition of eating. They are 2

wonderful people.

And then there was from CA (Sperb) and Debbie from CO (and

Debbie's mom) who were my littermates and stayed at the same hotel as

me. We were such a support for eachother and I don't know what I

would have done without them.

Sorry that this is so long, but this is an experience of a lifetime.

Everyone feels like family and I feel very close to you all. My

husband was surprised to see how close I felt to everyone when we

went to lunch. It was like we were all old friends just getting

together to chat.

I will post as often as I can. I have been glued to this computer

for the last three months......LOL and I came home to 1000

emails.......YIKES!!!

Talk to you all real soon.

Love,

Christy

California POST-OP

MGB 11-8-00

DOWN 10 lbs!!!