First Blog with an Altered Stomach

First and foremost, my surgery went very well and my recovery has been great too.   I didn't get much sleep on the night of November 21 but it wasn't because of nerves.  I was excited.    We had to report to registration at 5:30am which wasn't a problem.   I was the first one on the agenda for the day.    My surgery was delayed for a bit because someone had an emergency appendectomy and my anesthesiologist was used for the procedure.   A lot of the pre-surgery prep was the same that I went through with my scope on November 10.   I was happy the nurse was able to get my IV set on the first try.    I also got a sticker-like patch put behind one of my ears as it was to help with post-surgery nausea.   I can't remember what time they took me back, I think it was around 8:30am.   All I remember is laying back on the table and talking with the anesthesiologist.   He told me he put a little something into my IV and that it would burn and BAM I was out.    I woke up in a recovery area thankfully not in pain but feeling pretty sick to my stomach.    They treated me for a bit for that issue and I was eventually moved to my room on the fourth floor.  

The first day wasn't very eventful.   They had me up and walking pretty quickly which wasn't bad at all.   It was tiring but not painful.    I found out that having a catheter gives you the sensation that you constantly have to pee really bad.   When I was first making sense of things, I kept worrying I was going to pee the bed because of the sensation.    They had my on a lot of IV fluids so the pee collection process was consistent.   I wasn't sad to have the catheter removed on Wednesday.    I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything on Tuesday.   If my mouth got dry, I had to use a moistened sponge to wet it down and that was it.   I was given a button to deliver a narcotic when I felt I needed it.   I got props from my nurses because I wasn't using it much.    I was pretty impressed with the lack of pain.    It didn't feel great but my incisions were just generally sore, that's it.   I have five incisions on my chest and torso.   One is right at the bottom of my sternum and it was a site for my gallbladder removal too.   They made a pretty large incision using my belly button too (also used for my gallbladder).   The other three are between those two sites.   My steri strips  are starting to come off on their own too.    I only have two left.   My belly button has been a bit angry as I've stressed those sutures.

On Wednesday I started receiving meals.    I was also allowed to drink water.   The main tool was the little medicine cup you usually get with cough medicine.   I was supposed to try and drink a medicine cup of water every 15 minutes.   For each meal I was given a coffee cup of broth and a cup of gelatin.   I usually ate a spoonful or two of Jell-o and a few sips of broth.   Dan left on this day since he had to work but Gavin and Alissa were able to visit.     (The flowers are still alive!)    I basically relaxed, did some walking, read my book, etc.   My catheter was removed halleluiah.   And I was able to shower!
On Thursday Dan's mom and her husband came to visit.  I was actually surprised by this as I didn't know they were coming.   I was antsy at this point because I wanted to be discharged but had to wait until 2pm since that seems to be the magic time for the process to start.   The surgeon came and checked my incisions was happy with everything.    His residents had come and checked me the previous days.   They were finally able to take my IV out prior to being discharged.   It really hurt on Thursday.    They gave me my prescriptions and I was on my way Thursday.   I filled all my prescriptions but really didn't need to.   I haven't needed my narcotic or my nausea medicine.   I've been giving myself a shot each morning to prevent blood clots.  Despite not liking needles, the shots have been pretty simple to do and not painful.   I also have a prescription for omeprazole which is supposed to prevent stomach lining discomfort and heart burn.  

Today was the first post-surgery meeting with a dietician and I received good news about how my diet gets to progress week-by-week.  I get to add cottage cheese, eggs, and protein drinks this week.  Next week I get to add non-red meat and hummus.    It will be nice to have texture again in foods.   I also start a portion of my vitamin regimen this week too.   I take a chewable multivitamin in the morning and another at night.    I also take calcium citrate three times a day (morning, lunch, and evening).   At week six I will add B12 in the evening (a drop under my tongue) and an iron pill right before bed.   It has to be separated from calcium citrate.

I think that's enough of an update.   I've been meaning to blog for days but I've still been in a mental fog.   Anesthesia totally messes with your brain as well as your lungs.   I finally felt pretty normal today at work but still get winded easily.