Tuesday-Thursday Sept. 2-4th
These days all seemed pretty similar.....liquid diet of chicken broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jell-o and protein shakes. I struggled to get out of bed on my own. Kevin had to help me up each morning before he left for work. Mom came to help me on Tuesday and Wednesday. Abbie came on Thursday. Their jobs consisted of helping me move the laptop when I need it on me, helping fetch me things and helping me if I needed assistance using the restroom. AGAIN, I don't know where I'd be without them. I cannot thank them enough; and my lifetime indebtedness to them I'll never be able to repay.
Each day seemed like I got a little stronger; but there is definitely one side of me that remains very sore and painful, as if the slightest movement pulls on the internal and external incisions/binding, etc. I have trouble standing for very long, twisting my mid section or reaching and bending. I tend to walk holding the sore side more.
I've been very tired, in part due to the lack of nutrition and the shock of all this to my metabolism, which the doctor says is normal. And also waking when Kevin leaves for work has made me tired during the day, too. Each day gets a little easier.
Tuesday and Wednesday Mom and I just chilled around the house: talking, watching HGTV, etc. The days were probably boring as hell for her; but they passed pretty quickly for me.
Thursday, Abbie stayed with me. We did much of the same talked, read magazines, etc to pass the time. My dear friend, Henry Peer came by for a nice visit between sales calls he was making that day. He had me laughing, right off the bat. Damn, it hurt to laugh; but he said I should expect nothing less from him. We visited for a couple of hours; and then he had to set off for a 2 pm appointment. Our conversation was quite stimulating with him talking more about his work in the field of medicine and what exactly he does. Abbie learned more about him; and I was just fascinated. His visit was good laughs and good medicine. Again, I am BLESSED to have great friends and family.
I managed to go without pain meds most all of Tuesday except for at bedtime. Wednesday I broke down and took some in the afternoon. Thursday I did well until bedtime again.
Overall I seemed to do okay with the week one diet of liquids but I was MORE than ready to progress to the week two plan if the doctor would bless me.
I did have one small episode of constipation. I told you I wasn't sugarcoating or eliminating the "private details". This is to help anyone who considers a similar path, remember. For the most part I was starting to be able to wipe my own bum. But then, after the one hour quest to poop, I decided to take a stool softener. The label said to take 1-3. I landed in the middle and took two. So after Kevin fed me my chicken broth and popsicle for dinner (while I watched him eating tamales from a can smothered in cheese.....and proceeded to DROOL), I needed to use the restroom. I had a soft stool and needed assistance in cleaning myself afterward. Kevin to the rescue. Men, know that when you say I do, it will me ALL kinds of crazy shit for your spouse in their time of need. Fortunately for me, I have a husband who make me laugh. So as he's doing the dirty job of wiping my bum, he blurts out, "it's like wiping Fox's ass on steroids!". I proceeded to BUST up laughing. Laughing is painful. I am so thankful that he can keep moments like that light, though. I needed that, even if it was a slam, it was FUNNY. After that we went to bed!!!! Too much fun for one day.
I've been showered in love and gifts. Below is a beautiful candle I got from Daniela, Steffen, Noah and Lara. And below that are flowers from Abbie and Jaimey that came with a Schnucks gift card (to help me with the new foods I'll need to be buying). Awesome heartfelt gifts.
Friday-September 5th ONE WEEK FOLLOW UP with the DOCTOR
Today, since I was able to get myself up our of bed now, I stayed in bed when Kevin went to work. I fell back asleep but woke when my mom rang the doorbell. She came to help me but also accompany me to my one week follow up at the doctor's.
My appointment was at 1 pm but they called and asked me to come in sooner. We agreed on 12:20 pm. I was in the shower when they phoned; but called them back.
Showers take a lot out of me. I take them; but skip shaving and do the basics since surgery. But today, I had to shower, wash my hair AND shave since I had to leave the house. This proved to be challenging; and it took every ounce of energy I had. I was WIPED out when I got out of the shower. So I layed down for 15 minutes to catch my breath. I was sore from bending and such even though I do have a chair in my shower. Then I forced myself to get up, brush my teeth, do my hair and get dressed. Again, it wiped me out; but I had to get to the doctors. Mom drove me down to Des Peres to the appointment. So far I hadn't had anything to eat and no pain meds.
I've never gotten in and out of Dr. Scott's office so fast. He was caught up in surgeries all day; so I saw Lily instead. First I stepped on the scale and had my BP taken. I was surprised to discover that I had lost TWENTY THREE pounds since my starting weight of 356 (which is considered my weight when I began seeing the doc) and 16 lbs since my last appointment. But I was more excited to see my mom's face. She was happy for me. Needless to say, I am thrilled, as well.
Lily said the incisions looked "beautiful". NOT exactly how I'd describe them; but I'll take the compliment. No infections or anything of concern there. And the BEST part is, she said I was able to progress to the next level/week in my plan. This means I can introduce additional foods to my eating plan. They call it FULL LIQUID stage or Week 2 Post Op. Aside from the things I was allowed to have last week: protein shakes, broths, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jell-O and tea....I can now ALSO have sugar free pudding, grits, cream of wheat, blended soups (lentil, black bean, vegetable, etc), greek yogurt with no fruit (plain vanilla or <9g sugar), thin oatmeal, vegetable juice, thin unsweetened applesauce, sugar free hot chocolate and sugar free fudgcicles. Can you hear the angels singing? I can!!! Oh the little things I celebrate now.
First thing I had when we got home from the doctor's was cream of wheat and a fudgesicle. It was nice to actually enjoy a quasi meal. I felt satisfied with it (no hunger pangs). I am to start taking my bariatric vitamins daily now and B12 nasal spray weekly. I take Iron, Calcium with Citrate and a Multi Vitamin, all chewable (eww) plus the B12 spray. That should be all I need to supplement my diet moving forward.
Every week on Friday, if I have done well with that week's diet, I am allowed to progress to the next week/level. Next week I look forward to adding eggs, Natural nut butters (no sugar or oil added), soft baked fish (cod, tilapia), mashed potatoes, low fat soft cheese (cottage, string or sliced), canned vegetables, canned fruit in their own juice and banana. At least each week I have something to look very forward to. I can live a week on each new option.
Tonight we have Noah overnight (my "adopted" son who chose me as his 2nd mom) and Fox for the weekend. My friends Kelli and Brett are coming over to visit us after dinner. It will be nice. Kevin is going to make tacos for the boys. My mom was kind enough to make some sugar-free pistachio pudding before she left. So I plan on having that and some Grits for dinner and possibly a fudgesicle. I may have some protein shake, too just to make sure I've gotten some protein in today. I didn't have breakfast.
I'll keep you posted on what the next week brings; but I'm hoping it will bring me more strength, less pain and the ability to get out of the house for an hour here or there.
I plan on returning to work on September 15th, barring any complications. I need to call the doctor Monday and make sure they will have the paperwork read for my return to work on the 15th.
Other than that, I'm following doctor's instruction by the book and so far it seems to be working well.
Still being surprised with visits and flowers, below is a pic of the flowers I got from good friends, Kelli and Brett Eckman and family.
As for my saga, well........To be continued..............
Lori,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy with your progress. So glad that things are going along so well. Happy to hear about the weight loss, but focus on how you clothes are fitting, that really tells the tale.
Keep up the good job andf it won't be long before you will be shopping for new wardrobe items.
Linda