11 days PO - Looking for encouragement
(TL;DR at the end)
So surgery was last Monday, removing because of two mobile stones, and my health was already a wreck, so one last thing to worry about. I'm bariatric, RNY, so I was a tad nervous. But the doctor doing my procedure has been looking over me for 8 years, so he knows the ins and outs of me. He's a good man.
As far as I know, surgery went from 11:20 am to 1:30 pm. A bit longer than we were anticipating I guess. I struggled hard in what the nurses were calling the "Phase One Recovery". I don't remember anything aside from coming in and out. Nurse gave me fentanyl 3 times through IV, then tramadol, then Dilaudid. Pretty freakin heavy stuff. She wasn't impressed in the least that I was left with her in so much pain. When I finally started to come around, another two hours later, we talked about that, and yeah; I've always been a believer that you shouldn't chase the pain. Get ahead of it, and maintain, otherwise, you're just fighting nerves that are fried and over stressed.
So, eventually my husband got the call when I was deemed good to enter "Second Phase Recovery", where he was allowed to join me, though I was very out of it. There, pain wasn't managed well, but to be fair, my nurse was covering so many patients on his cart, and I used to work in a hospital a couple years ago, so I get it. Tried to be as patient as I could, but it was rough. They finally felt I was ready to be discharged, got my papers and a prescription for hydromorphone (dilaudid 1mg), and advil and Tylenol. And got loaded into the car to head back home, which was 1.5 hours in northern Ontario. Husband was a great support, and honestly, not his first, second, or third rodeo; he's well seasoned in tending to me, that's for sure. Haha.
Now, just wanted to give some context. And here's where I'm just like.....wtf. first 3 days, rough. I've got 4 kids who like to be glued to me. Lol And I'm horrible at resting. Did groceries on the next day like an idiot. 😅 3rd day I finally caved and just spent the whole day in bed, staying hydrated, stool softeners (narcotics amirite), eating. Getting up to walk around, blood clots suck. And it was a good excuse to break up the monotony of staying in bed.
My pain continued, and it's not really improving? Again, I take blame for that one, but I'm also a little worried considering how many days out I am. I'm sick with a dictionary of BS; been sick for the last 2 years. So a low grade fever could be from literally anything, from heart, to a possible brain tumor, to my lungs. Like, seriously. Wtf.
Pain is managed today, but unlike yesterday, I'm feeling bloated today, and looking like I'm pregnant. Been taking gasX to help with that, bracing myself from coughing, blowing my nose, to... yknow, bowl movements.
I was 179 before this surgery. I have a history of ED. Took a lot to get there, and was so happy. My unexpected son caused a ton of weight gain (like, a startling 50lbs. I was sick, and he was almost back to back with my daughter. Oh boy), but I somehow finally got myself down to 179. He's almost 3. So yeah. I stepped on the scale and saw 190lb, and boy howdy, I was heartbroken and cried. I used to be 310, so, yknow, it's understandable. That pregnancy punished me haaaard.
TL;DR:
Gained weight, scared. Please tell me I'll loose this. 😭 I'm in need of some encouragement man. I imagine it's swelling and edema from surgery, and with my pain still kicking, reduced movements. But half way through walmart yesterday, I was clutching my stomach for dear life, and sweating bullets from the sudden pain. Today? Not so much! I can press on my tummy gently, and no pain. But still looking preggo. Bandages are off, wounds look great, except for my middle one. It's a tad ugly, and probably developing keloid scarings. I most definitely tore a stich there and my belly button. I was stupid, and had a ridiculous fall with my hammock chair losing a strap....... while I was sitting in it. But hey! It is healing. So I got that going for me, which is nice. Lol
But yeah. Can someone please please PLEASE assure my brain that the weight is just coinciding with the healing process, and it's going to eventually start going away....... right? Lol
Sorry for the novel, guys!
Sorry for the novel, guys! I see my surgeon on the 20th, so of course I'll talk to him about all of this. But figured this couldn't hurt either in the meantime.