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My surgery was Friday, May 22.  I got really nervous once they took me back to get me ready for the surgery.  I was by myself and the nurses didn't talk that much.  One bit of advice, if you can schedule your surgery for morning, do that.  Mine was scheduled for 2:30.  It didn't happen until almost 3:00.  I think the nurses were over the day and ready to go home.  They weren't mean or anything, just not real attentive.  Just a thought.


Anyway, the surgery went fine.  I ended up spending the night in the hospital because my surgery was so late.  I went home about 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.  Moving was pretty difficult.  My stomach, especially the left side, was pretty swollen.  Getting up and down was pretty difficult.  I spent most of Saturday and Saturday night sleeping about two hours and then getting up to use the bathroom and walk down the hall.  Sunday was much of the same execpt I could stay up about two hours at a time and then got really tired.  Sunday night, I slept through the entire night.  Most of swelling has went away so I am able to reposition myself in bed.  Today, Monday, I feel pretty good.  I have been awake since 8:00 a.m, it is now 11:00 and I even walked to the end of my road and back (about 500 feet each way). 

I am tolerating liquids pretty well.  I am learning to go slow because I feel a lot of pressure in my chest when I don't.  I tried one of the protein shakes from the Dr.'s office.  I don't know what went wrong, but it was horrible.  I have come to like the Special K protein shakes pretty well.  I am drinking lots of water.  I felt pretty dehydrated after coming home.  My sinuses felt especially dry. 

All in all, I feel as well as I expected.  I am no where near 100%.  Maybe 40%.  Each day, even each couple of hours seems to make me feel better.  I have to admit, I second guessed myself a couple of times right after coming home.  Probably because not being able to do anything or take care of yourself can make you kind of depressed.  But as I feel better and better, I am reminded of the reasons I started this journey. 

I just wanted to write one last post and thank everyone for the support that I have received through the message boards and especially through my online friends.  I don't know how soon I will feel up to getting back online, but I will just as soon as I am able. 

My doctor is going to look at removing an ovarian cyst while he is doing my wls.  If that is the case, recovery might be a bit longer.  But I will be back as soon as I can!  Thanks to you all!

Char

Hello everyone!

I am down to three days.  I guess I am more nervous than I thought.  I have bitten every one of my nails off.  I am excited and nervous at the same time.  I am trying to keep myself busy.  Any advice on how to get through those final moments before your life changes forever would be appreciated. 

I am 8 days away from my surgery.  If you had told me 22 years ago that I would be sitting here today where I am I would have thought you were crazy.  This weekend my daughter, my baby, graduates high school.  It is only natural to reflect on where I was when I was her age, the differences, the regrets, and the victories. 

My daughter is young, beautiful, smart, independent, confident, and everything I never dreamed I could be.  But as I look back, my mountains in my life gave me strength to make sure that she doesn't have to climb those same mountains.  As I graduated high school, I had no idea what struggles were before me. 

I will spare you the horrific details, but I will tell you that I sit here today, 39 years old.  I have overcome, severe emotional and physical abuse.  I have overcome devasting illnesses, extreme poverty, abandonment, self hatred, ugly self discovery, and a 20 year daily fight to be a better parent than I had, and a constant battle to accept God's unconditional love.   Now I am ready to battle my lifelong struggle, obesity.

As I sit here today and look back, I am not sad about my past.  I realize today, that I am a survivor.  I have raised two fantastic kids.  I am a person worthy of being loved, (ask my 2nd husband of 15 years, it took a long time for him to convince me).  I am worthy of respect and I am a good parent.  I have a good heart and I finally know that I am beautiful, smart, independent, confident and capable of being anything can ever dream.  Just like my beautiful daughter!  So as I face this surgery and my new life ahead of me, I know that I will be successful.  I finally know I deserve it.  I finally know I can count on the people who love me and I know if it hadn't been for God's unconditional love, whether I acknowledged it or not, I would not be where I am today.  Thank you God and thank you my beautiful daughter and thank you to my wonderful husband.  I know there are important tasks ahead of me.....,.thanks to my crazy chaotic life......I am finallly ready! 

  I am really excited.  Only 18 more days!

Tomorrow is my Pre-op appointment with the surgeon.  I am so excited.  I expect that the remaining days will go very quickly.  I have several education classes as well as my daughters prom and graduation.  I am very impressed with my surgeons attention to education.  That definitely gives me reassurances to the kind of support I will receive afterwards from the surgeon and his staff. 

Tomorrow I have my first appointment with the surgeon.  I have attended a seminar.  I have completed the required online registration.  I have received letters of recommendation from my doctor and therapist.  I am nervous.  But, I am very excited.