Affinity4life2010

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The actual surgery prep and surgery are an unknown to me.  The anesthesiologist came into the prep area with a syringe of Diprovan, the rest is history.

I woke up in my room to my toddler babbling away.  I felt very tired but was not queasy or hurting.  Apparently the surgery took almost four hours between the RNY and the Gallbladder removal and I spent a couple of hours in recovery.

The rest of the day 3:30ish on is a blur of people coming and going and being reminded to use my pain pump...and I did faithfully as I was not looking forward to the post surgery pain.  By later evening I was encouraged to walk about a little...this was a mildly painful laborious process that left me a bit shaky and ready for my bed and pain pump.  By late night I was up and around 2 more times and although my stomach felt as though I'd done thousands of crunches (tender and muscle sore). By the next morning I felt like a whole new woman and requested a shower.  I was told a shower would have to wait as I would be having my swallow test.

The swallow test was surreal.  My surgeon and his team came in to observe and all cheered and gave me thumbs up when my tummy and intestines held their ground :o)

The surgeon then let me know that he was keeping me an additional night since there were more incisions than the norm (due to gallbladder removal). Honestly I was greatful to be given another night in the hospital as returning to a full hotel room full of family did NOT sound appealing to me!!! I was then given some clear liquids and they tasted/felt like something from the Gods!!! After a few hours I started having loose BM's....great steady progress, and by discharge day (30th) I was cleared for a full liquid diet.  I was very happy that my body appeared to be doing what it's supposed to!! Oh aqnd I got my shower, warm water mmmm!!

My pain level; thanks to my surgeons expert hand,s and my new friend Morphine was negligible.  I was taken off of the IV ads was given Lortab (Liquid Vicodin) for the rest of my stay and was presented with a double dose before my four hour car ride back home.

I snoozed off and on and sipped,sipped,sipped during the car ride home...as we got closer I became ridiculously anxious just to get into my own environment, I'd say I was borderline melting down (but keeping it inside) by the time we pulled in to the driveway.

The last two days at home have been an imperfect routine of attempting different versions of my "formula", taking pain meds, and walking,walking,walking to get rid of the nagging gas pains that settle in various parts of my body...(Fair warning...it settles in your chest and back too not just the intestinal tract!!)

Getting protein and fluids in is a challenging work in progress, I am already recognizing a pressure when my pouch is full and know to stop sipping.  I'm already weary of the sickeningly sweet protein shakes,SF puddings, and SF popsicles, water and broth have become my new friends.  I am NOT HUNGRY at all but would love a nibble of cottage cheese for texture and taste ( NO I will not go there yet, just saying :o).

My family and ex boyfriend have been very loving and supportive and my children have been very careful not to jump around and casue me incision anxiety!!

Would I do the surgery again? Most DEFINITELY, I have no regrets thus far regardless of the discomfort.

Dr. Stephen Archer and his skillfull, personable team were amazing to work with and I would highly reccommend his practice to friends,family, and co-workers! I wish that I lived closer so that I could participate in the ongoing support groups Dr. Archer holds at St. Charles Medical Center.

Thankyou Dr. Archer,Nichole, Katharine and all other team members, you made a potentially nerve wracking experience positive and brought a human touch to the process that is necessary to a patients sense of well being and overall safety pre and post op!!!!

An icewater toast to the New Year and the journey ahead...

Ms. Kristi Mersino
 

Well, it's finally here! After years of struggling and struggling...losing,gaining;loving and hating myself.  My surgery date is in two days. Today I begin the clear liquid diet that will be my friend and enemy in the weeks to come. Tomorrow I travel to Bend (four hours from my home).  I'll be staying the night in a motel room with my daughter,mom and sister.  I'm getting very nervous but also restless to just get this part over with.

My surgery will be a double whammy as my gallbladder will be removed as well.  Weird to say but I'm very thankful my gallbladder acted up in the two weeks prior to surgery;may as well rip the little bugger out while my guts are being rearranged anyways.

I sincerely hope and am optimistic that the price of this surgery is worth the end results.  I've lost my significant other as he was adamantly opposed to the surgery from the very beginning and will not be joining me in this new journey, I will be saying goodbye to my best friends sugar and fatty foods, and I will be supplementing for the rest of my life.  I will have to learn to feel my emotions as opposed to stuffing them down and numbing them with carbs and calories.

Anyone who takes the time to get to know me will quickly realize that I'm quite blunt and call it like I see it.  I've allowed myself to lose control and surrender to my emotional addiction;there will be no more of this craziness!!

On December 28th I will be taking my body back from the FU#$%er who repeatedly abused and molested me so many years ago.  I let him have too many years of my life, and the memories of his blatant disregard of a young girls body,sense of self,and identity have taken up residence in my mind and body for much longer than I should have allowed.

So, Mr. P..."loving" step-father and disgusting predator.  FU$! YOU!  This is MY life, MY body, and I have the power and control to make positive and healthy changes and leave the past in the dust.

So my journey begins...