aimless
An Update
Oct 11, 2008
Doing well. Lots of comments at work. Feels good. I don't notice that big of difference myself, except maybe in my face and neck. When I look in the mirror naked, I look the same. But I am in 38" waste pants, instead of 44". I am wearing my old XL shirts, instead of XXL and XXXL. My weight has fallen to 250, now that I am almost 2 months out. That's 49 lbs since surgery and 83 lbs since May 28. My wife and I are exercising most days, doing the Body for Life program. Could be more regular at it. But I continue to bike to work too. BP good, taking my vitamins, off meds. Life is sweet.
The Disney World trip is coming up in about 3 weeks. I had hoped to be under 240 lbs at that time. Probably won't happen. I will be seeing my extended family for the first time then, i.e. since the surgery. It will be great to see their reaction.
The Disney World trip is coming up in about 3 weeks. I had hoped to be under 240 lbs at that time. Probably won't happen. I will be seeing my extended family for the first time then, i.e. since the surgery. It will be great to see their reaction.
Un-stall
Sep 27, 2008
My first stall lasted about 8 days. 263. No big worry, because I knew I was doing everything right. It actually started when I started exercising in earnest. Just as ironic, it broke when I had two back-to-back days when I did not do fitday.com and had to go out for several restaurant meals.
Have gotten pretty good at eating at our local, fancy restaurants. All business-related. In the past few days, I have ordered a Tuna Tartare appetizer as an entree. A shrimp cocktail. Bowl of butternut squash soup. A veggie burger, ignoring the fries and bun. The people I have been with have not noticed, or at least did not ask. They all know I am actively dieting, and have seen the weight loss.
I'm down 76 lbs now since May 28th!
It feels good.
Have gotten pretty good at eating at our local, fancy restaurants. All business-related. In the past few days, I have ordered a Tuna Tartare appetizer as an entree. A shrimp cocktail. Bowl of butternut squash soup. A veggie burger, ignoring the fries and bun. The people I have been with have not noticed, or at least did not ask. They all know I am actively dieting, and have seen the weight loss.
I'm down 76 lbs now since May 28th!
It feels good.
Deception and Stalls
Sep 17, 2008
I have hit my first stall. Veterans of WLS will laugh at me for bringing it up, but for the first time since my surgery I have gone 3 days without registering any weight loss. 263. 263. 263. The only thing I am doing differently is, during these three days, I have actually increased my exercise greatly. I started the Body for Life program and am now alternating mornings doing weight lifting and hitting the exercise bike. My intake hasn't changed these three days. It's the same boring food, with an occasional exciting dinner. Lot's of seafood. Easily getting 90g protein a day. Pretty good on the water, though I am not counting that like I used to. I'm not really worried about this "stall," but I do miss my good old friend, the 2 lb a day drop.
Also, in spite of this plateau, I have gotten a lot more comments and second looks at work. People who have not seen me in a month or so, are doing a double-take. And this is in spite of the fact that I lost just as much weight prior to the surgery. At the same time as I am losing the weight, I am letting my hair grow out. I have a bushy head of curly hair, but for the past 3 years, simply for the convenience of it, I have worn it buzzed close. People forgot my hair was so curly. And now, when they look at me, they seem to look at the weight, at the hair, and back and forth, and are not sure what to compliment. The general impression is that I look much younger. I'll take it.
For those that do ask about the weight--and I have now had two people ask me specifically if I had WLS and responded both times carefully without lying but without telling them all the facts--I just tell them that I have cut way, way back on my calories and am exercising a great deal. I'll say something like "wish me luck keeping it off when I'm done!" Going back to three or four months prior to my surgery, I gave up my car. I still have it, but it is currently unregistered and uninsured, and undriven. Instead I walk or bike every where I go. I live in a place that makes this easy. But people are used to seeing me do this, which makes it easier for them to believe I am doing this sans scalpel, and I have even had a couple of friends start doing the same, thinking that that must be my secret! It's kind of funny actually.
But to date, the only people who know that I did this are my wife, and all of my anonymous internet friends here!
Also, in spite of this plateau, I have gotten a lot more comments and second looks at work. People who have not seen me in a month or so, are doing a double-take. And this is in spite of the fact that I lost just as much weight prior to the surgery. At the same time as I am losing the weight, I am letting my hair grow out. I have a bushy head of curly hair, but for the past 3 years, simply for the convenience of it, I have worn it buzzed close. People forgot my hair was so curly. And now, when they look at me, they seem to look at the weight, at the hair, and back and forth, and are not sure what to compliment. The general impression is that I look much younger. I'll take it.
For those that do ask about the weight--and I have now had two people ask me specifically if I had WLS and responded both times carefully without lying but without telling them all the facts--I just tell them that I have cut way, way back on my calories and am exercising a great deal. I'll say something like "wish me luck keeping it off when I'm done!" Going back to three or four months prior to my surgery, I gave up my car. I still have it, but it is currently unregistered and uninsured, and undriven. Instead I walk or bike every where I go. I live in a place that makes this easy. But people are used to seeing me do this, which makes it easier for them to believe I am doing this sans scalpel, and I have even had a couple of friends start doing the same, thinking that that must be my secret! It's kind of funny actually.
But to date, the only people who know that I did this are my wife, and all of my anonymous internet friends here!
One month out...
Sep 13, 2008
Today, at 1 month out from surgery, I have been reassessing my before and afters and, after having some blood tests done this morning, and I am dancing around the room I am so happy. Here goes.
Before After
Weight 300 265
BMI 45 39
blood pressure 135/85 (on 3 meds) 125/75 (no meds)
waist size 44" 40"
fasting sugar 122 91
total cholesterol 231 145
HDL (good chol) 35 40
LDL (bad chol) 170 90
triglycerides 256 78
liver function sl. elevated normal
mood happy ecstatic
Before After
Weight 300 265
BMI 45 39
blood pressure 135/85 (on 3 meds) 125/75 (no meds)
waist size 44" 40"
fasting sugar 122 91
total cholesterol 231 145
HDL (good chol) 35 40
LDL (bad chol) 170 90
triglycerides 256 78
liver function sl. elevated normal
mood happy ecstatic
121/77
Sep 06, 2008
Prior to surgery, I was taking Cardizem 360mg a day, Atenolol 200mg a day, and Lisinopril 20mg a day, all to control my blood pressure. Two days ago I stopped the last one of these, after a 3 week wean of them all. Tonight my blood pressure is 121/77.
That is so exciting. I am off prescription meds for the first time in 10 years (except for the Pepcid that I am taking post-op for a couple of months).
My blood sugar prior to surgery was 121, almost to the level of full-blown diabetes. Now it is 95.
The weight continues to drop. Not quite a lb a day over the last week, but still, I broke 270, which means my BMI is now under 40! I am down 64 lbs total since May 28, 2008, and down 30 since surgery on August 13, 2008.
People are noticing. I'm lying. If you have been following the blog, you'll remember that I have planned to keep this to myself, and everyone thought I missed work for knee surgery. Today I went out in shorts and knew that soe friends would see me.
Well, and get ready to laugh because this really is ridiculous, the Ben Nye professional scar makeup that I bought online worked. I had three perfectly done surgical scars on my right knee. They lasted most of the day. And as soon as I saw one friend, one who has asked my wife if I had WLS instead, came right over to examine my knee. He seemed satisfied! Whew.
The way I see it, if I'm ever discovered, I'll just laugh it off and laugh at myself for having been so ridiculous.
Others who have asked, I have described the exercise program I am doing (the Body for Life program, alternating weights and biking every other day) and how I am eating. I tell people that I am dieting by journaling what I am eating, religiously, and am aiming to get 40% of my calories from protein, and that when I do this, my appetite is next to nothing.
It's all true. Well, except the knee thing.
:)
That is so exciting. I am off prescription meds for the first time in 10 years (except for the Pepcid that I am taking post-op for a couple of months).
My blood sugar prior to surgery was 121, almost to the level of full-blown diabetes. Now it is 95.
The weight continues to drop. Not quite a lb a day over the last week, but still, I broke 270, which means my BMI is now under 40! I am down 64 lbs total since May 28, 2008, and down 30 since surgery on August 13, 2008.
People are noticing. I'm lying. If you have been following the blog, you'll remember that I have planned to keep this to myself, and everyone thought I missed work for knee surgery. Today I went out in shorts and knew that soe friends would see me.
Well, and get ready to laugh because this really is ridiculous, the Ben Nye professional scar makeup that I bought online worked. I had three perfectly done surgical scars on my right knee. They lasted most of the day. And as soon as I saw one friend, one who has asked my wife if I had WLS instead, came right over to examine my knee. He seemed satisfied! Whew.
The way I see it, if I'm ever discovered, I'll just laugh it off and laugh at myself for having been so ridiculous.
Others who have asked, I have described the exercise program I am doing (the Body for Life program, alternating weights and biking every other day) and how I am eating. I tell people that I am dieting by journaling what I am eating, religiously, and am aiming to get 40% of my calories from protein, and that when I do this, my appetite is next to nothing.
It's all true. Well, except the knee thing.
:)
The Honeymoon
Aug 30, 2008
A few random notes.
1) I'm losing about 1 lb a day right now. The scales are funny. I know many people will tell you not to weigh daily. But I am weighing several times a day. It's too exciting not to. I'm using my first thing in the morning weight. This morning it was 273 (which is 60 lbs total!). But at bedtime tonight, it will be 274.2 or something, and then in the morning, it will be 272.1. This is the pattern I have seen lately. Up a lb during the day, down two overnight. Not sure why that is, except it is likely related to body water changes. The scale is also measuring my percent body fat, and the morning reading is consistently 31-34%, which is down from 38% a few weeks ago. The scale, and I am not sure how accurate is, also measure body muscle mass. It says that my muscles weigh 170 lbs. Now that is interesting, because my insurance chart ideal weight is 156 lbs. 175 lbs will get me to a BMI of 25, and that is my tentative goal. But my bones weight 15 lbs or so (I googled it). So, using the Tanita scale, if were at no body fat, my bones and muscles would have to weigh 185. So maybe my frame is such that I will be ripped once my weight is down to 200 or so. That's be awesome. We'll see.
2) Eating. Last night I feel like I had my first meal since surgery. I braised some halibut steaks in a little vermouth, broth, diced onions and peppers. Served it with some steamed green beans and asparagus. It was delicious, though the amount I was able to eat and feel full was amazingly small. About 1.5 oz of the fish, 5 green beans and 2 stalks of asparagus. It's hard to even estimate that amount of food in fitday. But I was stuffed. What made this a meal when compared to my previous intake is that I served it on a plate, to myself and my family, and we all ate down and ate together. It was very nice. My pouch is small. It has treated me nicely, and I have been kind to it, but a scrambled egg is about all I can take in without feeling too full.
3) First social dilemma coming up tonight. Last week had an office party at a local restaurant, but this was easy because only hors d'ouvres were served, and I had a good excuse not to drink. But tonight we're supposed to go to dinner at a friend's house. They will likely serve barbecued chicken, a big salad, several veggies, bread. The wine flows freely there. I am worried about this, because, again, this is still a big ol' stupid secret. I am probably going to come up with a work excuse and beg out of it, while my family goes and has a good time. Got to figure out how to handle this in the near future, because these are goof friends and we go there often.
1) I'm losing about 1 lb a day right now. The scales are funny. I know many people will tell you not to weigh daily. But I am weighing several times a day. It's too exciting not to. I'm using my first thing in the morning weight. This morning it was 273 (which is 60 lbs total!). But at bedtime tonight, it will be 274.2 or something, and then in the morning, it will be 272.1. This is the pattern I have seen lately. Up a lb during the day, down two overnight. Not sure why that is, except it is likely related to body water changes. The scale is also measuring my percent body fat, and the morning reading is consistently 31-34%, which is down from 38% a few weeks ago. The scale, and I am not sure how accurate is, also measure body muscle mass. It says that my muscles weigh 170 lbs. Now that is interesting, because my insurance chart ideal weight is 156 lbs. 175 lbs will get me to a BMI of 25, and that is my tentative goal. But my bones weight 15 lbs or so (I googled it). So, using the Tanita scale, if were at no body fat, my bones and muscles would have to weigh 185. So maybe my frame is such that I will be ripped once my weight is down to 200 or so. That's be awesome. We'll see.
2) Eating. Last night I feel like I had my first meal since surgery. I braised some halibut steaks in a little vermouth, broth, diced onions and peppers. Served it with some steamed green beans and asparagus. It was delicious, though the amount I was able to eat and feel full was amazingly small. About 1.5 oz of the fish, 5 green beans and 2 stalks of asparagus. It's hard to even estimate that amount of food in fitday. But I was stuffed. What made this a meal when compared to my previous intake is that I served it on a plate, to myself and my family, and we all ate down and ate together. It was very nice. My pouch is small. It has treated me nicely, and I have been kind to it, but a scrambled egg is about all I can take in without feeling too full.
3) First social dilemma coming up tonight. Last week had an office party at a local restaurant, but this was easy because only hors d'ouvres were served, and I had a good excuse not to drink. But tonight we're supposed to go to dinner at a friend's house. They will likely serve barbecued chicken, a big salad, several veggies, bread. The wine flows freely there. I am worried about this, because, again, this is still a big ol' stupid secret. I am probably going to come up with a work excuse and beg out of it, while my family goes and has a good time. Got to figure out how to handle this in the near future, because these are goof friends and we go there often.
My Nose is Six Feet Long
Aug 28, 2008
OK. I'm 2 weeks out and 57 lbs down. OK, I lost 34 of that before the surgery. But still, that's a lot of weight loss in a short period of time.
I intend to keep this operation I've had a secret. I'm not embarrassed about it. Well, maybe a little embarrassed. I know some people are going to think I'm taking the easy way out, and we ALL know how stupid that thought is. But really, it's just no one else's business, right?
So I told everyone I had knee surgery, just arthroscopy, and took a couple of weeks off to rehab it.
This week was my return to work after the surgery a couple of weeks ago. I'm already tightening the belt and wearing shirts I have not worn for 3-4 years. Something must've clicked today, maybe it's the more streamline shirt that is actually tucked in to my pants, but everyone is asking questions!
I have a friend who saw me and said, with a wicked little smile, "how's the kneeEEee?" I didn't think that much about it, said "fine," and later learned that she saw my wife elsewhere and asked her specifically if I had had WLS because of the changes she saw. Two other people asked what I had "done" to lose the weight, not "what are you doing to lose," and I could just see in their expression that they had the same notion.
To others who have asked, I've explained, honestly, what I am doing exercise-wise (the Body for Life program) and diet-wise (800-1000 cals/day with 40% of them being from protein) and how hard I'm working at it (journaling religiously on fitday.com), but they look skeptical.
And this is only 15 days out! What are they going to say in another month when I am down 25 more lbs?
I've actually had a horrible thought. I work in the healthcare setting and am knowledgeable about it takes to anesthetize a wound and how to sew up a laceration. I thought, I could numb my self up, make some tiny arthroscopic-like wounds on my knee, sew it up, and start wearing shorts so that everyone can see my "bad" knee.
No, I would never do that (I don't think). Maybe some of the halloween scar makeup!?
Anyway, it is an interesting dilemma. I want my privacy on this, but the results might end up being too startling, and I'm not sure which is worse, me lying about it constantly or people assuming this is what I did. Take note everyone who is considering the surgery.
I intend to keep this operation I've had a secret. I'm not embarrassed about it. Well, maybe a little embarrassed. I know some people are going to think I'm taking the easy way out, and we ALL know how stupid that thought is. But really, it's just no one else's business, right?
So I told everyone I had knee surgery, just arthroscopy, and took a couple of weeks off to rehab it.
This week was my return to work after the surgery a couple of weeks ago. I'm already tightening the belt and wearing shirts I have not worn for 3-4 years. Something must've clicked today, maybe it's the more streamline shirt that is actually tucked in to my pants, but everyone is asking questions!
I have a friend who saw me and said, with a wicked little smile, "how's the kneeEEee?" I didn't think that much about it, said "fine," and later learned that she saw my wife elsewhere and asked her specifically if I had had WLS because of the changes she saw. Two other people asked what I had "done" to lose the weight, not "what are you doing to lose," and I could just see in their expression that they had the same notion.
To others who have asked, I've explained, honestly, what I am doing exercise-wise (the Body for Life program) and diet-wise (800-1000 cals/day with 40% of them being from protein) and how hard I'm working at it (journaling religiously on fitday.com), but they look skeptical.
And this is only 15 days out! What are they going to say in another month when I am down 25 more lbs?
I've actually had a horrible thought. I work in the healthcare setting and am knowledgeable about it takes to anesthetize a wound and how to sew up a laceration. I thought, I could numb my self up, make some tiny arthroscopic-like wounds on my knee, sew it up, and start wearing shorts so that everyone can see my "bad" knee.
No, I would never do that (I don't think). Maybe some of the halloween scar makeup!?
Anyway, it is an interesting dilemma. I want my privacy on this, but the results might end up being too startling, and I'm not sure which is worse, me lying about it constantly or people assuming this is what I did. Take note everyone who is considering the surgery.
Two Weeks Out
Aug 26, 2008
I returned to work Monday. I worked only a half day, though I could've worked full-time. I'm a little tired, but not bad. I am biking to work. Work hours have cut into my exercise time, but last night I did my first Body for Life workout using the weight machine. Today, it's a turn on the exercise bike.
The diet is going very well. I am averaging 800-900 kcals and 90 g of protein a day. It is amazing to me how much my appetite is curbed. I have to remind myself to eat!
Some of the old habits are trying to sneak back in. I used to be a bad nighttime snacker. If I stay up late, I'll find myself wandering into the kitchen looking for something to eat. But so far I've been able to realize that there is no hunger and that my nutritional needs have been met.
I got my new Tanita Body Composition Scale this afternoon and the first readings say weight 278 lbs, 32% body fat. That is down 55 lbs since my known highest weight 5/28/08. And it is down 21 lbs since surgery. That is so exciting.
Going to work Monday, digging through the closet, I put on a shirt that I bought two years ago. It was too small and I never wore it. Monday, it was almost too big. This morning, I did the same thing, pulled out an old shirt that had been too small for years. It fit! People at work are noticing too.
Since I decided to do this without telling anyone about it (everyone at work thinks I had knee surgery, so I even have to hobble and limp a little!), I am being very forthcoming about how much weight I have lost and what I am doing diet and exercise-wise. I am bragging about my low calorie intake, and about how keeping my calories from protein at at least 35% of my total calories keeps me feeling full, and about how much I am exercising.
It's not a total lie. Granted, I had this surgery to help me do those things, but those really are the reasons I am losing the weight. It's not like I had liposuction!
The diet is going very well. I am averaging 800-900 kcals and 90 g of protein a day. It is amazing to me how much my appetite is curbed. I have to remind myself to eat!
Some of the old habits are trying to sneak back in. I used to be a bad nighttime snacker. If I stay up late, I'll find myself wandering into the kitchen looking for something to eat. But so far I've been able to realize that there is no hunger and that my nutritional needs have been met.
I got my new Tanita Body Composition Scale this afternoon and the first readings say weight 278 lbs, 32% body fat. That is down 55 lbs since my known highest weight 5/28/08. And it is down 21 lbs since surgery. That is so exciting.
Going to work Monday, digging through the closet, I put on a shirt that I bought two years ago. It was too small and I never wore it. Monday, it was almost too big. This morning, I did the same thing, pulled out an old shirt that had been too small for years. It fit! People at work are noticing too.
Since I decided to do this without telling anyone about it (everyone at work thinks I had knee surgery, so I even have to hobble and limp a little!), I am being very forthcoming about how much weight I have lost and what I am doing diet and exercise-wise. I am bragging about my low calorie intake, and about how keeping my calories from protein at at least 35% of my total calories keeps me feeling full, and about how much I am exercising.
It's not a total lie. Granted, I had this surgery to help me do those things, but those really are the reasons I am losing the weight. It's not like I had liposuction!
One Week Out
Aug 19, 2008
Tomorrow will be one week. I am doing well. No complications. No difficulties eating or drinking. I am on the "Stage 3" full liquid diet. Today, for example, I had yogurt, Trader Joe's Sweet Potato Bisque, protein-laced Jello, protein shakes, and water. Lots of water. Occasionally I will get full quickly when eating (noticed it on Cream of Potato soup yesterday) and start to belch; I think it has as much to do with the speed of eating as anything else.
I am exercising. Today I walked 4 miles on a nice sandy path with great scenery. At the halfway point, I was taking a break, listening to the iPod, no one else around, and noticed movement to my right. I glanced over and saw a large but young male deer standing within 10-15 yards. I didn't move and was rewarded with about 5 minutes of the deer just standing there grazing. The walk felt fine. I will do it again tomorrow, and I think I am going to start weight lifting as well (lightly). I want to get these habits firmly entrenched before returning to work next week.
As mentioned below, I weighed 299 on the day of the surgery. Today I weighed in at 284. My first reaction was to get online and order a new scale; I didn't believe our old one!
I am exercising. Today I walked 4 miles on a nice sandy path with great scenery. At the halfway point, I was taking a break, listening to the iPod, no one else around, and noticed movement to my right. I glanced over and saw a large but young male deer standing within 10-15 yards. I didn't move and was rewarded with about 5 minutes of the deer just standing there grazing. The walk felt fine. I will do it again tomorrow, and I think I am going to start weight lifting as well (lightly). I want to get these habits firmly entrenched before returning to work next week.
As mentioned below, I weighed 299 on the day of the surgery. Today I weighed in at 284. My first reaction was to get online and order a new scale; I didn't believe our old one!
The Surgery
Aug 15, 2008
August 13, 2008 -- 8:50 am.
My surgery was almost canceled. Sunday night and monday night I finally got the stomach bug that had hit my entire family the week before. Monday I felt pretty sick. Fevers, chills, could only get out of bed to go to the bathroom and throw up. Tuesday I felt okay though. Weak, tired, but no more nausea, vomiting or fevers.
So Wednesday morning I showed up as promised at 6:30 am. My wife and I actually were staying at a hotel that is two miles away across Boston. So we left at about 5:45 am and walked it. Very peaceful time of day to watch the squirrels and ducks in the Boston Commons, which we had to walk through to get to Tufts.
Things happened quickly once there and it seemed like no time before the anesthesiologist was putting some midazolam into my IV "to relax me..." and boom, I remember nothing. I don't even remember coming to in the recovery room. Just a stir, a vague recollection of pain in my abdomen, and knodding back off. Waking up, rubbing my nose, feeling some belly pain, pushing the PCA button, rubbing my nose, knodding off.
I was in recovery from 10:30 am until about 5:00 pm because they didn't have a room ready. At that point, the entourage rolled upstairs. Me, my IV fluids, my PCA pump, my JP drain coming out of my side, compression stockings hooked to their pump, and the dreaded foley catheter.
The Dilaudid was set at 0.2 mg every 8 minutes of demand dosing. No continuous drip. By the time I got to the room, I was tired of rubbing my nose, an itch-like side effect I get with the narcotics, so I was trying hard not to use the pain med. The regular dose of Dilaudid is 1-2 mg IV at a time, so I still pushed it every now and then.
At 9:30 pm I got out of bed for the first time and walked twice around the halls of my floor. It felt good to be up. Actually, it hurt, but it felt good to see that it didn't hurt that much, so I was excited to get up again at around midnight for another stroll. This time, three times around.
Thursday morning was probably the most frustrating time of my stay. I wasn't independent enough to walk on my own yet -- too many tubes -- but I asked to walk around 6 am after a restless nights sleep and, because of shift change, no one came until about 8:30 am. At this point I am begging to have the foley catheter out, one because it was uncomfortable and two because it was limiting my ability to get around on my own. I actually looked around the room for a 10 cc syringe to let down the balloon and remove it myself. I'm sure that would've endeared me to the staff. They usually take it out midnight the say after surgery. Apparently seeing me up and around so well, and not using as much of the PCA Thursday, made them feel better about removing it that morning.
From that point on I was a free man. I could remove my compression stockings, unplug the IV pole, put a gown on my back and walk around myself, and I made rounds about once an hour.
Thursday was also the first test of my new stomach. 30 ml (1 oz) of water every hour. In sips. This went down just fine.
Thursday night they let me use the CPAP machine (instead of O2) and this helped a lot with the sleep. So I woke up rested and committed to not using the PCA at all, to show them I was ready to go home and have the IV out which, along with the surgical drain coming out of my belly, was the last remaining sign I am not well. After rounds, I was allowed to start drinking a clear liquid diet, and got down a breakfast and lunch of broth and jello, and was discharged home at 11:00 am, 48 hours after my surgery.
Now this all sounds good. And I am doing better then I expected. I still hurt, but there is something strange about the pain, like I know this is good for me, like hurting after overdoing it at the gym. I am in some way grateful for this pain, and not worrying about it. I'm going to spend a couple of quiet days in the hotel room. We're in the hilliest part of Beacon Hill, so I will get out for some walks, but not a lot.
My wife has gone to the CVS to pick up a stash of clear liquids for me to nurse. I didn't watch the Olympics or check email the past two days, so this will keep me busy.
So far so good.
My surgery was almost canceled. Sunday night and monday night I finally got the stomach bug that had hit my entire family the week before. Monday I felt pretty sick. Fevers, chills, could only get out of bed to go to the bathroom and throw up. Tuesday I felt okay though. Weak, tired, but no more nausea, vomiting or fevers.
So Wednesday morning I showed up as promised at 6:30 am. My wife and I actually were staying at a hotel that is two miles away across Boston. So we left at about 5:45 am and walked it. Very peaceful time of day to watch the squirrels and ducks in the Boston Commons, which we had to walk through to get to Tufts.
Things happened quickly once there and it seemed like no time before the anesthesiologist was putting some midazolam into my IV "to relax me..." and boom, I remember nothing. I don't even remember coming to in the recovery room. Just a stir, a vague recollection of pain in my abdomen, and knodding back off. Waking up, rubbing my nose, feeling some belly pain, pushing the PCA button, rubbing my nose, knodding off.
I was in recovery from 10:30 am until about 5:00 pm because they didn't have a room ready. At that point, the entourage rolled upstairs. Me, my IV fluids, my PCA pump, my JP drain coming out of my side, compression stockings hooked to their pump, and the dreaded foley catheter.
The Dilaudid was set at 0.2 mg every 8 minutes of demand dosing. No continuous drip. By the time I got to the room, I was tired of rubbing my nose, an itch-like side effect I get with the narcotics, so I was trying hard not to use the pain med. The regular dose of Dilaudid is 1-2 mg IV at a time, so I still pushed it every now and then.
At 9:30 pm I got out of bed for the first time and walked twice around the halls of my floor. It felt good to be up. Actually, it hurt, but it felt good to see that it didn't hurt that much, so I was excited to get up again at around midnight for another stroll. This time, three times around.
Thursday morning was probably the most frustrating time of my stay. I wasn't independent enough to walk on my own yet -- too many tubes -- but I asked to walk around 6 am after a restless nights sleep and, because of shift change, no one came until about 8:30 am. At this point I am begging to have the foley catheter out, one because it was uncomfortable and two because it was limiting my ability to get around on my own. I actually looked around the room for a 10 cc syringe to let down the balloon and remove it myself. I'm sure that would've endeared me to the staff. They usually take it out midnight the say after surgery. Apparently seeing me up and around so well, and not using as much of the PCA Thursday, made them feel better about removing it that morning.
From that point on I was a free man. I could remove my compression stockings, unplug the IV pole, put a gown on my back and walk around myself, and I made rounds about once an hour.
Thursday was also the first test of my new stomach. 30 ml (1 oz) of water every hour. In sips. This went down just fine.
Thursday night they let me use the CPAP machine (instead of O2) and this helped a lot with the sleep. So I woke up rested and committed to not using the PCA at all, to show them I was ready to go home and have the IV out which, along with the surgical drain coming out of my belly, was the last remaining sign I am not well. After rounds, I was allowed to start drinking a clear liquid diet, and got down a breakfast and lunch of broth and jello, and was discharged home at 11:00 am, 48 hours after my surgery.
Now this all sounds good. And I am doing better then I expected. I still hurt, but there is something strange about the pain, like I know this is good for me, like hurting after overdoing it at the gym. I am in some way grateful for this pain, and not worrying about it. I'm going to spend a couple of quiet days in the hotel room. We're in the hilliest part of Beacon Hill, so I will get out for some walks, but not a lot.
My wife has gone to the CVS to pick up a stash of clear liquids for me to nurse. I didn't watch the Olympics or check email the past two days, so this will keep me busy.
So far so good.
