Sleepy Time for Shower Gel

Jimmy put the bottle of bath and body works shower gel to bed with a tissue for a blankie and a swim diaper for a pillow after a long evening of playing and riding in his toy dump truck.  <3

 

My Gastric Sleeve Surgery and Complications

(I wrote this 12/16/13, late on publishing) I've Procrastinated writing about this, partly because it's long and partly because I'm still tired and sore on pain meds, but definitely worth writing about I suppose.

I had my sleeve surgery on Monday the ninth. When I came out from the surgery, the surgeon said everything went perfectly and I looked great. I was in a lot of pain, but to be expected, and was on the 24 hour observation-then get discharged plan. 

They said to sip liquids slowly, but constantly. I couldn't do it, I was so scared because it felt like each swallow packed air into my stomach.  My pain level wasn't being controlled well by oral pain medicine and they wanted me to be able to not need the IV pain meds before I went home.   I forced myself to walk small grandma-steps to the door and a little out the hall, but that proved to be too much and I wasn't able to do it often.  I was able to urinate after much effort a few hours after my surgery.  The doctor came in at the end of my 24 hour observation period to release me, said the surgery went perfectly and there was no reason I couldn't go home.

After the doctor left, I expressed to the nurse how I just hurt so bad and I couldn't imagine going home in this much pain right now (my pain level remained an 8-9 out of 10).  She said that if my pain wasn't under control, that was a good reason to keep me and she would call my doctor.  She called him and he agreed to let me stay another night.

I mostly slept, couldn't move without horrible pains.  I had what was expected, the air/gas pains in my stomach and left shoulder/chest felt like a stabbing charlie horse.  My lower back also hurt with similar severity.  I attempted to take the oral pain medicine as they recommended so as to get off the IV pain meds, but it was just too much.  About three in the morning I realized it had been quite a few hours since I was able to go pee.  I tried and tried, and my bladder was soooo full!  It was so odd since I had been able to go after the surgery, but now I couldn't.  The nurses did a scan of my bladder and found it to be way too full, so they gave me an "in and out" catheter.  What a relief!

By the morning, instead of feeling better, my pain seemed to be the same or worse.  I gave up on trying to sip water and reverted to ice chips.  I still couldn't get out of bed without considerable help.  I made many trips to the restroom to try to urinate again, and was not successful.  Around the time of nurse change that morning, I had my new nurse take me to the restroom.  He stayed outside the door waiting for me.  I suddenly upon sitting down, felt funny and dizzy and the next thing I knew I was waking up sideways looking up at two male nurses trying to rouse me.

....to be continued

New Ghost Orb Pic!!

My daughter has been staying at her best friends house since I've been recovering from surgery.  Their house is reportedly haunted, opening/closing doors and such. This big bright spirit orb appeared in one pic and was gone in the next!  

 

 

Today is the Day! Gastric Sleeve Day!

Riding to the hospital as I type this on a cold drizzly December Monday.  Today is the day I get my gastric sleeve!  Am I nervous about the surgery?  No, not really.  But ill tell you what I'm sweating bullets over... The IV!  Every time, no matter who or where I go to it takes a minimum of four sticks an painful digging and pushing to get that puppy in. No thank you!  This time I'm requesting a hammer to the head first.  

But really, besides that my tummy is in butterflies about leaving my three sweet babies for 24 hours. Yes, Autumn is 13, but she's still my baby.  Jimmy should do fine as he loooves spending quality time with Nana, but Ill miss him.  I worry for how my 10 month old Joey will fare without his beloved boobies for a day,  Will he feel betrayed?  Scared I won't come back?  Oh my poor Joey!  

I do have my breast pumps with me, (yes that's intentionally plural), to keep my boob juice flowing and from painfully  back logging in my boobies.

 

Joey gets his first tattoo to celebrate being 10 Months!

To get ready for my surgery on Monday, I had to get my CBR piercing taken out of my ear at a tattoo/piercing shop because Im not coordinated enough to do it myself. While we were there the wonderful tattoo artist David at American Gypsy Tattoo was kind enough to offer up a temporary tattoo and pose with Joey for these cute pics on his 10 month birthday! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9 Days before my gastric sleeve and I'm told I can still BREASTFEED!

Excited, excited, excited!  I'm almost halfway done with my 2 week pre- op Atkins diet.  Its suppose to shrink my liver so the doctor can access my stomach with no problems.  It's amazing that this can be done with just a few small incisions!  Not that my stomach is prize winning anyway with my pregnancy tiger stripes, so I'm not too concerned about the scars.

I am extra excited because the surgeon told me I CAN KEEP BREASTFEEDING!  I was completely shocked!  I thought the liquid diet that I have to be on for half a month and such would make it impossible. He said my body will still make nutritious milk, and he fully encourages me to breast feed as long as I want. He said only for 24 hours after surgery am I not allowed to breast feed.  But even with my RX pain pills ill be given, ill still be allowed to nurse my Joey!  Totally ecstatic!  Honestly, switching to formula was my biggest worry for this whole ordeal.  

The other worry I had was having to take some kinda crazy rx vitamins that were expensive and what not for the rest of my life.  Nope! The surgeon said I just have to take a chewable vitamin twice a day (instead of the packages recommended once a day).  

It's still going to be a difficult process. But these little things make a big difference to me.  :-)

My "before" pics at 271.8 pounds 5'8.5"

 

 

 

exciting news! surgery date is set for my gastric sleeve!

Excited about my sleeve surgery!  Got my date today- December 9th!!  Ready to get healthy and stay healthy! 

 (As long as no unexpected delays this is the date) 

I know my belly won't look this good... But you get the point ;-)

Some friends and family are happy about this and many are worried and concerned.  In the end I plan on being a better person and will make all of them proud.