7 Weeks postop

Jan 05, 2012

I completed my 6 months of nutrition counseling and doctors visits required by my insurance.  I was approved by my insurance the first time it was presented to them and had my surgery November 16, 2011.  I had a major anxiety immediately out of surgery...felt I couldn't breathe...felt I was being held down and couldn't move...very clausterphobic.  They had to dose me up with Ativan.  I also experienced intolerable nausea and was on 3 different nausea medications and nothing worked.  For 2 days I suffered with this and as soon as the pain pump (consisted of demerol) was taken away, there was no more intolerable nausea.  So, I now know I cannot tolerate Demerol.  The pain was not bad at all and I was so happy to see that the doctor used glue instead of staples.  It was so much easier to deal with.  Nevertheless, I asked myself "what the heck have I just done".  Everytime I put something in my stomach, including just water, my stomach would grumble.  I was so very tired.  Everytime I would sit up or sit down I would get a shooting pain in my left side as if someone was stabbing me (this lasted for a month).  I couldn't lay down in a bed for 4 weeks.  My tail bone hurt so bad from sleeping in a recliner.  Everything got much better at 4 weeks out.  I lost 30 pounds right off the bat in just 3 weeks and then all of a sudden just quit losing weight.  It was a bit disheartening.  Thank goodness for blogs and forums, I found out this is totally normal.  My body was freaking out that I had done this to it.  I lose about 5-6 pounds a week and this is normal.  I am down 42 pounds now.  I went shopping in my closet and was so happy that I saved my clothing from when I was a couple of sizes from what I was at surgery time.  I had some very cute clothes.  I also was excited to realize I could wear my awesome heels again.  I haven't been able to do that for over a year due to the pain and edema from all the weight I had gained.  I even bought me some gorgeous heels after Christmas.  I have come to realize this is much better than going out to eat.  I have to say, I was a little depressed when I would go out with my family and there was really NOTHING that I could eat or that I wanted besides soup.  Here they were getting Cheeseburgers and fries and I had a bowl of tomato basil.  Not fun, but getting new heels trumps that.  I just see it now as I am a very cheep date.  I'm still have a very hard time with ALL meats except ground turkey or beef.  I'm still trying to figure out ways to get my protein.  Protein shakes make me sick so I have to be very creative. 

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