I was discharged this afternoon. Actually, the official discharge was timestamped at 9:55am, but I had to try and eat some breakfast, and then I had pain meds, and then I fell asleep, and then I wanted a shower, and then we had to wait for a wheelchair to arrive, and before I knew it the clock said 2:00pm, even though I was first woken up around 9:00am. Actually, I was first woken up around 4:00am for a blood pressure check, and again around 6:00am by my surgeon, and yet again at 7:30am by another surgeon. That is one thing about the medical program I’ve been participating in — they have been very vigilant with me from the start. And while it sucks to be poked and prodded at on an hourly and bi-hourly basis, it’s good to know that they’re looking after me. Blood pressure, temperature, oxygen level, pain level, do I need anything to drink, any pain meds, etc.
One thing I didn’t get a lot of in the hospital is sleep. I think the best sleep I had was the six or so hours I was basically out of it after surgery. I went in for surgery around 8:45am, and according to Dan I was done by 11:30am or so. I remember being woken up in the recovery room and asked if I wanted to be moved to my room so I could be with my family, but I said no because I was in so much pain (serious pain/tightness in my diaphragm, which was from the surgery as well as a small hernia I didn’t know I had — the surgeon fixed that while performing the gastric bypass) and felt so out of it. I vaguely remember being wheeled to my room, being transferred to my bed and being given the remote to press if I wanted pain meds, and feeling my mom touch my head and Dan kiss me, but that’s about it. Next thing I know it was evening, and I was asked to get up and walk down the hallway and back, and then sit in a chair — where I promptly fell asleep for two hours.
Dan was with me the whole time. He left me for just a few hours last night, and that’s only because he needed to drop off my credit card with his brother and his brother’s girlfriend, L. L and I planned to see New Moon last night at 11:59pm, but then my surgery was scheduled for the 18th, so obviously I wouldn’t be able to go. She needed my card because I purchased the tickets online, and the theater needed my card to print out the tickets. But I wasn’t alone, because Jason arrived at the hospital before Dan left and stayed until after Dan came back.
I’m so looking forward to getting a good night’s sleep. I dozed this afternoon for about an hour, after a painful ride home and a very painful walk into the house. It’s weird… I felt a little better this morning. But the ride in the car and the walk in the house did me in. I’m ashamed to admit that I burst into tears from the pain once I reached the bedroom. I did my best to calm down though, since Alyssa and Ryan wanted to see me (I can’t believe how much I missed them! Alyssa made a get-well card that Jason gave to me, and I teared up when I looked over her adorable illustrations of us hugging each other), and then took an overdue dose of liquid Vicodin (such awesome stuff).
Now I just want to finish up this blog entry and take out my contacts. I plan on taking some more pain medicine and watching CSI until I fall asleep. I’ll be able to rest up for as much and as long as I need, because Dan took off of work until November 29th, Jason has off next week and will come over to help out, and my mom said she could come stay with us next weekend to help.
I’ll try and blog more details about pre-op and post-op tomorrow… right now I’m just feeling really sore, achy and fatigued. But I do want to say: thank you so much for the outpouring of support on my blog and on Twitter. It means a lot. I really appreciate knowing you guys are thinking about me and wishing me the best. I know this is a BIG decision that I made, and yes it’s scary, partially because it’s so final and pretty much not reversible, but I don’t regret it. So again, thank you for the support. It’s very comforting, encouraging and reassuring.
Congratulations. It’s a big decision and it sounds like you made the right one for yourself.
I hope you recover quickly and the pain subsides soon. I wish you the best as well. :D
Glad to hear you got home alright! It was a scary thing to do, I have heard the good stories then the horror stories-which I am sure that you have too!!
Take it easy Mrs F!
T
I’m so glad to hear that things went as planned, Jenn. I know three people that have had the surgery and two of them had complete success and are SO much better off now. The other failed because she didn’t follow doctors advise and refused to make the lifestyle change necessary.
I have not a single doubt that this is going to change your life for the better. I know after just having lost 20 pounds how much better I feel, you are going to feel like a whole new person! I’m so excited for you!
Glad you made it home safely. Get some much needed rest and relaxation.
I’m glad you are feeling ok. Liquid Vicodin huh? That sounds nice. I kinda hate when people make snap decisions and judgments just because you had this surgery. You have obviously done your homework, can you even do this now without having to do some much needed research into the topic?
When I had this done, 14 years ago, you did nothing. You are so much better off than I was with the lack of knowledge back then. Oh and let’s not mention that you got it laparascopic and I have a 13 inch scar, barely visible, but still. The whole process has come a long way so I have no doubt that you are going to be SO SUCCESSFUL!!!!
Just wanted to tell you congrats on your WLS and I am glad that everything went ok! Been following your blog for a few years but I don’t comment too often.
I have been considering WLS for a few years and look forward to seeing your progress. I am scared crapless to have gastric bypass (seems so final) but have been checking out the lapband. I still have to lose about 25lbs before they will schedule me for surg and it has been a struggle to give up soda and things that seem so easy to someone who isn’t overweight. Anyways, again congrats on your new journey!