As I write this, it has been one week since I had my gastric bypass surgery at OHSU. Pretty much, things have been a blur of not only activity, but of learning and thinking. Lots of thinking.
I haven't yet run into the buyer's remorse that is so common with people who have undergone gastric bypass. I'm a tiny bit miserable most of the time, but that is to be expected. There are still all the positives going on that this surgery brings, though. I have lost 6 pounds in a week. Were I to keep up this pace, I would reach my goal in about four months. Not gonna happen, though. There will be a plateau, and that's when the real fun begins (I'm being sarcastic).
My surgery went fantastic, the surgeon reported. I don't remember, which is a plus ;) ... the last thing I recall is falling asleep. There was a thought in my mind that I had determined to keep with me as I drifted off, and I was able to do that, so I fell asleep happy.
I remember waking up in my room. I guess it had taken a long time to get me to wake up. I was still so out of it, I could barely articulate anything. The sedation just really knocked me for a loop.
I'm not sure that I was really ready to come home the next day, physically, but I was determined to get out that hospital. The night of my surgery, I thirsted for water. It seemed like a lifetime since I'd had anything to drink. That taught me the importance of fluids. Even though I had bags of fluids being pumped into my IV, all I could think about was water.
I had hoped they would get me up and walking that night, but they didn't. I must have been too groggy. When I did get to get out of bed the next day, it was the best thing EVER. Except for the water that they gave me later.
I'll admit, I have never been more glad to be home.
Since then, life has been turned upside down. It's funny how you can know something intellectually, but not really KNOW it until you're in the midst of it. That's how this has been.
I knew eating and drinking would be difficult. It has been. Hard, actually. Sometimes, impossible. My new stomach pouch is healing, but it speaks to me loud and clear when it's full. A sensation of pressure rises in my chest,right between my breasts, when the pouch is full. And it doesn't take much to fill it. For example, a pudding cup makes me feel like I've had Thanksgiving dinner. I like it, though. It's nice to finally feel full, after 44 years of feeding a seemingly endless pit of hunger.
I have about two more weeks of recovery before returning to work. I am looking forward to it, but it's a little scary at the same time. I've been having troubles sleeping, and I would like to find a resolution to that before I go back. We'll see what happens.
My next big goal is to get back to working out at the gym. I go to OHSU on Monday, and that's the first thing I am asking the surgeon. I am soooo ready to get back on the treadmill. I know that ab work are a no go, but I bet I could do some light weights for arms. One step at a time, I tell myself. Just the treadmill would be a huge boost. I love putting on my MP3 player and rocking out while walking. It's such wonderful "me" time.
When I think of how my life has changed, in so many ways, since I started this journey in January 2011, I am amazed. And happy. So very happy. For the first time, I feel like there's a chance I could actually be virtually free of diabetes. Healthy. Possibly even healthier than I was 20 years ago.
In the meantime, I am thankful that I have so many people who not only care about me, but who support me in this journey of a lifetime. It IS that kind of journey. And it's just beginning.
Take care .... until next time.
