The Surgery

Well, it’s been a while.  About 70+ days.  I was super excited to blog before the surgery, but haven’t really had the motivation to do so afterwards.  This was not because of any complications or difficulties really, just a lot going on and getting used to my new life, I guess.
So now I have a lot to say.  I won’t put it all in one blog because...well, what fun would that be.  I don’t feel like writing that much at one sitting and you don’t feel like reading that much, I’m sure.
On May 3, the surgery went off without a hitch.  I had to be at the facility at 8:45 and I believe my surgery started around 10 (not totally sure because I was like, asleep).
When I arrived, they brought me right back.  They gave me my lovely duds and cap and brought me to my bed.  I could hear two other women in the room with me behind other curtains.  Apparently I would be going second.  I had two great nurses.  One was type A, asked questions - didn’t really want any humor involved.  The other was an older woman who kept humming the song “Ridin’ Dirty” and then apologizing, promising she didn’t even know the song!  They hooked me up (to machines and IV’s) and then hooked me up with some medicine.  My anesthesiologist came in and promised he was my new best friend.  He also pouted when he looked at my chart and couldn’t believe my family physician had ordered a stress test for me.  Thanks a lot Dr. Jepson.  That was $700 out of pocket for me!  He started to give me the good stuff right as my surgeon was coming in to give me the go ahead.
Then I woke up - not even knowing I had fallen asleep.  

When I awoke, the pain was unreal but it wasn’t at all what I expected.
 It wasn't near my incisions, it was all in my chest - and gas related.  I have never before said my pain was a 10 out of 10, but this time I did and I felt like a baby saying it - but I could not breathe or move.  It was awful.  Whatever they gave me helped me fall back to sleep a little, but when I woke again, the pain was still there and they let me know that pain medicine really doesn’t do anything for gas.  Great.
The deal was I had to finish 3 IV bags of liquids, walk around a bit and pee before they would discharge me.  The IV bags were going down quickly, I was eating ice chips, I walked quite a bit but peeing did not seem like an option for me.  However, after about 3 hours post-surgery the nurse recommended I give it a try even if I didn't feel like I had to - and what do ya know, Success!


So I headed home with lots of pain, medicine, and bandages but far less stomach.  I am including some pictures. 


This is me on my way to the facility.  This look would be called: scared sh*tless and on the verge of crying for my mother...

These next two pictures were taken right after I was wheeled out.  I don't remember this part but I do remember the pain - which you can see on my face.

Then they gave me some pain meds.  This is my brain on drugs.

Once I had the pain meds, I was able to get to work walking and getting my liquids in...

And this is me leaving the facility.  I would say I was excited to get home because of the thumbs-up, but I don't remember this at all so that would be a lie.

This picture shows where the incisions were made:



And here are some pictures of my scars after about a week:












And lastly, this is NOT my stomach but apparently this is how much of your stomach they remove (85%).  This seems huge - I didn't even think an entire stomach was this large...





I will post again in the next few days (I think) and let you know about my progress.  Stay tuned!