u/Dismal_Landscape_954

Have seen the taco one, but haven’t tried it yet.

Don’t know where to even start. The journey has been rough as hell. I’m in the regret stage. After spending 3 days in the hospital after surgery I went home for 1 day and then had to go to ER day 5. Longest 18 hours of my life. I was vomiting and couldn’t hold down water and I didn’t have a bowel movement yet. I was miserable for hours but felt better eventually enough to go home. Still didn’t have bowel movement so first move when I got home was an enema, instant relief. Waking up today just feels terrible. I’m sore everywhere, super thirsty regardless of getting a million bags of fluid in the hospital over this week, still feel I have to poop. I don’t want ANYTHING to do with the protein shakes even though I know I have to. Another thing I wasn’t prepared for was how much I would miss hugging my kids. I feel so sad I can’t cuddle them and have to give them a sideways church hug lol. And of course people comment “Oh must be nice to get a break from the kids!” Like no actually I’m hating life right now thanks. I’m just exhausted and want to jump ahead to the stage I have energy at least. Anyway rant over! 😭

Picture of all the things the hospital served me I couldn’t have because of the sugar. Was in so much pain I didn’t correct them until the evening. My nutrition plan was just listed as liquid diet, not bariatric. No worries, couldn’t even hold down water most of the day! Ice chips were my saving grace.

Finally feeling well enough to type out my experience a little better.

Day 1: surgery day. Was in high spirits going in. I stayed in recovery for several hours after because my drain was filling up faster than everyone wanted. I also had to get a catheter because when I got up to try and use the bathroom I almost blacked out. I have never experienced that before that was insane. The whole tunnel vision on the person trying to talk to you and losing your hearing. Lucky I was laying back down before actually fainting.

Day 2: Still in the hospital. Feeling better but very weak and dizzy from blood loss and everything in general. The pain was actually very minimal, but I had bursts of crying from anxiety because I was afraid about the blood loss, and the gas in my chest made it very hard to get a full breathe of air. I didn’t walk much at all because of being so weak and dizzy all the time.

Day 3: Still in the hospital, but my hemoglobin was so low I needed a transfusion so I received 2 bags of blood. It took hours to receive the blood and fluids. Eventually the gas in chest let up not really from walking because at this point still didn’t walk much but from using that breathing device thing! lol it actually helped so much. At this point I could go pee by myself. After checking vitals and my blood levels I was getting ready for discharge. They decided to keep my drain in because it was still outputting enough fluid that the doctor wanted to leave it in an extra day. It pretty much was up to me to leave that evening because doc said if I really wanted to I could stay another night. Chose to go home and super freaking glad I did. Best sleep since surgery. I slept in the recliner when I got home, and it was nice, dark, and quiet!

Day 4: Felt so much better than yesterday, and my drain wasn’t filling that quickly. Went to my doctor appt today. He said every thing looked good and took the drain out. Spoke to my dietician about expectations and that’s it! At home I have been walking and sipping all day! Fluids have been really easy so far and the light pain I do have is managed. So if anyone is reading this pre-op just like everyone else said…it does get better with time and hang in there. Because day 2 and 3 post op I was regretting everything!! Sitting here at day 4 seems not even real. Only thing I’m waiting on now is a bowel movement. Has me kinda nervous to be honest lol. Best of luck to all out there!

Surgery was pushed due to emergencies in the hospital. Was finally in recovery by 1pm. Stayed in recovery due to low blood pressure and drainage leaks. Didn’t get a room until around 10pm due to those concerns. Today much easier, minimal gas and pain. But still a lot of blood leaking into drain. And can’t pee on my own. So might be looking at another day in hospital depending on labs. Keeping fluids down easy as well. So we shall!

HW:240 CW:219
Nervous but ready!

Surgery scheduled for next Monday May 11! Day 1 of liquid diet. My husband is 3 weeks post op and he says this is easy compared to after, so we shall see!!
SW today: 230
Will post again day of surgery with how much I lost on liquid diet.