Bleary eyed and bushy haired, I walked into Heartland Surgical Specialty Hospital, at 6 AM on Monday, June 20th. Linda Wagar and John the camera man were greeting me as well as all of the "public relations" crew to make sure the staff was represented well. An hour and a half later, after being marked all over with a purple surgical pen...loving I called it my road map to a New Me, poked and weighed a few times, I do not even recall being rolled down the hallway to surgery or having the surgical mask put on me.
When I awoke from the anethesia dream later on last Monday afternoon, I did not know what had ran over my mid-section. I am flat like a pancake...seriously! I now after 27 years of dieting and now post weight loss, I have a "flat tummy!" I have a scar now "saw"ing me in half. I joked with my mother's bridge group on Sunday afternoon that I am the girl the magician cut in half and sewed back together again. I will have this awe inspiring scar for my entire life, and if you know me, you know that I LOVE a good scar because a scar is a story waiting to be told. I also have a new belly button because my original one was removed with the fifteen pounds of excess skin which the doctor removed during the six and a half hours of surgery.
When I arose from the bed, after quite a struggle, last Monday, I was told to press my hand to my stomach to hold everything in. Ironically, I pressed my hand where my old stomach had been, a good six-eight inches awary from where it is presently. A strange feeling since I now seem to rub my belly like a preggers lady and waddle like one too. This is mainly for the comfort which rubbing my stomach gives me from the sore tissues and the scar. I wear a giant spanx like leotard from the knees to my chest compressing all of me together for the next month. Then regular spankx for two weeks...not away from them yet. I now understand why some pups love these rubs...uh...THEY FEEL AWESOME! Yes, it is official, I do love a good belly rub.
I walked the hallways of the surgical center multiple times that night and the next day to practice for strength purposes. I am excited to admit which it was a challenge I feel like I was able to do really well with it. Later on, I talked with my Aunt Laurie, Jenna and Betsy on the phone but unfortuantely, I do not recall most of the conversations...the call history was the only teller as well as my mother later...I was "anethestic dialing" apparently...nurses and doctors everywhere shake their heads at this cultural taboo which strikes patients in a post surgical state.
Once home later the next morning, I was miserable from pain for the first few days. After Thrusday then I went down to only Tylenol - pain is more manageable now. While it is far from gone, it is something which I am confident in dealing with for the next week. The drain tubes of which Ihave four, have been more of a beast to deal with than anything else, simply because they are painful, in the way and needing to be emptied and documented every six hours.
Overall, for the past few days, I have been doing amazing! I have been able to make my own breakfast for the past few days, oat bran with sugar free syrup-coffee, and fresh strawberries. In addition to this, my parents have a split level home to which I am able to go up and down the stairs with confidence multiple times daily. I have gone to the grocery store with my mom on Sunday and Friday evenings plus had the pleasure of pushing the cart for stability reasons with my walking. I was able yesterday to walk around the neighborhood with my mom. The doctor is amazed with how well I am doing, he said it is because of my diet and exercise habits coupled with being very motivated that has allowed the swift recovery so far.
I went to the doctor again yesterday, Tuesday, June 28 and had the incision tape removed as well as my four drains. Luckily, a drain I thought was possibly infected was only severely bruised and no antibiotics needed to be started. John and Linda came back over to talk with me at my parents home about surgery, recovery and see me try on a few items post surgery. Given how swollen I am currently, trying on clothes was a bit of a challenge, but I did fit into a size 12 jeams and a medium top. These are goals which I never imagined I would be able to accomplish.
I did tell John and Linda about an exciting event which Hy-Vee at 135th and Brougham in Olathe is hosting on July 16th with me...a health fair called, "Living the Dream". I will have a booth promoting cookbook sales to offset surgery cost as well as vendors from around the Health Market such as Smart Chicken and other organic offerings. The chef and dietician on staff will be offering my recipes as samples and cooking them fresh in addition to a Kids Boot Camp for getting healthy and making lifestyle changes! How exciting is that! :) I was so touched that they wanted to jump on board with me and help create an event! Come check it out, this will be one of the first outings with my "new self".
A huge shout out of THANKS to the follow fabulous individuals this past week whom have made my recovery run so smoothly...Mom and Dad, seriously, I hope to God that I never have to do to you all that you have had to do for me these past five years, you show me what it is to have true, unconditional love for a child. Lindsay Murphy for coming and babysitting me on Thurs while my parents were at work and the dentist...seriously, girlie, I Love You!!! My Aunt Laurie for calling and checking in on me during the week and keeping the family in the loop with the recovery process, Thanks! Ashley and Brandon Clark for making me Ashley's Awesome Bakery Worthy Cookies, which she was kind enough to share, in addition to pulled pork, meatballs and spinach dip...eatin' well while healin. The Meyer Aunties for a stunning bouquet of flowers...what every girl needs! Laura Love and Jenna Benna for calling and checking in almost daily to make sure I was alright. Shirley Brogna for sending a care package full of great reading materials! Talk about feelin' the love this past week!
No comments:
Post a Comment