rrutherford

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Well it''s done.  My surgery was completed December 6.  I awoke in the recovery room at abour 10am, got to my room at about 11:30 and it was off to the races.  I tried to limit my Morphine use (only took 3 doses) so I could walk as early as possible.... I was not able to walk on the first try at 3pm - too much anesthesia still in me.  I did walk at 5pm and did ok.  My goal was to walk three times so I could get the catheter out (I hated every minute of having that thing attached to me)...
I did walk three more times and the catheter came out at about 10 pm - which was great!!
Melinda and Patrice spent the night with me and anticipated my every need.  I really appreciated their support and help.  My other daughters and their families checked in to be sure all was going ok.
Got home at 3pm today - doing phase I (clear liquids) until tomorrow when I go on Phase II.
More later...

Well the day is finally here.  We go in at 5:30am tomorrow for the surgery.  I don't know what I would do without my precious Melinda.  As I feel myself get more and more nervous all I want to do is hold her hand.

I am not 'afraid' per se, but I feel anxious, eager and really can't wait to see how this changes my appearance.  Many say it changes their life - which is fine.  For me there are parts of my life that I would not change for anything like my beloved family....

I can't wait to sit comfortably in an airline seat, to buy clothes off the rack (which I have not done since HIGH SCHOOL)....  I can't wait to look around and NOT be the biggest person in the room.  I can't wait to run and play with the kids -- to run a 5K with Melinda or ride bikes comfortably at the beach.

Today has been strange being on clear liquids and all.  I don't really wish I could eat food, but it does seem that everyone I see today has something in their mouth...  I'll learn to detach from my lifelong pre-occupation with food.

More when I get home on Thursday night.

Official starting weight (at doctor's office) = 333 lbs.

Well in about 3 hours I will be NPO for my endoscopy tomorrow.  I am not very nervous about it.  I wish it was not such an inconvenience for Melinda to need to pick me up.  If all goes well tomorrow I will be ready to go for surgery on December 6.  - More to come..........

Time is going fast, but slow at the same time.  I am not a patient person so it seems like forever since I was approved.  My endoscopy is less than two weeks away -- then it's off to the OR...

I think my stomach knows what it has coming (or at least my head is trying to tell it)....  I've been eating a lot lately.  I have gotten this bad habit of counting how many 'dinners' or 'lunches' I have left as if I'll not eat normally again.  Of course I know that I will eat normally, but a true normal just not Ron normal (which is and has been excessive for many, many years)...  Another reason I think my brain is protecting me is by giving me a kind of 24 hour flu yesterday.  Nauseated, food coming up rather than going down (GERD?)...  My wife thinks maybe I was subconsciously testing if she'd take care of me or not -- which could be true on some level.  I know she'll do whatever I need her to do, always.  The problem is really that I don't accept help very well -- I have to learn to get better at that and fast.


My emotions are

On November 9, my daughter's birthday - I got a call from Blue Cross that I had been approved.  I am trying not to change my eating but find myself knowing that I have only a few more normal dinners (at least what I know as normal now) before having surgery.  I am excited - it seems like December 6 will never get here....

Ron

Well it's been just over a week since my visit with the surgeon and all I need to complete is the endoscopy.  That is set for November 28 and then it's off to the OR on December 6.  
I find myself getting mentally prepared for the procedure and for saying goodbye forever to eating like I do and feeling like I do.
I am very lucky to have a supportive wife and family.

10/23/06 - completed blood work, abd ultrasound and CXR.  

10/24/06 - completed psych evaluation.  Only outstanding issue is endoscopy (scheduled for Nov. 28)  - this is really going to happen, seems too good to be true.

Today I finally had my consultation with Dr. Pehrsson.  We are set to go on December 6.  I have many tests to have done, but really am eager to get on with this....  My wife and family is very supportive - I don't know what I'd do without them.  - Ron