I remember mumbling something incoherent to my husband (fiance at the time) as they wheeled me away to surgery. No clue what I was trying to say and he had no idea either. My hand slipped out of his as I rolled by and I was soon laying belly up on a metal surgical table.
Four hours went by. Then five, and just as it was approaching six hours, the Dr. came out to see my husband and to let him know I was still breathing. I was taken into the recovery room and a nurse who's breath smelled like Frito's leaned over me and stirred me out of my sleep. Subconsciously I must have thought I would wake up just a little thinner as one of the first things I did as began to come out of my haze was look down at my stomach. It was bigger.
In order to have the proper space to access your intestines and stomach, the Dr's fill you stomach cavity with air, a lot of air, and it slowly retracts over the 48 hours post op. It was puffy and tight and I felt like I'd eaten an entire buffet of food, even the hard boiled eggs...I hate hard boiled eggs.
The nurse asked me if I'd like to see my incisions and I nodded. She lifted my hospital gown to reveal the five tiny slices in my stomach. One cut next to my belly button, one slightly above it and to the left, one on my left side just below my rib cage and it's twin was placed on the opposite side of my gut. The final little soon-to-be-scar was right between my chest close to my heart. They were glued shut, not stitched or stapled. I cried. I felt like Frankenstein, I was bloated like a bullfrog, I was in pain, and I was tired.
When they were finally able to wheel me into my personal recovery room, my pain was pretty intense. Turns out, your insides hurt way more than your outsides do and someone had literally opened me up, jumbled up my internal organs, resealed me and called it macaroni! It hurt like hell. I was on heavy pain killers and a strict ice diet for two days. Simple tasks like peeing and brushing my teeth were only attempted right after the drugs kicked in and I knew I had a few minutes pain free to shuffle to the restroom, iv bag wheeling beside me.
Sleeping was disastrous. I'm a side and stomach sleeper and I was told not to sleep on my stomach at all for at least six weeks to ensure I didn't put any unnecessary pressure on my insides that could lead to leaks, tears or bruising. I was miserable and wanted nothing more than to curl up on my side and doze off for days, but sleep was fleeting and comfort was impossible during those early days.
The Dr's wouldn't let me leave the hospital to go home until I was able to stomach and keep down jello or juice. It took me two days on ice and water before I swallowed my first sip of seriously diluted cranberry juice and kept it down. Prior attempts had not been pretty and that is the extent of the visual I will leave you with.
After two nights in the hospital, I was finally discharged and returned home to finish my recovery process. Prior to surgery I had been given a very clear list of guidelines and rules for a healthy recovery and had to spend a small fortune stocking my kitchen with the foods and supplements I would need during the first six weeks at home.
I was only aloud to have clear liquids for the first ten days, then I could add in broths and protein drinks for the next two weeks. After three weeks I would be able to add in cream soups and possibly some milk but only if I could keep it down. Four weeks in and I could have some yogurt or cottage cheese, soups, juice and protein shakes. After five weeks, I could start adding in some mashed fruit, and even baby food if I wanted! (Really?) And after six weeks of nothing but liquidy and mushy foods, I would finally be able to have one solid meal a day in conjunction with my liquids.
Clear liquids went off without a hitch and adding in chicken broth was an easy transition. I had purchased an entire tub of vanilla protein shake powder and after my first shake, I came to the startling realization that one of the many potential side-effects from the surgery had most likely become reality. I was now lactose intolerant. I was violently ill after that first protein shake (whey protein) and had to return to clear liquids for a few more days before I could reattempt any additional proteins. My mom and husband both attempted to find protein shake alternatives but I had grown wary and turned to a clear liquid protein drink that used Soy instead and stuck with that for the next few weeks.
Not being able to stomach dairy also meant that the majority of the "acceptable" food options moving forward were going to be problems. No dairy meant no cream soups, no milk, no cottage cheese... Cream soup with soy milk is gross, for the record. So, the first six weeks after my surgery included nothing but juice, broth, soy milk, mashed fruits and...well, that's actually all.
The weight was dropping off of me at a rapid rate that even exceeded my expectations. I was losing approximately two pounds a day and at my first check up post op I had already lost 18lbs. Two weeks later I was down by 40lbs and after my six week check up, I had lost 60lbs. It was astounding. It was exhilarating. It was overwhelming.
Six weeks out and I was down 60lbs, down from a size 28 to a size 22 and my face was beginning to take on a shape other than O. I was on the upswing and I was ready to tackle life head on despite that mild food set back. Nothing could stop me.
Yeah. Right.
