Post-op week one and never a dull moment. Surgically everything went well my incisions look good, well truthfully it looks like a train ran over my stomach but I bruise very easily. If you’re contemplating this surgery you will have five or six small incisions, the largest will be where they remove the cut portion of stomach from your abdomen. I’m not going to tell you it’s not going to hurt because it definitely does, but the sooner you get up and get moving the better you will feel.
My one week post-op appointment was today, everything looks great he literally ripped the steri-strips off that hadn’t fallen off on their own and as I said it looks a little ugly. On a brighter note the idea of this surgery is of course weight loss and I’ve lost 20lbs, then again I’ve had nothing but liquids and protein shakes for a week.
Part of the post op appointment is seeing the dietician and discussing the second phase of the diet. My first phase was clear liquid the second phase is full liquid which does include some solids including applesauce, cottege cheese, sugar free pudding, yogurt and puréed soups. So far I’ve been doing well with the clear liquids and hope to continue doing well. If you’ve had the surgery and are frequently nauseous or vomiting on a regular basis you need to call your surgeon because there could be something wrong. Remember when you start the second phase of your diet no startches like noodles or bread they expand in your stomach and may injure the staple line of your new pouch. All these phases of eating aren’t about weight loss, that’s shall we say a side effect, it’s about healing your new stomach.
Lastly make sure you have a strong support system. This is not an easy thing to go through by yourself. I have a lot of coworkers who support me and our proud of me, and a handful of friends that get that this is not easy, but there are still some close to me who feel it’s a “quick fix” or somehow want to make it about them. Remember this is about you, your health and getting a fresh start. Until we meet again happy reading.
Great post Rebekah! We are all so proud of you! Continue to be well!