I endure things I really don't like to endure and this will just be one more thing. Plus I know it will be completely worth it in the end. . . .right?!I went to a support group on Tuesday and felt like the odd ball out since I am the only VSG'er there. Plus I knew more about the surgery than the facilitator did. She didn't even know Hurley was offering the VSG now. That just shows you how NEW this is up here. Makes it even more scary being one of the first here at Hurley getting the VSG.
I really hate the fact that I am a VSGer in a RNY world right now, and at the same time I like it. I like knowing I am helping to bring this new surgery to Mid-Michigan, I just don't like feeling so alone right now. All the advice I get right now is for RNYers. It's fine for them and all, but I believe our post-op experiences might be different. You know it'd be like a mom of a singleton going to a mom group for multiples. Sure they have babies but those with 2 will have completely different concerns and problems than the mom with only 1 baby. Does that make any sense?!
Even at church there are a couple of people who have had WLS and they both had RNY so again more RNY advice.
My other fear is me screwing this up somehow and not being able to lose the weight I need to. Although at this point I'll settle for getting down to 250! That's only like 60lbs away (UGH). I'm sure I'll lose more than that, but I still worry. And all of this worrying is NOT helping!!!
My stress is through the roof and because it is so is my eating. Starting Sunday I am starting a pre-liquid-liquid-diet. I want to liquify my diet before i have to in order to try and lose as much weight as possible before the surgery. Of course today I found out there is an April fool's party for the homeschoolers. . .on April fool's day of course. That will start my test off on whether or not I'll be able to handle this new lifestyle. Then IF and that is a HUGE "IF" my sister decides she actually wants to have dinner with us at some point this Easter season (I'll bet anyone $20 it won't happen though) thenthat will be my next big test. Otherwise everything will be done from home, hopefully fairly easily.
April 2nd I have my nutrition meeting and again I think it will be a lesson on post-op foods and I'll again be clumped in with the RNYers. I know post-op for the first 6 weeks will probably be the same but after that I think things will be different. I don't know really but I at least have my support boards of VSGers on hand to help out.
I hope those who have watched, have enjoyed my new Vlog. I know some have said I look comfortable in front of the camera, but in actuality I am terrified. I absolutely HATE watching myself on video like that too. blech! Still my 4yo son LOVES and I mean LOVES my intro. LOL, he asks to watch it all the time or to at least listen to the music. When I do play it he sings along with it. It's too funny! LOL
Ok so that's pretty much all I have right now. Just a bunch of pre surgical fears and worries. I hope these pass but I am sure I will be petrified as I walk into the hospital to go under the knife.
Surgery day is April 24th at 7am. Yikes!
You know what? I worked myself up over surgery too. Went and looked at all the photos of the incisions and bruising, talked about the pain, heard all the horror stories.
ReplyDeleteAnd for me it was NOTHING like that.
Yeah, I had a huge bruise around my navel (and one on my upper thigh for some reason) but the rest wasn't too bad at all. The bruises didn't even hurt much, although it took about a month to disappear.
I was out of bed 15 minutes after leaving the recovery room, and I went out to the nature center to photograph birds with my eldest the day after I came home. The night I came home, I used a tylenol with codeine before going to bed, but took it for a migraine. I hate codeine, and threw the pills out the next morning, and didn't even take a regular tylenol after that (nor did I need it)
Yeah, Yeah, I'm RNY, but that just means there's more cutting involved, and maybe I should have MORE pain than a VSG or a band... but what I really want to say is that the surgical experience is different for everyone, and IMHO the best thing to do is to prepare yourself both physically and mentally.
Exercise, follow doctor's orders, don't over-eat, and don't let yourself get run down before surgery. (that means eating healthy, and if you're going to go on a liquid diet, be sure you get all your vitamins and protein in!)
Also, if you're expecting the worse (pain, extreme bruising) you may be pleasantly surprised (or just relieved) to find after surgery that it wasn't as bad as you imagined it.
My dad is considering the RNY, so I ended up going to the informational seminar again. My surgeon talks about the VSG. He says it's used on the sicker patients that might not make it through the RNY surgery. So, it should have less pain.
ReplyDeleteEmbrace being a forerunner! You are very brave.
Devilwmn
I even looked at a video of a surgery! Should NOT have done that. In my head was, "his hand is going in where to do what? How big is that incisions ..." You'll do great! but, remember everyone's recovery is individual and different.
ReplyDeleteKate. Thanks. I know that surgery wise RNY, band, & VSG patients may just have similar experiences since laproscopically or open surgeries are done fairly the same.
ReplyDeleteI also know I have a high pain threshold. I DID give birth to 5 of my children drug free and at home! LOL I'm not completely afraid of pain. I mean the WORST pain I've ever had was when I was pregnant with my 7th I was bout 6 or 7 months pregnant and I got an abscess on my groin. I had to go to the ER to get it lanced and them shoving a needle in my groin right next to my va-jay-jay was excruciatingly painful. And I had to keep my legs open for that little procedure! Thankfully I was in a private room because I literally screamed!!!!
So I can take some bruise like pain.
I also didn't go looking for pictures, LOL. I went to watch a video from another VSGer and she just happened to start a slide show of her bruising and incisions. I didn't finish the video though.
Syl - I watch the surgical video of the VSG several times. I think it's helped me because the first time I got kind of queasy with it thinking WTH am I going to be doing to myself. Then it just became more educational as I watched it more.
Jenn - My dad was considering the RNY too until he learned of the surgery I am doing. He toolikes the idea of not re-routing the intestines and wants to see how well I do with this surgery before considering WLS for himself - at least more seriously.
He keeps telling me "I can maintain 310lbs no problem. So why can't I maintain 210?!" I'd anser him but it'd be futile. 'Hey dad. Maybe it's because you eat enough calories to maintain 310 and not 210! Just a thought!' Duh