Surgery Day

05-05- 2003 - Re-Birthday

I'm packed, ready for the early start tomorrow morning. I'm just checking on last minute things online, saying adios to a friend or two. Someone who wrote me a supportive message on ObesityHelp.com called this my "ReBirthday". What a cool way to look at it! Something to celebrate, for sure.

I'm taking a robe, two pairs of hospital booties, the girls' Girl Scout sashes, a copy of "O" magazine, a notebook and pencil, all my paperwork, lip gloss, all my meds, small bottles of shampoo and soap, my cd player and extra batteries, my own pillows, my glucometer, and thinking about taking my Palm. I plan to wear a dress of my mom's, and my Birkenstocks, which will double as slippers.

I want to see what I actually end up using. The bag's pretty heavy...

I'll update when I get home.

(from my journal) Woke up groggy, not surprisingly. Then found out the surgery actually took 5 hours, instead of the projected 1 1/2 to 2. We were warned by the surgery nurse that it could take that long.

I don't think I've ever had so many drugs pumped/shot into me. Blood thinner, antibiotics, anti-nausea, 2 IV's, and albuterol treatment...

I'm glad it's done, despite the pain I'm dealing with now. Morphine dulls it, but it never goes away. I haven't been given a pump, so I have to ask for pain meds.

I'm not sleeping well, and managed to read the magazine I brought with me. I doze off and on. Not hungry at all, but thirstier than hell.

Continued...