Changes.

Two weeks post op and I'm seeing changes in his body. His face, neck, and shoulders are slimmer. I can see his colar bones now and his shoulder bones. His calve muscles are much more defined when he walks or moves around. He still lacks energy, and he stays cold most of the time. He is noticing small changes too. He is able to prop his legs in positions that previously he couldn't, or that would have been very uncomfortable. As of today, he weighs 412 lbs! Look out 300's, here we come.

A Little Set Back.

Back to the ER we go. They weren't able to give us a definite answer, but they're trying to reassure us it's not a blood clot. Possibly gout, so taking meds. Also a small possibility it's a stress fracture from all that walking around city lake, even though the X-rays don't show anything. We're going to baby the foot for a few days and see how it feels then. We will just keep on keeping on. 

My Suggestions So Far.

So what have I learned these past two weeks.....plenty, and not nearly enough! 

If someone interested in this surgery were to ask my opinion, I would have to tell them that this isn't an easy trip. Not for the patient, or their caregiver. It is a physical battle, as well as a mental battle for both of you. If you do not have someone to be your full time caregiver following the surgery, I would say this surgery just isn't an option for you IF you're severely overweight. People with lower and lower BMI's are having this done all the time, and in many ways it is an easier transition for those individuals. They tend not to struggle with every day activities to the same extent morbidly obese people do. Things like walking, or dressing themselves. 

I don't regret Bobby's decision to have this surgery, personally, but I will say that in many ways it's like having a baby again. We have to preplan any trip outside the house. We have to pack a bag for sippy cups, foods, medicines and vitamins, and of course, the schedule so we don't forget what gets taken when. Every day has to be pre planned. Prepping is a big key to our success I am finding.

I would also suggest, to anyone severely overweight, that your spouse or caretaker take just as much time off from work as the patient does. In the beginning they will need basic help that anyone following a surgery will need. After they begin to heal, they will need your encouragement and support with keeping active. About 2 weeks in, they will need you there for full time mental support. I don't have this luxury because I just started a new job and still in my probation period, but every day I long to be home with him and keep his mind active.

We are starting to become more settled with this new lifestyle but it's still very taxing. Finding ways to destress is important at this stage.

Let's Get Physical.

Today is the first day that Bobby woke up with any level of energy. Even on his good days, he's woken up sluggish and had to work up to his good mood. He suggested we go for a walk around City Lake. He did fabulous! He walked from bench to bench, resting between spurts. It was very difficult for him. His knees were killing him, he was easily winded, and he felt so weak. It was a tough mental battle, as much as it was a physical battle. He felt very defeated when he wasn't able to complete an entire lap around the lake. It's a total of .6 miles around, and he made it to .5 around. He was very close, but the last stretch didn't have any benches and he was afraid to attempt it being so worn out at that point. I, however, was beyond proud of him. I wasn't sure he'd get even half a lap in, but he pushed himself and accomplished so much. He is battling knee pain, weeks of inactivity, a major surgery, and a lack of food. It's a rough journey, but he's doing it!

Trial & Error.

I am so tired of buying replacement items!!!!!  Ok, just saying that helps me feel a little bit better.  We went shopping before surgery to make sure we were stocked on the 'must haves' on our list.  There were vitamins and supplements, medicines, protein, calcium, antacids, juices, water, spoons, sippy cups, yadda yadda yadda. It was overwhelming trying to guess what we would use, and what we wouldn't. After analyzing everything, we finally felt prepared.....and then we came home from the hospital!  We had 4 new prescriptions to fill.  Half of the vitamins we bought ended up being too difficult for him to swallow, even being cut in half.  He struggled getting them down, and couldn't stomach them crushed.  So we had to find replacements.  Double the cost, double the stressing over whether they would work.  In the end, it wouldn't have mattered if we had waited to buy them or not.  We still would have chosen the options we originally did, and would have had to find replacements at some point.  There just isn't any way to know what will work until you actually try it.  We bought some baby food fruits and veggies (because they are approved options for his new diet plan) and he isn't able to stomach those either. The taste makes him gag.  I try not to laugh, but it's hard!  :)  So finding veggies I can make at home and puree is just another added stress.  Things we commonly eat like green beans aren't so bad, but others are difficult since no one else will eat them and making very small amounts seems ends up being kind of wasteful. We've tried various forms of water flavors, protein flavors. and juices.  Ended up ordering specialty items online from a bariatric supply company because they have the best options, even though it's twice the cost. When we end up finding something that works, it almost makes me want to do a little dance.  I think this has been the most draining part of the process for me.  All the shopping, replacing, and trying new this or that.  I know we will eventually get it all worked out, but it feels stressful at the moment.

One Week Post-op.

I notice a big change today. Day 5 he felt great, day 6 not so much, day 7 so-so, but today is another great day. He's spent a good portion of time visiting with family and friends and that is so reviving to the soul. These past days he's mostly felt like sitting around, not much energy. Today he's more energetic and even making plans to get some exercise by walking around the city lake. An activity he would never have mentioned before! He's lost all the extra weight the surgery caused, plus an addition 12lbs. Today he weighed in at 422lbs. I can see some change in his shoulder/collar bone area, and in his legs. He's become more accepting of his new schedule of consuming liquids and such. We aren't as overwhelmed now, and he finally had his first bowel movement at 7 days post-op. I'm starting to glimps a little light at the end of the tunnel.

A Breath Of Fresh Air.

Today has been a very reviving day for us all. 5 days post-op, it's sunny and warmer outside which is putting us all in a much better mood. Bobby is feeling much better today, so much so that he even took the golf cart out for a stroll. He went very slow, but it didn't cause him any discomfort. He took a shower and didn't get worn out. He's also had a few visitors today, which is always good for the soul. He is back down to his original weight prior to surgery. With swelling and fluids, he weighed 23 lbs. heavier the day he was released. Today is the first day he has made his fluid intake goals. He got in two protein shakes, two bottles of water, and some juice. I am really proud of him. I know it's hard sipping something throughout the entire day. 

The 4th Day Post-Op.

Today has been a struggle for Bobby.  Anytime someone is sick, or has an injury, or the like, there comes a point when you are just ready to be done with it all and feel better already.  Today has been that day for him.  He doesn't feel bad, he just doesn't feel good.  He says he feels like he has zero energy, and he just wants to sleep.  He wears himself out just going to the bathroom and back to the recliner.  He is opting to skip his shower tonight because he's just too tired. He has a very low grade fever, highest hitting 100.5 but he's had that since coming home from the hospital.  Most of the time, it's 99. I really think it's just his body trying to recoup.  They told him that was pretty normal, and he doesn't need to be concerned unless it hits 101.5 or higher.  Today is the first day he's asked for Tylenol though.  He hasn't taken any pain meds since coming home.  He doesn't like to side effects of them, and he really hasn't been in much pain.  Mostly just soreness, lack of energy, and stomach rumbling.  On the plus side, today he's been awesome with consuming more fluids and getting all the vitamins and meds in.  He is feeling a little overwhelmed at the new time schedule he will have to follow for quite some time.  He is constantly drinking, eating, or medicating, or consuming vitamins.  It's literally something every hour of the day, while constantly drinking. On top of it all, he's bored.  For several days he's done nothing but sit around most of the day.  TV, internet, and texting gets old after so long but he doesn't have the energy to do anything else.  Today is rough, but he does keep saying he knows it will get better soon. He just wishes soon, was now.

A Change Of Pace.

Today is the first day of implementing this new lifestyle on our own. It was easy to take for granted having someone else bring Bobby his meals, meds, and vitamins on schedule. Now we must remember it all on our own. I admit, this has been a very stressful part of the process. Making up a daily routine of when he can have what. ALL vitamins, meds, meals, and drinks have to be strategically placed. Certain things must be done in the morning versus afternoon. Some things have to be taken with an empty stomach others crushed with food. Some things can be crushed, some cannot. Some vitamins cannot be taken with other vitamins, some meds without other meds, you can't drink too close to meals, and yet you must drink all day to even come close to consuming the required amount to avoid dehydration. Just making sure you've purchased the correct kind of meds and vitamins is stressful enough, but the scheduling is a minor nightmare! For a very long time, Bobby will be on a strict timeline everyday. It all feels very overwhelming today, but I know once we get into a routine things will seem much easier.

Home Sweet Home!

We're finally home! I am so relieved. I meant to get a picture of Bobby leaving the hospital but when the time actually came we were so preoccupied with paperwork and information that I completely forgot. I was sad for a few moments once I realized I had forgotten, but it was short lived. :) With the amount of nausea he had been having, I was terrified that he might have another Vagal episode during the 3 1/2 hour trip home. Or that his bowels might decide that was the time they'd like to start working. However, he did fabulous. Minimal pain, no nausea, and only a fart or two. LoL. A friend had told him to take a pillow with him for the ride home to use as a barrier between the seat belt and his stomach. He actually ended up using it to hug over rough spots in the road. It was very helpful to him. We stopped halfway through our trip to get gas and he got out to do a little walking. Every 15 minutes or so he would do calve exercises to help keep good circulation. He was a trooper through it all, and it was a lot easier than we thought the ride would be. We are ready to get some uninterrupted sleep!

Uncovering The Bandages.

The doctor came in to check out Bobby's progress and removed his support wrap to check incision sites. They made 6 incisions and they all looked wonderful with the exception of this one. The doctor was pretty impressed with the massive size of this bruise. We all had a little chuckle over it. Bobby says it looks much worse than it actually feels.

Improved.

At 28 hours post-op, Bobby once again perked up a bit. His BP is finally staying at 100/70 or above, which is a major improvement for him. His nausea has turned into more of a belly ache versus a vomiting sensation. He has been able to walk a 16th of a mile every two hoursand we're at 33 hours post-op now. His color has returned, and he's been more talkative. He's consumed 23 ounces of liquid in the last 5 hours. Among those are water, grape juice, jello, and yogurt. He had 3 tiny bites of applesauce but it didn't sit well on his stomach. For him, consuming anti-acids every two hours has been helpful. He is burping often but hasn't passed any gas intestinally. He has stopped receiving pain meds by IV, and takes oral liquid form. The most concern the staff has for him currently is that he isn't urinating very often in coronation to how much fluids he's receiving thru IV. Even so, he's much improved and I'm expecting a much smoother night ahead.

Assessing The Damage.

Bobbys first Vagal episode had zero warning signs. Therefore, I was completely unprepared to catch a falling man! It would be impossible to explain through writing alone exactly what happened other than to say this knee took most of the impact of the fall. The manner in which he fell caused his IV and power cords to wrap behind his neck and actually stopped his head from hitting the floor. Thank you Almighty Lord! Otherwise I could be telling a completely different story. The picture doesn't show the bruising very well, but it does show just how lucky he was. 

The Trouble Begins.

Those welcomed signs of life ended up being very short lived. At 7 hours post-op Bobby's nausea got considerably worse. He began vomiting, and his blood pressure dropped very low. Fairly consistent readings of about 68/45. This dual combination caused Bobby to start Vagal episodes. Simply put, every time he would vomit it would cause him to pass out. Passing out would cause him to then choke on his vomit. One episode even caused a minor seizure reaction. I cannot begin to explain how terrifying it was to be witness to these events. I seriously thought I'd lost my husband.....more than once. Thankfully, Bobby has zero recollection of any of his episodes. I cannot imagine how terrifying it would be to be aware of what was happening to you during those fits. Needless to say, Bobby was confined to the bed once this all began. He was miserable with aches, bloating, nausea, lightheadedness, and just generally not being able to get comfortable. It's safe to conclude that THIS was the moment he completely regretted the decision to have this surgery!

Signs Of Life!

Well it took a solid 4 hours to go from 'dead to the world' to 'signs of life'. He's only sat up once, and was instantly nauseous and dry heaving. As you can imagine, vomiting after a stomach surgery is quite painful. He's still very pale, feels cool to the touch, and just generally groggy. His mouth is very dry, and he asks for ice chips often. So far, he's completely normal. The specialists did a great job preparing us for all the things he would be feeling.

The Waiting Begins.

It's still dark outside, and we've already been up for two hours. It's gonna be a long day. The girls have been awesome this morning. Not a single complaint. Let's pray this continues!

The Morning Of.

Here he sits trying to pass a little time before we head. Nerves have definitely arrived now. He's dressed comfortably, and left his glasses on. He didn't sleep well at all. Partly because he was uncomfortable, partly because he was nervous. I admit, I didn't sleep well either worrying that we might over sleep somehow. 

The Day Before.

We have traveled three hours away to the city where his surgery will be performed. We decided to stay in s hotel the night before since he has to check in so early in the morning. This is also Spring Break for the girls, so it will allow a little fun for them to get to go swimming. I can tell nerves are beginning to set in for Bobby. I think he's handling it better than I would myself, however. He got to eat a large healthy breakfast this morning, then only pudding like foods for lunch, and only liquids for dinner. He's being such a trooper. 

Two Days Before.

I am really proud of Bobby. When he attended his very first appointment with the surgery center, they weighed him at just over 450 lbs. Today he weighed in over 16 lbs lighter. He has already been making healthier choices each day despite not being very mobile. He's done surprisingly well without his arthritis meds and just keeps pushing through the pain. I've noticed a change in how often he asks one of us to do something for him so he doesn't have to move, but it is much better than either of us anticipated it would be. For that, I am so very thankful!

The Journey Begins!

Our journey begins today.....sorta. Bobby has officially completed all the required classes needed to receive his surgery date. Those were relatively painless, if you don't count boredom as painful. His surgery date is one week away so now he must begin expanding his lung capacity. Several times a day he will use this contraption to do a breathing exercise that will help prevent pneumonia after surgery. Today he must also stop using his arthritis medicine, which neither of us are looking forward to. He already struggles with knee and back pain so severely even with the help of the medicine that I am very concerned about his mobility without it. Either way, it must be done, and so our journey begins.