THE POST MORTEM

Day 1 - Arrived at the hospital - St Vincent's Private at 6.30am and taken to the Day Surgery Unit where they get you ready for theatre. Hubby was able to come here and wait with me until I was summoned. As I was leaving they put this big blue nylon sheet on the end of the trolley,I asked if it was a body bag (yes, I still had my sense of humour!!) I was to find out later it was a Hover Mat used to lift me off the bed. They inflate it and two people can easily move a hefierlump like me.ha!

I was put in the Anaesthetic Room,so have no memory of anything after that. all I remember is being told I was being given a relaxant and my surgeon would come in and talk to me prior to surgery and I probably wouldn't remember anything, they were right I didn't.

Next it's 10.30am and I'm in recovery and told all went well. Taken back to my room (not ICU)where hubby is waiting and given some much needed drugs, the pain was quite bad, all on my left side. After a couple of hours I was taken down to XRay where they did a Barium Swallow to make sure the band was in it's correct position and not leaking, thankfully all was ok.

I am given some apple juice to have which was divine,but I'm unable to drink it all.At dinner I'm given a small bowl of clear broth and some jelly. I ask the nurses three times if I'm supposed to have the jelly but they say it's all right,so I have it and try to liquefy it as much as possible in my mouth before swallowing. At about 8.00 pm I'm told I'm in a cardiac ward and need to be moved down the the Bariatric Ward (thankfully to a private room).

I had a dreadful night with pain all down my left side, had about three hours of sleep, even the morphine did not give me much relief.

Day 2 - My surgeon came in and gave me a printout of my diet for the next few weeks, clearly written in big print is a unsuitable foods lists which jelly is on the top of the list. When I tell him I got given jelly not once but twice, he hit the roof (not at me).This happened because I was sent ot another ward because there was not a bed available for me probably because I was originally booked into ICU post op.

My meals are now consisting of 2 bowls of broth (tastes like and looks like washing water) and some diet cordial. I am only allowed to drink 50mls every 20 minutes. I must say I was struggling to do that and still am.

Day 3 - Discharged late morning with half the Pharmacy to take home with me. Feeling very bloated and sore.Everythime I drink my 50mls it feels like it's sitting in my throat as well as a big lump in my sternum which radiates to my back.

Day 4 - Today, Had a reasonable sleep, still feeling sore and still have the uncomfortable feeling when I drink. I had a shake for breakfast which takes me over 1 hour to drink,some Bonox for lunch a well as sipping water throughout the day.

I must admit I have absolutely no interest in food at the moment, actually it's a turn off for me to see any. I'm feeling a little better since I was able to do No 2's(sorry for the details) as I was feeling very bloated.

So that's it for the moment, I have to stick to 50mls of allowable liquids, I'm disappointed I'm not allowed any soups, only clear broths for 2 whole weeks, which is not worrying me at the moment, but may do as I start to fell better. Anyways it's a small price to pay. One of the nurses told me in the hospital they know of patients who have pureed McDonalds - OMG! I can't understand why anyone would want to do that to themselves after going through it all - such a waste.

So now it's just a waiting game, taking it easy and allowing myself to heal, I've resisted the urge to jump on the scales - I'm going to leave it till Friday once the week is up.

So until next time bye for now!