Greetings from the hospital bed

Hard to believe i am here... Post-op. we have already established what a planner I am and all that planning and researching was a good thing. There have been relatively few surprises.

I won't bore everyone - if anyone besides me is reading! - with the moment by moment play by play and stick to the highlights. Plus it's hard to type on the iPad with an oxygen sensor on your index finger!

Lesson 1: No way I could have done this alone

I remember when Beth suggested my mom might come for my surgery and the thought had never occurred to me. This is for many reasons not the least of which is that I am just not used to having my family around. And that's not a passive aggressive, but a proximity statement. They are all in Ohio, I am in Philadelphia. I'm just used to doing stuff on my own.

Well no way I could do this "stuff" on my own. Sure my friends would have stepped up if mom couldn't be here but having her here has been nothing short of wonderful. Just having time with her that, while stressful, is not drama-filled has been great. I truly can't remember a time when I have been the focus and that 6 year old girl in me kinda likes that! I'm sure it will be enough soon, but for right now it is nice to have her take care of me a little. (okay a lot)

Come on, there is only one person in the world who is allowed to look your surgeon in the face and say 'you take care of my little girl, she's the most important thing for you today.' who wouldn't pay good money for that advocate?

A close second to mom is Beth, who braved her own medical issues to be with me all day Monday and hold my hand while I had a complete melt down post-op when I couldn't walk more than 20 steps unassisted without feeling sick and needing to lie down.

And then there's Marie, who after mom is the best patient advocate ever, having spent so much of her life as one. It was her helpful advice that reminded me that I am the one in control of my care... Some gems from nurse Marie:

1. Don't close your door at night or you run the risk of being ignored
2. Ask for what you want, no matter how silly you think it is. If you want I've, someone will get you ice because it's all about your comfort.
3. Go ahead and cry/melt down because you just did a very big and important thing.

Lesson 2: Gas pain won't kill you but it will try

From friends who had laparoscopic surgery before comes this gem and man, even in my research, I was not prepared for it. The actual procedure was okay and the pain meds help control that pain nicely but NOTHING stops the gas pain which is everywhere.

Seriously the incisions are a cake walk compared to the gas pain. And yes all that helps is moving. Walk even when you don't want to, it makes pressure stop building up. Even after my disastrous first attempt at walking, I felt 10 times better after when I could burp a little and let the gas buildup out.

Well into day 2, the gas pain is still here but every little walk around the floor helps alleviate it a little.

Lesson 3: Seriously the last thing on your mind is food

At the end of the day, I remain a fat girl. And it is just inconceivable that 24 hours - hell, 8 hours!- after surgery I wouldn't even think of food but that's true. They put a food tray on my bedside table this morning and I just looked at it as if I had no idea what to do with it. Did they expect me to eat it? And better yet, want it?

And they are right... It was hard to get 3 cups of broth down and no way I was able to do the 6 cups of water today on top of that. This retraining myself to eat is going to be the weirdest thing. Small sips and trying not to swallow air (there's enough in there, thanks!) are my new prime directives.

Lesson 4: Liquid diet is crazy important

I remain insanely impressed with having survived the liquid diet. And for those of you asking, total of about 15 pounds came off in 2 weeks but no one in their right mind does that just for weight loss benefits.

I even confessed to my doctor that I cheated by having popcorn one day and he scoffed at me! That wasn't even cheating in his opinion! Damn, I could have cheated on something better than that?

According to the doctor my liver was tiny! So the liquid diet did the trick. No issues with it at all which makes surgery and then recovery easier.

Lesson 5: Little girls make everything better

KV and Helena left me pictures!

Again on the "I have the best friends in the world" broken record, the hospital is literally 2 blocks from Mimi and Chris' house so we stayed with them the night before and then mom is there while I'm here. Perfect set up.

Added benefits are that just like snuggling with my cats immediately lowers my blood pressure, seeing the girls delighted by everything like drawing on the dry erase board in my room and playing on the hospital bed that goes up and down just makes you laugh and smile. And it's a cliche but also true: laughter is the best medicine.

I love all the little people in my life and at the end of the day, I am doing this to be a healthier me who has more joy and laughter in her life.

I know nothing is going to be 'easy' but I am here to say this has all been doable with the right prep, mindset and support.

Thanks for reading!