and MC..how are you fairing these days?

Darla..Darling...DID I MISS SOMETHIN

did you have surgery TOO?

I am steering clear..if at all possible..

I'm allergic to invasive procedures ..!

Hey all, thank you for all of your support…I had a tiring weekend…a lot of my family and friends stopped by to check on me. It was nice, but it took a lot out of me. However, I never thought I would be where I am at after only a week after the surgery.

The Mayo is amazing facility and the personnel are par none: total professionalism. My operating room looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. They took great care of my wife and I. My room had a sofa bed for Leah to sleep on and the nurses would bring her food and drink during our stay. It was funny, after each shift change, another nurse would give Leah something that she thought we would need when we got home: bandages, tape, gauss, a pill crusher…etc. We had our own little medical kit when my stay was over.

The whole surgery took over 5 ½ hours, but most of that time was undoing a Nissen (stomach wrap) I had done back in 1996 to repair a hiatal hernia. Once they took it down, they created the two stomachs, then connected them to the small interested and the stomach pouch to my esophagus.

I was up and walking about 5 hours after the surgery. I don’t have any gnarly photos. I have only 5 small slits in my abdomen that were closed with a medical-grade crazy glue and those have already healed. However, I do have a tube protruding from my main stomach. Since, my surgery took so long and a great deal of trauma was done to my stomach, my doctor was concerned that I might experience bloating, nausea and terrible pressure in that stomach. An over stimulated stomach will produce extra stomach acid that irritates the stitching in the lining. The tube has a plug that I can release the excessive stomach acid into the sink to relief those symptoms. Fortunately, I have not had to use it and at this point. I doubt I will; I have made it past most of the hurdles.

The morning after the surgery they did an upper GI to ensure there were no leaks in my stomach pouch; passing that test, they put me on full liquids for my stay in the hospital. Now I am able to eat puree foods and hopefully in a couple of weeks, I will be eating soft foods and grounded meats.

The night after the surgery, I was depressed and I was thinking to myself what the hell did I do to myself. I was in a lot of pain and drinking sips of water was difficult. Having the nissen done, I thought I was prepared for what to expect, but I was kidding myself. However, I did not let it get to me. I got up and walked ever couple of hours and each time, I walked a little further. You cannot imagine how much better you begin to feel by simply walking. Also, they had this breathing device that measures your intake. I did that religiously: each time trying to out due the hour before.

By the time I got home, I felt better and I felt hopeful about my health. Now it is a waiting game to see if my sleep apnea improves as I lose the weight. I am past ready to return to my work. Playing World of Warcraft to pass the time is neither living nor does it pays the bills.