I am just up from my first restful night of sleep at home. I will try to recount my events as best remembered from the photo on the left to now. This picture was waiting in a pre-op room. I was in there for almost 3 hours! My doctor was running a little late; but, eventually around 3pm, I was trekking off to operating room. I walked into this big room that was freezing cold and I settled on a table in the middle. At least 5 people were swarming around me, working on various parts of me to get me ready for this life changing operation. There I was, spread like a christ figure on a table with my life in others hands. Anyone who knows me knows what a joyful experience it is to have control taken away from me. I faded into oblivion. I woke up in recovery very confused and sore. I have no memory of leaving the recovery room and being wheeled into my room. I have some hazy memories of seeing my beautiful wife by my side as I slept and passed a great deal of gas.

I finally came to that evening in room 417-1 in the West wing of Methodist hospital. Over the next 36 hours, I had some wonderful care by many different nurses and assistants. In particular, my overnight nurse, Barb was a great chuckle. She just told me like it is and kept me legit. She came in every 4 hours and woke me up to take my vitals and get me to walk. It was very hard at first. I had felt like I just completed doing a million crunches. Walking was helping and I tried to do a lap around the ward as much as I could.

I had my first experience with a catheter. It was not as horrible as I had imagined; but, I was unconscious when it was put in; but, wide awake when it came out. That was one of the weirdest feelings I had ever experienced. It was not good or bad, just weird. I woke up on Thursday morning very early to get my vitals and had my eye on being discharged soon. Kay, one of my nurses, was a complete joy to be around. She had the great joy of removing my IV and my drain tube., both which my wife had to leave the room for or she would have thrown up. She's my rock! Having my drain tube removed was a slightly unpleasant experience. It felt like my insides were going to come out with the pull. It caused me some nausea that I had not ever felt before. I was visited by my Doctor upon discharge and he greeted me with a DVD of my surgery. Yes, I know, that seems awful, but I have that morbid curiosity in me.

I had some great experiences. My wife's work department sent me some wonderful sunflowers and my Mom and her boyfriend Bill came for a visit. A neat experience was my evening Nurse Amy. At one point, she asked me if I had ever worked at Tuggs in Minneapolis. I said yes and she said she was hired by me. I was flabbergasted that she remembered me and we chatted about some good times and the memories started to roll back in. It just goes to show how small the world can be and how you should be nice to those around you because you never know if someone will be responsible for your pain medication later in life.

Now I am home and managing my pain and eating like a bird. I am on clear liquids until next Wednesday. I have my follow-up post op visit with my Bariatric nurse. I hope to progress to full liquids and eat things like yogurt and cream of wheat and then progress to pureed food shortly after that. Everyday is a new adventure, like being born again. This second chance will not be wasted. This second chance is my time. Thank you to everyone for all their great positive thoughts and prayers. You are my greatest healing power.