Thursday 9th June - 2 weeks

Can't believe it's two weeks since my op now. I've been taking it easy since Tuesday's setback and feel like I'm beginning to recover properly now. My eating has improved - although I find it very hard to match my appetite with my stomach capacity, and I usually end up hungry between meals.  This week I've been eating snacks that are a bit more solid in between meals, rather than yoghurts etc., such as small cakes.  And when I do eat a proper meal, I'm starting to put away quite a lot (but only in comparison with the last two weeks). I've lost quite a bit of weight: I'm down to 72.7 kg as compared with 74 kg the day before the op.  It means my trousers are hanging a bit loose.  Just before my op I went out and bought some "loungewear" - basically track suit bottoms in a moderately heavy cotton that I can slob around in all day.  They have a tie at the waist which I can adjust to my own comfort and they're nice and warm (it's winter here).  The only problem is that I could only justify buying one pair, which means when they have to go in the wash, I have to wear jeans - wearing a belt is a bit uncomfortable (it puts pressure on my abdomen), so I end up hitching them up all the time, presumably because some of the lost weight is from my waist (though not enough if you ask me).

After my early evening meal I feel over-full - it's a bit unpleasant for a while.  Plus it generates a LOT of wind.  I guess I'm not the best person to be around at the moment.


The scabs around the scars (where the stitches were) have pretty much cleared up now.  The scars themselves are all about 2 cm long.  If you feel them you can feel lumpy tissue underneath, I guess where the skin & muscle is healing.  But bending and stretching is a lot easier now.

Op day plus 12 - a small setback

This morning I felt like trying to start being normal again. So once breakfast was over (such as it was - still quite small), I went and did a bit of light work in the garden, then came in and tackled the washing up.  It left me feeling a bit tired so I had a sit down. Later when I got up again I almost fainted! I was completely exhausted and had to lie down for a couple of hours.  In the afternoon I had a sleep. So - I'm under instructions from T not do do anything even remotely like manual labour for a couple of days.

Op day plus 11 - stitches out!

Just got home from the scheduled visit to the surgeon's rooms - the stitches are out.  Tickled a bit, not painful, somewhere between a scratch and an injection (but not as bad as injection). Doctor is happy everything is OK.  Carry on, basically. I can drive (a manual gearshift saloon car in my case) as soon as I'm happy I can cope with an emergency stop (the seat belt I suppose) - I reckon late this week or early next.

The plasters are off as well and my abdomen is a bit of a mess - see photograph.  He says the incisions will have healed as much as they ever will in about 10 (?) weeks total.  So, no heavy lifting or moving, and no stretching for a while.

Op day plus 6 - 9 (Thursday to Sunday)

Mostly just getting better now. Still a bit uncomfortable moving, especially bending and stretching, so I try not to do it.  Still taking a couple of pain pills at bedtime, but don't need the laxatives any more, I've moved from not often enough to too often!  Finding a poition that's comfortable at night can be difficult, but I always get there in the end.

I've moved onto proper food, as long as it's got mince in it.  My stomach feels full even with just a small meal.  I added a yoghurt after lunch today and felt like I was going to burst.

The stitches come out tomorrow morning, first thing.

Op day plus five (Wednesday)

Took ages to get to sleep last night, even though I took painkillers.  But I slept well after that and that's two nights in a row I haven't had to take extra painkillers in the night.

And the good news is: finally, a bowel movement. I'd taken a third sachet of laxative last night and I it was all very comfortable.  They will probably be more to come though, so I've had another sachet and I hope that will prove to be back to normal.

I feel very much brighter today.  To sum up so far, apart from what is probably post-operative pain, there are none of the problems I had before, such as acid reflux.  For the first time in years, I'm not taking any medicine for stomach problems.