I’m back at home and happy to be here. Heather posted a nice writeup from earlier in my stay, but I thought I would talk about it a little. The surgery got moved up twice (get there at 3:35PM, then 2PM, then 12PM). Unfortunately, I didn’t get taken back for the actual surgery until around 5:30PM, so I spent a lot of time laying around, dozing off, thinking. Not the best combination when you could technically die during the surgery (EXTREMELY low risk), but that’s how things go. Heather posted a pic from early during this time and I thought I would steal it for here 
Two doctors tag teamed my operation and I liked both of them just fine. I can’t remember anything from shortly after being rolled into the operating room to when I was rolled into my hospital room where Heather was waiting. I don’t remember being shaved for surgery, nor do I know why they shaved the top of my right leg which has no incisions. As Heather describes me, I looked like I had been hit by a truck. I had/have multiple small, laproscopic incisions around my belly and they are all a little bit sore. I won’t go into all the gory details as I doubt most would want to know them, but the first night and next day were rough. I was getting up and walking on Tuesday, 7/7/09, but I was still having a hard time. I couldn’t keep liquid pain killers down which would pose a problem for when I went home, but the IV pain meds helped. Eventually, it came down to retraining myself. I can’t simply swallow down even small amounts of foul tasting medicine, I have to sip it. 2 oz. of water is supposed to last me about an hour now and I’m supposed to be drinking that every hour I’m awake. The walking and getting up and around got much easier on Wednesday, 7/8/09, and I was finally able to keep medicine down. They cleaned me up, took out my IV and other things, and and sent me home. I walked a good bit this morning and slept most of the time when I got home except for a truly glorious hot shower (I hate feeling sticky, unwashed, etc.). Tomorrow, I begin pushing the walking regimen, keep drinking every hour, and probably manage to eat some sugar-free Jello
If you notice, my weight spiked back to 361 lbs. That is temporary and was the official weight from this morning in the hospital. The spike is due to all the liquids they’ve pumped into me for hydration and that seems to be melting back off fairly quickly (as in it may be pretty much gone tomorrow). If you want to know more details because you’re considering the surgery, contact me directly and I’d be willing to say a bit more than I think my general audience wants to know
Hi Bill,
I found out about your upcoming surgery a couple of weeks ago when you posted a link to your blog on Facebook. That’s a huge step, and I am so glad to hear that you have made it through the surgery part safely and are back home now.
They shaved my leg, too, when I got my wisdom teeth extracted (under general anesthesia) about 12 years ago. I remember asking why, and I believe the answer was that they put some grounding pad there to keep static electricity from building up in your body during the procedure, and the hair gets in the way of a good discharge path. Fun fact to know and tell.
I hope I get to see you, Heather, and Ben sometime soon.
Take care,
Josh
How many cheesy life mantras can I throw out to annoy you???
Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
Take it one day at a time.
All things with God are possible.
Take one step and the rest will follow.
How about “hot pocket” and anything else from King Baby?
So, so, so proud of the progress you have already made. But come on… quit watching Food Network. Are you a masochist?
Bill, I am very happy that the surgery went well. Can’t wait to see you in the flesh some time soon. Cheers!
Glad everything went so well with surgery and you’re back home! Don’t try to do too much. Slowly and steady as the saying goes.
Please let us know if we can do anything.
So glad to have heard the good news from Heather!
When I had the boys, I gained 10 lbs in water weight from the IVs. I then proceeded to sweat it out over the course of two days… and it was GROSS. Many showers were required. Hope you don’t go through the same thing!
PLEASE email or call if you need anything while Heather is gone!
Glad you’re back home man. We’ll hang out as soon as you’re up to it. Something simple, like renting a movie of something, maybe some video games.
Hope each day is better than the one before! Kudos to you for taking charge of your life. May your journey be as successful as Heathers. And I have to agree with Heather, btw–turn the Food Network off!!!! Aren’t there some TV series you can catch up on or get hooked on?
Glad to see you improving Bill, Diana and I are thinking about you! As far as the shaved patch on your thigh…come on admit it, if you were a doctor you would totally do that too. Shave random patches off of random places just to weird people out.
Thanks again to everyone who’s wished me well. I’m feeling great (other than hungry, see next post), but I would say I’ve come out of the surgery wonderfully! It means alot that you are all there offering support.
Oh, and I WILL be asking the doc why my right thigh was shaved just to satisfy my own curiosity and to see if it matches Josh or Chris’ suggestions