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Four weeks
It's been 4 weeks. I went back to work (starting with part time) yesterday. I am sore and tired and crabby by the end of the day!
Tightness comes and goes. I'm able to sleep on my side for a bit before it gets sore. Was given permission to start light workouts....
Tightness comes and goes. I'm able to sleep on my side for a bit before it gets sore. Was given permission to start light workouts....
Two weeks
It's been 16 days since surgery, and while I am doing better and better each day, I do need to share the yucky stuff as well as the good stuff... In my previous post I talked about a swelling/pain I felt in my groin area. Dr. G had said most likely cluster of Internal sutures causing some pulling /tightness. The day after that, I went backwards in my progress unable to stand as upright as I previously worked my way to. It was seriously painful. Then it got smelly :(
I started oozing this brown/yellow/orange liquid through a suture at the base of my T Intersection. I have never smelled anything worse in my life. And obvs I couldn't get away from the smell, as it was coming out of my body. So so gross, every hour or so it redrained, just started oozing/pouring out of this suture. Called Dr G, sent photo and video. He said that it was most likely necrotic tissue and fat, nothing to be concerned about it, and we'd see him the next morning.
I spent that night sitting in the shower, applying pressure to my belly and groin area to encourage it to drain. Yuck yuck. The next morning, Dr G saw us and confirmed it was tissue/fat necrosis (via a local anesthetic and aspirating a syringe of the stuff out of me), and he explained that the T intersection, which is at the base of his tension sutures used for drain less technique, has so many internal sutures that it's hard to normal tissue and fat to thrive, so they necrode into (I'm paraphrasing) liquid, and leak. That groin ish pain I had before may have been tearing, and killed some tissue there, too. The best way for him to help with that? He cut open a couple sutures (outside and internal) right at the intersection and we cover it was guaze (and at home, feminine pads) and leave it open to drain as needed. This way no necrotic tissue can build up as swell, and we have an effective way of containing the leaking.
So, on the downside, it mentally irks me out knowing I have an open hole in my stomach that I fill with guaze. On the bright side, it relieved so much swelling that in the next 48 hours I progressed more than I had in the previous 10 days. I think I would be complety upright if not for some residual swelling moving up my back that makes me feel kind of like I have a turtle shell.
Also, and I've read this is far more common, I've recently started some of the same necrotic leaking from my left breast. Not nearly as much as from my belly, but enough that I'm using guaze to contain it.
My next post - op is tomorrow morning.
I started oozing this brown/yellow/orange liquid through a suture at the base of my T Intersection. I have never smelled anything worse in my life. And obvs I couldn't get away from the smell, as it was coming out of my body. So so gross, every hour or so it redrained, just started oozing/pouring out of this suture. Called Dr G, sent photo and video. He said that it was most likely necrotic tissue and fat, nothing to be concerned about it, and we'd see him the next morning.
I spent that night sitting in the shower, applying pressure to my belly and groin area to encourage it to drain. Yuck yuck. The next morning, Dr G saw us and confirmed it was tissue/fat necrosis (via a local anesthetic and aspirating a syringe of the stuff out of me), and he explained that the T intersection, which is at the base of his tension sutures used for drain less technique, has so many internal sutures that it's hard to normal tissue and fat to thrive, so they necrode into (I'm paraphrasing) liquid, and leak. That groin ish pain I had before may have been tearing, and killed some tissue there, too. The best way for him to help with that? He cut open a couple sutures (outside and internal) right at the intersection and we cover it was guaze (and at home, feminine pads) and leave it open to drain as needed. This way no necrotic tissue can build up as swell, and we have an effective way of containing the leaking.
So, on the downside, it mentally irks me out knowing I have an open hole in my stomach that I fill with guaze. On the bright side, it relieved so much swelling that in the next 48 hours I progressed more than I had in the previous 10 days. I think I would be complety upright if not for some residual swelling moving up my back that makes me feel kind of like I have a turtle shell.
Also, and I've read this is far more common, I've recently started some of the same necrotic leaking from my left breast. Not nearly as much as from my belly, but enough that I'm using guaze to contain it.
My next post - op is tomorrow morning.
From sugery up to today, 7-8 days PO (detailed)
As I mentioned, my surgeon did the LBL and breast lift drain less. My surgery was Dec 12, and it was done as an outpatient procedure at a surgical center. Dr. G is affiliated with many area hospitals, but he does prefer (if he can) to work out of the surgical site. This ensures he can use his own team, and it cuts down on patient bills by not having the hospital fees, which may have made it an overnight stay and fee.
Dec 11 I was directed to take 2 gabapenton (nerve blocking opioid). Dec 12, my hubby, my sis, and myself (feeling not quite 'there' due to medication) leave for Chicago in order to make our surgical appointment time of 730am. At the surgical center, Dr G spends about 30 minutes marking me up like a map, I'm given an IV, and 3 or 4 injections in my lower belly muscles that act as a long term pain block. I say 'I love you' to the hubs, and I don't remember anything after that until waking up.
I was apparently out and on the table for 7.5 hours (good thing I was super healthy going in!!). I woke up already in my compression garment (and no drains!!!!), feeling very very groggy. The nurses and anesthesiologist had me walk around a few times to make sure I was good to go. I was of course only able to walk around being hunched over, and was fine until I got very light headed. They ended up needing to put in another IV to give me anti nausae drugs (in addition to all the cranberry juice and ginger ale), as the lightheadedness made me want to vomit. (I have low blood pressure, and low blood sugar, which are both fantastic for my health, but can make me no stranger to lightheadedness. I made sure the team knew that I was on verge of being sick. After major work like that, I wasn't going to risk a thing by not telling the medical staff how my body was feeling). Shortly after that, hubby, sister, and I were on our way to the Suites near my surgeons office.
We got in our room, put Harry Potter in (my comfort movie (: ) and started my first night with crackers, pretzels, lots of juice, and lots of falling asleep every time I actually thought I was going to wake up!
I slept perfectly fine on the sofa. Had my legs up, back against the rest, and was not uncomfortable. Dr. G and Ellen stopped by that night to check on us, and again the following morning. I had a kind of gnarly headache going on, but surgical pain was probably only around a 4? Not bad. All surgical sites were looking good, so we got the approval to go home (about 45 minutes away) around noon on Dec. 13.
I had been gifted a nearly brand new lift recliner by my best friends parents, who had no use for it anymore. When I got home, I went straight to the chair, with a table next to me loaded with juice, water, books, remote, etc. I made the (at the time I thought silly) purchase of a toilet seat raiser, and we had a stool ready for the tub for when I was allowed to shower the next day. Thought ourselves pretty prepared. And for the actual surgical stuff, we were very prepared. What we were not ready for was 4-5 days worth of constant, explosive migraines! That gnarly-ish headache I had Wednesday morning grew into one of the worst migraines I've had since I was a teenager. Then the types of migraines changed into a type I'd never had before, where it felt like explosions happening in my head, and I couldn't even think of opening my eyes. Post - care stated that I wasn't allowed Exedrin, but these constant headaches and migraines were putting surgical care to the wayside, so hubby talked to the surgeon, and he said it could have been induced by 7+ hours of anesthesia, and if it was still giving me grief the next day to visit my general physician for a migraine injection. The next day I saw my GP, who gave me a shot of imitrex, as well as an Rx for them, to take as needed for the migraines. (I should mention that I had previously filled RX for oxycodin, and the gabapentin, but stopped taking both and was just using ibuprofen and Tylenol, in case the migraines were narcotic based). I took my first shower (with lots of help from hubby) 4 days post op. It felt super great, let me tell you, to wash off hospital smell, dried oozing blood, avrub my face... Feel almost like a person again.
Anyway, the imitrex worked for awhile, but the real saving grace was my first post - op visit (5 days post op) where I was given permission by surgeon to take Exedrin, as long as we paid attention to the amount of Tylenol in it, with how much I was using outside of it. And of course not to mix it with the Oxy. He also gave an Rx for Tramadol, which is a non-narcotic pain med that has been used for. Migraines, in case I'd like to try it (especially because I have not been taking any of the narcotic pain meds previously filled). Also at the first post - op, I was given a great report card on how I was walking, and how great surgical sites still looked. I made sure with the surgeon that it was OK that I was eating so much!! I mean, to this day, I am STARVING about every two hours! It's a pretty standard routine here at our house now that every two hours my hubby will help me walk to the bathroom (drinking so many fluids), and I'm going to need food. Essentially, it's totally fine. 1) my body is using a huge amount of energy to work on healing itself. 2) im not actually able to eat much at a time due to all the swelling, and feeling space restricted. 3) I lost 125# with diet an exercise, so I'm not eating crap every two hours. I'm making sure to get in as much protein based snacking, and 'whole' food snacking as I can. This isn't to say that I did not enjoy the hell outta a McDs chocolate shake the other day, or that I don't grab the cheezits when the mood hits. Dr. G said that my body would try to tell me what it needs, so if I'm craving something, go for it.
So, now it's today, and we just got back from my second post - op. I had texted my surgeon earlier today asking about a very odd..... Bubbly? feeling that I was getting on my lower back, inside the incision line area. No pain, just kind of oddly fuzzy. He told me it was likely change in swelling, but had me come in (at, seriously, our convenience. We got to his practice at 7:30 at night) just in case it was the start of a fluid build up. He checked everywhere, said everything still looked very good, that was most likely change in swelling. While I was there, he took off all the incision tape and re-taped. I also asked him about a pain in almost my groin area, that just an hour or so before going to see him shot up. It feels very very tight, and when I walk is very painful (I found out that Ice helped!!). He felt around, said it was most likely some internal suture pulling and while painful, he didn't seem concerned about it causing harm. Also some super super happy news, I was given permission at this point to take off my compression garment to shower and relax a couple hours without it on!!!! I am SO SO SO SO excited to take this off and wash it!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's where we are now. Ladies and gents, I am 8 days out of sugery, and this is what I know: 1) Swelling. IS. Real. I had just over 12#s of flesh and excess skin taken off my body, and i'm still 5#s heavier than my day of surgery. That equates to roughly 17#s of swelling I'm holding on to. Totally normal, and I still wear clothes better now than before all the skin removal. It's your body healing itself, it's going to swell, and it sucks.
2) I still have a huge migraine every time I wake up, but two Exedrin knocks it out in less than an hour, and then I spend the day feeling almost human again. 3) I am very tired of not being able to stretch, and sleep on my side. I'm also tired of how things like just walking to the mailbox makes me tired! 4) I would be up a creek without my amazing husband, who won't let me walk alone (I mean, I walk mostly upright by now, without holding on to him, but due to my lightheadedness, he wants to be near in case I lose a step/etc) 5) my distaste for cranberry juice has been reaffirmed. 6) it hurts, but I am so glad I did this. Even through the swelling, I have this light at the end of the tunnel of what my body is going to be.
Goodnight for now! In the future, posts will be shorter, as I'll have less to go through in updates. :) Real Self was a huge prepping and research tool for me, and I'm more than happy to answer any private messages/questions if you are planning this type of post weight loss major surgery!
Dec 11 I was directed to take 2 gabapenton (nerve blocking opioid). Dec 12, my hubby, my sis, and myself (feeling not quite 'there' due to medication) leave for Chicago in order to make our surgical appointment time of 730am. At the surgical center, Dr G spends about 30 minutes marking me up like a map, I'm given an IV, and 3 or 4 injections in my lower belly muscles that act as a long term pain block. I say 'I love you' to the hubs, and I don't remember anything after that until waking up.
I was apparently out and on the table for 7.5 hours (good thing I was super healthy going in!!). I woke up already in my compression garment (and no drains!!!!), feeling very very groggy. The nurses and anesthesiologist had me walk around a few times to make sure I was good to go. I was of course only able to walk around being hunched over, and was fine until I got very light headed. They ended up needing to put in another IV to give me anti nausae drugs (in addition to all the cranberry juice and ginger ale), as the lightheadedness made me want to vomit. (I have low blood pressure, and low blood sugar, which are both fantastic for my health, but can make me no stranger to lightheadedness. I made sure the team knew that I was on verge of being sick. After major work like that, I wasn't going to risk a thing by not telling the medical staff how my body was feeling). Shortly after that, hubby, sister, and I were on our way to the Suites near my surgeons office.
We got in our room, put Harry Potter in (my comfort movie (: ) and started my first night with crackers, pretzels, lots of juice, and lots of falling asleep every time I actually thought I was going to wake up!
I slept perfectly fine on the sofa. Had my legs up, back against the rest, and was not uncomfortable. Dr. G and Ellen stopped by that night to check on us, and again the following morning. I had a kind of gnarly headache going on, but surgical pain was probably only around a 4? Not bad. All surgical sites were looking good, so we got the approval to go home (about 45 minutes away) around noon on Dec. 13.
I had been gifted a nearly brand new lift recliner by my best friends parents, who had no use for it anymore. When I got home, I went straight to the chair, with a table next to me loaded with juice, water, books, remote, etc. I made the (at the time I thought silly) purchase of a toilet seat raiser, and we had a stool ready for the tub for when I was allowed to shower the next day. Thought ourselves pretty prepared. And for the actual surgical stuff, we were very prepared. What we were not ready for was 4-5 days worth of constant, explosive migraines! That gnarly-ish headache I had Wednesday morning grew into one of the worst migraines I've had since I was a teenager. Then the types of migraines changed into a type I'd never had before, where it felt like explosions happening in my head, and I couldn't even think of opening my eyes. Post - care stated that I wasn't allowed Exedrin, but these constant headaches and migraines were putting surgical care to the wayside, so hubby talked to the surgeon, and he said it could have been induced by 7+ hours of anesthesia, and if it was still giving me grief the next day to visit my general physician for a migraine injection. The next day I saw my GP, who gave me a shot of imitrex, as well as an Rx for them, to take as needed for the migraines. (I should mention that I had previously filled RX for oxycodin, and the gabapentin, but stopped taking both and was just using ibuprofen and Tylenol, in case the migraines were narcotic based). I took my first shower (with lots of help from hubby) 4 days post op. It felt super great, let me tell you, to wash off hospital smell, dried oozing blood, avrub my face... Feel almost like a person again.
Anyway, the imitrex worked for awhile, but the real saving grace was my first post - op visit (5 days post op) where I was given permission by surgeon to take Exedrin, as long as we paid attention to the amount of Tylenol in it, with how much I was using outside of it. And of course not to mix it with the Oxy. He also gave an Rx for Tramadol, which is a non-narcotic pain med that has been used for. Migraines, in case I'd like to try it (especially because I have not been taking any of the narcotic pain meds previously filled). Also at the first post - op, I was given a great report card on how I was walking, and how great surgical sites still looked. I made sure with the surgeon that it was OK that I was eating so much!! I mean, to this day, I am STARVING about every two hours! It's a pretty standard routine here at our house now that every two hours my hubby will help me walk to the bathroom (drinking so many fluids), and I'm going to need food. Essentially, it's totally fine. 1) my body is using a huge amount of energy to work on healing itself. 2) im not actually able to eat much at a time due to all the swelling, and feeling space restricted. 3) I lost 125# with diet an exercise, so I'm not eating crap every two hours. I'm making sure to get in as much protein based snacking, and 'whole' food snacking as I can. This isn't to say that I did not enjoy the hell outta a McDs chocolate shake the other day, or that I don't grab the cheezits when the mood hits. Dr. G said that my body would try to tell me what it needs, so if I'm craving something, go for it.
So, now it's today, and we just got back from my second post - op. I had texted my surgeon earlier today asking about a very odd..... Bubbly? feeling that I was getting on my lower back, inside the incision line area. No pain, just kind of oddly fuzzy. He told me it was likely change in swelling, but had me come in (at, seriously, our convenience. We got to his practice at 7:30 at night) just in case it was the start of a fluid build up. He checked everywhere, said everything still looked very good, that was most likely change in swelling. While I was there, he took off all the incision tape and re-taped. I also asked him about a pain in almost my groin area, that just an hour or so before going to see him shot up. It feels very very tight, and when I walk is very painful (I found out that Ice helped!!). He felt around, said it was most likely some internal suture pulling and while painful, he didn't seem concerned about it causing harm. Also some super super happy news, I was given permission at this point to take off my compression garment to shower and relax a couple hours without it on!!!! I am SO SO SO SO excited to take this off and wash it!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's where we are now. Ladies and gents, I am 8 days out of sugery, and this is what I know: 1) Swelling. IS. Real. I had just over 12#s of flesh and excess skin taken off my body, and i'm still 5#s heavier than my day of surgery. That equates to roughly 17#s of swelling I'm holding on to. Totally normal, and I still wear clothes better now than before all the skin removal. It's your body healing itself, it's going to swell, and it sucks.
2) I still have a huge migraine every time I wake up, but two Exedrin knocks it out in less than an hour, and then I spend the day feeling almost human again. 3) I am very tired of not being able to stretch, and sleep on my side. I'm also tired of how things like just walking to the mailbox makes me tired! 4) I would be up a creek without my amazing husband, who won't let me walk alone (I mean, I walk mostly upright by now, without holding on to him, but due to my lightheadedness, he wants to be near in case I lose a step/etc) 5) my distaste for cranberry juice has been reaffirmed. 6) it hurts, but I am so glad I did this. Even through the swelling, I have this light at the end of the tunnel of what my body is going to be.
Goodnight for now! In the future, posts will be shorter, as I'll have less to go through in updates. :) Real Self was a huge prepping and research tool for me, and I'm more than happy to answer any private messages/questions if you are planning this type of post weight loss major surgery!
Provider Review
The number one thing needed after deciding to do a major surgery, is being 200% comfortable with your surgeon. We couldn't be happier we found Dr G! After reading up on what procedures there are, the types of surgeries we may be looking at, healing times, etc (thank goodness for this site!) we began searching for the right surgeon. No way was I going through something so hugely important in my life, and so incredibly invasive without being 200% comfortable with the person welding the blade!! Thank heavens for Dr K. Gutowski! He was technically the 6th or so surgeon I had been in contact with, and hubby and I knew it was right. On top of him responding to my email inquiry personally same day, he greeted us in his waiting room personally to consult with us about my body. We were initially in his consult room for at least an hour. No interruptions, and we never once felt like he wanted to be elsewhere, or rushed. We spoke BEFORE looking at my body (which is a big change from a nurse walking you into a doctora room, and telling you to put on a little paper cape before you even get a glimpse of the surgeon). We kept in fairly frequent contact from the first consult, to final consult (a whopping 8months out), which was two or three weeks before the surgery where we spent over two uninterrupted hours with just the surgeon! Dr. Gs office manager, Ellen, is one of the most wonderful professionals I've met. Very responsive, above and beyond. I couldn't recommend Dr G and staff enough. We have been given both of their cell phone numbers, and they are adament that in between post op checks, we text or call with any possible questions or concerns. So, so happy this team has taken care of me.