I Can't Believe I Am Finally Doing It! - Miami, FL

Whew, had 2 drains (the ones from the back) pulled today. The other 2 are still putting out quite a bit. They have to be <25 cc in 48 hours. Mine are doing 100 cc in 48 hours.

I took s few pics. My dressings are off. I do not have any open areas. This is something that Dr Ortega is very concerned with, especially in bariatric surgery patients. He is not as aggressive as some other surgeons because he has seen a lot of wound nightmares with people who have list huge quantities of weight and then have skin removed. I appreciate his caution and very glad to see everything looking nice and closed at the moment.

I have been home for 3 days now. I am definitely sleeping better in my own bed. I am beyond ready to lose these drains! Dr. Ortega always leaves the drains in for 2 weeks, so Friday should be my lucky day. That said, both of the drains for the back are still putting out at least 50cc/day, so they will probably need to stay in longer. I work in a hospital. I had planned to return to work Monday, but I am not sure that is going to happen. I am definitely not going back with drains in. I am way too worried about getting an infection for that! Otherwise I feel well. I haven't posted pictures because I don't know there has been much change. I still have a good amount of edema. When I can finally change this binder out for a full compression garment it should go down. I am trying to figure out how to change my heading to "worth it." I am definitely happy with my results. I must say I miss the women of Elite Concierge Nursing. I wouldn't use any other RH.

Today was a tough one for me. I took my last Percocet last night and didn't sleep well. I am very sore today. I had a 1 pm follow up with Dr Ortega. The only good thing about my visit was that I met another Real selfer that I have been following! Otherwise, it was a 4 hour hellish experience. After waiting an hour or do after the appointment time, I was ushered into an exam room and to,d to put on a gown. I them sat for 90 minutes in what felt like 40 degrees. I stepped out into the hall and the aforementioned Real selfer had her room open too and was wondering what was up.

Oh, 30 minutes earlier I heard Dr Ortega talking to other patients but then he apparently went back to the OR for another procedure without seeing us. We talked a bit and an anesthesiologist came through and asked who we were waiting for. She goes into the OR suite and comes back and tells us it will be 5 minutes. (Yeah, right). She makes us close the exam room doors for "patient privacy". It was just us and we were talking to each other.

Back on the table and finally, at 4:40 ish he came into my room. He examined me, my dressing was changed. He apologized for the delay. I know things happen, but......

He wanted me to come back Monday or Tuesday to see him, but that isn't happening! There is no way I am putting the driver from the RH (or myself) through that. As long as all is well there is no point. My drains are still in. He does not take them out earlier than 2 weeks, so I will have to get that done at home.

Still very happy with my results and have additional work I would like Dr Ortega to do, but I will have to give serious thought before using Spectrum again.