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Debz · 05-05-2008, 06:18 PM

Wow...you're bringing me back to the early days of my post-op experience. I wound up with a hematoma on my diaphragm after surgery. It was extremely painful and went on for months. I was in just horrible unending pain...I was depressed and disconcerted. There were times that I felt like dying would be such a relief from the pain. And I'm not being melodramatic...it really was that bad.

I seriously questioned my decision. How could something this painful be the right thing to do? In addition, in the midst of all this turmoil, the way I dealt with stress, eating, was taken away from me.The one person I felt like I should be able to turn to for answers, my surgeon, was kinda wishy washy as to how to deal with the whole thing and I was being told to just wait it out. In the mean time i was in excruciating pain and literally couldn't breathe correctly. It honestly was one of the darkest times of my life.

I felt so alone. I can imagine that you must feel the same way, even tho your partner is also freshly post-op...since her experience is so different than yours. It must be even more isolating that her time has been so easy and yours has been tough.

But even in that darkness, I was losing weight. I certainly had my plateaus, but eventually the scale always moved in the right direction. My BP became normal, as did my blood sugar and cholesterol. It kind of is all a blur as I remember it.

Fast forward 9 months. I now have scar tissue where the hematoma was, but it only occasionally pains me. I've lost 100 pounds...I can touch my toes...hell, I can even see my toes.

I exercise regularly, wear cute clothing, my sex life is phenomenal, I get compliments daily, and people who used to feel more secure because I was the fat girl in the room are becoming less and less secure as time goes on. In short, life is good.

I don't want to make light of your present suffering. Believe me....if anyone can understand, I can. But what I want you to know is that this too, shall pass. I know it sucks right now, but just know for sure that this is only the beginning. It gets better. Certainly you should discuss your physical issues with your doctor, but the post op crappiness will eventually clear and you won't feel so bad. Good luck and chin up!