DH picked me up this afternoon and I got home about 3:30 Michigan time. All has gone well and the doctor's are very pleased but it sure was a wild ride there for awhile. I had no idea if this surgery was even going to happen until about 30 min before. Dr Ford came and talked to me in the holding room and said that he had looked at the mammogram. Thankfully I had showed him a lipoma (fatty tumor) under my breast during the appointment on Thursday because I asked if he could take it out. I had that lump biopsied a couple months before my wls and it was of no concern but it sat below my breast so it never showed on the mammograms before. Because of the weight loss every thing sagged and the nodule now presented itself. Dr Ford was sure it was the same lump I told him about so he said the would be taking it out and proceeding as planned and he would be sending it in for a biopsy. What a relief! That's all I can say.
Surgery was 5 1/2 hours long. He took 10 pounds of skin but didn't do the anchor incision. He was trying to avoid it since it increases your chance pretty significantly of infection. He was able to remove enough to make my abdomen look good. He tightened all of the abdominal muscles. I have a new belly button, he went around my hips a bit which has helped the sagging arse to a point, went way under the breasts so that some of my flapping wings are also looking better. I'm a nice perky size C and I have to tell you my body feels very foreign right about now. The abdomen is pretty lumpy due to all of the swelling but I can tell it will be looking good. I have 4 drains, one in each hip and 1 under each arm.
Pain today has been tolerable as long as I take the Vicodan every 4 hours and he has me on Valiun for muscle spasms every 8 hours. The first night was hell night. I almost didn't think I would be able to handle it. Though I had several different meds for nausea they just weren't working. All I had to do was move in bed and I started the dry heaves. Aunt flo also decided to make a visit for after 6 whole months that night. I have never had that kind of pain before with the dry heaves. My dear sweet pcp walked in as I was about to lose it on the floor and ended up tucking me all back into bed with the nurse. Man, you gotta love him! I only slept 2 hours Friday night due to pain and nausea, the Pain pump of dilaudid just wasn't cutting it at all. Early am the resident came in insisting that I lose the pain pump, catheter and wanted to send me home that evening. I just looked at him and said, "no way". Thankfully my surgeon's partner was leaning more toward Monday so I took advantage of it due to the fact that DH came down with a gastric flu on Saturday. My pcp once again got involved and said I was not to go home yesterday either.
Today went much better. I wandered 2 floors up to the Burn Unit to visit, took a shower that I couldn't wait for and took a nap. In all most os the nurses were good as long as I had the bariatric nurses but when I moved floors there were a couple that I wasn't overly thrilled with. Basically they just kind of let me tell them what I wanted and they got it for me.
Meals were very questionable. I has the dietitian ahead of time get me on the level 3 gastric bypass diet right away. She was waiting for me almost about the time I rolled into my room on Friday. She did what she could but the menu really wasn't very gastric bypass friendly. Yes, it was low sugar, kind of low fat and no straw but when they were trying to serve me French toast, pancakes, waffles, grilled cheese sandwiches...well...let's just say we will be having a talk once I get back to work. When I could pick my food it went OK but still wasn't getting the protein I needed though they were more than happy to get me SF Instant breakfast, yogurt, etc.
So anyway I'm home, happy with the results despite the swelling, the boobs still blow me away...hard to believe they are mine!! *L*
I've been gathering a few pictures I will share in the future..
I want to thank you all so much for all of the well wishes and the stack of emails I received this morning. The volunteer thought I struck it rich!! I just shared with her about all of my wonderful family.
Well time for a rest, some descent food and letting the wonderful pain meds work for me.
I love all of you guys. You mean the world! I'm so sorry I missed the conference call. I planned on calling and found I must not have pushed saved when I programed it into my phone.
I was none too happy with myself.
Talk to all of you later. It's so good to be home with my immediate family and my TT family. A special huge thank you to Judy. You have been there for me, taking such good care of me and I thank you SO MUCH!
__________________
Beth
Little Victories; Grand Rapids, MI
Bariatric Support Group
CherishedTeddyBear-(TT Bear Lover)
The Poetry of Milady
New Beginnings: My Journey to LIFE
359(BMI:
57.9)/
143(BMI:
23.1)
Highest/Current
Diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol,
peripheral vein disease, joint pain and 216 lbs
GONE!! 
Century Club: July 3, 2006
ONE-derland: Dec. 22, 2006
Double Century: May 29, 2007
Goal: June 15, 2008
Lap RNY: 1/30/06-Dr Randal Baker
TT/BL: 09/21/07-Dr Ronald Ford
PS Revisions: 04/29/08-Dr Ronald Ford
Gallbadder removal: 06/09/08-Dr Randal Baker
"...if we pay attention to the fact that we can move,
breathe, feel, laugh, cry and notice sunsets,
there is cause for joy."
-Geneen Roth
Well I am home!
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