I had my Surgery on 9/01/04

Hi - I had my surgery already and am just now finding this site. I had been looking for it. I had the Bariatric Gastric Bypass done - Dr. Lavin in Covington, La. did my surgery. I am 61, just retired last yr. from the P.O. and was living in Florida the last 10 yrs. When I retired last July I moved by to my hometown to be near family. So - that's how I'm in La. I've been divorced over 20 years, and working the night shift/plus being overweight kept me single - actually not even dating. My health was my main decision to have this surgery, but also not having a social life was part of it, too. Also, my best friend in Florida had it and is now a size 6 and kept pushing me to have it. I'm glad I did. I'm still on liquids at this time - today is the 8th day - and I've not been hungry once. I have had a problem with the tape coming off one of my incisions the day I came home - then gapping open too much - and bleeding. So I had to go get stiches in it - which were removed today. I now have to have someone (a nurse) come in and pack the incision for me every day for awhile (sounds like a week or so) and am trying to find one that is in network of my ins. within driving distance. I have to work on this in the morning. Other than that - it has been fine - and I'm very glad I had this surgery. Dr. Lavin is a real good Dr. and said that this (incision bleeding) does not occur very often - and he doesn't understand why mine did - but it will heal and be ok. I'm glad I finally found the web site so I can have the support of others and read what others are experiencing. I have a small gift shop right out front of my house (planned on supplementing my retirement that way) and I've already got it open. I feel well enough to do so, and there's very little to it. I have an alarm that tells me when someone comes then I go out. That way I can stay in the house until someone drives or walks up. Andria

Glad to know you are on track of exceptional recovery... -gwen

Hi Andria, Welcome to the site...glad to know you and so glad things are going well for you! God Bless! Hugs, Kathy

Hey Andria!! I am your twin!!! Had my surgery on the first too........and am just a few weeks short of being 60!! I am jealous that you had lap, as my insurance made me have open, despite the fact that my surgeon strongly recommended the other. I have a long line of staples..........and now an infection at the top of my staple line that is requiring packing TWICE a day!! UGH....been running a lowgrade fever since before I came home, and it was getting redder and puffier, so it was not a big surprise. How nice to have someone come in and do your packing........my doc just said to do it myself twice a day...pull it out in a warm, soapy shower, dry off, and repack..........yikes. We will see how I do! Welcome to the group.....keep us posted on how you are getting along.

Well welcome to the board. It is great that you had minimal problems afterwards. Sorry you need that incision packed. Sounds like it isn't much fun. Luckily you don't have to do it. The gift shop sounds great. I hope you do great with it. At least you'll have something to keep you busy. Who knows maybe the love of your life will come strolling in there someday. Shannon