I Made It! Not What I Expected, but...

I DID IT!!! I was hoping and praying for a lap, 'cause I've had both lap and open procedures before and I know how much easier lap recovery is. My surgeon, Dr. Gooden, bless his heart - he TRIED to do lap. But after 7 keyhole incisions, he still couldn't get around my liver, and had to go open. He said I was very lucky I decided to go for this surgery when I did, as my liver is just ENORMOUS as a result of my years of obesity. Eventually, it would have become cancerous or just failed. I should be good to go now, though! I was sooooooo drugged up the first two days, I hardly remember a thing. The most awful thing I remember is waking up in excruciating pain and being bathed in bed by two nurses. Gentle? HAAA!!! I don't think these two women knew the definition of the word "gentle". I was crying and begging for them to stop, but they just kept telling me "we're almost done". My poor father could only sit back and watch. Awful, HORRIBLE pain!!! Now that I'm stronger, I wish I could go back and slap those two witches! *l* Surgery was 10/22 and I was discharged on 10/25. Right now I'm staying with my folks, and they've been great. My mom's a nurse, so that's an even bigger plus. My hubby is keeping our daughter at our place. This has been an adjustment for all of us, but everyone is doing so beautifully. I'm very proud of my family - AND me!! I was hoping to be able to return to my own house, complete with 16-month-old toddler and six cats, in the next day or two, but I've had somewhat of a setback. It appears as though a few of my incision sites are infected. I still have a clamped-off g-tube in one of these incisions, and it is the worst infected - purulent discharge, etc. Another has pretty bad cellulitis. Anyway, I'm going to the doctor in the morning, facing the possibility of being readmitted long enough to get some IV antibiotics. Please just keep me in your prayers, and know that all of you, no matter what stage you're at in your journey, are in my prayers, as well. God Bless! Amy

Amy, I hope you are doing better and Happy Halloween! Good luck! Jenn

Amy - I can so relate, mine was a last minute switch from lap to open (done 10/27) and I just got home yesterday. I now know that I understimated the pain, but have gradually felt better each day. Even though you are feeling like crap, remember to say thank you to your mom, dad and husband for all their help through this period. They are doing everything because they love you, it just makes it easier for them when you can express your appreciation. May God bless you and help you on your recovery. You will remain in my prayers. Mark G.

Amy I can relate, I had my lap/rny done 10/23 but developed blood clots in my right leg and then bilateral pulmonary embolisms, so another surgery was required to place a greenfeld filter and I just got home yesterday (10/31). but I will get through this, I am feeling better every single day, just waiting on my lungs to catch up on the healing. I will keep you in my prayers!! We made it!!! Lisa

Hi again, everyone! Thanks so much for your prayers and good thoughts. Turned out that the discharge, the redness, everything - was all NORMAL!! *lol* The doc said it was just the body's reaction to having a tube hanging out of it for this long, and it's not at all infected. I swear to God, you'd never know it to look at it, so that's why we went ahead and had it checked out. One of the keyhole incisions had some cellulitis around it, so my doc wants me to come back in on Mon. 11/3 just so he can check on it. But he anticipates that it, too, will be healing well. The best news I got on Friday is that I've lost 22 lbs. already!! So all in all, that unexpected visit to the doctor turned out to be a great thing! Hope everyone is doing well. I'll continue to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks again for your love and support. God Bless! Amy

Hi Amy--Congrats on the wt loss. I too had surg on 10/22 and knew going in it was an "ify" wheither or not open or Lap. Well she had some problems but was able to keep it a Lap, but the bad news is I was discharged on 10/25 a little queasy and by that nite started vomiting and kept it up--could not keep any fluids down. On Wed 10/29 I had CT of abd. and there was a bowel pinched off causing a blockage and had to have emergency surgery again. But released on 10/31 but the pain is so much worse this time than the first surg. They weighed me before I left and I was the same wt as before the first surg. but I was so dehydrated on the 29th and they filled me with fluids, so who knows how much if any I have lost. I know I'm not walking like I should because the pain is so bad and besides, I'm an old woman and back to back surgery takes a toll on ya!! I did not put this wt on over nite and I do not expect to take it off that fast. Marilyn

Hi Amy, Hang in there, it will get better and everything will heal. Just listen to your body and keep watch for anything unusual in pain and let your doctor know asap. My friend went thru LAP RXY IN JUNE and ended up with a leak within 6 days after surgery and back in hospital for a week and on intrevenous feedings for 3 weeks thereafter. Well long story short after the first rocky month everything went back to normal and she is now down 60#. I am 57 and my friend is only 35. Go figure. I thought for sure that I would not recoup very well since I was 27 years older! Well to date everything is going well. I am off diabetes and hypertension meds. Thank heavens for parents that can take care of you. Don't ru**** too soon. A 16th month old takes a lot energy from a person. I know you miss your toddler, but you'll be home soon. God Bless you and your family. Linda from Schererville, In