The Shrinking Woman

So as most of you know I will be having my hernia, TT on Friday the 11th. Today I watched a show on Discovery Health called the Shrinking Woman. Big mistake. I was freaked out before and now I am even worse. This lady looked like she is was in so much pain. Everybody makes it sound like it is bad but not too bad. This lady was screaming almost. What the heck? Is it really that bad? Just had to put my feelings out there!

Hi Maghan, I have obviously not been down this route "yet" but I can tell you from being a nurse that everyone's pain threshold is different and remember this was TV.. they need the "drama" for these programs to make them exciting and interesting for the viewer. Not saying it won't be painful but just something I was thinking of.. its TV.. enough said. My friend just had an LBL and she is a dentist.. she was back to work in 2 days taking "lighter" patients... hello? That's amazing.. but she does have a very high tolerance to pain. She was only on tylenol also by the time she went back to work. She didn't even want the "harder" stuff postop but doc made her take it anyway for a couple days till she returned to work. I would PM Angela since she is the one that has "been there done that" on our board.. she made it seem like a piece of cake also lol.. shes such a beauty inside and out with a wonderful spirit, I know she would never lead you astray and tell you exactly what it was like in her experience. Hang in there.. remember.. this process is about blossoming into the person we always wanted to be and you are now going to be able to finish the process.. the icing on the cake if you will.. (and have a hernia repair at the same time.. glad you are getting that fixed pronto btw!) I know once it is over, said and done, you will be so happy you did it.. I am sure it won't be near as bad as that lady portrayed on "television". Hang in there girlie.. *hugs*

That is my other problem. I work with my surgeon in the operating room so I know everything that is going to happen, could happen, etc...I just get myself all freaked. I did just fine with my Open RNY and I need to remember that that was much more involved than this will be. Thanks for the support ladies!

That WAS a big mistake, I've seen that show and thought that if that was my only exposure to that procedure I'd never have it done. But I have a friend who had a BODY LIFT (waaay more than a tummy tuck!) after her VBG surgery and she did not have as bad a time as that poor lady on tv. This was several years ago and if I remember correctly, she also had a breast lift done at the same time. By no means was it an easy surgery and going into it she was already dealing with anemia issues but she did SO much better than that other example. She used her pain meds, had good pain management, slept in a recliner because of course her tummy muscles were tender and very tight at first but man did she look good once she healed! She had lost over 200# too and had a LOT of excess skin removed. You need to contact Angela or go back into our mb archives here to read her post-ps posts for some reassurance. As I recall she didn't have that hard a time of it herself. I'm so sorry that show got you so scared, I know you were already nervous about this upcoming surgery. Big hugs for you! Molly