The UNTOLD Possible DANGER of WLS! My EMERGENCY Room Escapades!

Good morning everyone!!! Just wanted to share my Emergency Room Escapades with you all and to forewarn those unaware of ANOTHER possible danger of WLS. I think the doc in the ER called it "ACTING YOUNGOUS". It is a condition that can affect those of us who have lost vast amounts of weight and suddenly think we are ... umm well, a youngin!!! Here is the story ... After a full day Saturday, the funeral and all that goes with it, I decided it was time to take a break about 11 pm. So here I am in my office at my desk when all of the sudden hubby and I start breaking out in laughter. Guess we needed the vent. At any rate, suddenly I am acting like a teenager and zoomed my office chair across the room ... and yes you guessed it. It threw me!!! I ended up with a HUGE melon size disfigurement on my hip and leg with searing, burning pain. Before I could get up I became nauseous and just about passed out. The minute hubby saw the injury, he said "YOU ARE going to the hospital!" I figured this was not a time to self diagnose so off we went. After spending ALL night in the ER (Saturday nights are NOT a good time to make a leisure trip to a DE ER, BTW), a series of X-rays, and a couple of good laughs with the doctor and nurses, they sent me home with a stern warning ... to act my age!!! Joking!!! Anyway, they said the injury was not something they would expect to see by a fall only from a chair, it was more like something they would expect from a fall from the roof or being thrown from a car. It will take a bit of time, but they expect a full recovery. Well, guess they forgot that I have that disease called "ACTING YOUNGOUS" and I am already well on my way to playing around once again!!! The bruise is now HUGE and BLACK, covering most of my hip, bum and down my leg and the while the swelling has went down a bit, boy it is truly UGLY!!! But I will survive ... just hope all is well so I can wear my cute new heals to my sons wedding in just over a week??? YIKES!!! Something serious that I would like to share ... while in the ER, I had a taste of NORMALCY. When they came to take my BP, they didn't sigh and say, "I have to get THE OTHER cuff!", cause the regular cuff fit perfectly. When I climbed on the X-Ray table, the tech didn't even flinch when it came time to move me for MANY additional pics. She simply grabbed the sheet (By herself without calling for major back-up). At one point I felt the need to ask if she needed me to move the "extra" skin around my stomach so she could get a clear picture (don't ask - flashbacks from all the horrid ultrasounds while preggers) Again, she didn't flinch, she simply looked at me like I was asking some strange question. I felt the need to explain that I just had a big weight loss and was conscience of the stomach. She chuckled and said "Honey, you tummy is NOT in the way at all!!!" Again, normalcy! The topping on the cake was when both she and the doc needed to check both my hips at the same time. They both found the hip bones and were able to palpitate without extra tissue getting in the way of their exam. Funny though, when I realized that the doc was about to search for my hips. I tensed up, and started to show him where they were. He too assured me that he was able to find them just fine. AND he did, within seconds ... no digging around ... no sighs ... no nothing ... just his ability to continue the exam without "me" getting in the way!!! And the last thing that was really cool ... doc said with such an external injury, I was a very fortunate woman NOT to have had an injury to bone. And said there was NOTHING on my X-ray that showed anything to be concerned with at this point. That certainly made me feel better, as I have been somewhat concerned with bone loss post WLS (Guess you all would never have guessed that eh?) At any rate, certainly not a guarantee, but to know that my hips and thigh were not injured is somewhat comforting to me. Life is good, even if I am carrying around a big ole UGLY battle wound!!! But my word of advice is ... be so very careful of that UNTOLD possible side effect of our wonderful surgery!!! It could get you in trouble also!!! Love ya all bunches !!! Tammy

I have a dilemma. I want to say Way to go! but I don't think that's appropiate! LOL Your story had me in stitches (literally, I just had my survery on the 13th). And it scared me too! I'm already an Idiot when it comes to not acting my age (just ask the hubby!). We're already planning a Christmas skiing trip to Lake Placid. ER here I come! Do you think I should call them a few days before I arrive to put them on alert!?! No more Executive Gliding across the room for you! Keep up the good work and BE SAFE! Dee PS: You never have to act your age!

DEE Hey, I sure did take your ER gauntlet and run with it didn't I??? I say put them on notice sooner than later!!! And get ready to have FUN FUN FUN!!! No need for us to act our age when we have a perfectly good ER just chomping at the bits to take us in eh??? No more executive gliding for me ... hubby has threatened to put training wheels on my chair! Have a great day Dee!!! So good to see all is going well!!! BTW - I am passing the ER gauntlet to the next person!!! Hugs, Tammy

Wow, Tammy what a weekend you had. Now you know, if you and hubby keep playing those "games" you are going to need another story when it get out of hand!!!!! LOL. I am just glad you didn't get hurt more serisously. But you are right, that is a good feeling when you go to the doctors and they don't have to go for the big cuff. Take care, and enjoy your "Acting Youngous"

Hey there Dana-girl!!! Guess hubby and I are doomed to another long and boring story!!! Cause we ain't givin up the games!!! We have wasted far too many years being "old" ... we have way to much time to make up for!!! Guess I have an incurable case of "Acting Youngous"!!! Isn't life grand??? Tammy

Tam Sorry about your road rash, glad your bones are in tact, and happy to hear that you and hubby still laugh and play... Don't ever stop, just pad the room a little better. Dianne

I think we ALL could use a padded room every now and then! Dee

So that is what they mean by acting your age? Sit and spin...hmmmm I would have thought you would have found something else to do like jumping out of a plane and sailing through the sky. I can't believe you did that....its funny now but I am sure it wasn't then and OUCH that must hurt big time! I hope it gets better soon. I will try and not do much sit and spins at home! Have a good one! Debbie

I've discovered that Acting Youngus has started to effect me already, and I haven't had sugery yet... mine hit when my divorce was final, all of a sudden I was a kid in college with no parental guidance! Once I lose this weigh****ch out world... I'm already a bit wild... not sure what will happen when I have a figure and confidence (assuming I can possibly have more than I do now) that match my personality LOL... Sorry you have a huge bruise, glad no broken bones though, and I look forward to the "normal" ER situation someday... if I have to go to the ER that is LOL Huggles Rachel