Plastics consult

Had my plastics consult in Grand Rapids today with Dr. Aitkens. Nice woman, very thorough. I think I will have her do my surgery ... for one, it's close to home and the support system is better here. Anyway, it'll be awhile before I have it. She noticed some tenderness in my abdomen upon examination and wondered if the mesh from a previous hernia surgery (in 2001, before my gastric bypass) had shifted. So she ordered an abdominal CT with contrast (get to drink the yucky barium stuff Friday night while at work) and told me to go back to my original surgeon before she will start working on removing the excess skin. She said she will be glad to do the surgery but not until I have everything else cleared, because "your gut is more important than the plastics." That impressed me a lot. So I will have to make an appointment with Dr. Foster, who did the repair on my umbilical hernia. Dr. Aitken thinks the mesh has probably shifted because of the weight loss. I hope that's all it is and nothing more serious. Eileen

Eileen, Great to hear you are proceeding forward and have found a compassionate, educated plastic surgeon to work with you. Sorry about the CT w/ contrast-- such yucky stuff, but-- you are moving forward... Amy H