Whew....11 hours later!!

Well....I am a new woman, really!

I have survived 11 hours of surgery that went beyond what I had ever hoped would happen.  She did a remarkable job on me, but...

There were complications.

Let us never forget that this is MAJOR surgery and we can have something go wrong at any time.

I really didn't have a lot of time to prepare for this surgery.  Normally I amp up my vitamins and start taking iron suppliments which I don't normally need.  The surgery was bumped up when a cancelation occured.  It was moved forward 5 weeks.

My labs and all were good as I went into surgery, but 11 hours does take a toll.  I had some pretty good blood loss and it was determined I needed 2 units.  Before they were given however I had a respiratory failure that caused the nurse to call in a "code".

Many tests later we still don't have a clear answer as to why I went into respiratory failure, but we do know what it wasn't--all very bad things.  I am fine now and after spending the night in Telemetry I was released to go home as I had made such good progress.

Right now I'm one week out from surgery.  I've had 1 of 3 drains removed, I have 2 small places of wound seperation that are healing nicely, my sutures are pulling and are uncomfortable, but not unduly so.  My emotional state as of today is good, but it has been a roller coaster of emotions with crying jags.

Overall I'm doing well, BUT......I don't ever want to have surgery again.  Period.  This is it.  Fortunately I don't think that will be necessary--ever again unless at some ripe old age I fall and break a hip or some such unforseen event.

Would I do it again?

Yes......I say with hesitation.  It was my journey and it has had a good conclusion, but I will never forget what it has taken to get to this spot.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.  They all mean a lot to me.

Trisha

Wow, 11 hours! So glad to see you back and posting. I hope the healing goes well.

Hope your recovery goes really well!

P.S.I read your profile and you have such a beautiful writing style.

Trisha - I'm sorry for the complications you experienced.  I'm glad you recovered and are on the mend.  I actually stopped losing at 6 months and my body seems to finally be catching up with the scale.  I'm not sure I will need half the procedures I thought I would need.  I saw my surgeon on Monday and he said my results are normal for someone of my size and that I will most likely lose another 20-30 pounds over the next year.  I think I will need the BL/BA and probably a tummy tuck, just to get rid of skin.  I can probably live with my batwings, they've sucked in more than I thought they would.

I'm happy that Dr. Hansen was able to do more than you expected.  I hope your results are all you wanted and more.  You were looking great before this surgery.  I can imagine you'll be one hot babe now!!

Linda

See -- you prove my point!  I still know I can't be nearly as brave as you've been.  I have the utmost respect for you.  I'm thinking I'll be using rubber bands, paper clips and whatever else I can contrapt (maybe I'll be able to see if MacGyver can help me, lol).

I'm happy to hear that you're here and doing ok.

Lori

Thank goodness you are all right and on your way to healing.   The good things is that even if it went rough, it's still behind you and your are going to be moving on to enjoying your beautiful results!  I can imagine knowing all that went down could get to you.  It can be upsetting that we have had to do such hard things to get where others just get to be.  During the first months after my surgery when I started to really lose weight I felt what I can only describe as grief.  I was sorry for all the time I lost to being obese, and how much I went through trying to get to normal.  I think the feeling was appropriate.  I felt some of the same when my knee started to really feel great again (after my total replacement surgery) because it was a lot of **** I had to experience to have my knee be normal again. 

I know you are one to embrace the positive.  Before long your drain holes will be sealed up and you will be marveling at Dr. Hanson's work.  Glad you are O.K.!!

Patty