VSG with Dr. Rumbaut (a long report)

You are most welcome.

Since you have a goodly amount of time before your surgery, if I may second one suggestion I've seen on this board -- do abdominal exercises as much as you can before the surgery.  Given that there are five incisions, going through muscle, the stronger your core strength, the easier time you will have walking, sitting up, or even rolling over in bed. 

Thank you SO much for posting in such detail.  For someone hoping to have surgery, I found this very helpful!!  Congrats on your surgery and wishing you all the best in your new life! :)

Excellent post!!  Happy recovery!! :)

 I believe the round pictures you saw is Botero, A Colombian artist
Years ago in the D.C. area he  he had his sculptures on display in front Of the White house. .

I can't believe that the bubble did not hurt that was the worst for me. Glad you are well. Welcome to the loser bench.

It is quite possible that one of that artist's work was there, but Dr. Rumbaut had at least 15 or 20 different pieces of artwork (lithographs and sculptures) throughout his office.  I figure patients send them to him.

One of my favorite of artists of "round people" is Dorit Levi:


I also like this Alaskan artist, Barbara Lavellee, who illustrated the children's book "Mama, Do You Love Me?"

WOW! Thanks for sharing this!
Not long at all...I love the details!
I'll be heading off to surgery soon myself and this definitely sets my expectations!

Good Luck in your recovery and
 Here's to you new life!

Thanks for taking the time to write all of this out. My surgery is in Jan. I have to say I didn't know anything about the "bubble" I am so glad you said that. I too won't be able to look at it.....ick!
I am having surgery in Mx but with a different dr.  I am nervous, but not scared. I too, have hard time with IV's and giving blood so that will be a good thing to let them know in advance!
How are you feeling now. Are you happy?
Thanks!

I'm feeling better, thank you. 

Not all doctors seem to use the drain, so you may want to check to see if you have one, before getting anxious about it.  Dr. Rumbaut seems to use all safety precautions, which of course, is why I chose him in the first place, but if you'd asked me six days ago, I might have said something different!  ;-)

Am I happy?  Hmmm... interesting question.  I'm certainly not hungry, most of the time.  I have trouble with liquid proteins, so I *was* hungry last night, because I am not getting in the needed protein, and I have to find a way to address that.  I love soups, but most simply don't have enough protein, unless they contain hunks of meat, which I can't have yet.

I am also coming to terms with the fact that my metabolism has simply become SO efficient with all the yo-yo dieting I've done that, even with the surgery,  my weight loss may not be as quick as I had hoped.  Even after 10 days of liquid diets, when I stepped on the scale at Dr. Rumbaut's office, I was only down 10 lbs (and I have/had a BMI of 52).  Getting on the scale on Monday after the surgery only saw me down another 4.  I've seen people with similar BMIs drop 20 lbs. or more in those two weeks, so..... I just have to remind myself of how difficult this journey would have been if I HADN'T had the surgery.  Actually, it would probably have been impossible.

So, I guess the answer is yes!  Thanks for asking!  :-)

For those who found my report helpful:  DH has volunteered to write a "Companion's Guide", to assist those loved ones who have come to help you.  It will not only talk about how he/she might help you, but the logistics of moving from place to place, what happens while you are in surgery and after, and stuff like that. 

It should be up by this weekend.