My daughter's surgery update...

Just a note to say that my daughter's knee surgery went well. She did require the more extensive surgery (not the laparoscopic). She had a lot of cartilage damage and they cleaned that up, tightened the lateral collateral ligament and did a tendon transplant.

I feel really relieved that she's okay but sad about how much pain she'll be in and how long this recovery is going to be.

Behind that is the fact that I tried to talk to her about WLS last year and suggested she do that before she got the knee surgery since she is overweight too. Now I'm afraid she's going to gain even more weight from not being able to get around for a long time (recovery from this is about six months). I know we have to let our kids have their own lives and her wife is taking a month off to help her but I can't help but worry. She and I are very close, like sisters, and I would do anything to not have her have to go through this. I guess the best I can do is just be there and help as best I can. I just made one of my high protein, low carb casseroles to take over to her tomorrow.
I luves my babygirl. 

oh honey I'm glad your daughter's surgery went well.  I have to agree with you, if she's already overweight, this may push her over into obesity.  I hear of people having these surgeries and they end up being lethargic from not being able to use their legs for a while and they develop very bad habits. 

I know my orthopedist is chomping at the bit for me to have arthroscopic surgery on my right knee (there's just not much left) and I'm still putting them on hold until I lose the rest of my weight or I stop losing altogether and stabilize.  then we'll see how I feel about that.  I'll probably be looking at knee replacement in the near future...probably some time after I get plastics done which won't be for another year and a half.

I wish you all the luck int he world about talking to your daughter about WLS.  It's a hard and personal decision for anyone to make.  Don't be surprised if she kinda shrugs you off at first.  She may not think she needs it even though she knows how great it has done for you.

Hang in there my dear :)  *HUGE BEAR HUGS*

Oh, Thank you! Yes, she actually just called me and said she feels pretty good. She had a horrible phobia of surgery/hospitals and went thrugh a phobia workshop support group to get over it before her knee surgery. She just called to tell me that she did great and that none of her fears were realized. I was thrilled. And it's not just the drugs talking. LOL She has taken only one percocet about an hour ago, is home, and watching TV. She sounded almost giddy with relief. I'm kinda feeling that way myself. Of course her rehab is going to be long and arduous but she's a really strong woman... she'll do great. Maybe now that her surgery phobia is done, she might be more open to WLS in the future. I just want her to know how amazing this feels to be normal. She's over 100 pounds overweight. But as she said, it took me many years to get there, she needs time to figure out what she wants. The other complication is she and her wife want to have a baby next year and she's 31 now. WLS would postpone that another two years. *shrug* Oh, well, for today she's happy and healthy and on her way to recovering from a knee injury that has plagued her since high school (she was a cheerleader).

Hanging in!

Knee surgery is something I can definately relate to. I've had 2 surgeries myself. One scope to remove damaged cartlidge and realign my knee cap and one overhaul of my ACL thanks to a drunk driver that hit me when I was 16. I feel her pain....literally.

Your concerns about gaining weight are very valid, however, there is a ray of hope that I experienced. After my first and second procedures, I did put on some weight. After the pain killers wore off my appetite came back so I got to do a lot of couch surfing. But once I started my physical therapy, I found that I started to lose a little more. This was one of my unsuccessful opportunities to lose the weight permanently. My physical therapists all told me the best way to keep a knee healthy are strong legs, although nothing is a guarentee. They had me on the treadmill a lot and lifting a lot of weights to strengthen everything.

If you can get her to agree to a good diet while she still has limited mobility and help keep her on it, you may very well at least establish the habits she'll need to make WLS successful. She'll already have the exercise habit from all the therapy she'll be going to.  

Hope that helps! Good luck to both of you and tell her always remember to use her crutches when she tries to stand up. I can't tell you how many times I forgot and I was feelin my mistakes for hours LOL

Yes, thank you for the good words of encouragement and advice. I tend to forget she's 31-year-old and really in charge of her own life. She's not nearly as overweight as I was but now that I'm smaller, we are both struggling a little not having that food thing in common. Yes, I would agree that she'll be working hard in PT. Hopefully after this, she'll feel more like walking and moving more.
Crutches... oh, yes.

Raven,  I am so glad to hear it went well... You know I almost think it might be better that she thinks about WLS after she is done recouperating from the knee surgery. Just think how hard it would be to be laid up not able to work out AFTER you've had the surgery and are in a groove and routine of dieting and excercise. Maybe (hoepfully) the surgery will make her knee feel so much better that she will be more motivated to get active.

And I am realizing we can't choose our children's path no matter how much we want to. I have a 12 (tweens.. ugh..) year old and I can't tell you how many times I have stood, nodded, and smiled (while my tongue was bleeding from being bit) since he ha**** Middle School...

Keep us update on her progress, and good wishes for a speedy recovery.

This is true, I hadn't thought of that. Maybe that girl of mine is smarter than I give her credit for..

Oh, and yes, I have scars on my tongue too; although Beth and I have always gotten along really well. My son is the one who I thought would make me crazy before he was grown.

Thank you for the good wishes. I'll pass them along to her.

Sometimes we kids need to make our own decisions, for better or worse.  Sometimes picking the wrong decision can be a better life lesson than picking the wrong one.

Mind you...I ALWAYS make the right decision, no matter what my mother will tell you.

She LIES, I tell you, she LIES.

Oh yes, all us mothers lie like snakes in the grass... I'll give you that... but we only do it for your own darn good.

Glad she is doing good and her wife can take time off to help her.