I'm Home and Doing Great!
Hey everyone
I came home from the hospital Friday after a weeks stay at Caroinas Medical Center in Charlotte. I had an abdominal hernia repair, abdominal wall reconstruction and an anchor cut panniculectomy. I look like Frankenstien in the stomach! 
I honestly am not in pain all though there is some discomfort. I feel like I've just done 5000 crunches and beat with a baseball bat at the same time. I know it sounds weird, but I'm not in pain, just discomfort. I still have two drain tubes in and I see Dr. Getz tomorrow morning. The output has been low so hopefully he will take them out then.
I don't know how much I've lost since the surgey. First they don't weigh you presurgically because you were weighed at your preop appointment. Then of course the bed wouldn't work to weigh me so what the heck. I come home and the battery is dead in my home scale. My wife refuses to go buy me a 9-volt battery. Do you think I'm a little obsessed?
I asked the doctor how much he cut off and he said, "I don't weigh it, I don't know." Dr. Getz is an excellent surgeon, but is retired military and you will figure this out very early even if you didn't google him. I think he and Dr. Henniford are wonderful. I would definetly recommend them to anyone that has plastic surgery or hernia needs.
I initially chose Dr. Getz because after calling 6 plastic surgeons in the Charlotte area, he was the only one that accepted insurance. I think he is wonderful. For example, I went into sugery knowing that I would wake up without a belly button. Who needs one anyway? It's just something else to clean while in the shower. 
Anyway, Two days after surgery I look down at my stomach because they have removed some gauze and I begin to get upset. In the middle of my stomach is a pencil eraser sized hole in my belly. I call the nurse in and she just laughs. She said that is your new belly button. He said the old one was so worn out and strectched it just wasn't worth keeping so he created me a new one. it is shallow and looks like Brittany Spear's belly button. It still is red and yucky looking, but everyone says it is looking great.
I can not say enough about the care that I received on 5 tower at Carolinas Medical Center. I almost felt like I was at a spa. my nursing assistants made sure that my bed was changed daily, I had a bath and when I didn't feel like shaving they did it for me. My nurses were prompt with care, and when I called them they came. They were never late for medicines. I was highly pleased.
The only downside to my visit was that it took a long time for my bowels to "wake-up" so I had to eat a full liquids diet. This meant that I had chicken broth or tomato soup, vanilla pudding and a cup of juice at every meal. I was so ready for change I couldn't stand it.
The pain was well taken care of with the morphine pump and an OnQue pump straight into the abdominal muscles. You couldn't even feel it when he pulled it out. I can honestly say though that when they switched me to oral medications (loritab) that it worked much better for me. I could go much longer without pain medication and felt greater relief.
Thanks everyone for your prayers and support. I am blessed to have ya'll here on the North Carolina Board.
Larry
PS Jimmie and I will be at the August 7th meeting. I'll keep you posted when I know my weight tomorrow. 
I came home from the hospital Friday after a weeks stay at Caroinas Medical Center in Charlotte. I had an abdominal hernia repair, abdominal wall reconstruction and an anchor cut panniculectomy. I look like Frankenstien in the stomach!
I honestly am not in pain all though there is some discomfort. I feel like I've just done 5000 crunches and beat with a baseball bat at the same time. I know it sounds weird, but I'm not in pain, just discomfort. I still have two drain tubes in and I see Dr. Getz tomorrow morning. The output has been low so hopefully he will take them out then.
I don't know how much I've lost since the surgey. First they don't weigh you presurgically because you were weighed at your preop appointment. Then of course the bed wouldn't work to weigh me so what the heck. I come home and the battery is dead in my home scale. My wife refuses to go buy me a 9-volt battery. Do you think I'm a little obsessed?
I asked the doctor how much he cut off and he said, "I don't weigh it, I don't know." Dr. Getz is an excellent surgeon, but is retired military and you will figure this out very early even if you didn't google him. I think he and Dr. Henniford are wonderful. I would definetly recommend them to anyone that has plastic surgery or hernia needs.
I initially chose Dr. Getz because after calling 6 plastic surgeons in the Charlotte area, he was the only one that accepted insurance. I think he is wonderful. For example, I went into sugery knowing that I would wake up without a belly button. Who needs one anyway? It's just something else to clean while in the shower.
Anyway, Two days after surgery I look down at my stomach because they have removed some gauze and I begin to get upset. In the middle of my stomach is a pencil eraser sized hole in my belly. I call the nurse in and she just laughs. She said that is your new belly button. He said the old one was so worn out and strectched it just wasn't worth keeping so he created me a new one. it is shallow and looks like Brittany Spear's belly button. It still is red and yucky looking, but everyone says it is looking great.
I can not say enough about the care that I received on 5 tower at Carolinas Medical Center. I almost felt like I was at a spa. my nursing assistants made sure that my bed was changed daily, I had a bath and when I didn't feel like shaving they did it for me. My nurses were prompt with care, and when I called them they came. They were never late for medicines. I was highly pleased.
The only downside to my visit was that it took a long time for my bowels to "wake-up" so I had to eat a full liquids diet. This meant that I had chicken broth or tomato soup, vanilla pudding and a cup of juice at every meal. I was so ready for change I couldn't stand it.
The pain was well taken care of with the morphine pump and an OnQue pump straight into the abdominal muscles. You couldn't even feel it when he pulled it out. I can honestly say though that when they switched me to oral medications (loritab) that it worked much better for me. I could go much longer without pain medication and felt greater relief.
Thanks everyone for your prayers and support. I am blessed to have ya'll here on the North Carolina Board.
Larry
PS Jimmie and I will be at the August 7th meeting. I'll keep you posted when I know my weight tomorrow. 
Hi Larry,
I am so glad you are home and on the other side of this. Now just make sure you take care of yourself and do not try to do to much !!!!!!! I know that Jimmie will take good care of you. 
I am glad you had a good experience at the hospital. Sometimes that can make or break a trying situtation.
Keep improving and I hope to see the even SKINNY YOU at the next meeting. I am not sure if I will be there because it will depend on how Allison is doing after her surgery on Thursday.
Take care.
Pat 
Sandi 
I am very glad to hear that you are doing so well Larry! I have my first consult with Dr. Getz Aug. 22. I had an appt with him a few months back, but my sons medical needs interfered, and I had to cancel. Well, I am happy things are going so well for you, and I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting! I miss you so much!
-Jessica~
Hey Larry , glad you are well. nurses at 5 tower are GREAT arent they. Had my GB there before my doc moved to Mercy. I'm still looking forward to trying real pancakes! I've been making those cottage cheese ones ..theyre actually good but not Cracker Barrel. Think about you everytime I eat them. Gave blood Sat. Take care Gail
Most Active
Recent Topics
