Just scheduled LBL - need help

Personally I need help for a couple days just because getting up and down after a while is very hard on the muscles and you just get very sore and fatiged despite pain meds.  I feel sad that you cannot tell anyone around you, that is unfortunate that you do not have that support.

Are you able to afford a private nurse or aid for just 2 days?  That could make all the difference in the world and worth the investment.

If I lived by you, I would do this for you free of charge (I am a nurse) and i love to pay it forward, it would be my honor.  Gosh I wish I did live near you, bless your heart.

You are very couragous and I know you will be fine but seek some assistance somehow or at least have someone, somehow u can call in a pinch and sorta "oncall" if you need them ok? Keep a phone nearby all the time too.

Stock up your house and be prepared.. get meals ready, and have all your needs readily accessibly b/c after surgery rounding this up will be difficult and even impossible at times with fatuge and pain.

Hang in there sweet and keep us posted.  I am praying for you.

Melissa,
You are so sweet and I am crying from your kindness!
My surgeon is having me spend the first night at nursing home. This is all out of pocket so the hospital is not a possibility. 
I  am hiring a someone to look after my dogs while away. I am most worried about them. I just told my neighbor that I was doing it and she offered to help with dogs. I just don't like to impose. Her children come over to play with them all the time. One of them even goes for sleep overs. 

Do you think the one night at nursing home would be enough.? I got the name of an agency that can send an aide, but I hesitate to have someone I don't know stay all day. (haven't gotten prices yet, don't know if it affordable)
I found a company that would rent a remote controlled recliner (it brings you to a standing postion) for $100. I thought that I would not be able to climb stairs to get to bed so a recliner on main level for sleeping.
Also, from the photos you shared with me, I saw the toilet seat riser you have. I think that is a great idea, I could have used it for my bypass surgery.
Meal planning - were you able to eat normally after surgery. Just don't know what kind of meals I will want.
How soon were you able to drive? I am hoping to get back to work after 7 - 10days. They don't know about surgery either and I am telling them I am going to a spa. I sit at a desk most of the time.
Melissa, I appreciate your words more than you know - thank you so much!
Pat

Hi Pat!!

Ok I want to answer your questions as best as possible so I am gonna break them down but do realize that EVERYONE'S experience will be different as you well know and this is only *MY* experience and I feel overall I have done really great and ahead of the curve on healing.  First let me give you some tips that I think will help your healing and energy before you take this leap.

Tips:

1) Protein load.. get in 120 grams of protein a day via meat/shakes/eggs, whatever.  Be sure to drink enough water since this is a high amount to filter your kidneys.

2) Take your vitamins FAITHFULLY before your surgery, do not miss any.

3) Eat as fresh as possible and less processed foods, cut out refined carbohydrates.  Get those antioxidants from fresh nonstarchy veggies and lots of dark leafy greens like romaine lettuce, spinich salads.. think color.. red peppers, orange, color = vitamins and nutrients.

4) Be well hydrated before that day.

OK answers to your  questions now:

1) One night in a nursing home enough?  Well ok, I have to be blunt here and ask how is your mobility? What is your age? How would u say your health is now? How mobile are you? Do you exercise daily?  Knowing that would help me answer that question.  If you are in pretty good health and mobile it may be... it will be iffy.  I would have the option of calling someone like a home helper of some sort if need be.  Even if they are not "medically" qualified just to help with little things around the house for a day or two would even be helpful.

2) Most people on here like recliners.  The one I had wasn't very padded so I found it uncomfortable and found propping myself up on my couch (which is oversized btw) was best.. 3 pillows behind me, 1 fluffy one under my knees.  I have slept this way for 2 weeks and just finally went to my bed last night... still pillows like I mentioned.  My bed is firmer and elevated some so the couch was better for a while.  A recliner that helps you up sounds wonderful YES, I would totally do this and the riser for the toilet seat has been a Godsend.  Worth the investment you never know when u may need it later or as gross as it sounds, you can bleach it and let a friend or family member borrow it in the future if need be.  It is so easy to put on you just twist a knob to tighten it.. it was around 40 dollars but I got a discount buying it through the hospital since I am a nurse.  So YES to the recliner and get the toilet seat riser.  FOR SURE.

3) Meal Planning - well I made some chili and froze it ahead of time and put it in small containers and froze it in portions for quick nuking in the microwave.  My husband cannot cook bless his heart, Id rather chew on cardboard then eat his cooking (SORRY HUNNY) LOL.  I also had a lot of lack of appetite so I really focused on protein.  I was more thristy than hungry so I drank a lot of protein shakes.  I also had light mozz cheesesticks to chew on.  Ready to drink protein drinks ready and my magic bullet ready to whiz up one if i wanted more a cold blended protein shake.  My doc also recommends 8 oz of prune juce daily b/c of narcotics, high protein diet and lack of motility causes issues with constipation.  Instead I chose to eat 3-5 dried prunes a day.. I LOVE EM, who knew?  It has kept me regular and I take a daily stool softener - plain colace, no stimulant/laxative.  Just a softener.  Lots of water too.

4) Driving.  I have not drove yet.  Want to know why?  Well with a lower body lift the most aggravating thing is bot being able to sit in a chair like a normal person.  You want to lean back or you feel a pulling sensation on my incisions in the back.  I am just now able to sleep somewhat on my side and sit in SOME chairs but only with pillows behind my back and not hard chairs.  I think I could drive now if I wanted to and will have to next week as I have errands to run.  That is why the position of having your knees elevated up some and pillows behind u when resting/sleeping is the best for sure!

5) Returning back to work.  Well I have heard of those who went back in two weeks after LBL - this may be a bit aggressive my dear to go back as quick as you are planning b/c I can tell you sitting in a chair is very difficult and even in one place for very long.  FOR SURE make sure you have a good binder.  What is your doctor recommending??? An abdominal binder that doesn't encompass teh full bodice will definently NOT be enough for you if u plan to go back to work this quick.  You will need someting like I have www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product.do.  Invest in it and get two if you can so u can launder one while u wear the other.  I am a bit worried about u going back to work so soon.  You may just have to come down with a post spa swine flu ;-) Do you have enough vacation time just in case one week isnt enough? I hope so.

Let me know if you have more ?'s.. I hope I helped some, I really do and I wish u nothing but my best.  I am also here, recuperating so I can help you via online.  When is surgery again?

Melissa,
It took me the whole day to absorb this email - so amazing! The time you put in to writing this!!!!Thank you a million times.

1) I am a young 52. Very active, exercise regularly. Would have been considered a lightweight prior to WLS. Started at 230lbs now 140 -145. Was back to work after WLS after 10 days. My loose skin is well distributed. My back/behind is worse than my stomach. I thank exercise for that. The rear are my genetics and age. You win the best rear contest  by miles.
2) check - recliner & riser.
3) Meal planning - you are too funny- poor DH. Great ideas for food and shakes. I will do exactly what you did. love the chili idea. Prunes -huh. I'll give em a try.
4) I need to drive - but we will have to see.
5) Work -My surgeon said something about not wearing a binder, but I am seeing him Weds to get clarification on this and many other things. I will bring him photo of your garment.
SPA SWINE FLU - too funny and that is my story, sticking to it. I do have the vaction time. But, I tried to time this between payroll dates so I wouldn't miss that.

Surgery is on 6/17 Weds. I just love you to pieces. I feel your concern and desire to help popping off the pages.

Your opening tips are cut, pasted and on my refrig.

HOW ARE DOING THIS AFTERNOON? IS THE NERVE PAIN SUBSIDING AT ALL YET?
hugs, Pat

Aww you are sweet - Glad it helped you somewhat.

As for the binder.  I wear a size 4/6 in pants preop and I got a large b/c the sizing is weird on those garments.  I don't wear a large ANYTHING so do keep this in mind.  I have PLENTY of compression with a large and being that size.  My waist is a 30ish now swollen.  I was 144 preop and now 133-134.  SO you would probably need a large too.

Good to know you are mobile, active, that will help your recovery a lot!!!  Good deal!

As for the best buns contest.. my friend saw me today and thought it was flattened out some.  She didn't meant it mean, I love her to death, but she is right.  It had more shape before, part of the problem with the LBL - ya just get flattened out.  That is why Dr. Agha and some of them do the autoagumentation, my doc doesn't like to do this.  

Let me know if I can help with anything else, questions ALWAYS come up.  My friend had one before me.. I swear I was emailing her about every day to every other day with stuff that would pop up.

I am doing better, they called in some lortab for me, 30 of them.  THey are hoping that is all I will need, I don't think they were that keen on me wanting more drugs but I swear I need them.  Doc was ok I should say, nurse was questioning a bit.. sorta upset me b/c I would never abuse narcotics. :-(

Went to dinner with that friend i spoke of - my very first outing in like real clothes and not sweats.. baggy jeans (fit preop!) and sweatshirt and I got sore.. glad to be home.  I am 2.5 weeks out.  My back was aching like the dickens b/c I can't sit up and down very well, maybe my surgeon pullled me really tight?  This is why I worry about you going back to work too soon... hopefully it will be easier on you that way.  Everyone is different!  Get good pain meds that u can take and still function at work for sure!

Keep me posted.  Got your surgery date written down.  I am praying for you and here if you need anything.

HUGS

Melissa,
I really don't get the judgemental part coming from the nurse. Do they honestly think we get our bodies cut up beacuse we are secretly drug addicts just trying to get some narcotics.  Clearly, they cannot identify with the pain involved. I am glad you are doing better!

Todays question is - did you ever waiver on the decision to do this surgery?

Thanks for all your tips OMG - so helpful. You could write a book............for real!
Hugs, Pat

 

Aww you are too sweet.

I am actually considering writing a book on gastric bypass b/c I spent 2 years prior to my own surgery researching and husband had his 8 years ago (doing great btw!) and well I am a research guru with anything that affects me.  I love sharing my knowledge but never wanna sound like a "know it all" but I hope I help some.  I really love love love to pay it forward, I swear its my favorite past time and has been for over 2 years now since I had my own surgery.  So now this is exciting b/c I feel I can somewhat pay it forward with plastcis.  These girls on here paid it forward to me.. plenty, now its my turn!! I love it!

To answer today's questions.  I never waivered no.  I had so much excess skin that the only thing that had me sorta waivering was the fact that I have not had children yet but so many reasons for why I should go ahead besides that reason... even if I got pregnant after this I wouldn't care about the normal excess that comes with pregnany... but we are looking into adoption b/c we both want to adopt and since we both have been very obese before we know the dangers that are associated with gaining weight with pregnance (fear of not getting it back off and going the wrong direction, gestational diabetes etc.. I was type 2 diabetic preop, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, all heavily medicated for at age 29!)    

If i can help you Pat, I am here.  

I work Sat and Sun nights as a nurse.  12 hour night shifts.  I want to give you my cell phone # so you can call me if you have questions once you are home and are alone.   I would love to do that so I can help assist you if something comes up or ya just need to talk to someone.  You need support and I can help you with that since you are lacking in that department.  Lemme know if you will accept my offer on that.

Have a great weekend.  HUGS

And would I do this surgery again? BOTH RNY AND THIS ONE IN A HEART BEAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER!!!!