surgery did not end well

I'm in the hospital after surgery last Wednesday.  The LBL went well enough, but I developed a pulmonary embolism.  I had been in the after care facility and opted to stay another day.  My pulse ox dropped into the low 80s, so I was admitted.  I've been in the hospital for 2 nights so far. The tests for PE are brutal when recovering from the LBL- so, lots of pain. 

Dr. Katzen has been to see me every day. Don't know why I developed the clot, but I'm on blood thinners for at least 6 months.  He says surgically I'm great, medically not so great.

 

I wish I had better news to report. 

Hi Lisa,

You're in my prayers for a full recovery - which in fact, I believe will be the case in no time! :)

Take care and be blessed!

Always,
Rose

OH my gosh Lisa!!  I'm so sorry this happened to you.  Sounds like you are so fortunate that they are on it.  Wow.  That is so scary and a reminder to all of us things don't always go perfectly.  Something for us to all keep in mind when making this decision.  How much longer till you get to go home?

Pay attention to your doctors and don't try to be brave or show off.

 I  was inclined to go home and my husband and doctors said no way, they transported me to the hospital where they found the clots.  Doctor said it would have been catastrophic if I'd gone home.

 

So no more surgeries for me... 

Bless your heart, Lisa! So sorry to hear of your PE and hope the worst is behind you.

We just never think of a complication occuring but when it does it is awfully scary.

My prayers are with you for a speedy recovery!

Loretta

I'm so sorry for you, not something anyone wants or needs. But it's good news that your doctors and health care givers are on top of this so you're getting the best treatment.

Thanks all.  It's really scary.  Bedrest and all sorts of scary machines- V/Q scan, pulmonary spiral ct, ptp of pe blood tests, arterial blood gasses.

 

And I'm pretty low risk.   So it goes to show you just have to do your research and prepare (at least in the back of your mind for even the bad things.  It's also important to have a second pair of ears to catch what you can't while you're recovering.

 

I can't emphasize enough that cheaping things out isn't the way to go.  Spend the extra $500 for an additional night at an aftercare facility.  If I couldn't have afforded it and gone home, i might not be here writing this.

 

As Dr. K said, I'm in the absolutely the safest place to be... 

Aloha Lisa-

Very VERY frightening-  and it could have happened on an airplane trip as well!

I did ask my PS what steps he took to prevent PTE seeing as the circumferential belt lipectomy is such a long procedure  ( and I also had a breast lift/augmentation at the same time)- he does not yet use pre operative LMW Heparin ( some PSs are using it) but he does warm the patient pre and intraoperatively, uses the intermittent pneumatic compressin devices pre, intra and post op, and elevates the knees slightly during surgery.  With a LBL , I was required to stay at least one night in the SurgiCenter facility where I was the only patient for 2 post op nurses. I also was told to get either a hospital bed, recliner or tempurpedic pillows so that I would stay in a W position for weeks post op when I slept.

Any woman over 40 having abdominoplasty is at moderate risk for DVT/PTE- those in contraceptives or hormone replacement are even higher risk.

What a relief that you are recovering and in good hands- Godspeed. XOXOLori

I'm heading home today!  Finally.

 I asked my PS how often this happens and he said it's never happened in a body lift patient of his.  I had the squeezies on my legs through surgery into the care facility and in the hospital until they discovered the clots. I do think that I should NOT have been moved into the care facility from the surgery center.  I believe that I should have had 24 hours to not have to traumatize my body further with getting into a wheelchair, into the car, and back into the wheelchair and back into another bed immediately after surgery.  It was brutal.

 I have my husband and mom at home for the near future, so I'll be well cared for there.  Plus all of my friends are making food.  

 I'm on lovenox and coumadin and will have a home nurse for a couple of days to give the lovenox and draw blood. 

 I was surprised at the clots- I'm in the best shape since high school, non-smoker (ever), extremely light drinker (1-2 drinks a month at most), no contraceptives or HRT.  Just a fluke, I suppose, since all precautions were taken.

 I started writing this at noon, and am still waiting to be DC here at 4.  Ugh. 

Aloha Lisa-

I had asked more questions about clots during my initial consult (I'm a vet), and even went back in for a second visit after one PS I consulted with ( while I was still choosing a surgeon) explained why she didn't do the CBL but would split the procedure it into 2 surgeries- front, and then the back about 2-3 months later. She cited a study where the incidence of complications post CBL was as high as 38%, one of the more serious complications being DVT/PTE - that freaked me out cause it's pretty freakling high. The first PS had not mentioned this- so I rescheduled with him and asked more detailed questions. That's when he explained his protocol for avoiding clots- and also stated that "complication" could be as benign as a popped stitch/vomiting post op  to as severe as infection/sepsis/DVT/PTE/death...but until these studies separate out severe life threatening complications from mild annoying complications, they all get dumped into that 38% figure.

And yep, luck of the draw for you- again so lucky! And it stresses the importance of having another set of ears during pre op consults to be your advocate. We tend to be so excited about theprospect of plastics after working hard to lose the weight that we miss about 80% of what's being said!

Be well, toughie- XOXOLori