Back to the OR on Thursday for me...
I had a lower body lift, extended brachioplasty and breast augmentation on 12/12. Things have been going well, except that my incisions are not healing evenly. My arm incisions are great, as is my right side (brachioplasty incisions went from elbow, through underarm to hip on both sides) and the left front of my lbl incision. We re-closed the right front of my lbl incision in the office last week and did a re-close of my bellybutton the week before that.
Apparently, I do not heal well. I am allergic to adhesives and cannot have steri-strips, various tapes or Tegaderm, as they all cause horrible blood blisters to form on my skin. I am even rejecting sutures like I haven't with previous surgeries. I guess my body is just more sensitive than we knew.
Well, when I went for my weekly visit today, my surgeon asked if I would consider going back to the OR to have her clean up the left and back lbl incisions, as well as the belly button and a few other random spots that she isn't happy about. Basically, it will be a debridement and scar/incision rivision. She will also do my small left-side breast lift (peri-areolar) that she didn't get to do during the first surgery. That is to fix some slight assymetry I have in my breasts.
I agreed and she is doing this debridement and rivision for free. However, the anesthesia fee is $2000 for 2 hours of OR time. Sheesh! We are actually doing it at a different hospital than my first procedure, because they have cheaper anesthesia fees.
I know this will mean I am much happier with my scars, but I still can't help but be a little sad. I am eating protein like mad and taking extra zinc to help with protein absorption. My lab values pre-op were all normal (I checked today and got copies of the labs). I guess it is all just one foot in front of the other until everything heals up. To add to my whine-fest, my boyfriend and chief caretaker is leaving for a multi-month work assignment in Australia tomorrow morning. I missed him horribly already and now this just makes it worse.
I do want to end on a positive note and say that I went into surgery on 12/12 at 167 lbs. Yesterday, I weighed 147 and had a normal BMI for the first time since probably middle school. I am down 2 sizes (size 12 to 8) and very happy in that arena. Now, if I can just get healed up - things will be GREAT!
Bethany
Apparently, I do not heal well. I am allergic to adhesives and cannot have steri-strips, various tapes or Tegaderm, as they all cause horrible blood blisters to form on my skin. I am even rejecting sutures like I haven't with previous surgeries. I guess my body is just more sensitive than we knew.
Well, when I went for my weekly visit today, my surgeon asked if I would consider going back to the OR to have her clean up the left and back lbl incisions, as well as the belly button and a few other random spots that she isn't happy about. Basically, it will be a debridement and scar/incision rivision. She will also do my small left-side breast lift (peri-areolar) that she didn't get to do during the first surgery. That is to fix some slight assymetry I have in my breasts.
I agreed and she is doing this debridement and rivision for free. However, the anesthesia fee is $2000 for 2 hours of OR time. Sheesh! We are actually doing it at a different hospital than my first procedure, because they have cheaper anesthesia fees.
I know this will mean I am much happier with my scars, but I still can't help but be a little sad. I am eating protein like mad and taking extra zinc to help with protein absorption. My lab values pre-op were all normal (I checked today and got copies of the labs). I guess it is all just one foot in front of the other until everything heals up. To add to my whine-fest, my boyfriend and chief caretaker is leaving for a multi-month work assignment in Australia tomorrow morning. I missed him horribly already and now this just makes it worse.
I do want to end on a positive note and say that I went into surgery on 12/12 at 167 lbs. Yesterday, I weighed 147 and had a normal BMI for the first time since probably middle school. I am down 2 sizes (size 12 to 8) and very happy in that arena. Now, if I can just get healed up - things will be GREAT!
Bethany
Wow...so sorry about the healing problems and about having to go through a redo. Sorry it's costing an extra 2000 bucks, too! It's got to be scarry to go through all of this again so soon, especially since you are still healing. Seems like she would want to wait until you heal up before she starts again, but I'm no doctor, so I really have no clue. I just know how hard it is to heal from surgery. You are young, though, so I'm sure you are much tougher than I am. Best of luck with all of this.
Thanks!
The reason we are going back in now is that the incisions aren't healing on their own and it has been a month. If we just leave them, they will eventually get infected and be a bigger problem. She is going to trim down both sides and start fresh with a different suture type to see if that makes a difference. The revision isn't being done to adjust any amount of leftover skin or that type of thing. Basically, it is just to give me the best shot at healing cleanly, without infection or unnecessary scarring.
I am positive about it... just wi**** didn't have to be this way. There are worse things, for sure!
Bethany
The reason we are going back in now is that the incisions aren't healing on their own and it has been a month. If we just leave them, they will eventually get infected and be a bigger problem. She is going to trim down both sides and start fresh with a different suture type to see if that makes a difference. The revision isn't being done to adjust any amount of leftover skin or that type of thing. Basically, it is just to give me the best shot at healing cleanly, without infection or unnecessary scarring.
I am positive about it... just wi**** didn't have to be this way. There are worse things, for sure!
Bethany
On January 10, 2012 at 12:42 PM Pacific Time, sotto_voce wrote:
Thanks! The reason we are going back in now is that the incisions aren't healing on their own and it has been a month. If we just leave them, they will eventually get infected and be a bigger problem. She is going to trim down both sides and start fresh with a different suture type to see if that makes a difference. The revision isn't being done to adjust any amount of leftover skin or that type of thing. Basically, it is just to give me the best shot at healing cleanly, without infection or unnecessary scarring.
I am positive about it... just wi**** didn't have to be this way. There are worse things, for sure!
Bethany
I remember after my RNY revision, I had one tiny puncture wound that took a couple of extra weeks to heal. It drove me crazy because I love taking baths vs showers, so I wanted it to heal up so I could finally take a bath. I can only imagine how upsetting it is for you to have to start the entire healing process over again. Hopefully, this time will go much smoother.
Bethany, this will probably be the best $2K you've ever spent. I know it's tough for to get your body healing more evenly will be so good for you. I'm sorry that so many allergic type reactions kicked in after this surgery. I'm glad you have a surgeon that recognizes the need for revisions and is only charging you the anesthesia costs.
HW: 249 SW: 229 GW: 149 Age: 63 - Body by Sauceda - 12/2011
Hang in there and for what it is worth I agree with Lee!
I had a part of my abdomin that would not close this summer and we played around packing it, etc. from the end of the July until October 13th. It was such a pain in the butt!!!!!
After the surgery on the 13th I had a drain put in a she cleaned and reclosed the incision (much like your Dr. is doing, except probably the drain which she did for precaution) and I was fully healed and could even get back to working out (lifting weights, running, etc.) by the Oct. 29th!
It will be well worth the $2000 and the recovery. If I lived closer I would come help you recover, but maybe someone from your support group will be around to stop in and check on you!
I had a part of my abdomin that would not close this summer and we played around packing it, etc. from the end of the July until October 13th. It was such a pain in the butt!!!!!
After the surgery on the 13th I had a drain put in a she cleaned and reclosed the incision (much like your Dr. is doing, except probably the drain which she did for precaution) and I was fully healed and could even get back to working out (lifting weights, running, etc.) by the Oct. 29th! It will be well worth the $2000 and the recovery. If I lived closer I would come help you recover, but maybe someone from your support group will be around to stop in and check on you!
Thanks, Amy!
Thankfully, my parents live about an hour away and my mother will stay with me for a couple of days to make sure things are okay. I also have a roommate who will be able to help if I need it.
My surgeon is telling me that the recovery won't be a big deal and I'll likely feel better than I do right now with all the pain of these angry incisions.
You are giving me hope that this will be worth it. Thank you!!
Bethany
Thankfully, my parents live about an hour away and my mother will stay with me for a couple of days to make sure things are okay. I also have a roommate who will be able to help if I need it.
My surgeon is telling me that the recovery won't be a big deal and I'll likely feel better than I do right now with all the pain of these angry incisions.
You are giving me hope that this will be worth it. Thank you!!
Bethany
Believe your surgeon......I was in incrased discomfort for about a day, but then was better. The drain gave me a problem, but we have all been there. (It was sitting on a nerve and would pinch or something everytime I moved....weird) Anyway, it was the light at the end of the tunnel for me when she finally closed it again!
You are going nit going in for just a revision but also a debridement or else you could do a revision whenever! Debridement no matter how big or small means a necrotic/gangrene. I know as I have been there for a teeny area the size of a dime!
Be ever so thankful your PS is on top of things!
Pain ( which was worse for me than my TT!) after my debridement was excruciating to me but in hospital I was given percocet and in my situation it was decided to also put me on a Wound Vac which helped my body tremendously.
It is fantastic you are optimistic and positive and have possible for after. It should just be smooth sailing from here on.
Mikimi in Iarael
Be ever so thankful your PS is on top of things!
Pain ( which was worse for me than my TT!) after my debridement was excruciating to me but in hospital I was given percocet and in my situation it was decided to also put me on a Wound Vac which helped my body tremendously.
It is fantastic you are optimistic and positive and have possible for after. It should just be smooth sailing from here on.
Mikimi in Iarael
Most Active
Recent Topics
