Panni set for Feb 8th

I am starting to get a little nervous.  Can anyone tell me about their experience with this type of surgery?  How many drains, how long you had them, how big is your scar.  Just anything about your experience would be greatly appreciated.  I feel as nervous as I did when I had my RNY done.  LOL  Thanks for any advice.

 

Tammy

I hear you loud and clear! I too am nervous! The thought of the drains makes me queasy. I have my 2 wk out appt tomorrow as my lbl w/fdl surgery is scheduled for 2/11.

I plan to further increase both water and protein, eat pineapple, use benefiber and miralax, and take arnica Montana.

I have an electric recliner, and bath stool, long beads to wear when showering to hold the drains. Also got some men's pjs with pockets for the drains too. Found so much useful info on this site from others who have had surgery. My surgery is outpatient. Hopefully my hubby will be up to the challenge!

Hopefully both of us will have a speedy recovery with only minor pain! Trying to be optimistic! Good luck to you!

Are you going to be wearing compression garments?  I bought men's boxers to have my Mon's drains come out the opening in the front.  With my garment, I couldn't wear regular panties, but the boxer's worked well.

keep in touch and let me know how you are doing/  I never thought about using my hubby's pjs tubes  I may do that one for sure. 

thanks for your reply.

 

Tammy

also  my plan ahs me in the hospital for 2 days.  Hubby is taking a week off to take care of me.  Just nervous of the unknown.

 

Tammy

 

Hi - I had a panniculectomy in October 2011.  For me it was a rough surgery.  I had four drains and the incision ran from behind one hip to behind the other hip.  My doctor did not recommend a compression garment and in retrospect I think it would have helped me.  A couple of weeks after the surgery my incision opened - about 10 inches wide and deeper than the long stick Qtip that doctor's use.  I had to have a wound vac to close the would - I wore that vac for four and a half months.  However I understand that my complications are NOT the norm.  I am having trouble to this day with stitches rising to the surface and pushing themselves out the incision.  But again I am not the norm and yours will most likely be much better.  If you have any further questions I would be happy to answer them.  

Seriously, i would have died without my compression garment.  Especially the garment for my thighs!  I lived in it 24/7 for 10 weeks and then I wore it during the day.  It kept my swelling down and my incisions protected.  It felt horrible without it when I removed it daily for my shower.  walking around with my thigh incisions was torture!

Me, too!! I wore mine for months, even longer than recommended because it made me feel better. It took a long time for me to wean myself off using it.

Tammy,  I had my Panni done 1/7/2013. I had two drains when I came home less than 24 hours after my surgery. Get the prescription for pain filled. I needed them for the first week to ten days. I then went to Tylenol. Now I go the whole day and don't need the Tylenol till nighttime. I seem to swell in the evening. I wish I would have read some of these ideas about men's p.j.'s, etc. I had a hard time figuring out what to do with the drains. Pinned them onto whatever I was wearing. It helped me to rent an electric recliner. Slept in it for first two weeks! Three weeks and I still can't fit into my pre-surgery jeans. My doc doesn't seem concerned, but I hope I don't need to buy a bigger size!

Best of luck to you!

Robin

I am not sure this was mentioned previously, BUT please make sure that your surgeon plans to raise your Mons Pubis.  Some do not - they charge extra for it and it is really very unsightly - after your tummy is flat.  I had a friend who had the Panni and it was not raised.  It looks like a "scrotum"  seriously!  she now wears spanx every day to keep it up - or she can't wear pants.