I need your input friends!!!

I'm terrified!!!

of my up coming surgery for a panniculetomy!!!! I haven't admitted out loud to friends or family. I'm fearing the what if I get an infection again. I can't get a leak. They won't be touching any internal organs. They will be just cutting the flab off, right??? I fear a surgical incision infection!!! My last one took months to health with a wound vac attached. I can't afford a mishap like the last ones..

I have been stress eating with carbs... I need to be getting my protein in and vitimans...

Can you all help...Not sure how, maybe a good swift kick in the behind!!
I need to get back on a low carb eating lifestlye again....HELPPP please.
Love and hugs

Donna

Oh, donna, after all you went through with the VSG, no one can blame your emotions.

I had the lbl in September, though, and let me give you the encouragement / swift kick that you are needing. First, do know that they should not be entering into your stomach cavity with a panni removal surgery; so your chances for a leak are very slim. However, this is one major surgery with lots of cutting, and you will need lots of healing. That takes PROTEIN!!!! In fact, I had a lbl in September, and my plastics doc had me up my protein to no less than 100 grams 1 month pre; and about 1 month post plastics to get in the protein that the body will need to heal. I also had to double vitamins--again building reserves for healing.

If you are not strength training, especially abs and thighs; now is the time to really hop too because it will be valuable to for your mobility to be as strong as you can since there more than likely will be some stitches, cutting etc on the ab muscles. And you may find the increase in exercise will give you a venue for stress that will work better for you in the long run than carbs.

Donna, hang in there, make the best choices for your health! You can do this girl!

Being scared is reasonable.  Falling back into old comfort eating is not unusual.  Now for the swift kick in the @$$:  Neglecting protein and supplements is the opposit of what your body needs for healing after surgery. 

You can't predict the outcome so worry is understandable.    You can prepare yourself mentally and physically for the best possible outcome.  Think realistically about complications and de stress.  Eat well, exercise, prepare by careing for yourself. 

In addition to protein at each meal, my wls surgeon has patients on two shakes a day and a double dose of vits and other supplements to promote healing.  Also, staring 48 hrs pre op I showered with an oc anticeptic soap from the pharmacy as instructed by the hospital's surgical coordinator to reduce the chance of infection.  

Look how far you've come.  Prepare body, mind, spirit.  You'll get through this too.   

Hi, Donna!

I myself had a circumferential panniculectomy (sp?) a year and a half ago.  It really is a huge surgery, and I can absolutely appreciate your anxiety.  I'm even going to tell you that your worry is not entirely unfounded, because in my case, there was 100" of cutting (maybe more), 50" of suturing, 9 lbs of flesh removed, and untold quantities of lipo.  Sometimes I reflect back on what I did, and get scared in retrospect, about the risk I took.

It's a big deal.  A VERY big deal!   You are taking a calculated risk, and that should not be entered into lightly!

However, you have done your research, right?  Now, research is no guarantee against catastrophe, but it helps you determine whether or not you are making a good decision.  My guess is, you should feel confident about the rationale behind the choice to have surgery, the location of the surgery, and the surgeon himself/herself.

SO!  If you are, indeed, going to have a panniculectomy, now is the time to prepare your body.  You are going to increase your protein to about 1 gram per day for every pound of weight you think you should be, because that's appropriate for healing from this kind of wound.  You are NOT going to focus on worrying about weight gain right now, because the major issue will be healing.  And you are going to rigorously adhere to your vitamin and medication regimine.

Any antibiotics you are to take in advance of the surgery, you will take.  And you're going to be extra good to yourself by mothering your body.  Your mom probably wouldn't let you go on a junky carb eating binge now, would she?  If you have kids, YOU wouldn't let them do that, right?  And you would make sure your children get plenty of rest, keep regular hours, and that people treat them well.

Those are the things you should do for yourself.

Right now!