One Week

Ok folks, ole Dawg is going in a week from today. I really didn't have much fear before WLS because I guess I viewed it as I didn't have much choice. This being elective, to a degree, has me more concerned. I know, I rationalize it all out and realized I such a better candidate for having surgery then I was two years ago, but I also have so much more to lose. I have no concerns with the pain, I can deal with that. I have a high tolerence and realize the short term nature of pain. Besides, the brain is an amazing thing as it really does some cool things to help. I'm nervous about being cared for and being needy. I hate like hell not being able to fend for myself and being dependent upon others. There is also the guilt of having and elective procedure versus one that saved my life. On the up beat side, the Mardi Gras party this weekend will be off the hook. My co-host just found out that he was appointed to a very important post, so it will end up being a big celebration. So far, it looks like 30 of my close friends and family will be joining me for Skinny Saturday. I know you all would make it if you could, and I really do with you guys could come partake in this celebration of life. On a sad note, my mother-in-law who lives with us went into the hospital on Sunday night. She is 85 and was having some big hip pain so they decided to admit her, give her pain meds and do more testing yesterday. Well, she reacted to the morphine and went code blue. Because she was not considered a risk, she did not have a moniter on and had a RT not been in the room she would have passed away. This adds to my fear as this is an award winning hospital and where I will be in a week. My brother -in- law is a Doc and is on the board of the hospital. There were some other disturbing issues that I won't go into detail on, but it just added to my fear. Suffice to say, there was an RN who dropped a load when she first found out what happened, and then found out just who my mother-in-law was related to and his status. You hate to have stuff come down to that, but that is how the world works sometimes. Thank you for letting me vent. My wife is a wonderful woman, but in the true Irish matter it is far better not to discuss the bad, so I don't get much time to air my concerns. I know your thoughts and prayers will be with me and I take great comfort knowing you are with me.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you this next week. Realize that you are not 85 years old, and are in the best health you have been in in years. I am sorry that your MIL had such a tough time, and I'm glad that she came through it. The bottom line is that someone WAS there for her and did what was needed. You will be well cared for, perhaps especially because of concern over this incident. Just be sure to drop your brother-in-law's name a few times pre-op!! Joy

Sorry to hear about your MIL & glad she is on the road to recovery. You are for sure in my thoughts & prayers & I know you will be just fine. You are the healthy guru these days & have done extremely well over the past 2 years. My bet is you are up & walking quite quickly & won't need those added people helping you for long. Hang in There, & we will want those shining new pictures of that thin body as well. Right along side Reenie's Keep Smiling it is still the best medicine!! Marilyn, the Bearlady

You Will Be In My Prayers, Good Luck Rhen

OK Dawg, I'm glad they got to your mother-in-law in time. I bet that was scarey. You're going to be just fine. I feel it in my skinny bones. I'm like you in that I HATE to be taken care of. I just don't know how to let people take care of me. The night of my wls, I moved the recliner in my hospital room and blew open my left side. My surgeon was thrilled. The day I got home from the hospital, I moved a large potted plant across the house and did a little more damage. Last week when I had my back procedure, I was supposed to go home and rest for three days and needless to say, I blew it. I've since decided that I'm just going to have to have babysitters when I have my plastics. When I weighed 286 pounds, I didn't care that I ripped my stitches out and ended up with a nasty scar. Now that I'm striving to look better, I want to make sure that I don't rip anything open and keep my scarring as minimal as possible. If I'm left alone, I'll start looking for things to do and will end up roofing the house or something. I've already warned all my friends and family that they'll be expected to work in shifts to keep me company for a couple of weeks. Ken, let people take care of you. You're busy taking care of everyone else the rest of the time, let them give back. You deserve the care and attention. Hugs and best wishes, Connie

Hi Ken, thanks for this post. I really relate to where you're coming from. As a person recovering from the LBL just a week ago I can tell you this -- if your experience mirrors mine, you will not be totally dependent on anyone. You WILL need to take good care in providing yourself the necessary time to heal. But I have had to rely very little on anyone else for assistance. When you wake up in the hopsital, you will have the old familiar tubes -- catheder, IV -- no nose tube (I had that for the GB). But they are removed as quickly as possible -- for me it was 48 hours -- because they want to see you able to take care of yourself. I'm not saying anything about this surgery is a piece of cake -- but knowing your strength and determination, I suspect you are going to do very, very well. As for your fears about the hospital, well - no matter the level of confidence we bring to any of these surgeries, the fear of something going wrong is very real. The fact that you're owning it means that you will be able to move on from it very quickly. You're in a good place. And the results will be phenomenal, don't forget about that. The further I move away from the actual GB surgery and forward in living my life to the fullest extent possible, I become more and more concerned about the devestating effects the excessive, redundant skin has on us. The WLS community needs to be looking at this very carefully. Remember, you are not having plastic surgery; you are reconstructing your body so that you can do what you intended to do with your GB surgery -- live life to the fullest. Best of luck to you, my friend. When is your surgery exactly? Email me off line with a phone number of the hospital and I will gladly do what Connie did for me -- call for an update and post to the board, who all will be sending wonderful, warm thoughts of a non-eventful surgery and speedy recovery. Take good care. Maureen

Thanks for the kind responses. I was in panic mode yesterday, and have now started to calm down. This blow out party will be just what the Doctor ordered come Saturday night. The only problem is that I will want to get going early and I have a stupid board meeting from 10 to 4. Reenie, you made a great point. I had to pre-pay for a portion of my surgery and wrote a check for $3500.00 with the intent of using flexible spending account dollars to cover it. Well, yesterday I had to due battle as flex dollars can't be used for plastics. However, it can be used for reconstructive procedures. Long and the short of it was that I got the funds. Thanks for the offer on the call. I'll no more on Monday after my pre-op visit and I'll get it to you then.

Dep Dawgy-Dawg, My thoughts and prayers will be with you as you reconstruct your body. One day I hope to be there as well, so let us know the good, the bad and the ugly (oh wait, I see the ugly in my belly flab - ugh!!). I wish I could make it up there for your party - it sounds like it'll be great fun! Don't get too carried away - you need to save some strength for your surgery! As for letting folks take care of you - I know how you feel. I HATE to ask for help or even admit that I might need it. But, Connie speaks the truth - let others take care of you. You take care of others all the time - you deserve to be nurtured as well. Please let us know how you are doing. Biggggg hug! -W-

I completely understand about being dependent on others I HATE HATE HATE it! I am a bit concerned about the struggle you had with flex $$. if and when I get to have plastics I hopethe flex money can go that way. hmmm... HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME AT YOUR PARTY first of all! RELAX! ENJOY THE GOOD DRUGS! make sure you speak your BIL's name while you are going under and occasionally while asleep! I really liked what Maureen said it isn't plastics it is reconstruction! With all the excess skin we have it truly isn't cosmetic it is a necessity. I wish you a speedy recovery and complication free procedure! Nic