PANNI (long)

Hello,

 

To say my world has just been completely turned upside down, well, OK, not upside down but definitely not in the direction I was planning.  I had my 1 year follow up last Thursday.  I planned on telling the surgeon what my plan was.  I wanted to lose another 50 lbs. (I had lost 200 to date) and then I want to go for my knee replacement.  Being as I still have 120 lbs to go to my set goal, I need to exercise and bone on bone knees just is too restrictive to what I can do.  Understand, I am 52 years old and I would love to have the body of a 20 year old, it has never been a big deal.

 

Well, the surgeon started by saying he wants me to go and have a panni, within the next 4 months.  Actually he wanted me to start the procedure immediately but I need to build up some time in work.  His plan and it has been his plan since I was 2 months post-op is too remove the excess belly and mons (sp?) to allow me to move better.  Let me mention that I suffer from lymphedmia in both my left leg and now in my pannis area.    So the hopes of this surgery is that the lymph circulation will improve, allowing me less break outs of cellulits and infections    He is also going to repair a small hernia at the top of the incision point.

 

I don’t know how to feel as this was not the way I thought that it would go.  This is my second panni, I had one several years prior to my GBS (I do some things backwards), so I know what to expect and I am not afraid. 

 

The surgeon, I love this man, feels that if I went for the knees and got one of my infections, it might travel to the new knees and cause me to have them removed.  OK, that one knocked me off the chair.  He says this is a completely medical needed reconstruction and is 100% sure the insurance company will pay for this. 

 

I go to see the PS in late October, back to see surgeon in November and hopefully, by the first week in January 2008, I will no longer be swinging in the wind.

 

Please send good thoughts my way.  I will keep all posted as the time approaches.

 

Jeanne

Jeanne, I have had both my knee replaced one in 2000 and one in 2004. Let me tell you, that you want to have a good chance at NOT getting infection, if possible. The knee surgeries are very TOUGH surgeries. My gastric bypass (open rny) is NOTHING compared to the knee surgeries. maybe should listen to doc. Take care and good luck

Thank you so much.  I am going to follow his advise.  I am scheduled to see my PCP tomorrow to get the ball rolling even further.  I realize how good this is going to be and really can't wait. Jeanne

Julie, Thank you for your inspirational words.  I know that things are going to get better for you.  You never know why somethings happen, but there is a reason.  Us Philly girls are tough and NOTHING will hold us down. Jeanne

Dear Jeanne,  My mom got an infection in one of her artificial knee joints.  They caught it within a day which is very, very unusual and it was still a nightmare.  They had to take the joint out and put a temporary one in.  She could barely get around.  Then she had to have a new joint put in.  In the meantime she was on an IV pump that she carried around in a pack for about two months.  She already had a port or it would have been even worse.  Get a second or third opinion, but don't over ride the doctors on this one.  I wish you a million days of great health.  Loris

Hi Loris, Thank you for the good wishes.  My surgeon is part of the University of Pennsylvania and I trust him with my all.  I was just not expecting this to happen this fast.  Thanks for telling me about your Mom.  All the info I have helps to know what is in store for me. Jeanne

Jeanne, I'm almost 50 and I'd also love the body of a 20 year old.  Any chance you can arrange that for me?  Seriously, I know how awful it is to keep getting cellulitis.  Since I had Blobby removed last April, it, plus the preventive Keflex regimen, seems to be keeping things at bay.  I worry about the lymphatics being compromised in that leg after all those infections.  I also worry that I'm going to need knee replacements down the road, and how will that impact lymph flow?  He isn't totally removing your mons, is he?!   Mine hangs quite a bit, but I'm not sure I'd want it removed.  I'm hoping someday to get it put back where it belongs.  I'm pretty sure I'll need a substantial lift of everything, but it's not anywhere in the near future for me. It's exciting that yours will happen relatively soon.  Is there any danger of the lymph glands being cut when the panni is removed?  Hooray on having a good surgeon that you love, too.  The surgeon *****moved Blobby was a good surgeon, but I'm not sure I'd use him again. Kix

Hi Kix, I understand that you can have the body of the 20 year old but the mentality comes along with it.  Just kidding for any 20 year olds out there.   I have had the lympho for over 15 years and until I had my first panni, I only had one break out of the celluitis.  It also doesn't help that I am allergic to Penicillian and all of its off shoots.  My leg has not changed it is lumpy and hard in some areas.  I looked into the treatments and they are time consuming, uncomfortable (except for the massage part) and one bout of the cellulitus and you start all over again. 

I don't know what the PS is going to do.  When I had my first panni or the removal of Ethel (I named mine also) I was cut from side to side and I still have a small stomach but the mons area is what actual hangs down.  I am going to see what the PS has to say.  She has been doing these reconstructive surgeries for years.  I would have perfered to use the PS who did my first panni but he doesn't accept insurance at all. 

My appointment is in October so I will have alot more answers by then. 

 

Thanks for your kind words.  I can't tell you how much you have been an inspiration to me.

 

Jeanne

 

PS the picture is Ralphie my 13 year old Golden/Collie lap dog.

P.S. The day I had my WLS, everyone else who was in the pre-op holding area was there for knee replacements!  I heard the orthopedists' pre-op speech so many times while I waited to go into the OR for my surgery that I'm pretty sure I could recite it word-for-word.   Kix