Massage Therapy post-op....uh...be careful! (long)
First of all, my computer is acting up...operating reallllllly slow... so hopefully I will be able to post...and comment on other posts....
I just wanted to tell anyone who is interested, about my little mishap...just in case it can be avoided by others. I blogged about this back pain I've been having the other day...but not with this updated info...
First the Disclaimer: I love massage therapy, and always have. It has helped me immensely with many issues over the years, and this post is in no way suggesting that its a bad idea to see a massage therapist... actually despite what happened to me, I would still recommend it.
2 days after my surgery, my friend and long-time massage therapist broke her leg in a skiing accident. She is the only person outside of my immediate family & friends, that I told about my WLS. She is an amazing girl and I trust her completely.
Since she is now off work healing from her injury, and I was kinda aching for a massage I went and saw a new girl...a replacement. Unfortunately, I am not at the stage where I am comfortable telling total strangers about my surgery. *This is where I went wrong.*
I was 2 weeks post-op and I didn't tell the "replacement massage therapist" about my surgery. I was very comfortable laying on my stomach for the hour while she worked me over (and boy did she!), and when I left I felt great...awesome in fact.
The next two days were hell. Felt like I had been beaten across the back with chains. Oh well, my own fault for not being up front about it. I toughed out the two days as best I could.
Then the next night I went to bed and in the early hours of sunday morning I was so freaked out by the severity of the pain, i woke up hubby and begged him to call me an ambulance.... I had such severe pain in my upper mid-back that i wanted to puke, but couldn't.
You may remember reading about it on this post: www.obesityhelp.com/forums/on/4498863/Back-pain-what-the-heck/
No fever (thank god, so I knew I didn't have an infection), blood pressure is fine, they took some blood from me to test, i peed in a cup and went home. Pain abated by the time I arrived at hospital...45 min later.
Well I called my regular Massage Therapist today, the girl I know and love, the one with the broken leg, and I asked her if it was possible that all of this extreme pain (some of which I am still experiencing) is possibly a result of an aggressive massage treatment - and she said ABSOLUTELY.... plus the fact that I am somewhat dehyrdated...which also affects the muscles ability to recover from such a treatment...yep, all of this very well could be related to the treatment.
To be safe, I will still go see my family doc and verify...but everything feels like muscular pain right now, and it subsides with tylenol and a heating pad.
The reason I wanted to share... make sure *IF* you go for a treatment, and you are not comfortable telling them about your surgery, especially so close to being post-op like me, then you should explain you are only looking for a light relaxing treatment...to improve circulation...nothing too aggressive... because it is not necessary to hurt like this, just to feel a little better.
No pain no gain? That's crap... at least in this cir****tance... especially when you are so fresh from the surgery....(Yes, I feel like a total idiot.)
And to be clear, I do not hold this "replacement" therapist responsible for my pain, I hold myself responsible. This girl was just doing her job, and she was missing the necessary info....because I kept it from her.
I've decided that when it comes to my health...and the health care professionals I see in the future, any and all of them, I'm not going to care what they think about my choice to have WLS... my actual health care is much more important...After all... they are bound by some privacy laws anyway...it's not like they are going to run and tell the world... and honestly... there is NOTHING more important then getting proper suitable health care when you need it most.
Lesson Learned...
I just wanted to tell anyone who is interested, about my little mishap...just in case it can be avoided by others. I blogged about this back pain I've been having the other day...but not with this updated info...
First the Disclaimer: I love massage therapy, and always have. It has helped me immensely with many issues over the years, and this post is in no way suggesting that its a bad idea to see a massage therapist... actually despite what happened to me, I would still recommend it.
2 days after my surgery, my friend and long-time massage therapist broke her leg in a skiing accident. She is the only person outside of my immediate family & friends, that I told about my WLS. She is an amazing girl and I trust her completely.
Since she is now off work healing from her injury, and I was kinda aching for a massage I went and saw a new girl...a replacement. Unfortunately, I am not at the stage where I am comfortable telling total strangers about my surgery. *This is where I went wrong.*
I was 2 weeks post-op and I didn't tell the "replacement massage therapist" about my surgery. I was very comfortable laying on my stomach for the hour while she worked me over (and boy did she!), and when I left I felt great...awesome in fact.
The next two days were hell. Felt like I had been beaten across the back with chains. Oh well, my own fault for not being up front about it. I toughed out the two days as best I could.
Then the next night I went to bed and in the early hours of sunday morning I was so freaked out by the severity of the pain, i woke up hubby and begged him to call me an ambulance.... I had such severe pain in my upper mid-back that i wanted to puke, but couldn't.
You may remember reading about it on this post: www.obesityhelp.com/forums/on/4498863/Back-pain-what-the-heck/
No fever (thank god, so I knew I didn't have an infection), blood pressure is fine, they took some blood from me to test, i peed in a cup and went home. Pain abated by the time I arrived at hospital...45 min later.
Well I called my regular Massage Therapist today, the girl I know and love, the one with the broken leg, and I asked her if it was possible that all of this extreme pain (some of which I am still experiencing) is possibly a result of an aggressive massage treatment - and she said ABSOLUTELY.... plus the fact that I am somewhat dehyrdated...which also affects the muscles ability to recover from such a treatment...yep, all of this very well could be related to the treatment.
To be safe, I will still go see my family doc and verify...but everything feels like muscular pain right now, and it subsides with tylenol and a heating pad.
The reason I wanted to share... make sure *IF* you go for a treatment, and you are not comfortable telling them about your surgery, especially so close to being post-op like me, then you should explain you are only looking for a light relaxing treatment...to improve circulation...nothing too aggressive... because it is not necessary to hurt like this, just to feel a little better.
No pain no gain? That's crap... at least in this cir****tance... especially when you are so fresh from the surgery....(Yes, I feel like a total idiot.)
And to be clear, I do not hold this "replacement" therapist responsible for my pain, I hold myself responsible. This girl was just doing her job, and she was missing the necessary info....because I kept it from her.
I've decided that when it comes to my health...and the health care professionals I see in the future, any and all of them, I'm not going to care what they think about my choice to have WLS... my actual health care is much more important...After all... they are bound by some privacy laws anyway...it's not like they are going to run and tell the world... and honestly... there is NOTHING more important then getting proper suitable health care when you need it most.
Lesson Learned...
Toni..."Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the will to overcome it"
www.fatgirlchangingherworld.com 
Twitter:@fatgirlchanging
Surgery JAN. 19th, 2012 - Down 120 lbs & 75 inches @ my last Weigh in!!!! 
well said.
Oh Toni, you poor thing!
Hope you feel better very soon!
Donna
Hope you feel better very soon!
Donna
My Journey: Highest W= 349 Loss w/Weight Watchers= 296 Loss w/Optifast= 278
Referral: Aug.25/11 Orientation: Sept.26/11, Optifast: Dec.28/11 & Surgery: Jan 18/12
Total Loss= 187 lbs & Weight Loss since Dec 28/2011 w/Opti+WLS= 134 lbs.
Current Weight - April 2013 = 162.2
is Monica M.
So sorry that happened to you, Toni!
I went for a treatment about 3 weeks after surgery, but I had talked about the WLS pre-op with my massage therapist. After hearing your story, I'm so glad that I did! Thanks for telling people about this experience so that others can avoid having the same thing happen.
I went for a treatment about 3 weeks after surgery, but I had talked about the WLS pre-op with my massage therapist. After hearing your story, I'm so glad that I did! Thanks for telling people about this experience so that others can avoid having the same thing happen.
RNY April 11, 2011
I always have that same response and have not gone since surgery. I like a therapeutic massage not just a relaxation massge and they go deep meaning my shoulders, neck and back are in alot of pain and beet red for several days. I carry all my stress there and in my chest. I took advil before going and will probably take something when i go again. Taking a bath with epsom salts helps remove the lactic acid from the body. I go into my hot tub which is sal****er but can't put the jets on the area that was massaged Too sensitive. I don't like my body's response but realize this is normal for me. Obviously it isn't for you so take it easy for a bit. Use a heating pad if you can handle it.
Highest W 312 Referral W 252 Surgery W 237 CW 156 Height 5'6" 
I went 2 week post op and had him massGee on the massage chair. Much less tummy pressure. Plus the toxins that are expelled from the surgery can't be flushed as we are not drinking enough. I could only handle 30 mins but worth it. I get myocardial massage and they actually go through the abdomen so it was important to tell . I have been very open to surgery because I didn't want the truth to come out after plYing off I did by diet/e exercise alone . Let em talk, at least I'm skinnier and if they feel that strongly to talk about me fill yer boots!
Glad nothing was wrong and just muscle ache!
Glad nothing was wrong and just muscle ache!
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