MissStaci

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I figured the freak complication I experienced in hospital would, statistically speaking, take me out of the running for any other post-op problems. Au contraire, mon petite mushroom!

My largest incision has hurt more than the others from the beginning. The doc explained that incision got the biggest workout during surgery due to all manner of instruments that were shoved in there and wiggled around my insides (my words not his).

My surgery was on June 7th and around 10 days later I noticed a marble-sized knot under the incision. As it turned out the knot was a bunch of puss and grossness that had been healed around almost completely. Fortunately it opened and started to drain on its own but not well enough.

Yesterday I saw my doc's nurse for suture removal and ended up having to get it packed (which hurt like crazy!). The worst part was the healing part had to be reopened. So glad Diane is a great nurse and did the job quick.

Okay, so that sucks but I figure, at least it's on the mend and the drainage will start to abate. Ugh, not yet. This morning I awoke to drainage through my dressings, my night shirt and my sheets. Gross.

Diane said it will take about 2 weeks of the packing process to get this thing healed...boo! But there's light at the end of the tunnel just in time for the crazy hot Florida weather.

Finally, tomorrow is the day. I had to reschedule twice but I made it!

I was hoping for an early start, but I report to the hospital at 11 and they expect the surgery to begin around 1. I'll deal with it, I can handle it, but I manage my anxiety much better early in the day so a little worry is starting to creep in about that.

Plus, I don't think I've ever gone 11 hours without drinking any water, that will be weird.

Hopefully my anesthesiologist is merciful and will give me something to make me not care much ;0)

Onward and upward!

 So family stuff forced me to reschedule my surgery. It's now being done on Tuesday, May 17th. Time is flying though!

Thanks for the kind messages sent when I was SUPPOSED to be having my RNY...they were great to read. I can only imagine how comforting they are to a person who's just come home :0)

This coming Monday will mark one week since my surgeon's office submitted my case for approval. The insurance specialist told me apporival usually takes 2-3 weeks. Not bad, I thought.

This morning at 10 my phone rang and I heard, "Staci this is Mrs. Blah Blah with Coventry," (that's my insurer) "calling to let you know we've approved your surgery."

Me: "What?"

Mrs. Blah Blah: "You've been approved for RNY surgery with Dr. Wizman."

Me: Stammering, inhaling a piece of orange. Coughing. "My surgery? You what?"

Mrs. Blah Blah, laughing now: "Yes, you are approved and have a surgery date of May 3rd. You'll be hearing from the doctor's office soon."

So, yeah, there's that.

                        WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!

Today I had an appointment with the pulomary specialist who is supposed to clear me for surgery. I REALLY wanted to cancel the appointment, not because of fear of the doctor, but because of my stupid agoraphobia. The negative thinking was kicking in big time and almost got me.

I started the "what if" thinking, i.e. what if I have a panic attack in the car, what if I freak out in the doctor's office, etc. It's all self-defeating bullshizzle but it can be very tricky sometimes. I've figured out a simple "counter argument" when I start having those thoughts. There's nothing wrong with being afraid or fearing I'll fail, but if I don't try at all the chance I'll succeed is 0%. So far it's working and is helping me get waaaaaay out of my comfort zone. I'm also using a lite version of relaxation breathing, which was funny because by the time the doc examined my I was tired of taking deep breaths.

He ordered a sleep study and  chest xray. The sleep study will be a HUGE challenge but I think I can do it as long as I keep using the techniques that have worked for me so far. He said my symptoms indicate it's very likely I have sleep apnea (which I knew) but that after weight loss from surgery it would be likely to resolve itself.

So, a good and very productive day today. Tomorrow is blood work and chest xray and my psych evaluation is also scheduled for tomorrow. That appointment will be the farthest away and the one I'll have to work hardest at. If anyone reads this, keep your fingers crossed for me!

Well I've had my first appointment with a specialist. My insurance (Vista) is one of the few that requires you to consult a cardiologist, pulmonologist and psychologist BEFORE you see the bariatric surgeon. Apparently it's usually the other way around, the surgeon sends you to whomever he wants to evaluate you.

I met the cardiologist, Dr. Salamon on Friday. He is a very empathetic and repectful man when it comes to my obesity. He calls his thoughts on obesity his "30,000 foot view perspective," because he realizes he has no idea what it's like to be obese. I felt absolutely no judgement coming from him and he spent a lot of time explaining why I needed a stress test AND told me that a past diagnosis of cardiomyopathy may be incorrect and explained why.

His office and staff were professional and friendly and Carolina, the receptionist, very graciously handled a screwup by my primary doc's office.

As a pretty hardcore agoraphobic I was very anxious but everyone helped put me at ease.

I'm scheduled for a nuclear stress test and that will hopefully satisfy the cardiac portion of my evaluation.