My Post-Op Journal



September 13, 2002 7:55 P.M.

OMG I'm post-op...How wierd to say that. Here's my experience.

The morning of surgery, I was so scared. I am so surprised I slept 6 hours straight! I remember being so thirsty. Anyway, my family was scared and crying. I tried to stay positive, but it was so hard because so many things were going on in my mind. I got up, took a shower and used the special soap they gave me, got dressed, started my little video journal. I started crying in it saying, "What if I don't come back! :'(" Like I said, I was thinking the worst. I told my mom "Hey why don't we just skip this and go to IHOP for breakfast. They were all excited up until I said I was joking. Well, I arrived at the hospital at 10:45 (45 minutes early lol), I signed in went and sat in the waiting room where I met Stacy Gamel's husband, mom and dad and adorable little baby! Stacy is a girl who had the surgery the same day as me, right before me with the same surgeon. I met her online a few days before my surgery on this site. What a wonderful family she has. Her mom was such a sweet lady. Her husband seems like such a great guy. We chatted for a while and then I was called in. I was told I can come back out to give my daughter a hug. I went in and they took some blood work. That's when I had the most pleasant surprise. Someone I never would have expected to come visit me did. Someone who was following my story on this site. DB..I was so happy to see her. She even visited me after surgery. I thought that was so wonderful and sweet. She had the surgery and she is gorgeous let me tell you! Flat tummy! I can't wait to look like that! After the blood work, I was able to go and give my daughter a hug and my mom gave me a hug and said bye to me because she said she doesn't want to be up there when they start the anestesia. I don't blame her. So my 2 sisters and dad came up. Only 1 person was allowed at a time, but in the end my sisters both stayed with me. A wonderful nurse, Barb, started my I.V., wrapped my legs up to prevent blood clots, asked a whole bunch of questions about my health history etc. Same questions I was asked at the consult. The anestesiologist came in and told me I needed to read a form and sign it. And then the doctor came in and asked me a few questions, did a quick examination of my tummy, throat and neck and then told me to read and sign a form. After that, Barb gave me an injection she told me would act as an amnesiac. She wasn't lyin, because I do not remember a thing after she gave me that shot. I was even told the doctor came and talked to me after the needle was given to me. I was saying things I DO NOT remember. How wierd. Next thing I remember was waking up in the recovery room saying ""OWWW OWWW OWWW OWWWWWWWWW OMGG NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOWWWWW OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW"""'''"TAKE ME BAAAAAAAACCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKK" I was having terrible muscle spasms. I was fading in and out between them. I heard one of the nurses tell me that I was scaring the other patients. How many patients were there I wonder?I remember looking over and seeing a man laying in the bed next to me and they were working on him but WHY was I the only one screaming in excrutiating pain? I don't remember much of anything after that until I got to my room and saw my family looking down at me and crying. My sisters told me that my neck was throbbing really bad. I kept waking up with those horrible muscle spasms. Why didn't I ever hear of anyone having those? I've been researching this for 2 years and never heard of it. Well, the first and second day, I had those spasms. Then before end of the second day I was feeling better and started walking 2 times around the corridor every 2 hours. The 3rd day was the worst. Day 1, I was having spasms, but the rest of the time, I was sleeping. But day 3, I could NOT for the life of me fall asleep nor could I find a good position to lay in. I had terrible back pain, dry heaves, I threw up a few times, nausea, dizziness, lots and LOTS of gas, I had the milk of something emema YUCK!!!! And I was going to the bathroom alot. I had the most WONDERFUL nurses except on the 3rd day. She was the evening nurse...I won't mention names, but was so rude with me. She didn't seem to like her job. Everybody else was so wonderful...especially Jackie Hutchison. She is really dedicated and showed alot of concern when I was going through those really rough nights. Everybody was so caring and some asked me that I can talk to them about anything if I needed a shoulder. OMG I have never been in a more caring envioronment. I stayed an extra day because of what I went through on the 3rd day. They took a few x-rays to check for problems and they found alot of gas bubbles. On the 4th day I felt so much better. The nurses were so proud of me I was walking so much and actually smiling. On the 5th day, I got to go home. HOME SWEET HOME! I felt really awful when I arrived home. come to find out, it was gas because when I took a chewable gas-x, it went away. I wasn't able to get online until today. I was overwhelmed with all the e-mails I received. I started full liquids today. Not doing too good with those. I feel sick because of it. Wish I could stay on clears for a few more days, but I would never not follow my doctor's orders. I wanted to call but I hate being a pest. I called him yesterday because I had a soar throat. Today I have a cold. I have no energy. I am trying to walk as much as I can. But I'm so tired. This cold is making me sleepy and tired and my whole body aches. I haven't been on pain meds since Wednesday. They were making me really tired. My boss called and asked me if I am coming back to work next week. I thought he was calling to see how I was doing :( He hasn't even come to visit me. Oh well.Anyway, I have a follow up appt with the wonderful Dr. Batay on Sept. 24 at 3:15 and will update again when I go and see him. I'll let you all know after the appt. Love u all!


September 24, 2002 7:02 P.M.

I went to my 2 week appointment today. I was there yesterday because my incision had a little drainage. They took the steri-strips off yesterday also and the doctor saw me and said it looked pretty good and there was just a little opening that didn't look infected. Anyway today when I went in, I got weighed. I lost 30 lbs so far. Dr. Batay looked at my incision too and was happy with how well it healed. I am having a whole lot of pain around my incision and he said that was normal too because  I am beginning to do more and the incision on the inside is pulling. He also said I may continue to have that pain from 6 week to 3 months post-op. It's awful. It's keeping me from being able to walk as much as I'd like. I have also been extremely depressed. I've been thinking of long-term. Will I end up with complications due to this surgery? Vitamin deficiencies, anemia, kidney problems etc. I really regret having this surgery right now. I don't know how I'll feel later on. I'm just really depressed. Sure it might be great the first 5-10 years. But where are all the 15 year old post ops? I'm scared. I want to grow old. I don't know why I didn't think much of this before surgery. I need to get out of this way of thinking. I'm no longer going to those negative websites. Will just listen to what my wonderful surgeon, DR. BATAY, says and that's all I'll do. I told him how I felt. He is so wonderful and caring. He made me feel much better about it. I've just been crying all day long. I drove my family crazy. On the 14th, I developed some painful diarreah and I called the surgeon because I was sweating and having chills also, so he told me to come in right away and they admitted me for 2 days. I had 3 enemas in those 2 days. It was so awful I'm still having nightmares about it. I am happy about the 30 lbs. But I am having a really hard time getting all the liquids in. I don't throw up or anything, but it's just hard to remember to drink. I'm still on full liquids now, switching to pureed on the 27th of September until the 11th of October. Ok...will update again after my 6 week appointment. Don't know when that is yet. I have to call after the 1st of October to get an appt. Hugs to all.
Nov.5,2002

I'm now 8 and 1/2 weeks post op.Went for my 6 week checkup yesterday and lost 49 lbs. I now weigh 327lbs from 376. A starting BMI of 59.2. I am really sorry I had this surgery. It's just too complicated for me. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy about the weight loss, but I don't like the fact that there's a 30% chance that I'll end up with osteoperosis. I had this surgery so I can be happy and healthy. Not to be skinny with brittle bones. How come I wasn't told that I have to take calcium for the rest of my life BEFORE surgery? If I could do this all over again, I DEFINATELY won't. It's just too complicated.
Nov.16,2002

Well, I went to my second support group meeting yesterday. When I was there, I weighed in and I now weigh 319 so that makes a total of 57 lbs lost. 57 in 10 weeks. Seems kinda slow to me, but I won't complain. I guess that's why I don't have a scale at home..so I won't go crazy when the scale doesn't say what I want it to say. Stacy is a wonderful support person for me.I found her while I was looking for other people who were having their surgeries on September 6th. I am so glad I did. She's a wonderful friend and this Thanksgiving, one thing I am soo grateful for is her. Also Gale Giron. She is going through a tough time and I hope that everyone can pray for her. Even with everything that is going on with her, (her brother leaving this world to be with God) she still has time to check in on me and say hello. She is the best.My BMI is now 50. I have 20lbs more to get to my short term goal. I haven't been under 320 in 2 years. But how come I still feel as fat as I did 57 lbs ago?I am having a wierd pain that the surgeon says is muscle spasms, but somehow I don't think it is. It hurts ALOT! And is very annoying.Well, will post again when I go for my 3 month visit on the 17th of December.
Nov.22,2002

I went to see Dr. Batay-Csorba today at BTC to get checked for a pain I am having on the right of my incision right under my right breast.. He says it's from constipation? Anyway, I was just excited because I stepped on the scale and come to find I lost 4 more lbs. total now is 61 lbs.
Jan 27,2003

Wow, it's been a long time since I've updated. Well, I'm about 9 days short of being 5 months post-op. Boy! Does time fly by or what! I don't have an official weight loss because I haven't been down to BTC for over a month and the scales there are the only ones I can trust. I Have been working out alot and I am feeling so much better. I'm feeling alot more energy now and I can actually get up without help and I don't pant when I go upstairs..I wish I had time to put down all the differences in my life that this little 5 months post op made. I am probably considered a slow loser, but atleast I'm losing. I think I may have hit a plateau. That's normal too. I am go to bare with it since those are normal too. I am able to eat more and I found that I don't dump unfortunately and that just scares me to death. I haven't been craving sweets as much as I use to, but just the fact I know I can have them without getting sick, scares me to death. Oh well...I'm going to sign off for now and hopefully by the 15th I'll have an official weigh in! Pray for me that it'll be great news PLEAAAASSSSSSE!!! I want to reach my 100lbs loss mark by atleast 6 months! I expected to have atleast lost 115 lbs by then but oh well...  :*(
Feb 1,2003

Well hello! Guess what!!! I stepped on the scale today and IT SAID 276!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?!?!?!?! IT MEANS I LOST 100 LBS!!!!!!!!!I HAVE JOINED THE CENTURY CLUB!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! I am 5 days short of being 5 months post op and I reached my 6 month goal 1 month early.
Feb 16,2003

Went to the support group meeting and I weighed in at 271 with the shoes (which is how I've always weighed myself) and 269 without my shoes..so I'm actually 269 lbs. I saw my friend Stacy Gamel at the meeting yesterday and WOW does she look great! I haven't seen her in 2 months, since the December meeting. I was amazed! She's lost 108lbs and I've lost 105. She looks fabulous!! I couldn't have gotten through the hardest points without her. I am so glad to have her by my side.

Starting BMI: 59.2Starting weight: 376


Pre-op Weight - Day of surgery I weighed 376lbsWeight@2 weeks out: -30lbs brings me to 346lbsWeight@6 weeks out: -49lbs brings me to 327lbsWeight@10 weeks out: -57lbs brings me to 319lbsWeight@11 weeks out: -61lbs brings me to 315lbsWeight@15 weeks out: -75lbs brings me to 301lbsunoffical weight 1/27/03: - brings me to 288lbs or 284 which ever scale is acurate. I will have a more official weight when I go to the support group meeting on the 15th of Feb.Weight@23 weeks out: -105lbs brings me to 271 I weighed 269 without my shoes...Weight@25 weeks out: -114lbs brings me to 262________________________________Total loss so far 114 lbs254 as of March total loss of 122 lbs

Goals

1.My first short term goal is to be 299 lbs.--DONE as of 16+1/2 weeks post op2.Next goal is to make it to the century club--DONE as of February 1st, 20033.My next goal is to be 199lbs. Can I do it?

What I can do now that I couldn't before surgery.

________________________________________________

11-5-04

Wow! It has been such a long time since I have updated my profile!!! Has it been over a year?Well last I updated I was asking if I can make it to 199. As of October of 2004 I made it to that goal. Of course, my loss is a lottttttt slower than I had expected, but hey, all that matters is I got there. Alot has happened in the last year. I have lost a total of 181 lbs and am now pursuing plastic surgery with Dr. Mariam Awada. I have had 2 consultations with her. I am scheduled to have an abdominoplasty, pubic lift and thigh lift with her on November 17th..12 days from today!!!. I'll be spending 1 night in the hospital. I'll have 4 drains to take home with me afterwards ewww. I am kinda worried that I should lose some more weight before I have PS, but she assured me that with the weight that I'll lose after this coming surgery (abdominoplasty, pubic and thigh lift) and the following (inner thigh lift, arm lift, and breast augmentation) that I should be fine weight wise because I'm tall. I am in a size 14/16 bottoms right now and a large or x-large top. I am much bigger from the bottom than top. I will be posting a picture soon hopefully. I can't wait to get this skin off and see what is underneath. I don't have as much anxiety as I did with the RNY. I'm alot more calm about this, but I have heard that it's going to be pretty painful. Nope, I'm not prepared for the pain at all. But nothing compares to the pain of looking at myself in the mirror everyday and seeing this freakshow underneath my clothes. Sometimes I find myself more depressed now that when I was almost 400lbs. You know I can pull my boobs or skin on my boobs over my head? I should join the circuis. My body is just plain YUCK!!!! I wanted to do my arms first since they are what bother me the most, but Dr. Awada didn't recommend it. She said the tummy was the toughest and she can't do my arms and tummy together. She'll do them with the next round. I am so excited.______________________________

November 12, 2004

5 days left for my abdominoplasty! I'm getting more and more nervous as the time approaches! Wierd thing happened. I lost 4 more pounds this week without even trying! I'm not complaining, but it's kinda wierd. I have a cold and a little bit of a cough but it sure hasn't effected my appetite lol. I'm 191lbs now. That is so great. So I can expect my weight to be in the early 180's when I heal from surgery. I can hardly believe myself. Is it really happening? Am I really 191? I'm not thin, but who cares. My weight is 1 hundred and something!!! My face is getting too skinny though. I think that's where I'm losing it from lol. My face doesn't belong to my body. 5 more days! I can't wait to get this over with!--------------------------------------------

November 15, 2004

Ok, is this wierd or what? I have been stress eating sooo much lately and stepped on the scale expecting to have gained some weight because I have been eating ALOT! I lost another 2 lbs this week putting me at 189 now I don't know if I should jump for joy? or be worried because I have lost 12 lbs this month... 12 lbs! and I'm eating like there's no tomorrow!Less than 48 hours for my abdominoplasty. I am soooo dreading the pain of it. I wonder if it's going to be more painful than the GB? God, I HOPE NOT!!! I had to have labs done today. I hope nothing comes up that causes them to cancel surgery. I'll be devastated if that happens. Please everyone pray for me! __________________________

November 21, 2004

Helloooo everyone! I am now post-op from my abdominoplasty, mons and thigh lift. I got a call from Jennifer at Dr. Awada's office last week to let me know that my surgery is scheduled for 7:30am on the 17th. I got there at around 7:15 am and since I got their early, they got me started. They gave me a shot to help with the swelling after the surgery. Why I took that before surgery, I don't know. But then they took a urine sample, took my temp and took some health information from me. Then Dr. Awada came in and began to mark me standing up. Then, I became dizzy, and I had to lay down and she finished marking me. Then I kissed my family and hugged them...my poor daughter was sooo worried. Theeeennnn Dr. Awada took me to the O.R. where they scrubbed me from top to bottom. While they did this, I had to hold my hands over my head to avoid contaminating any of the parts they scrubbed, I guess? lol...Then they laid me down on the operating table and the anestesiologist put in the I.V. and I don't remember a thing afterwards! The next thing I remember was Dr. Awada telling me that it was over and everything looks great. Then I'd open my eyes for a few seconds and see my mom and daughter laughing at me for God knows what I said. They said something about me calling a doctor a liar..that she didn't really do the surgery. Just wrapped me up in bandages and took my money. And they asked me why I was in so much pain then, and I told them that I had a basketball accident. Hmmm, lol. I don't really remember being in so much pain. I was very drugged up. And I do remember a few seconds here and their where my dad drove me to the hospital and they were putting me in the truck. I remember the pain of getting up and getting into the truck. After the surgery, I was driven to Straith Hospital. I don't remember much of the first nightt. I was out like a light most of the night. The second day, I was very dizzy and had a lot of discomfort. But over all, it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. I was very afraid of the pain that I would have because of all the nightmare stories I've heard. I have these 4 drains hanging from me that are really gross to look at. I have to milk them about every 4 hours I guess the 3rd day was the most dificult. Gas hit me pretty bad and I hadn't been able "to go" for a few days and my stomach was really crampy. The muscle pain was bearable with help of good 'ol Mr. Vicodin lol. Now, I'm 4 days post op and feeling much better. Haven't really seen my tummy yet except with the bandages. I tried to peek through and saw the top of my tummy.I'm still pretty swollen I'm sure. I have an appointment with her tomorrow at 4pm, hopefully I'll get to see what she has done! I'll let you all know what I see tomorrow! Hopefully some of the drains will come out! I was 188 on the dr scale my work scale and next door to work scale lol and 194 on dr awada's scale day before surgery. hmmm I am going to try not weigh myself tomorrow so I won't get discouraged. I am sure  I'll weigh more from all the IV fluids and the pharmacict also said that the medrol I'm taking will show some weight gain. It causes water retention. Will write more tomorrow! Wish me luck!

November 26, 2004

Hello! I hope  everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Well, I went for my first follow up visit with Dr. Awada on Monday. I got all the bandages off. I was  dreaming when I thought she would take some of the drains off. I have to have them on 1 more week. Next Monday is my next follow up appointment. I saw my tummy for the first time and it looked great. My fiance just about flipped when he saw it. He says it looks like I've been working out for years. And the swelling isn't even all gone yet! That is the first time, he's ever been allowed to see any part of my body underneath clothes. Ok, I didn't weigh myself, but my face is looking pretty thin. I am sure I lost weight from not eating, but I'm dying to see how much I weigh. I will go nuts if I'm in the 170's. Is it possible? We'll see next week I hope! You know, the most painful part of all of this, is the 4 stupid drains that I'm stuck with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL Oh, and not seeing the end result yet. I love my tummy now, but still kinda feel saggy in the upper part. Well, I'll write again next week!____________________________________________________

December 5, 2004

Well, went for my post op visit last Monday and Dr. Awada took off the steri strips and I finally got the drains out. It was a really wierd feeling when they were coming out. Kinda like something was crawling inside. Yuck, but I felt so free when they were gone. I am getting more and more swollen and a bit frustrated. I knew there would be swelling, but I had no idea that I'd end up being so swollen that I can't even wear my old clothes anymore. I keep hearing that it will go away, and I know I have no choice but to wait for the results. I just need to learn to be more patient.I know it seems to soon, but I am already scheduled for my next surgery (arms, breasts and inner thighs) on January 5th, 2005. I am not sure if I'm so excited about that yet, but I'm still not completely recovered from the tummy tuck. I will be about 6 weeks out of this one. My fiance is kinda pushing me to hurry up with this. I guess I'm putting a lot of stress on our relationship because of the insecurities I have with my body. I just can't wait to get this over with.I haven't weighed myself yet. I am going to wait till the six weeks out because I know I'm pretty swollen and still retaining a lot of water. My next followup with Dr. Awada is December 21. I'll update again soon.

March 22, 2005

Oh my goodness! I can't believe it's been over 4 months since I've updated! Happy spring everyone! Well, I had my second round of surgeries, but unfortunately Dr. Awada was unable to do my inner thigh lift because she said it would take nearly 9 hours to do along with the other procedures and that's just too much for my body. I had my arms and breasts done on Jan. 5th. The arms were the toughest surgery I have EVER EVER had!!! I can honestly say that if I knew they would be that painful, I would not have wanted to do them. Also, I broke out in a horrible rash about 2 weeks after. My breasts weren't so bad. I had pain, but not nearly as much as my arms. It's been 2 and a half months and I am just now beginning to feel normal again. My right breast still hasn't dropped. I'm having that revised on the 20th of April. She will also revise my arms because I am not happy with them at all. She's also going to do my inner thigh lift and lipo of my buttocks, hips and knees. She said she'll try to, if she has time, revise my mons. It's still hanging since she did it the first time. I thought it was swelling but guess not. Well, the weather is getting nicer and hopefully I'll have finished with all these surgeries by summer time. I hope I can wear short sleeves atleast by then. I'll update again after my next surgery. If anyone has any questions or need someone to talk to, please feel free to e-mail me. :)

April 20, 2005

Ok, I know I said earlir that my PS was going to be on the 20th, but fortunate for me, my doctor was able to squeeze me in on a weekend. I had it on the 16th instead. I had lots and lots of lipo; "my butt couch" is finally gone!!!! I had the fat sucked out of my upper buttocks, flanks, outer thighs, knees, I had a revision on my arms, and right breast and I had the inner thigh lift. Whew, sounds like a lot of work. But believe it or not, MUCH MUCH easier than the brachioplasty I had in January. I am pretty sore and it's kinda hard to walk right now but other than that, I'm doing great. I wish she had done my left breast while she was at it, but she just keeps insisting that everything is great and beautiful and blah blah blah. I am all stapled up right now and I still have drains in until Monday. If anyone has any questions or just needs someone to talk to, PLEASE feeel free to email me. I'll update again real soon.

April 24, 2005

Hi everyone! Can't get to bed so I thought I'd update. Guess what! I weigh 175 now! This is great. Never in a million years could I image that I'd be saying that. I am recoverying still from thigh lift. I feel pretty good when I'm layin down but mann when I get up, MY BUTT HURTS LIKE HECK!! Actually, all the lipo sites hurt like heck except for the knees. The thigh lift ain't a walk in the part but I am relieved that it wasn't as frightening as I thought it would be..from things i've heard. What I can't figure out is why she pulled my pubic area wider to my thighs? LOL I was kinda loose in that area true, but she never mentioned she'd be pullin skin from there too. And it feels like my thighs are fightin over it! LOL and awful pulling feeling. My arm revision isn't even CLOSE to the first arms surgery!!!!!!!I had HELLL...SHEER HELL with the brachioplasty! Another thing is I have neck pain developing, and i am so uncomfortable. But I know it's because I've been in bed for a week. But anywho, I am feeling great over all. I have 1 more week to get myself in tip top shape for the new job. I wonder if it's possible. Pray for me people! If there's anyone out there reading this lol. Probably not. LOL. I'm here if ya need me!!!Ok, what I decided is this, I think I'm gonna move all my post PS info to a new page. Cuz I have 1 thats pre op GB, then post op GB so maybe soon whn I'm feelin better. LOVE YA'ALL!!!

About Me
Dearborn, MI
Location
27.4
BMI
RNY
Surgery
09/06/2002
Surgery Date
Oct 22, 2002
Member Since

Friends 8

Latest Blog 3
June 1, 2007
5-13-07 - Pre-surgery jitters
4-15-2007

×