KCameron
Doing Great
Oct 08, 2008
| I returned to my surgeon Monday to have my wound vac changed and to check it. He has scheduled me as an outpatient to have my wound closed on Thursday! I am so excited that it quickly filled in and that he is going to pull the skin edges together. I didn't know that was even an option. If anyone has this option for an open wound, it made all the difference in the world. I did the wound packing route when my daughter had a C-section 2 1/2 yrs ago and it took forever to heal and the scar is awful. Mine was not the size of hers, but it took forever to see improvement in hers. I just had my surgical site reopened Sept 24th and it was a couple of inches deep and is now flush with the skin line. I am a little nervous about having anything else, but it is twilight sleep like when I had the scope and knock on wood hope to avoid any infection this time. Thank you for all your well wishes, I think they helped! Kim |
My Reversal
Oct 01, 2008
I had my vbg reversed on September 18. The surgery itself went well, tolerating regular food pretty well.
There were however complications. I was discharged on the 21st to return for followup with my surgeon on the 23rd. By the morning of the 23rd I was running a fever and feeling very ill. They had me come in early. I think I was there two minutes when he said I was being readmitted. Got to the hospital and they started a pic line, drew blood cultures, scheduled abdominal cat scan. I had the cat scan, rough night, and as I was sitting up in the bed wrapped in a blanket, a horrible smell then wet down the front, my incision had started draining down the front of me. Doctors came in and removed several staples cleaned and dressed it temporarily. A couple of hours later my surgeon gave me a heavy dose of pain killers, and opened a larger area, cleaning and debriding and then dressing the hole I now had.
I opted to try the wound vac as it is supposed to be superior in the healing and closing of open wounds. It is kind of a pain in the ass to drag around with me, and it makes me feel like an invalid. I am trying to be patient. I find myself wanting to burst into tears at the drop of a hat, but I guess that is to be expected. I am 13 days out. I am not really in pain. I just hope this goes quickly.
I would not recommend wls to anyone. I am deficient in a lot of vitamins and I only had the vbg 12 yrs ago. I cannot imagine how much worse it is for patients with malabsorption, too.
I hope for the best for everyone who has had wls surgery. I feel like the inability to eat properly and my insufficiencies contributed to my post surgery complications. I had intravenous potassium, magnesium, and not sure what else. I also am now on numerous supplements including iron.
I hope this information may help someone else.
Kim
There were however complications. I was discharged on the 21st to return for followup with my surgeon on the 23rd. By the morning of the 23rd I was running a fever and feeling very ill. They had me come in early. I think I was there two minutes when he said I was being readmitted. Got to the hospital and they started a pic line, drew blood cultures, scheduled abdominal cat scan. I had the cat scan, rough night, and as I was sitting up in the bed wrapped in a blanket, a horrible smell then wet down the front, my incision had started draining down the front of me. Doctors came in and removed several staples cleaned and dressed it temporarily. A couple of hours later my surgeon gave me a heavy dose of pain killers, and opened a larger area, cleaning and debriding and then dressing the hole I now had.
I opted to try the wound vac as it is supposed to be superior in the healing and closing of open wounds. It is kind of a pain in the ass to drag around with me, and it makes me feel like an invalid. I am trying to be patient. I find myself wanting to burst into tears at the drop of a hat, but I guess that is to be expected. I am 13 days out. I am not really in pain. I just hope this goes quickly.
I would not recommend wls to anyone. I am deficient in a lot of vitamins and I only had the vbg 12 yrs ago. I cannot imagine how much worse it is for patients with malabsorption, too.
I hope for the best for everyone who has had wls surgery. I feel like the inability to eat properly and my insufficiencies contributed to my post surgery complications. I had intravenous potassium, magnesium, and not sure what else. I also am now on numerous supplements including iron.
I hope this information may help someone else.
Kim
Update
Jul 30, 2008
Since my initial story, I have had a gastric emptying study and an esophageal motility study. The emptying study showed "sluggish" and the motility study showed mild achalasia. My surgeon now feels that this indicates a need for reversal, and not a good candidate for revision.
I am scared to death of regaining the 65 pounds I have kept off over 12 years. But my choice of what to eat is so limited, it would be a relief to be able to "diet" like a normal person. I would love to eat a baked chicken breast with a salad, or have a tomato cut up with cottage cheese, tuna, etc.....
I am to hear from the surgeon again next Monday after he speaks to the radiologist about some questions on my emptying study.
Surgery is imminent, just not sure which one.
I am going to get a second opinion before I have anything done.
Keep you posted.
I am scared to death of regaining the 65 pounds I have kept off over 12 years. But my choice of what to eat is so limited, it would be a relief to be able to "diet" like a normal person. I would love to eat a baked chicken breast with a salad, or have a tomato cut up with cottage cheese, tuna, etc.....
I am to hear from the surgeon again next Monday after he speaks to the radiologist about some questions on my emptying study.
Surgery is imminent, just not sure which one.
I am going to get a second opinion before I have anything done.
Keep you posted.
