Re: baron speaketh: Apron Removal Dilemma

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/22/99 9:35:41 AM Eastern Standard Time,

Graduate-OSSGonelist writes:

<< My legs and arms and back are seeming more acceptable to me from

this vantage point. Even after the swelling goes down I really believe that

my body is going to look a bit out of proportion. I am cringing inside!!

Has anyone here gone thru this or anything similar>?? I definitely need

some

hope and faith. >>

Yes, my Mom had an extensive panniculectomy and abdominoplasty, and the

drainage was massive. Her plastic surgeon confessed that he had never

removed a pannus as large as my Mom's. (My Mom had WLS-VBG over 10 years

ago). Anyway, she wore a girdle, wound up buying 5 more because she had to

wash them so frequently, and wore it for 3 months post-op. She was very

swollen, too, and commented humorously that she must be pregnant (she was 55

at the time). Take heart, Baron. Its a temporary condition, kinda like

being post-op from WLS. My Mom looks great now, works out 4 times a week,

and it shows. She, quite literally, couldn't work out before plastic

surgery, because her apron was in the way. A perkier 61 year old woman you

never did see.

a O.

Start BMI 51 Open Proximal RNY

Dec. 18, 1998 314 lbs. (surgery date)

Oct. 01, 1999 226 lbs. BMI 36.5 (54% obesity GONE)

Dec. 15, 1999 227 lbs. STILL!!! (ugh)

Goal: 190 lbs.

Dr. E. O'Malley, Rochester NY

[Guest guest]

Baron,

I had a hernia repair and an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) on November 8th. I

had lost about 200 pounds at that time (I've lost 14 more since the tummy

tuck). As you may have read in my posts I had a bleeding problem and ended up

back in the hospital in ICU for 6 more days since I kept bleeding out. They

think that I have a blood disorder that causes me to use up all my clotting

factors. No more surgery for a while.

I am still draining from 3 open wounds in the incision. For the first month I

was draining large baseball size clots and blood. My surgeon drained me twice

and finally removed a 2 pound hematoma with a suction machine. I bled through

everything for the first month and half. I am now still draining but it is a

clearer, almost beige liquid and the dressings only have to changed once a

day. I am still very swollen and it is not even. My right side is bigger than

my left. My surgeon said ti will take several months for the swelling to go

down. I am 14 pounds lighter but only about a half a size smaller in pants.

That will change.

I used sanitary napkins as dressings with 4x4 gauze pads under them and found

them to be very absorbent. I also use a tape called Elastoplast which doesn't

irritate my skin and covers the wounds and cuts down on the leakage, even

when I was bleeding a lot. Its a heavy elastic bandage that I got in the

hospital and special ordered from my pharmacy. I only have to used the gauze

pads now since I am draining so little.

I also wore a 3 panel elastic binder that they gave me in the hospital. I

went through about 10 of them since I would bleed all over them. I am still

wearing the binder. It gives me more support and holds the swollen area and

incisions and prevents jiggling when I walk. I am more comfortable with the

binder on. They come in 3 and 4 panel sizes. I found the 3 panel size more

comfortable for me. Medical supply stores carry them.

Even with the complications and the drainage and bleeding I am glad I had the

tummy tuck. I also had 2 hernias on the original WLS incision. I see that my

stomach will be flat - it already getting there and it has also helped some

other male-oreinted areas (moving some things up to be where they should be

and dragging! Guys will understand what I'm talking about).

Be patient - it will get better. Your operation sounds much more complicated

than mine and it will probably take longer to heal and for the drainage to

stop. It will, and you will feel better and look better.

Keep up your good spirits and have a great holiday. Every day should be

better than the previous day. Take care.

Bob Altman

Biliopancreatic Diversion (A Very Distal RNY) on 10/8/98

214 Pounds Gone Forever, But Not Forgotten!

[Guest guest]

Baron:

I don't know about your particular situation, other than I can really

empathize with you, but I do know that after surgery that changes your body,

things do get freaky for a while. I've had some lately, and asymmetry is

one of the worst feelings. However, there are a couple of things to

consider. If I look at pictures, I discover I wasn't symmetrical to begin

with. The bigger the surgery (sounds like yours was quite an ordeal) the

more fluid build-up and the longer it takes to see the result. I don't

think you'll get an objective peek for at least 2-3 months. The weight gain

does not surprise me with the swelling, since I always gained after

liposuction. Go figure. And every complaint about asymmetry I've ever had

has always been corrected to an acceptable level.

I just think we get tired after all this surgery. What you went through was

a really big deal. Be gentle on yourself. Take care of yourself. Drink

lots of fluid to help all that stuff drain. Rest assured, that even though

you're tired of surgery, it *is* probably going to take a more artistic

operation to make you look really good than this large one you just had.

I just had fat injected into my cheeks and the right one was TWICE as big as

the left. That was six weeks ago, and I'm the only one who can tell. The

body is absorbing at a different rate and it is starting to look better.

I don't know if I've helped. I just know I've been there and gotten through

it. It can be hell.

Bandas

Austin, TX

RNY 4-28-98, Dr. Selinkoff, San , TX

Then: 305 Now: 180

125 pounds gone forever!

baron speaketh: Apron Removal Dilemma

> From: TendrMrcy@...

>

> Greetings Friends:

> After losing more than 300 pounds I had the hanging apron of my lower

belly

> removed; a panniculectomy I believe it is called. Well....outside of my

> getting through the operation, I am FREAKED OUT and screaming inside.

First

> off, I have been draining like a busted faucet for over 2 weeks. I was

not

> prepared at all for this type of drainage. The doctor said that due to

how

> heavy I used to be (600 at my highest....535 at time of surgery) I must

have

> formed many veins all along that spongy stomach area. So....the first

week

> in particular my condo was littered with bloody towels and sheets put on

> anything I was sitting on. In addition I wore bicycle shorts and stuffed

the

> groin area with washcloths or surgical pads to absorb the liquid. The

> clothes I wore comfortably before the surgery are WAY TOO TIGHT for me

> now......this alone is a major freakout, especially since this is holiday

> season and my suit and sport jacket & slacks don;t fit....even after

having

> it let out. This brings back terrible memories of weight gain. speaking

of

> weight gain....I have put on almost 10 pounds since my operation a little

> more than 2 weeks ago.

>

> I am still very swollen...but the worst thing is that I feel misshapen and

> grotesque. My left side and right side are not symettrical. I look like

> there is a major hump on my left hump. It has me very depressed....a

> condition I am trying to battle by posting here. The doctor does not seem

> all that concerned....telling me that a). this is the first of many

> procedures and . that the next procedure will change things around quite

a

> bit. Well....sitting here in my diapers....oh yes...I am wearing Depends

to

> absorb the drainage I am not chomping at the bit to become a professional

> patient. My legs and arms and back are seeming more acceptable to me from

> this vantage point. Even after the swelling goes down I really believe

that

> my body is going to look a bit out of proportion. I am cringing inside!!

>

> Has anyone here gone thru this or anything similar>?? I definitely need

some

> hope and faith.

>

> Thanks.....baron

>

> RnY......4/29/98.........535lbs

> Current.........approx....230lbs

>

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Baron,

I'm guessing that the lump is fluid buildup. I've heard that some

people have had drains in for a couple of months.... but its part of

the healing process. The drains are needed to prevent excess fluid

build up which keeps the tummy from healing & adhearing to the

abdominal wall. Also, the binder also helps tissue heal back together

& minimizes the swelling. If the drains come out too soon, the fluid

builds up & will force the incision back open... which can lead to the

packing business. Keeping yourself well drained is the goal.... let

it flow. I had to wear my girdle for 6 weeks 24/7. I suspect that

protein & vitamins are pretty important right now. The swelling for

me was finally gone after about 2 months. I've heard of asymetrical

incisions, that they happen & can be improved upon. I am beaming

positive thoughts & good wishes your way: . things WILL get better.

Hang in there.

Trish