Questions from a Late Bloomer

[Guest guest]

<<<<>>>

Lynn, first of all - a belated 'welcome' to the list! LOL I can answer

some of the questions:

<<<<<1. Do I need a private duty nurse at Mt. Sinai if my (twin) sister is

there with me? If I do, for how long? Can anyone give me a name of someone

good with lap BPD/DS experience?>>>>

Is your sister going to be with you 24 hours a day? Will she sleep there in

the room with you? I would assume she's going back to the Mt Sinai

guesthouse, etc. in the evenings. So, I would get a private aid (you don't

need a nurse - they are incredibly expensive. Private aides are 90/8 hours,

120/12 hours, I think and can be reserved at the same office as the nurses)

for the late evening/early morning hours. It is not just an issue of helping

you in/out of bed, etc. but getting BASIC NECESSITIES for you -- like clean

gowns, towels, making the bed with clean sheets... I know, all this should be

done in a timely manner without a private aide, but from my experience (and

the experience of many others), the aides can make the difference between

sitting in a filthy gown for hours and having a fresh one when that damn

drainage bulb leaks! :)

I don't think you'd need one around the clock, but it is nice to have someone

for the midnight=8 am shift. Or, if you prefer, adding another time so your

sister can get some rest.. You may only need one for the first two days

(really the first day was the worst for me and I didn't have any

complications or problems).

<<<<< 3. Is it worth shlepping a laptop with me to New York or will I be too

out of it for it to be much use?>>>>>

I would worry about security --- If your sister can store it for you it may

not be an issue. But, you'll most likely want to use it in those weird

twilight hours when your sister may not be there, so.... LOL It's a

catch-22. I was pretty groggy the first day post-op. Once I got off the

morphine pump and put on percocet, I was perkier LOL I was pretty tired,

though but I walked all over the place and visited other post-ops, etc. I

didn't feel extremely bored or wished I had a laptop. It might be nice to

hook up to the net via the hospital phones... and chat/read/write messages,

etc. --- But, you may bring it and find that you don't really use it much. I

was discharged after three days, so my stay was brief.

<<<<<<4. My friends and coworkers want to give me a " shower " before I leave

for New York. Before asking for things I may not need, I am interested in any

experiences with the following products I have seen on the web. Very few of

them offer samples: Vita4Life protein and vitamins ( and insurance coverage

for them); Curetage hair products; KareMore spray prenatal or multivitamins;

Vitamix food processor. Also, does anyone have a recommendation for an

accurate scale?>>>>>

that is SO nice of them!!!! :) What a cool idea! YOu have a lot of

support, what a blessing. I would really contact your insurance about their

policy on vitamin/supplement coverage. It really varies from company to

company. I would also check what your surgeon prefers as a vitamin regime

post op. Then, you'll have a better idea of what things you can (and should)

stock up on beforehand. Some vitamins will require a prescription (like the

iron), but others can be obtained over the counter.

I have a nice Tanita scale -- it measures body fat and weight. It's maximum

is 300 lbs, I thinK (I weighed more as a pre-op but use it now). It is a

digital scale. I highly recommend it for those who are within the weight

limits (if one is significantly above it may take awhile before you are able

to use it- frustrating to say the least)

<<<<5 For how long are waistbands out after surgery? What kinds of clothes

should I be thinking about wearing at first?>>>>

Well, you most likely won't notice a big difference right away. In fact, the

abdomen is quite swollen and tender for a few weeks afterwards, even though

one is losing inches and weight. I think the stomach is the LAST to go in

most people! LOL So, I would wear loose-fitting clothing, perhaps not even

with a waistband if you are having open DS... even lap, the waistband may

annoy or irritate. I wore regular pants and a loose shirt -- the waistband

didn't bother me, but I've heard some people mentioning a bra can be annoying

after open surgery, etc.

All the best,

co-moderator, duodenalswitch

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

four months post-op and still feelin' fab!

pre-op: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 245 lbs and goin' down! :)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/20/01 9:52:23 AM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< 2) Ben-gay, or more conveniently, Tigerbalm/Icyhot/Mentholatum " pain

patches. " The gas they inflate your abdomen with seems to like to

settle up in your right arm & shoulder, causing it to ache something

fierce, & the pain patches really helped (and they're less messy than

the muscle rub). Good luck, & ask away! Its what we're here for!

>>

I'd be slightly worried about the Ben-Gay, since it contains asprin

products... I mean, if you don't use it much I don't see where it would have

any effect. But, if you use it a lot I'm not sure how much can pass through

the skin.... I didn't even think of this when I was using Flexall for my

lower back every night. I suggested to a doctor friend of mine (who was

pregnant at the time) and she said she didn't want to use it because of her

pregnancy and the asperin content...

I think Tiger Balm is great and contains different ingredients (eucalyptus

mainly?), but I'm not sure...

I know that some people do experience the shoulder/upper back pain. I did

off and on in the first week post-op but it wasn't that severe. I can

imagine how the rubs/patches would help in this situation!

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynn

2. What's the best means of transportation for getting home from New York to Bethesda, MD? I have an SUV we could equip with an Aero mattress to absorb the bumps. My sister and son would share the driving. Is that O.K. or would plane or train be better?

I traveled from Staten Island, NY to my house in PA (about 2 hours) in my SUV. A lot depends on how smooth your car drives. Some SUV's bounce like @$#%%. I placed a piece of waterproof vinyl on the seat just in case. I figure that if you take a plane or train, you have to deal with getting to and from the plane or train. That might be worse. We had to wait in NY until I saw the doctor one week after surgery. In fact I felt so good I did the driving home, and I had an open.

As for elastic waistbands, depends on if they are loose or tight. I was able to wear mine within 7 days.

Good luck

Rita Black10/17/2000 First Consult. Dr.MacuraOpen BPD/DS 4/23/20014/23/01 - 400lbs. BMI 635/1/01 - 391lbs. BMI 615/22/01 - 368lbs. BMI 5832 lbs. gone

[Guest guest]

I thought the pain was from the anestesia, not the gas that they inflate you

with. I have five children but have never been under so I really thought it

was my lungs that hurt. I never thought about it, now Im not as worried about

surgery. My pain was annoying but I toterated it, I do have a high pain

tolerance so that might be why. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I have used Capicum patches made by Salonpas. They just have caspium [The stuff in hot peppers that makes them hot] in them. You have to read the package because some companys make patches that say caspium but have other stuff in them. These are 100% caspium. They feel like a heating pad and I have used them for my lower back with very good luck. I don't know if this would help anyone but maybe?? also you should try one out before hand to make sure it doesn't give an allergic reaction.

Darlene from Maine

Darlene

Pre-op

BMI 49

waiting ?????

whats up with

BC/BC?????

In a message dated 6/20/01 9:52:23 AM, duodenalswitch writes:<< 2) Ben-gay, or more conveniently, Tigerbalm/Icyhot/Mentholatum "pain patches." The gas they inflate your abdomen with seems to like to settle up in your right arm & shoulder, causing it to ache something fierce, & the pain patches really helped (and they're less messy than the muscle rub). Good luck, & ask away! Its what we're here for! >>I'd be slightly worried about the Ben-Gay, since it contains asprin products... I mean, if you don't use it much I don't see where it would have any effect. But, if you use it a lot I'm not sure how much can pass through the skin.... I didn't even think of this when I was using Flexall for my lower back every night. I suggested to a doctor friend of mine (who was pregnant at the time) and she said she didn't want to use it because of her pregnancy and the asperin content... I think Tiger Balm is great and contains different ingredients (eucalyptus mainly?), but I'm not sure...I know that some people do experience the shoulder/upper back pain. I did off and on in the first week post-op but it wasn't that severe. I can imagine how the rubs/patches would help in this situation! :)all the best,lap ds with gallbladder removalJanuary 25, 2001----------------------------------------------------------------------