Thanks to all who welcomed a slowpoke!

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to add my two cents for what its worth. Reading some of

the posts today I noticed that they used the term " rib spreader "

which is used in cardiac surgery when they crack your sternum and

then spread your ribs. I'm not 100% positive but I think in gastric

surgery they don't need to do that, but they do " RETRACT " your flesh,

muscles, etc and sort of pin it to your ribs to hold it all back out

of their way. That is where the pain comes in. I know this from

working in cardiology for 5 years and also about 15 years or so ago I

had my gallbladder out before it was done laparoscopically, so I had

my upper abdomen cut from ther sternum to the bellybuttom. When I

woke up, my ribs hurt more than the incision. I imagine thats what an

opened procedure must feel like. It was pleasant. No wonder the

breathing is so difficult. I remember them telling me to use my

incentive spirometer and I didn't want to, cause it hurt like hell.

Anyway, it is a retractor and not a rib spreader. FYI...

By the way, thank you to all that welcomed me to the club.

Byebye,

Babs in Balto,MD

[Guest guest]

Babs,

Note taken. Though it was the doctor that used the term rib spreader with me

but knowing his history of not telling accurate information he could have

used the jaws of life. LOL.

Angels hover ever near,

DS 4/11/01

Blockage 4/21/01

Dr Deveney @ OHSU

Starting wt 282

Current wt 222

Thanks to all who welcomed a slowpoke!

> I just wanted to add my two cents for what its worth. Reading some of

> the posts today I noticed that they used the term " rib spreader "

> which is used in cardiac surgery when they crack your sternum and

> then spread your ribs. I'm not 100% positive but I think in gastric

> surgery they don't need to do that, but they do " RETRACT " your flesh,

> muscles, etc and sort of pin it to your ribs to hold it all back out

> of their way. That is where the pain comes in. I know this from

> working in cardiology for 5 years and also about 15 years or so ago I

> had my gallbladder out before it was done laparoscopically, so I had

> my upper abdomen cut from ther sternum to the bellybuttom. When I

> woke up, my ribs hurt more than the incision. I imagine thats what an

> opened procedure must feel like. It was pleasant. No wonder the

> breathing is so difficult. I remember them telling me to use my

> incentive spirometer and I didn't want to, cause it hurt like hell.

> Anyway, it is a retractor and not a rib spreader. FYI...

> By the way, thank you to all that welcomed me to the club.

> Byebye,

> Babs in Balto,MD

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

No wonder the

breathing is so difficult. I remember them telling me to use my

incentive spirometer and I didn't want to, cause it hurt like hell>>>>

right Babs! I thought I was going to die and when they got me out of bed to

walk I swore and screamed and scared the living daylights out of my

roommate! That was the worst pain I ever experienced in my entire

life.....my DS was a piece of cake compared to that!

Judie

[Guest guest]

but knowing his history of not telling accurate information he could have

used the jaws of life. LOL.>>>>>

ROFLMAO !!!!!!!!! That was soooooo funny! Yeah, I believe that

too!!

Hugs, Judie