2 wk post-op visit with surgeon

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

I just got back from my first post-op appointment with Dr.

McConnell and gave him a big hug for being my surgeon. He is pleased

with how I'm healing and says my incision looks great. My cellulitus

is cleared up so I won't need any more Cipro. My kidney seems to

have 'woken up' and the Lasix won't be necessary anymore either. He

said my diet looks good and told me not to be afraid to have a little

treat sometimes; gotta love advise like that! I gave blood, but the

test results won't be ready until Monday. Dr. M said he'd call me to

tell me what they are, and to let me know if any changes need to be

made.

I was disappointed to discover that the new digital scales my

hubby bought were terribly off and I hadn't lost as much weight as

I'd thought (he was excited and wanted to 'share' the weight loss

with me). Those stupid scales told me I weighed in at 306, from a

pre surgical weight of 339, so of course I was feeling pretty proud.

But the scales at Dr. McConnells office (much more accurate, I'm

sure) said I weighed 317! An 11 pound difference! I almost cried

until both Dr. M and one of his nurses almost laughed as they pointed

out that I'm losing over a pound a day and that was pretty darned

good. Of course they were right, so I feel better (and 11 pounds

heavier! lol).

As for the problems with the epidural placement, Dr.

McConnell is going to go over my records and find out which team did

the placement and try to find out what went wrong. He said that many

people do indeed find the placement to be almost pain free, and

others experience discomfort, but for the few like myself who feel

real pain, the option of being placed in twilight sleep is always

supposed to be offered. He said what I'd already suspected, that the

process of managing pain through a catheter should not be painful in

itself. I can only assume that because everything was in such a rush

(remember I'd showed up three hours late that morning (not my fault -

I swear!)) that they didn't want to delay things further by going

that route.

So anyone who is nervous about getting an epidural should

check to see if their hospital offers twilight sleep in the event of

pain. It shouldn't be too much effort on the part of the staff if

you already have an IV in.

I also asked why the epidural wasn't just placed during the

surgery, and Dr. M said that the chances of having it correctly

placed are vastly improved if it is done under flouroscopy. Too bad

they don't have flouroscopy in the OR, then I could have had the

whole business done under anesthetic, although the doctors probably

don't like have an increase in the amount of time spent under

anesthetic. In my case, I think it would have been better. I really

don't tolerate pain well, do I?

Hugs,

Shelly