Re: Post-op life w/ higher BMI/questions--long

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In a message dated 11/25/01 7:15:42 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< I am able to attend " personal " needs fine right now, but do plan on the

water bottle and wipies, just in case. I have my little bag with my

essentials--toothbrush/paste, face mosturizer--I have really dry skin!,

chapstick, pads--just in case, travel size shampoo/conditioner, mouth wash,

soap. I have my flinstones and Citrucel, don't know if Dr. will be

requiring the ADEKS. I have loose flowing pant type jammies --(from my sleep

study, lol) for the ride home. I feel like I am missing stuff!! (besides my

mind and sanity!)

>>

This sounds great!!! I really didn't need that much in the hospital. I

actually ended up using the gowns because of the drains (I had two in the

same place on the right)... and they got rather leaky and gross at

times...... I think it's a great idea to wear a pair of loose pant type

jammies for the ride home. You may want to bring a small pillow to help with

bumps along the road... I used it to press against my abdomen when I coughed

and when we rode home since I felt EVERY bump and stop!

Chapstick and lotion are essentials for feeling more comfortable (moreso if

you have dry skin). It's good to bring pads because many say their period

comes a few days after surgery (even if they have just had it). Mine didn't

and came about 3 weeks afterwards (as was expected).

You honestly won't need that much --- Great that you thought about the

bathroom needs -- the squeeze bottle and wipes. You may want to consider a

pair of long tongs (like salad tongs -- connected) or long-handled wooden

spoon... The reason being it will help you wipe since you may be too sore to

really stretch and bend much immediately post-op. I didn't have problems

wiping pre-surgically but was pretty sore the first week or so (even though I

had lap) and the spoon/wipes helped (wish I would have thought of the squirt

bottle beforehand! LOL)

You may also want to consider some socks or slippers for walking in the hospit

al. Mt. Sinai gave us little rubber-bottomed socks but I'm not sure if every

hospital would provide these (they were just about the only perk I got!

ROFL).

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

10 months post-op and still feelin' fabu

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 204 lbs (gained 3! AGH!)/size sweet 16/large-MEDIUM in normal people's

clothing

[Guest guest]

Hi Ru-

I was (depending on whose BMI calculator you used) BMI 61 on my

surgery day. I had a rough postop, but it was mostly my own fault for

not making sure I got adequate pain meds before I left town. See

below for more stuff.

> I have been reading all these post-op posts avidly, my surgery is in

17 days

> Dec 12, and I am a bundle of nerves!!!!

>

> For those of you that were higher BMI..i.e. >60, how well did you

fare post

> op? Did you have any additional issues not mentioned previously? How was

> your return to work? How long did it take??

Had I not had issues with my IBS, I felt like I could have returned to

work at week 6.. but then, I was on one of those " killer " telemetry

floors (and yes, I do agree w/your assessment- I'm an RN also).

>

> I am an RN, but I have moved off the killer telemetry floor to a

much saner

> women's unit (women's surgical--hysto's, CA's, Breast recon,

IUFD's--usually

> short stays of 3-5 days) with the occasional float to mother /baby. I

> usually don't have more 5 pts or 4 couplets, so the work load is

about half

> of what it was a month ago. On the other hand, the floor is 2

wings, and

> there is A LOT of walking. I am planning on returning between weeks

3-4,

> and have a lap DS planned. Does this sound feasible, barring the

unforeseen

> and/or complications?

Sounds like a dream to me. I think you could handle it.

>

> I am able to attend " personal " needs fine right now, but do plan on the

> water bottle and wipies, just in case. I have my little bag with my

> essentials--toothbrush/paste, face mosturizer--I have really dry skin!,

> chapstick, pads--just in case, travel size shampoo/conditioner,

mouth wash,

> soap. I have my flinstones and Citrucel, don't know if Dr.

will be

> requiring the ADEKS. I have loose flowing pant type jammies --(from

my sleep

> study, lol) for the ride home. I feel like I am missing stuff!!

(besides my

> mind and sanity!)

SLIPPERS and sugar free hard candies for that yucky NPO period.. they

make your mouth taste much better, too. I could reach preop, but not

postop- I got metal salad tongs from wal-mart.. $1.74. I also found

that getting up off of the potty at home was hard, so my hubby got me

a plastic riser so I didn't have to struggle to get up. I couldn't

tolerate a waistband when I was discharged- I wore a very loose dress.

My incisions bugged me a lot, though.

>

> My husband will be staying night one,possibly 2 and my 13 year old

> daughter--nights 2-3 or 3-4

>

> Any other ideas?

I think you've got it covered! Relax, & you'll be fine!

Hugs,

Liane

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/25/01 7:02:49 PM Eastern Standard Time,

nurseru@... writes:

<< For those of you that were higher BMI..i.e. >60, how well did you fare post

op? Did you have any additional issues not mentioned previously? How was

your return to work? How long did it take?? >>

Hi Ru,

My BMI was 54.5. My surgery was suppose to be lap, and I was planning on

being back to work part time after 2 weeks. Well I was WRONG. First my

surgery had to be completed open. Then I had horrible pain horrible horrible

pain. Then a lap incision got infected and then the open incision got

infected. I ended up under home nursing care for 4 weeks. As I work in a

family business next door to where I live, I did manage to go in a few hours

now and then to take care of necessary things, but I was not really back to

work until after 2 months. I am doing much better now. Still have some

drainage from the open incision and it breaks open every now and then and

gushes all over, but I deal with it. I am finally feeling like I am

returning to the land of the living. But it has been 8 weeks. I sure hope

your recovery goes better adn you can go back to work as you expected.

Sheri

lap/open DS 9/28/01

Dr Herron/Mt Sinai/NYC

[Guest guest]

what is a plastic riser