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Post by Gail R on Aug 23, 2014 17:16:26 GMT -5
I am hoping you heal quickly and are pain free very soon. So happy for you!
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Post by xr7conv on Aug 23, 2014 19:48:54 GMT -5
Fantastic that you are doing well!!! I have been away from the board for a bit and missed the goings on. I am so glad that you are doing well and that the surgeon took the skin. You are going to feel brand new - again.
Dave
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Post by goodkel on Aug 24, 2014 0:51:10 GMT -5
I am so happy for you that your surgeon came through for you.
Feel better soon!
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Post by Joanne on Aug 24, 2014 8:01:43 GMT -5
What a gift. I'm so happy for you.
Hoping you have a smooth recovery, and get stronger and feel better each day.
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Post by nursemelanie on Aug 24, 2014 12:05:28 GMT -5
It's a beautiful thing Sharyl, to see you receive the end result that you truly deserve. I share in your joy and hope the rest of your recovery is a smooth journey. How a woman feels about her body, can restore and renew so much in her mind and emotions. I believe so many positive things will come from this surgery and the healing time you will have before beginning a new chapter in your career. Blessings to you Sharyl.
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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Aug 24, 2014 14:52:28 GMT -5
Just popping by to say I'm thinking of you, Sharyl. I'm so happy your surgeon gave you such a wonderful surprise! I hope your spirits are high and your pain level is low!
Kelly
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Post by historytracker on Aug 24, 2014 23:58:25 GMT -5
Wow - Sharyl that is amazing. I think I would have taken off the binder and try to take a peak at the incisions when I got home. That is what I did after this surgery. Anyhow, I am happy that all of the skin was removed and I hope you have a smooth recovery.
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Post by Girlrocker on Aug 26, 2014 10:50:03 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! You know, I never called Monday to see if insurance approved the abdominoplasty after all, I figured the doctor's office would call if the news was good. I needed to feel peaceful, not anguish going into surgery...and as for after, I don't know, I just couldn't look, I was ok waiting until my follow-up, same thing, digging my heels in to stay peaceful.
Can't believe it's one week already today. Saw my surgeon again yesterday for follow-up. I'm completely wiped out, sleeping a lot, but the pain has become more manageable, I think I'm very fortunate there. Off narcotic pain medication and just using Tylenol. I had some fluid build up, have been very swollen, down to my ankles and feet. So he aspirated me in the office, upper abdomen, we need to leave the drain in because my output is still pretty frequent and very dark red color. Hoping by Friday to have it out. Lot of bruising along the horizontal anchor part of the incision, but that's also to be expected. He wants me to wear a compression garment for 3 months, once I get the drain pulled and can switch away from the binder, and have added compression stockings to help with the swelling. Making sure I use the laptop my feet up more. So I think for one week, all the work, I'm doing pretty good
I am also really touched by the cheers, the messages and texts, appreciate it more than I can convey. I'm also looking at a pretty lovely floral arrangement, along with some of my favorite sun flowers and gerber daisies.
And my surgeon, Dr. Michael Obeng? I am so very fortunate to have found this world class doctor. He is heading to Ghana on September 18, he does two missions a year to provide surgery for children with deformities, as well as women who endure deformities due to old world, horrible practices, particularly when they try to leave abusive husbands. He has created his own foundation, just got 501C3 status, and I hope to be able to do one of these missions some day, as well as donating time to volunteer my non-profit special events and fundraising experience.
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Post by newyorkbitch on Aug 26, 2014 11:46:51 GMT -5
Great news. Are you able to eat and drink a decent amount?
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Post by Girlrocker on Aug 26, 2014 13:43:12 GMT -5
Getting in 64oz of fluid was no trouble from the start, thankfully, combo of water and Crystal Lite lemonade. Eating has been slower going but getting better now, I've been drinking a 60g protein shake daily, and all my soups were protein based. I'm probably just now within last two days working my way back to my 120g+. Had eggs today, bacon, chicken salad yesterday, a hot dog with cheese, deli meat, some homemade bbq chicken breast with a bit of broccoli, cottage cheese, plain yogurt with some berries and almonds, peanutbutter, plain cheese with a few crackers. So I guess not unlike the soft food progression and doing well with poultry. It's funny because usually I'm a red meat girl, love my burgers, steaks, roasts, ribs, but not ready for them yet!
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Post by jpcello on Aug 26, 2014 13:43:22 GMT -5
Sharyl - so glad you're feeling better. I remember my TT - it knocked me on my ass and I didn't even have any hernia repair. For me it was much worse recovery than my DS. You're on the mend
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Post by Girlrocker on Aug 26, 2014 14:06:48 GMT -5
Thanks Janet, knocked on my ass is a pretty good description I just sneezed and saw stars, but I think considering the scope of work I had done, I'm pretty fortunate, my doctor's office couldn't believe I could stand up straight. Posting before and all the feedback from y'all helped me be prepared, and you're right, I'm ok by myself now, the first week was crucial for help. And there's just clearly things I can't/won't do to keep stress of my abdomen, and I have friends who can pitch in. Thanks too NYB for checkin' the food/liquid consumption, I was so relieved I could consume fluids, craved them actually, food has been another story, but getting better. Did have some ice cream, figured I earned a treat. And not even bothering with the scale, I know I'm blown up like a balloon, good things come to those who wait
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Post by goodkel on Aug 26, 2014 14:38:42 GMT -5
Glad you are doing so well!
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Post by maggiesara on Aug 27, 2014 10:23:31 GMT -5
I'm very glad to hear you're doing so well. I expect and hope to follow you down this road in a few weeks.
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Post by Girlrocker on Aug 28, 2014 12:15:17 GMT -5
Thanks ladies! Ohhhhh Maggie, I SO hope this full-on repair is in your near future too. It's a bitch on wheels, as in OW but it does get better after the first week, and then it's that sucky surgery recovery stuff, can't do much, wearing a binder, drain, hard to sleep, appetite funky. But I swear, after this being surgery number 6, I think I could go thru these paces in my sleep. I weaned off the narcotic pain med as soon as I could, I really never like it, though I know it's necessary. I'm on tylenol now and an occasional Diazepam for muscle spasms. Grateful to be coherent enough and able to sit up enough to work on my Girl Rock projects while away from the toxic boss/job.
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Post by mlleelise on Sept 2, 2014 23:43:14 GMT -5
Hey, Sharyl! I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better and things are improving day by day! It was so nice to text back & forth with while I was doing my own bit of recovery. The flight back was awful - and I'm still having alot of incision pain, but considering I had not one, but TWO obstructions, I'm doing okay. :-) Sure wish we could have met while I was on the west coast...but we both were on the operating table within a day of each other, so it just wasn't feasible. Take care of yourself and GO SLOWLY! So very happy for you!!
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Post by Girlrocker on Sept 3, 2014 22:03:35 GMT -5
Hey, Sharyl! I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better and things are improving day by day! It was so nice to text back & forth with while I was doing my own bit of recovery. The flight back was awful - and I'm still having alot of incision pain, but considering I had not one, but TWO obstructions, I'm doing okay. :-) Sure wish we could have met while I was on the west coast...but we both were on the operating table within a day of each other, so it just wasn't feasible. Take care of yourself and GO SLOWLY! So very happy for you!! Thanks my dear. I still can't believe we had surgery a day apart, I so wish I could have seen you, what are the odds?! I can't even imagine flying when you did, I know the pain I was in, could barely move, and you had TWO obstructions! I hope you make a full recovery from this and that you are fixed, this gives you the weight loss reboot you need. Keep me/us posted!
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Post by Girlrocker on Sept 14, 2014 11:10:40 GMT -5
Hi there, well, it will be four weeks post-hernia/component separation/abdominoplasty repair on Tuesday. I'm doing really well, it was definitely a minimum 4-week recovery for me. If I had a job /boss that wasn't toxic, liked/loved my work, could work partial days, have my feet, legs elevated while sitting to relieve the pressure, I might have been able to go back mid week this coming week a little. A 5th week for extra insurance, but I took 4 more because I have the time coming to me since I've been there 8 years. I know I'm fortunate at least in that regard, and making the most of it. Using the time to do my own promotional/project work, including my own website/FB page, new logo and banner (very excited about this) and well, a long list of 'those tasks' we all have on our plate and no time. I have it now, so making the most of it. Recovery nitty gritty: bruising all gone, swelling gone down a lot, though I know there will be more; incisions almost completely healed (I have 2, an anchor), drain hole closed up and healed perfectly. No infection, no strange colors, no oozing. Pain is now more extreme soreness, increased range of motion and ambulatory. Been working now this past week on going through the day without a nap, so passing out early at night, but that will change soon too. I can feel the most soreness where the hernia was fixed, besides the to be expected odd sensations/spasms in the muscle/nerves that were manhandled. People have asked, focus on the abdominoplasty results And understandably, I had to fight hard to make that happen at the same time, only to have my surgeon knight in shining armor save the day. And it is, one of the biggest miracles of life, I'm so astonished to be completely cleaned up and fixed, I know I keep saying that, a real torso after ALL these years, ALL these surgeries. But that's just it - the root of this for me is still the fact that I have had 6 surgeries since I started the bariatric process in 2002. I still have not one regret, except that I didn't have the DS first. I probably would have gotten hernias anyway. That's the other regret - get the component separation FIRST, skip the mesh, once I was really analyzed properly on the degree of the destruction of my muscle wall. Mesh will work for some; and not everyone needs muscle work with a TT. But make sure you are thoroughly looked if you have a hernnia and a TT. Know the scope of your damage so you can minimize the surgeries in the future. That's my huge takeaway from all of this - the abdomen is the one body part, and should be treated as such. Not everyone needs everything, but no one should have to fight for upper/lower/internal/external. There should be an evaluation for what is needed to fix the abdomen ONCE for the long haul. I just got new compression garments, like corsets, that are thinner and easier to wear all day long, still sleep in it. Got great price on Maidenform from Walmart online. I have to wear them at least until mid November. My movements will be restricted, what I can do re: pressure on abdomen. But I'm telling you, I'm taking that very seriously, including my workouts. Not sure if I'll ever resume weights even though I will eventually be cleared too. I learned enough from bootcamp, Crossfit, pilates, the amount of strenghtening work you can do using your own body weight. No more picking up furniture finds from yard sales, thrift stores, etc. or heavy schelpping I have done on some of my events I produce. I really, do NOT want to ever have this part of my body cut into ever again, if I can help it. Six times is enough! Thank you for all your kind words, messages, thoughts. And soon I will post before/after pics
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Post by Girlrocker on Sept 15, 2014 18:15:42 GMT -5
I'm going to 'bump' this up, now re-titled with hernia/abdominoplasty so others in this situation researching can find this info. Thanks all for the likes and for 'listening'
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Post by willowrayne on Sept 15, 2014 19:32:18 GMT -5
I am so glad this finally happened for you and that you are healing well. I am starting to contemplate my own.
"Of all the things I've ever lost, I miss my mind the most."
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