intro/worst thing
Hello, all! —
I’ve been lurking and reading posts avidly for about 3 months now and
decided it’s time to introduce myself to the group. My name is Suzanne and
I’m a nurse-midwife in Orlando. I’m also a good friend of Barbara Herrera and
would like to publicly thank her for all her support, information and
encouragement! I had a lap RNY with Dr. Michael Perez of U.S.Bariatric (Dr.
Marema’s group) on 12/10/02. I’m 3 weeks post-op now and have lost about 20
lbs. so far plus 17 lbs. that I lost before surgery. I had United Healthcare
HMO and was approved within one week (BMI was 45, no major comorbidities). I
consider that a minor miracle, given some of the ins. horror stories I’ve
heard about.
The thing that prompted me to post now was the question about “what was
the worst thing you experienced.” I had read a ton of info. here and on many
other sites, groups, etc. as well as talked with many other patients from my
surgeon’s group. I thought I was pretty well prepared and knew what to
expect. But no one that I read or spoke to mentioned the thing that turned
out to be the worst for me (so far anyway)! In my surgeon’s group, all the
patients have a G-tube for about 10 days post-op. It’s there to drain excess
secretions or gas from the old stomach, or to use for nutrition or hydration
if people have excessive nausea and vomiting post-op. On approx. day 10, you
go to the surgeon’s office to have it removed. Well, I experienced excessive
leaking around the G-tube site. The gastric secretions that were leaking
there are very acidic and were burning my abdominal muscles and skin. It was
not infected, but I ended up having it removed on post-op day 8 because it
was so irritating. Once it came out, and I realized how much better I felt, I
figured out that it was also causing me a general feeling of malaise. I had
much less discomfort, more energy, and felt better all the way around after
it was removed. I have to assume this is not a common experience, since only
one other person I’ve talked to since then had a similar situation. But I did
want to share it with this group, in case someone else goes through the same
type of experience.
Thanks to the members of this group for sharing so much great info. and
advice! I hope everyone has a wonderful 2003!
Suzanne
lap RNY - 12/10/02
Dr. Michael Perez
280/263/243/?150?