toffeesocks

UPDATE: I went for my ultrasound today - I had morphine prior to help with pain. The bariatrician and the technician couldn't find any signs of Fluid, infection or bad scar tissue. They also couldn't get a very clear image of the port and every time they went back to look at it, the image changed meaning the port was very mobile. The bariatrician said she was going to try empty the port (I apparently had 4cc in it) then got a needle and proceeded to do so. I ended up having to breathe through a PENTHROX® Inhaler and have four shots of local anaesthetic in my abdomen, I was crying and groaning in agony and trying not to roll on the table (I am normally brilliant with needles). She bent three needles trying to access the port and in the end gave up - the port moved/jumped quite a bit and I was starting to get really distressed. She's put me on antibiotics and told me to keep going with my pain relief and they're going to try get my surgeon to come back from holiday this week. After hitting my first 20kg milestone, I'm scared of going backwards. :thumbup: BAW! And I thought I'd been lucky and wasn't going to have any problems!

Blood tests didn't show signs of infection. I'm having an ultrasound done in a couple of hours but they think the port being flipped, twisting the tube, combined with being manipulated last week are contributing to the pain. I won't really know 'til then though.

Okay so I posted this at the beginning of last week: On Friday, partway through my shift at work, I started having excruciating stabbing pains around my port area. After unsuccessfully taking some general pain relief, I went to the after hours GP who sent me to the ER where the medical registrar met me with my admitting documents and took me to Acute. I had bloods, x rays and a scan, hooked up to fluids and a morphine niki driver/pump but then was told the bariatric specialist was not in 'til later this week. So I've been kept in hospital for pain relief for the last four days and I was discharged a couple of hours ago with my morphine so that I can go to this second appointment in the morning. Only my surgeon is away so I'll be seeing his replacement and I'm super scared she's going to try the same thing as last week which I'm certain is what aggravated and caused the pain I'm having now. And now I must go sleep 'cause I haven't had any in four days! :smile2:

1 month post op today, was to have my first fill. Only my port has flipped and my surgeon couldn't wriggle it the right way. They'll try flipping it back again next week but otherwise he's going to do it under local and restitch it in place. In the meantime I've got to try ignore the hungry voice in my head!

The first month is a healing time. Your body went under some intense stuff! Most of the weight lost in the pre-op phase is Fluid which is replaced what with your eating/drinking as normal as can be again. It is not uncommon to become hungry after 2-3 weeks and not to feel like this is a failure. What has your exercise been like? The first month is about healing and avoiding heavy work/exercise but that doesn't mean you can't be out walking, doing light cardio and stuff like that. I got a puppy a month or so prior and the next day I was up taking him for his walk. I discussed at my 1 week post appointment about fills and my surgeon (although all are different in opinions) said he recommends to let yourself heal for the first month before attempting any top-ups. Which makes sense. Don't stress, it's early days hey?

I am 1 1/2 months post-op and at my appointment today we discussed scar tissue and bruising and even at 1-3 months there can still be a lot of tenderness. As for uncomfortable places, mine's just under my ribs so I have to kneel right down, I can't bend over without it getting in the way and causing discomfort.

6 months post should be fine! And do, it's fantastic! The best hours of my week. Only a few weeks more to go.. counting down...

SEXXEH. :redface: Speaking of gowns, I felt slightly guilty when I was shown the changing room. There were about 8 [gowns] on the rack, smallest to biggest. I picked up the smallest one and it was huge on me. And I put it on the wrong way. Somehow. There were buttons everywhere. u__u

@ Mel Mel - Wow! That was a bit insensitive. I remember back in January when I had my bloodtests before my initial appointment with the surgeon, the lady who took my bloods asked how long post-op I was 'cause the request form had the clinic info on it. I told her I hadn't had the surgery yet and she gave me such a look (and that was 20-odd kgs ago). D: I think height also has a lot to do with it. 'Cause the taller you are the more weight you can carry before you look your weight. I think. Whee! I think I just felt my first hunger pang. Or maybe it was gas. But I can definitely feel my stomach now! The numbness was eerie. ^___^

Oooh, I had the same thing pre-op. Everyone would look at me like I'm some freak for being stuffed silly on a cup of Fluid. But for some weird reason, it was just very, very fulfilling. I joked with my surgeon that with the fullness and weight-loss on it, I could just go on doing that forever and skip the banding. If only it were that easy! Good luck for Monday! :redface:

OH! OH! Excitement! I just realized my Mum got some of those Special K things from the Expo West organics/natural/food convention she flew over to in March. There were some protein shots in test-tube like packaging too that we're trying to source as well. :redface: NZ is too small, grr!

For a little while, it's mostly Fluid weight, but around 20lbs+ people will notice your face being slimmer and eventually you'll notice clothes being baggier but the face we know too well is the one you see yourself as for ages, and then one day you'll look in the mirror and see the still totally gorgeous but much much slimmer person you are! :redface: A lot of my friends live quite a way from me and we only meet up a couple of times a year so I can't wait to shock them all! :smile2: