Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group
Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.
...and I hope my proverbial umbrella doesn't spring a leak!
My surgery was supposed to be last Monday, but thanks to a staph infection I picked up in my leg after scraping my knee in a fall two weeks ago, my surgeon decided at the last minute to postpone it for two weeks to give my leg a chance to heal. I was disappointed, but completely understood. (I could post pictures but don't want to gross anyone out!)
That was on 10/29. Two days ago my cat lightly scratched my leg, but didn't break the skin. Yes, the infected leg. Yes, that night a small blister appeared and started oozing. Yes, I cleaned it and covered it with a gauze pad.
Yesterday I went to the local urgent care--the one that diagnosed the infection--to have it checked and make sure it was healing properly. When I rolled up my pants leg for the doc, I was shocked to see a roughly 4" diameter swelling around the aforementioned blister!
Off I went from there to yet another clinic to get an ultrasound where I learned that I had neither blood clots nor an abcess, but just a bunch of swollen tissue. I went back to the urgent care, spoke with the doc and got a prescription for a third antibiotic (first two were for the staph, this one is for the cat scratch).
So, my leg looks like cra* but it feels fine. The swelling has already gone down considerably. My surgery is now set for the 16th--I hope!--which means my rebirth will be just like my own birth fifty-some-odd years ago; I was born well past my due date.
But I can still look on the bright side--my support team is in place, anything my kids will need during my recovery is being covered by friends, I won't have to cook because many friends are providing dinners for my family, my husband was able to take time off of work, and I LOST FIFTEEN POUNDS!!!!!
My surgery was supposed to be last Monday, but thanks to a staph infection I picked up in my leg after scraping my knee in a fall two weeks ago, my surgeon decided at the last minute to postpone it for two weeks to give my leg a chance to heal. I was disappointed, but completely understood. (I could post pictures but don't want to gross anyone out!)
That was on 10/29. Two days ago my cat lightly scratched my leg, but didn't break the skin. Yes, the infected leg. Yes, that night a small blister appeared and started oozing. Yes, I cleaned it and covered it with a gauze pad.
Yesterday I went to the local urgent care--the one that diagnosed the infection--to have it checked and make sure it was healing properly. When I rolled up my pants leg for the doc, I was shocked to see a roughly 4" diameter swelling around the aforementioned blister!
Off I went from there to yet another clinic to get an ultrasound where I learned that I had neither blood clots nor an abcess, but just a bunch of swollen tissue. I went back to the urgent care, spoke with the doc and got a prescription for a third antibiotic (first two were for the staph, this one is for the cat scratch).
So, my leg looks like cra* but it feels fine. The swelling has already gone down considerably. My surgery is now set for the 16th--I hope!--which means my rebirth will be just like my own birth fifty-some-odd years ago; I was born well past my due date.
But I can still look on the bright side--my support team is in place, anything my kids will need during my recovery is being covered by friends, I won't have to cook because many friends are providing dinners for my family, my husband was able to take time off of work, and I LOST FIFTEEN POUNDS!!!!!
I can't help it and maybe it's just me, but when people call this part of our life's journey a rebirth I mentally cringe. I personally think that thinking of it as a rebirth puts a lot of expectations on the surgery itself when it is really just one life choice along our life's journey that we make toward health. At over five years out I am acutely aware that every day I must choose a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating or not. Again, this is just my this my thinking so please do not take it personally. I love reading your posts, and I think you will be wildly successful!
Lcat4, I call this my rebirth because I finally have the strength and courage to take this huge leap that will help me become the healthy, strong person I always knew I could be but never had the courage to become. Just as the day I was born became the first day of the rest of my life, November 16th (God willing and my leg cooperates) will be the start of the rest of my life as a healthy person. I guess I see it more like a second chance at life.
After watching both of my parents die of complications from poor health choices, I decided that I just couldn't let that happen to me. You are right; every day we have to choose. I hope and pray I choose right each and every day. It's so hard sometimes, but the end results--the chance at no more meds, no more diabetes, no more all kinds of other diseases and disorders I currently battle--are SO worth it. As a friend of mine says, "Results or excuses--pick one!"
Thanks for being such a huge supporter of all of us as we take this journey. I'm starting to ramble so I think I'll sign off and go to bed now. Thanks again!
I adore Lcat and understand where she is coming from - but I do look back on my surgery date (almost 6 years ago) as my "rebirth." Yes, I still must make daily choices; however, my body has fundamentally changed. I dont feel like I am fighting it anymore. When I eat the way I am supposed to, I feel great. That wasnt the case before my RNY.
When I was super-morbidly obese, I never thought Id be able to live life at a healthy weight again. Im thankful to have this second chance a re-birth.
Oh, and congrats on shrinking another fifteen pounds!! I agree with Lcat that you will be wildly successful!!!
JJ
To add insult to injury, I pulled a muscle in my back this morning getting off the organ bench (I'm the organist/pianist/music director at a local church). After that, while waiting for my prescription to be filled for antibiotic #4, I did a little grocery shopping. While there I briefly flirted with the idea of buying a big bag of potato chips or a slice of chocolate cake and drowning my sorrows in either of them. After that moment of insanity passed, I walked down the potato chip aisle with my head held high, paused in front of my fave flavor by my fave brand, and discreetly gave it the finger!!! I then went to the bakery section, found a chocolate cake and did the same thing. Geez, that felt good!
Then I went home and collapsed on the couch with my heating pad on my now sore but elevated leg for an hour and took a nap. Hubby is taking care of dinner.
May tomorrow be a better day!