pjstanley

Hi Jill!! Welcome!! I'm from the Joplin area too! Tabitha was in my all day workshop class and we just "officially" met at the support group meeting last night!! Small world! Congratulations on getting a surgery date....and good luck with the liquids. It's hard, but it will be over before you know it! Paula

Well, I'm still planning to go to the meeting tonight, so I hope to see you there. I may not stay until 7:00 either. Paula

I think I might go to the meeting. I've been wanting to go, but I have to drive from the Joplin area and it takes me over an hour to get there...so that's kind of a pain. I probably won't go every month...but I think it would be good for me to go sometimes. I'm going to plan on going this Monday....tell me again what time the meeting starts. Is it in the same room as the all-day workshop? I hope to see some of you there!! Paula

I know what you mean about the liquids! I had to wait 11 days until my first post-op appointment. Dr. Edwards had told me in the office that I only had to be on liquids for 1 week, but my post-surgery instructions said "liquids only" until my first appointment. I even called the office to see if I really had to stay on liquids for 11 days, and they said yes! I was SO tired of liquids!!!! Now I'm back on them since I had the fill, but it's not so bad this time. Paula

Congratulations Tabitha! I'm so happy to hear you are doing well after surgery. Hopefully, you won't have too much pain. I started having pain at the port site about 5 days after surgery, and after 5 weeks, it still hurts some...mostly when I exercise. Dr. Edwards said it was because they actually stitch the port to the muscle...which I didn't realize they did. But, it makes sense that it would hurt a little, if that is the case. Anyway, he said it will get better over time. I got my first fill today. I'm so excited!! I had gotten to the point that I could eat pretty much anything without having any problems....so I definitely need the restriction to keep me from eating too much! I haven't lost any weight since my surgery on 7/27...which I was fine with until I went to the Dr. today and saw a lady that had her surgery 2 days before me and she has lost 10 lbs since surgery. I know you're not supposed to compare yourself to others....but I just wish I was making more progress. Hopefully the fill will help me out!!! Paula

If you're interested in trying to get a surgery date a little sooner...I know one lady that started her liquids a week before her last appt with Dr. Edwards, so when she went in to get the surgery date, she was able to schedule it for only one week later. (I guess you run the risk of having to stay on liquids for longer than 2 weeks if they don't have an available surgery time during the next week....but if you are in a hurry to get it done, you could give it a try!) Good luck Tabitha and UN5. I hope you get your dates quickly!! I'm excited for you!! Paula

Tabitha, congratulations on insurance approval!! I'm sure that's a big relief!! I'm doing great since surgery. I've only lost around one pound since then, but I lost about 12 pounds during the liquid stage. The liquids before surgery wasn't nearly as hard for me as I thought it would be. I was so concerned about shrinking my liver enough that I didn't want to take any chances at all...so I didn't cheat, and wasn't even really tempted. It was the liquids AFTER surgery that I really struggled with. I'm so glad that is over with!!! Good luck with going through all the remaining steps! It should go really fast now that your insurance has come through!! Thanks again for telling us about this site. It has been very helpful!!! Paula

Legster, thanks for the info on the pain in your side. I was mostly concerned because I am having new pain...but maybe that's normal since I've probably been more active in the last couple of days. I guess I won't worry so much! Thanks again! Paula

Thanks Legster! Did you have very much pain in your left abdomen after surgery? The first few days, I was able to sleep on my left side with the support of a pillow...but last night I had to sleep on my back. My side is really hurting. Do you know if this is normal? Thanks! Paula

Hi everyone! I'm new to this site. Tabitha, I was in the same all day class with you on 7/23. Thanks for telling us about this group! I had my surgery on 7/27. I'm doing pretty good, but my left side (around the port site) started hurting a lot more today. I'm not sure what's up with that! I hadn't taken any pain meds since Sunday, but I had to take some a little while ago. I hope I haven't pulled something loose!! I go for my first post-op appt with Dr. Edwards next Tuesday. My surgery went well. I'm just really looking forward to getting off liquids!! I'm glad to have a local group to keep in touch with!! Paula