Bundling Surgeries...and I'm Scared to Death!!

[smallgirlsxthree 23]

I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand last Wednesday, and I have my left carpal tunnel surgery on the Wednesday before my VSG with a hiatal hernia repair on Friday the 14th. I'm doing all of this so I can be off of work at the same time for all of it. And when they do my carpal tunnel release's I have to wear an OCL cast for 2 weeks afterwards...so Friday when I got to take a shower for the first time with my arm all bagged up (picture a broken arm) I had a meltdown thinking about having my left hand done and the major abdomen surgery afterwards. Am I crazy for doing these both at the same time?!? All I can think of is that I'm not going to be able to take care of myself after the surgery, am I being too paranoid? What is your opinion??

[MsC 0]

I am not in the medical profession so my advice is only my opinion. If it were me, I would reschedule the other wrist surgery for late in the year. I think that the hernia + VSG is pretty commonly done together and that shouldn't be a concern. Are both of your wrists equally problematic? I think that I would want use of the left arm during my recovery. Please discuss this with your VSG surgeon.

Good luck to you.

[smallgirlsxthree 23]

I have had problems with my wrists for a while, and I really need to have them fixed for when I go back to work, but I'm so torn. I keep telling myself that it will only be 2 weeks of my life....

[AnneG 7]

I don't think I'd want both of my arms casted- going through VSG surgery and recovery. I'm just under a month post op- I think the one arm is going to be

issue enough while you are healing- Really, for your own sake- I'd see if I could reschedule doing the other arm.

[smallgirlsxthree 23]

I get the cast taken off of the right arm before they do my left arm, I will only have one cast at a time!! Sorry, I didn't realize it read like that!

[AnneG 7]

Well - it's going to be difficult- maybe you could do it. Do you have someone to help you? You are going to have to be able to keep yourself

hydrated- and on a schedule to get Protein in and Vitamins and medications and you will be on pain medication for a few days at least.

Maybe if you have some help - you could get by ok.

[smallgirlsxthree 23]

Thanks for the info...my hubby will be around and my kids don't have school my first couple of days home, so I will have some help. My husband is soooo supportive, he actually acts excited about it. He was my little enforcer earlier when I was trying to botch my pre-op diet and eat some potatoes out of the Soup tonight lol, thank goodness I have someone to be accountable to. My oldest daughter told me that she would tell my doctor if I ate something with sugar in it. They help me so much!! I hope that the help continues after all of this is done!

[pattimomof3nj 21]

I do not think you will have a problem. I had carpal tunnel release on my left wrist when my twins were 7 months old, and I was changing diapers within a week. It really isn't that bad. Are they doing it open or micro? that will be the biggest thing, are you going to have a huge opening or a tiny one, I only had a little hole with 3 stitches, and I barely have a mark now. If I would only go and get the right wrist done all of my problems would be fixed. I thought with losing the weight the pain would go away, but it hasn't. I commend you for doing it all at the same time!!!

[smallgirlsxthree 23]

They did my right wrist the open way, I can see a couple of stitches when I look dwon in my cast. It will be a week tomorrow that I had this one done, and I haven't had any pain from it for a few days now. It's just a pain in the butt to have a cast on it!! My husband has been a huge help, thank goodness. Thanks for the encouragement!