Frangipani & TexasBecky get Reconstructed

[Frangipani 1]

Karey, I think that now might be a good time for you to start a bit of written communication with your doctor. Ya know along the lines of, can you please confirm that the collection of Fluid in my abdomen is in your opinion of no concern. Could you please Explain why you thought that my band is in an awkward position, and needed unfilling when I have no fill. Could you please explain why you feel that a barium series would be beneficial and what you expect it to show?

Doctors as a rule like written communications as much as they like lawyers.

Do not let this doctor fobb you off, you have paid good money for this surgery and it aint right, so they have to sort it out! Go and kick some white coat ass!

Karey,

The written communication idea sounds like a good one to me too. Great suggestion Nina!

But Karey, I thought I just read in BBK's thread that you talked to your Band Dr. and she (he?) suggested that you might need to consider having your band out?

If they're talking about doing that then I would definitely seek a second opinion before deciding on that issue.

[kareyquilts 1]

Thanks for the support and letting me share this thread! I really do need the support. Great ideas. I like the written communication idea too! Yesterday, I went and picked up my disc for my cat scan and the radiologist's report. Who do I end up riding in the elevator with? The other doctor that assisted in my surgery. He started out the conversation with, "I just looked at your cat scan with Dr. Richard's yesterday." How are you feeling? We had a 15 minute conversation. He was nice. Said mine was a difficult case and that the surgery had been very hard. I have a lot of scar tissue and adhesions. He said it's not the same to put a new band in someone who has already had a band. He said that he and Dr. Richards want me to do a barium series to see how the band is sitting in 3-D, because the cat scan makes it look flat and they aren't use to seeing the band that way. He wants to be there when they do the upper GI so that he can see it in real time. I'm scheduled for next Wednesday at 8 AM with Dr. Cottam. He told me that it might be time to take my band out, if they can't see any reason for the nausea. Also said that he thinks my band might have slipped again. My DH is livid about that, because he said that if it slipped it slipped in surgery and was never right, since I haven't done anything to make it slip. I really appreciated the kindness of this doc and I really like him, but I'm not going down without a fight. I don't want to lose my band! I've paid a lot of money for it, experienced a lot of pain and I know that the statistics for me gaining weight back are not good. I tried to call my internist and discuss options, because he really looks out for me, but he is in Europe for the next 2 weeks (very inconsiderate of him, don't you think?! LOL). If my band has slipped, I'm not sure that consulting with another band doc will do any good. I don't know that I would be a canidate for a bypass or the sleeve at this point. I know I shouldn't worry about it until I get more information, but it's hard not too. If it wasn't for the nausea, I would just let the non functioning band sit in there. Oh well, time will tell!

Frangi: Good luck with your trip, I hope it all goes smoothly and no flights are cancelled, etc. My thoughts and prayers will be with you next Tuesday! Can't wait to see your results!

[TexasBecky 1]

Karey, hang in there. This whole ordeal must be driving you crazy. You have been through so much lately and all this uncertainty is just too much. I hope you get some concrete answers soon and will finally start feeling better. I know you are ready to get on with things. Keep us posted.

Frangi, Its time to go again! Woo Hoo! I'm really excited for you and hope that everything goes as wonderfully as it did the first time. I know Jody is going to post for you again after surgery, but please let us hear from you as soon as you are able. We'll all be anxious to know that you are recovering comfortably at the hotel, or better yet, at Stein Mart!

[Frangipani 1]

Hi Ladies,

Busy day today trying to get everything wrapped up before leaving home 2.5 weeks -- you know how it is I'm sure.......

I'll make this quick and short because I fly out very early in the AM tomorrow and still have some things left to do.

Frangi - you always make my day when I need it most!:biggrin:

That store happens to be right in the mall by me. I went and bought the most beautiful clothes too. They are a bit tight so I MUST work to get the proper fit. That is great incentive!!

Hey Jody,

Glad you like that store!!! Their items are so classic and timeless you'll have them for years. I have things in my closet that I've had for a long time and now I'm finally able to wear them again -- Woo Hoo!!!

I plan on calling you sometime on Tuesday, but if I'm out of it, I will touch base with you on Wednesday. I'll be overnighting at the same hospital I stayed at the last time. Do you still have that info? If not I'll resend.

Thanks for the support and letting me share this thread! I really do need the support. Great ideas. I like the written communication idea too! Yesterday, I went and picked up my disc for my cat scan and the radiologist's report. Who do I end up riding in the elevator with? The other doctor that assisted in my surgery. He started out the conversation with, "I just looked at your cat scan with Dr. Richard's yesterday." How are you feeling? We had a 15 minute conversation. He was nice. Said mine was a difficult case and that the surgery had been very hard. I have a lot of scar tissue and adhesions. He said it's not the same to put a new band in someone who has already had a band. He said that he and Dr. Richards want me to do a barium series to see how the band is sitting in 3-D, because the cat scan makes it look flat and they aren't use to seeing the band that way. He wants to be there when they do the upper GI so that he can see it in real time. I'm scheduled for next Wednesday at 8 AM with Dr. Cottam. He told me that it might be time to take my band out, if they can't see any reason for the nausea. Also said that he thinks my band might have slipped again. My DH is livid about that, because he said that if it slipped it slipped in surgery and was never right, since I haven't done anything to make it slip. I really appreciated the kindness of this doc and I really like him, but I'm not going down without a fight. I don't want to lose my band! I've paid a lot of money for it, experienced a lot of pain and I know that the statistics for me gaining weight back are not good. I tried to call my internist and discuss options, because he really looks out for me, but he is in Europe for the next 2 weeks (very inconsiderate of him, don't you think?! LOL). If my band has slipped, I'm not sure that consulting with another band doc will do any good. I don't know that I would be a canidate for a bypass or the sleeve at this point. I know I shouldn't worry about it until I get more information, but it's hard not too. If it wasn't for the nausea, I would just let the non functioning band sit in there. Oh well, time will tell!

Frangi: Good luck with your trip, I hope it all goes smoothly and no flights are cancelled, etc. My thoughts and prayers will be with you next Tuesday! Can't wait to see your results!

Thanks for the well wishes Karey -- and I'm sending them right back to you.

I hope this ordeal comes to an end soon, and that it has a happy ending!!!! I'm glad you had a good conversation with the other surgeon :thumbup:.

Frangi, Its time to go again! Woo Hoo! I'm really excited for you and hope that everything goes as wonderfully as it did the first time. I know Jody is going to post for you again after surgery, but please let us hear from you as soon as you are able. We'll all be anxious to know that you are recovering comfortably at the hotel, or better yet, at Stein Mart!

Thanks Becky!!! Oh you know me, I'll be up and about (and shopping :sad:) in no time at all I'm sure.

I definitely plan on catching the Labor Day Weekend Sales -- so that really only gives me a few days to waste time lying about!

Stein Mart is having a big sale starting Thurday 80% off all of their "Red Dot" sale merchandise -- so make sure you get over there sometime during the weekend if you can!!!!

BTW, KD told me that the backside was the worst part of her post-op LBL pain, was this true with you too?

[TexasBecky 1]

BTW, KD told me that the backside was the worst part of her post-op LBL pain, was this true with you too?

No Frangi, my backside was the least of my worries. It was all about the thighs. To be honest, my thighs were such a source of discomfort that I hardly noticed the LBL. I think you will have little to no trouble with any of it. Hugs, Becky

[Frangipani 1]

you WOULD think - but no; got booty for days. in the reverse of cori's comment, i think my gut got replaced to the backside. so i just run to keep it from needing it's own zip code.

i'll be thinking of ya tuesday!!:smile::smile:

I never thought I would congratulate someone on having a big booty, however!

Lucky you Lulu! Hang on to that booty for dear life -- you don't want to end up like me. It still annoys me to no end that I'm actually needing a seperate surgical procedure to put junk back into my trunk!

Thanks for the well-wishes :smile::smile::smile:!

Why am I posting this morning, when I should be sitting on a plane right now???? Take one guess!

My flight is delayed by 4 hours :sad::thumbup::tt1::tt2::tt2::tt2::tt2:

I got up at 3:00 AM so I could be ready and set to go and did not learn of the delay until I got to the airport. This really fouls up my well-planned day Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Edited August 23, 2008 by Frangipani

[kareyquilts 1]

Becky: Since I am having Lipo of the thighs and a thigh lift with my butt lift, I'm wondering about that pain you mentioned. The ps is probably not going to do the inside thigh (time factors), though I'm going to make one more plea for him to. I remember you saying how painful the inside thigh was, especially to go to the bathroom. Was the outside and back thigh just as painful. Can you feel the worry in my writing? LOL! Did you doc put long stitches in horizontally on the outside of your thigh? My doc said he is going to, that it's a French technique and takes all the stress on the stitches in the back. Just wondering if that will make a difference. I'm feeling less nauseated today. Maybe it will just go away.

[kareyquilts 1]

Frangi: Sorry for the delay. Thanks for the tip on the sale at Stein Mart, I think it's time for me to do some shopping. Take care. Wishing you the best.

[nina874 48]

GOOD LUCK FRANGI!!!!!

I expect pictures..... :0)

[Shalee04 7]

Best of luck on round 2 FRANGI!!! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!!!

[TexasBecky 1]

Frangi, I'm sorry you got off to a bad start this morning. By now I hope you are out taking care of business in Miami. I'm sending positive vibes your way. Check in when you can.

Karey, the inside thigh incisions were the source of most of my pain and misery. I really don't have much memory of pain associated with the butt or back of my thighs other than them feeling tight and like I'd done a lot of stair climbing. More soreness than pain. I had no stitches on the outside of my thighs and no Lipo to the thighs, so that probably kept my pain down. I think it is just the location of the inner thigh incisions that made my recovery so uncomfortable. Don't worry though, the memory of the pain is fading fast and I feel like the results were so worth the temporary discomfort.

Trust your doctor on the amount of surgery he thinks you can tolerate. No point in taking any risks. The inner thighs are a lot to cope with. It is hard to wear any kind of clothing that doesn't make contact with that area. I guess you could wear a skirt with no underwear, LOL.

I'm glad to hear your nausea is better today. Maybe it is just a matter of enough time to heal. You've been through it girl.

[kareyquilts 1]

Thanks Becky, maybe I won't feel too bad, if my doc doesn't listen to my begging! Just won't be completely done without those suckers pulled up, but I may just have to live with it, cause I don't think I'm going under the knife again anytime soon!

[LadyBugRed 2]

Frangi -

I still have all the hospital info. I hope you are in Miami by now!! I look forward to your call. Of course you will be in my thoughts!!!

[cori in wa 0]

Hi Frangi

I'm sorry your flight was delayed so long....hopefully it was smooth sailing once you actually got on the plane! Wishing you best wishes for a speedy route through the varius chores you need to take care of and here's hoping round 2 is every bit as successful as round 1 was! Happy shopping to you

[Frangipani 1]

GOOD LUCK FRANGI!!!!!

I expect pictures..... :0)

Nina, LOL :lol::sad:. You troublemaker!!!!

I've got your X-Mas present all picked out now. My "before" backside photo in a silver frame! :w00t::tongue::tt2:

All kidding aside, thanks for the well wishes. I'm glad you're back posting here because, girl, you crack me up!!!

Best of luck on round 2 FRANGI!!! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!!!

Thanks sweetie :smile:! How's everything going with you? Do you have your date set yet?

Frangi: Sorry for the delay. Thanks for the tip on the sale at Stein Mart, I think it's time for me to do some shopping. Take care. Wishing you the best.

Thanks Karey! Happy shopping!

Frangi, I'm sorry you got off to a bad start this morning. By now I hope you are out taking care of business in Miami. I'm sending positive vibes your way. Check in when you can.

Thanks Becky! Yeah that flight delay really set me behind, but I'm in pretty good shape now. I have just a few things left to do, but I'm more or less all set.

Today I meet with the Dr. to get all the other things squared away (my questions, signing consents, handing over large sums of money, etc.), and tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM its buh-bye bye saggy, baggy backside :thumbup:!

Frangi -

I still have all the hospital info. I hope you are in Miami by now!! I look forward to your call. Of course you will be in my thoughts!!!

Thanks Jody!!! :smile: Looking forward to talking to you! There's a few things I've been meaning to touch base with you about, and will do so when I call.

Hi Frangi

I'm sorry your flight was delayed so long....hopefully it was smooth sailing once you actually got on the plane! Wishing you best wishes for a speedy route through the varius chores you need to take care of and here's hoping round 2 is every bit as successful as round 1 was! Happy shopping to you

Thanks Cori!!! It's always so nice to hear from you and thanks for the well wishes!!!

Yeah, I know I'm up pretty early, but I want to get one last workout in before my surgery.

Have a great day everyone -- and thanks again for the kind thoughts and wishes. You ladies are the best!!! :smile: