Re: 1st post from new member: any tips for Varicose Vein Stripping surgery?

[Guest guest]

Saturday, May 13, 2006, 6:43:39 AM, you wrote:

> Hi! Some of you may remember me, , from SmartBandsters or Bandsters or

> Grads, but lately I post mostly on Canadian Lapbanders. I remember Sandy

> and Dan, and have missed their posts! My first post is slightly off topic,

> but many obese people have varicose veins, and when you lose weight they may

> stick out more( ?)!

Hi ,

Glad to see you dropping by. Sure do remember you. The reason Sandy

and I aren't on SmartBandsters any more is because we were both banned

by the crazy owner. We each happened to say a couple of things that

got his back up, so.... started this group instead. And it is just

for those who are banded, so we don't get newbie questions (which are

fine in other venues, and important....just not here), and we only

have about 1000 members instead of 4000, which means you don't get

quite so buried in email. Plus, I'll guarantee we won't have any

flame wars about doctors, whether to say PB or Barf, etc, etc.

> I've been banded 20 months, and am almost at goal, having lost 186 lbs. On

> Monday, I have varicose vein stripping surgery, and am looking for any tips

> for an easier recovery.

Good luck. Doesn't sound like fun, but don't know of ANY surgery that

is " fun " .

> Two months later, in July, I'll have my thighs lifted to get rid of excess

> skin/fat there. I hope that since the plastic surgeon makes his incision in

> that same skinfold, the upper scars from Monday's surgery may

> disappear.

Well, it isn't like they're in a place where everyone will see them,

whether they disappear or not. People who see your upper things are

probably more interested in other parts.

> Question: anyone been through varicose vein stripping and have tips for an

> easier recovery? Or any nurses have ideas? All I know is to get lots of

> rest, take regular or extra-strength Tylenol, walk as soon as I can,

> and wear my Tensor bandage wrapped firmly around my legs. No one mentioned

> if I should wear TED stockings (tight white anti-embolism stockings) once

> the Tensor bandages come off. I have a comfy new recliner to rest in. I'm

> off work for one week, and can resume exercise after 1 to 2 weeks.

As far as the specific questions, I'd ask your doc about what to do re

stockings and such. Let us know how it goes.

Oh, and why the revision in the beltline lipectomy?

dan

> So, any ideas?

> T.

> Dr. Yau (Toronto, Canada), Sept. 10/03, Swedish band

> 407/221/199

> Dr. Tim Sproule (Toronto, Canada), Apr. 7/05, Beltline Lipectomy

> Dr. Yau, Apr. 7/05, Port Relocation

> Dr. Sproule, Dec. 1/05, Revision to Beltline Lipectomy

> Dr. Allan Lossing (St. 's Hospital, Toronto, Canada), coming

> May 15/06, Varicose Vein Stripping

> Dr. Sproule, coming July 13/06, Medial Thigh Lifts

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dan!

Very nice to hear your reasoned and solid advice again! I should

have joined earlier.

I needed the revision to my beltline lipectomy because of a pouch of

new loose skin in the tummy, caused not by weight regain, but by a

horrid recovery. I had SEVEN open wounds along my beltline

lipectomy incision, two 8 to 10 inches deep (but just the diameter

of a pencil). This " wound breakdown " took 3+ months of daily

homecare nursing visits, antibiotics and a Vacuum Assisted Closure

(V.A.C.) Therapy machine to recover from!

The new pouch of loose skin/fat was likely due to the skin not

adhering to its new location as a result of excessive bleeding. (I

lost a lot of blood in the O.R. and afterwards, I needed 12 bags of

Ringers Lactate hung, and my hemoglobin fell from 133 to 77.) As you

know, these big incisions heal best when they are kept dry, and I

was anything but.

- .

....

> Hi ,

>

> Glad to see you dropping by. Sure do remember you. ...

> Oh, and why the revision in the beltline lipectomy?

>

> dan

[Guest guest]

Hi, !!! Great to hear from you!! You've done wonderfully well -

good for you!

I'm afraid I have no experiencee with varicose veins (thankfully!) or

stripping, but I bet others here do and can give you some tips. There

is nothing special a Bandster needs to do, though - this is your

surgeon's expertise area, and i'm sure he can advise you well.

Wound care, of course, is extremely important to prevent infection,

and even more important if you're diabetic, since those with DM have

a harder time healing, and the circulation may be a bit impaired.

don't be afraid to take stronger med than tylenol, if needed. Just be

sure to use either the liquid, or cut-up tabs, and wash either

competely thoruhg the pouch with a full glass of water.

It's important that you're comfortable enough (with the meds, if

needed) to be able to walk very soon. that is the best way to prevent

blood clots, pneumonia, and the other possible post-op problems. The

tight bandages do the same thing as the anti-embolism stockings, but

are easier to change and keep clean, as well as (much) easier to put

on. Your surgeon should be the one toi instruct you on the length of

time either bandages of the Ted hose should be used. Using them

longer is never harmful, as long as they are not irritating your

wounds.

how about posting some pictures, so we can " see " you? You'reeally an

inspiration, andf this would help the new people - especially the men!

Please keep in touch and let us know how you do with this last pohase

of your healthy new you! SAndy R

>

> Hi! Some of you may remember me, , from SmartBandsters or

Bandsters or

> Grads, but lately I post mostly on Canadian Lapbanders. I remember

Sandy

> and Dan, and have missed their posts! My first post is slightly

off topic,

> but many obese people have varicose veins, and when you lose weight

they may

> stick out more( ?)!

>

> I've been banded 20 months, and am almost at goal, having lost 186

lbs. On

> Monday, I have varicose vein stripping surgery, and am looking for

any tips

> for an easier recovery.

>

> I have pronounced varicose veins in both legs, and am unique in

that I have

> a DOUBLE greater saphenous vein in each leg! My vascular surgeon

says he

> only sees a few such people each year. In this surgery, he'll make

a 2-inch

> incision in the natural skinfold between upper inner thigh and

pelvis, and

> another 1/4-inch cut near my knees. He'll then use a wire with a

hook to

> pull out big sections of the greater saphenous veins. Other veins

take over

> their job, and the varicose veins fade. After surgery, I may need

some

> touch-up " sclerotherapy " to get rid of the last few bulging veins.

This is

> a minor outpatient procedure, where they inject smaller veins with

an

> irritating chemical to close them.

>

> Two months later, in July, I'll have my thighs lifted to get rid of

excess

> skin/fat there. I hope that since the plastic surgeon makes his

incision in

> that same skinfold, the upper scars from Monday's surgery may

> disappear.

>

> Question: anyone been through varicose vein stripping and have tips

for an

> easier recovery? Or any nurses have ideas? All I know is to get

lots of

> rest, take regular or extra-strength Tylenol, walk as soon as I can,

> and wear my Tensor bandage wrapped firmly around my legs. No one

mentioned

> if I should wear TED stockings (tight white anti-embolism

stockings) once

> the Tensor bandages come off. I have a comfy new recliner to rest

in. I'm

> off work for one week, and can resume exercise after 1 to 2 weeks.

>

> So, any ideas?

>

> T.

> Dr. Yau (Toronto, Canada), Sept. 10/03, Swedish band

> 407/221/199

> Dr. Tim Sproule (Toronto, Canada), Apr. 7/05, Beltline Lipectomy

> Dr. Yau, Apr. 7/05, Port Relocation

> Dr. Sproule, Dec. 1/05, Revision to Beltline Lipectomy

> Dr. Allan Lossing (St. 's Hospital, Toronto, Canada), coming

> May 15/06, Varicose Vein Stripping

> Dr. Sproule, coming July 13/06, Medial Thigh Lifts

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy,

Thanks for the feedback! Here I am 25 hours post-op without ANY

pain or bleeding! I took my last Extra Strength Tylenol last night

before bed, and feel only mild soreness at the upper incisons from

yesterday's varicose vein stripping surgery.

The Tensor bandages feel fine and I'll keep them on continuously for

the first 24 hours post-op. Then, I am to remove them for my first

shower, and only wear them while walking for the rest of week one.

I go back in 2 weeks to have the sutures pulled, if they haven't

dissolved. (Normally you go back for this after one week, not two,

but next week is a holiday in Canada, Day, named after

Queen Vicky. I overheard the nurse say " Look, the surgeon wrote down

this guy should come back next Monday, doesn't he know that's a

holiday -- these surgeons live in their own little world! " Another

joked that she talked to a surgeon about how to cook a chicken, and

it turned out he'd never cleaned a whole chicken in his life -- but

neither have I, come to think of it!)

So far, so good. I am anxious to remove my Tensor bandages tomorrow

to see if those big cauliflower clusters of varicose veins on my

calves are gone! -- .

> Hi, !!! Great to hear from you!! You've done wonderfully

well -

> good for you!

> I'm afraid I have no experiencee with varicose veins (thankfully!)

or

> stripping, but I bet others here do and can give you some tips.

There

> is nothing special a Bandster needs to do, though - this is your

> surgeon's expertise area, and i'm sure he can advise you well....

> Please keep in touch and let us know how you do with this last

pohase

> of your healthy new you! SAndy R