Re: pre and post op photos have been posted/scars

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicki,

What do you mean you "should be able to survive the myotomy" ? You're going into the myotomy to live, really live, not just to survive. Are there any other alternatives?

While recoveries vary between individuals, our friend Giselle is making positive strides every day now, and who can't resist a belly that only a mother could love like hers? (J/K) I expect that her after photos in six months will look just like her before photos do. (Thanks Giselle for sharing....you've been an inspiration here).

Vicki, it sounds as if the "pain and nausea" duo are not going to stand a chance against the defenses you've been lining up! I have a feeling that you are going to be just fine.

And btw, I do appreciate all the helpful posts you've been putting up lately! Great job!

In a message dated 5/15/2006 9:19:43 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, vickismiles@... writes:

, That does help. My open knee surgery was so painful/unpleasant I have been worried that the myotomy could be worse. So, hopefully it won't be. And at least I know I could survive knee surgery so I should be able to survive the myotomy. Part of my fear is due to nausea issues--which seem as though they could cause more problems for stomach surgery than knee surgery. But, I will try not to worry about it. My mom said she will come stay with me when I have my surgery (since I live alone). I already warned her that I want her to hang out with me all day at the hospital and help encourage nurses to find me anti-nausea or pain medicine if necessary. And I have gotten useful pain medicine and anti-nausea medicine from various board members. So, hopefully things will be more under control this time. My arthroscopic knee surgery wasn't that painful (or at least the pain didn't seem bad compared to the nausea). Vicki> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > hi all,> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > i just posted a few photos under "giselle/surgery" --> > there > > > > are > > > > > > > photos > > > > > > > > of my pre and post op belly, and some other shots from > > life > > > > and > > > > > > the > > > > > > > > hospital so you know what i look like. i promise i'll > > put > > > > up > > > > > > > > a "healing belly" photo in 3 to 6 months, or whenever > > > things > > > > > > start > > > > > > > to > > > > > > > > look more normal again. right now, the scars seem to > be > > > > > scabbing > > > > > > up > > > > > > > > just right. i see dr. patti tomorrow for my post-> > surgery > > > > > follow > > > > > > up > > > > > > > > appointment. so far, so good! i am feeling better > > every > > > > > single > > > > > > day.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > giselle in san francisco> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Also, just to add--I have a four inch scar from my open knee

surgery. It really isn't bad; I figure it gives me some character.

The reason I was surprised by the size of the myotomy incisions is

because when I had arthroscopic knee surgery the incisions were

extremely small.

I used vitamin E on my scars to help them heal (though I think I had

to wait awhile to let the incisions heal a little before applying

it). Did any of you use that or something else after myotomy

surgery?

Vicki

> > > >

> > > > hi all,

> > > >

> > > > i just posted a few photos under " giselle/surgery " -- there

are

> > > photos

> > > > of my pre and post op belly, and some other shots from life

and

> > the

> > > > hospital so you know what i look like. i promise i'll put

up

> > > > a " healing belly " photo in 3 to 6 months, or whenever things

> > start

> > > to

> > > > look more normal again. right now, the scars seem to be

> scabbing

> > up

> > > > just right. i see dr. patti tomorrow for my post-surgery

> follow

> > up

> > > > appointment. so far, so good! i am feeling better every

> single

> > day.

> > > >

> > > > giselle in san francisco

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicki,

My knee scars are much smaller than the myotomy scars. I would guess

that they are dependant on the size of the utensil used in them.

I can compare recovery fon both as the surgeries were 6 days apart. I

cut open a vitamin E capsule for mine and rubbed it on. Being in the

desert, the air is so dry here and wounds get too dry and hard too

quick, so I alway do that on our grazes to help heal them.

in the desert.

> > > > >

> > > > > hi all,

> > > > >

> > > > > i just posted a few photos under " giselle/surgery " -- there

> are

> > > > photos

> > > > > of my pre and post op belly, and some other shots from life

> and

> > > the

> > > > > hospital so you know what i look like. i promise i'll put

> up

> > > > > a " healing belly " photo in 3 to 6 months, or whenever

things

> > > start

> > > > to

> > > > > look more normal again. right now, the scars seem to be

> > scabbing

> > > up

> > > > > just right. i see dr. patti tomorrow for my post-surgery

> > follow

> > > up

> > > > > appointment. so far, so good! i am feeling better every

> > single

> > > day.

> > > > >

> > > > > giselle in san francisco

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for the more detailed info. I like having a comparision to

knee surgery since it gives me more of a sense of what the myotomy

will be like.

Vicki

> > > > > >

> > > > > > hi all,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > i just posted a few photos under " giselle/surgery " --

there

> > are

> > > > > photos

> > > > > > of my pre and post op belly, and some other shots from

life

> > and

> > > > the

> > > > > > hospital so you know what i look like. i promise i'll

put

> > up

> > > > > > a " healing belly " photo in 3 to 6 months, or whenever

> things

> > > > start

> > > > > to

> > > > > > look more normal again. right now, the scars seem to be

> > > scabbing

> > > > up

> > > > > > just right. i see dr. patti tomorrow for my post-

surgery

> > > follow

> > > > up

> > > > > > appointment. so far, so good! i am feeling better

every

> > > single

> > > > day.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > giselle in san francisco

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

-Besides the chest spasms being out of control for me, the recovery

was easier than the knee too. I expected the myotomy surgery to be

far worse than it was. I think having so much bad luck and pain in

the legs, changed my perception of pain. I was far more scared about

having the myotomy though and now have not one regret.

Hope that helps.

-- In achalasia , " Vicki " <vickismiles@...> wrote:

>

> ,

> Thanks for the more detailed info. I like having a comparision

to

> knee surgery since it gives me more of a sense of what the myotomy

> will be like.

>

> Vicki

>

>

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > hi all,

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > i just posted a few photos under " giselle/surgery " --

> there

> > > are

> > > > > > photos

> > > > > > > of my pre and post op belly, and some other shots from

> life

> > > and

> > > > > the

> > > > > > > hospital so you know what i look like. i promise i'll

> put

> > > up

> > > > > > > a " healing belly " photo in 3 to 6 months, or whenever

> > things

> > > > > start

> > > > > > to

> > > > > > > look more normal again. right now, the scars seem to

be

> > > > scabbing

> > > > > up

> > > > > > > just right. i see dr. patti tomorrow for my post-

> surgery

> > > > follow

> > > > > up

> > > > > > > appointment. so far, so good! i am feeling better

> every

> > > > single

> > > > > day.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > giselle in san francisco

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

That does help. My open knee surgery was so painful/unpleasant I

have been worried that the myotomy could be worse. So, hopefully it

won't be. And at least I know I could survive knee surgery so I

should be able to survive the myotomy. Part of my fear is due to

nausea issues--which seem as though they could cause more problems

for stomach surgery than knee surgery. But, I will try not to worry

about it.

My mom said she will come stay with me when I have my surgery

(since I live alone). I already warned her that I want her to hang

out with me all day at the hospital and help encourage nurses to

find me anti-nausea or pain medicine if necessary. And I have

gotten useful pain medicine and anti-nausea medicine from various

board members. So, hopefully things will be more under control this

time.

My arthroscopic knee surgery wasn't that painful (or at least the

pain didn't seem bad compared to the nausea).

Vicki

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > hi all,

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > i just posted a few photos under " giselle/surgery " --

> > there

> > > > are

> > > > > > > photos

> > > > > > > > of my pre and post op belly, and some other shots

from

> > life

> > > > and

> > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > hospital so you know what i look like. i promise

i'll

> > put

> > > > up

> > > > > > > > a " healing belly " photo in 3 to 6 months, or

whenever

> > > things

> > > > > > start

> > > > > > > to

> > > > > > > > look more normal again. right now, the scars seem

to

> be

> > > > > scabbing

> > > > > > up

> > > > > > > > just right. i see dr. patti tomorrow for my post-

> > surgery

> > > > > follow

> > > > > > up

> > > > > > > > appointment. so far, so good! i am feeling better

> > every

> > > > > single

> > > > > > day.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > giselle in san francisco

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

i think it's a VERY good idea to have someone with you in the

hospital and the first few days back home, if you can. my memory is

all wacky when i'm on morphine and other strong painkillers, so if it

weren't for my mother/husband generally being around at different

times, i wouldn't remember anything that anyone said or did to me.

also, a couple of times i really needed someone to run out and get a

nurse (i.e when i was dry heaving and having chest pain), and it

really helped to have a person to do that. the nurse call button is

not magic...

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > hi all,

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > i just posted a few photos under " giselle/surgery " -

-

>

> > > there

> > > > > are

> > > > > > > > photos

> > > > > > > > > of my pre and post op belly, and some other shots

> from

> > > life

> > > > > and

> > > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > > hospital so you know what i look like. i promise

> i'll

> > > put

> > > > > up

> > > > > > > > > a " healing belly " photo in 3 to 6 months, or

> whenever

> > > > things

> > > > > > > start

> > > > > > > > to

> > > > > > > > > look more normal again. right now, the scars seem

> to

> > be

> > > > > > scabbing

> > > > > > > up

> > > > > > > > > just right. i see dr. patti tomorrow for my post-

> > > surgery

> > > > > > follow

> > > > > > > up

> > > > > > > > > appointment. so far, so good! i am feeling better

> > > every

> > > > > > single

> > > > > > > day.

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > giselle in san francisco

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Giselle, thanks for the advice. My mom is actually staying 1-2

weeks; so I should be all set.

When I had my knee surgery, she didn't stay very long at the

hospital (because I was mainly sleeping and would seem okay for

awhile). But shortly after she left, something would always seem to

happen. Thus, I am going to get her to stay as much as possible.

Vicki

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > hi all,

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > i just posted a few photos

under " giselle/surgery " -

> -

> >

> > > > there

> > > > > > are

> > > > > > > > > photos

> > > > > > > > > > of my pre and post op belly, and some other

shots

> > from

> > > > life

> > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > > > hospital so you know what i look like. i

promise

> > i'll

> > > > put

> > > > > > up

> > > > > > > > > > a " healing belly " photo in 3 to 6 months, or

> > whenever

> > > > > things

> > > > > > > > start

> > > > > > > > > to

> > > > > > > > > > look more normal again. right now, the scars

seem

> > to

> > > be

> > > > > > > scabbing

> > > > > > > > up

> > > > > > > > > > just right. i see dr. patti tomorrow for my

post-

> > > > surgery

> > > > > > > follow

> > > > > > > > up

> > > > > > > > > > appointment. so far, so good! i am feeling

better

> > > > every

> > > > > > > single

> > > > > > > > day.

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > giselle in san francisco

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks! You are right--the myotomy is really my only

alternative. I got rather freaked out reading about the pain, etc.

but I am doing all I can ahead of time to minimize it.

And I have already made it very clear I want to talk to the

anesthesiologist in person ahead of time. I was told that if I have

any trouble trying to get to speak to him at my pre-surgery visit

that I could have the supervisor paged and demand to speak with the

anesthesiologist who will be present during my the surgery.

Vicki

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > hi all,

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > i just posted a few photos

under " giselle/surgery " --

>

> > > there

> > > > > are

> > > > > > > > photos

> > > > > > > > > of my pre and post op belly, and some other shots

> from

> > > life

> > > > > and

> > > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > > hospital so you know what i look like. i promise

> i'll

> > > put

> > > > > up

> > > > > > > > > a " healing belly " photo in 3 to 6 months, or

> whenever

> > > > things

> > > > > > > start

> > > > > > > > to

> > > > > > > > > look more normal again. right now, the scars

seem

> to

> > be

> > > > > > scabbing

> > > > > > > up

> > > > > > > > > just right. i see dr. patti tomorrow for my post-

> > > surgery

> > > > > > follow

> > > > > > > up

> > > > > > > > > appointment. so far, so good! i am feeling

better

> > > every

> > > > > > single

> > > > > > > day.

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > giselle in san francisco

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Giselle,

One of the really great things you did with the photos, for anyone facing the surgery, was to put a "face" on it, to personalize it. Rather than having it be a deep dark mystery to some, you went out of your way to first show the happy moments "on the beach" on your vacation before your surgery, showing your abdominal area both pre and post surgery, and your whole self, both pre and post surgery, in all cases looking great. The surgeon appeared to do a very neat job with the entry points.

While I know it was far from being a walk in the park your first week after, the worst is now behind you, and we can tell from the tone of your writings that you must be feeling a lot better now. Well, you've done it!!!! Its over with, and without visiting with botox and dilatations, you went and got it done! My proverbial hat is off to you!