Re: Marta, Jo, Sharon, , and and all Hernia, and TT patients

[Guest guest]

> OK all, PLEASE give me a clue.......what am I looking at here?

> I have a small/medium size hernia (about the size of your hand)

next

> to my belly button, and you can see the amount of skin I need

removed

> from my pics (patient number 6).

>

> 1. Pain wise? Worse or better than DS? Lasts longer or ends faster?

Pain was nothing compared to the D.S

>

> 2. Stitches? What to expect?

I only had stiches that had to be removed in my ummm " little lady " he

removed them 2 weeks after surgery.

>

> 3. Walking, bending, standing, driving? How soon and how painful?

Um bending down is still tuff at times and I'm 20 days post op

Driving was a breeze I drove 4 days after surgery.

>

> 4. Size of incision and scars?

um not sure of exact size but I do know he got rid of a couple other

scars I had had for years..and my 3 belly buttons are gone..lol

>

> 5. Swelling? How much can I expect and how long does it usually

last?

have minor swelling right now still more comfy to wear elastic

waist..heck to church yesterday I wore my p.j. pants

>

> 6. ANY info I need to know...anything you all recommend to make

> recovery easier, more comfortable, and less painful?

stay down and keep your feet up and wear the binder the full 6 weeks

>

> 7. Recovery time? How long was it before you were able to go back

to

> a semi-normal life?

I'm still waiting

>

> 8. After surgery necessities? (Marta, what size tummy girdles did

you

> get? I am 142 right now and in a size 10, so I should be able to

wear

> the same size you got, and what brand? I like simple soft but

> supportive, up to the boobs and down the thighs!)

>

> 9. Anything I should have ready at home, bandages, tape, Depends,

> Kotex, what worked best for you? (will this surgery set off my

period

> like the ds did?)

buy some babywipes( without alcohol like wet ones) they come in handy

for many things..And yes I once again started the day after surgery

and wasn't due to start till around the 14th.

>

> 10. Were you able to sleep lying down or can I count on sleeping in

> my recliner for a while?

I slept in the recliner for 4 days then went back to my bed and slept

on my side. I slept alot better butt......I woke up twice with a mess

it seems while sleeping I had rolled over on one of my drains and it

popped open so be careful of that

>

> 11. Sex, how soon....er....never mind.....don't answer that one!!

>

> 12. OH wise ones who have gone before us.....please, share the

> wisdom!!! Share your experience, give me a clue what to expect when

I

> wake up!!!!

>

> 13. I appreciate you all so much for sharing your experiences and

> although each of us reacts different to pain and heals at different

> rates, all seem to have many common factors! SHARE, please?

>

> THANKS!!!!

>

> Cindee

> Hanford

> 252 highest weight February 2002 size 26 3X

> 238 preop October 2002 size 24 2X

> ds 10/15/02

> Today hovering between 142 and 145, size 10 now, but if the tummy

was

> gone an 8 would be great!

in woodlake