My TT and Hernia Repair

March 6, 2004

Jan of 03 was the month of my surgery.Dr.K and I both thought that I

had 2 hernias.One above the waist line and one just below the waist

line.He told me from the git go that I might have a problem

healing,little did I know how that was going to go.The blood supply

for the top of my tummy was terrible.

I had this huge black scap covering the inccison,and in the latter

part of Jan he said we need to take that off.I ask if it was gong to

hurt,and of course he said not to him,but no it shouldn't hurt me.

When he cut,yes cut the scab away,I never saw so much fluid come out

of one person..lol

By then I had a open wound 28-29ccm long 11 " long,hip bone to hip

bone,and about 10 t0 13ccm wide-4 to 5 " wide.That is when we started

packing it and every week he would debreaed it a little more.Finally

in Feb he decided to take me back in the operating room and try to

close it up one more time.That didn't work.

So we went to the vac pump. I had the largest one that they

have.Some of you know how depressed I was having to stay hooked up

to it and have to be home at all times.I was getting it changed 3

times a week,but was doing the canister myself.I did have a couple

of great nurses,that's what you get living in a small town.I guess I

had the pump until probley in April.I do have to say that it did its

job and I am thankful for that.And God taught me alot of patience

that I didn't have before and I really never ask for it.I know that

I am more caring of other people now,and if there is anything I can

do for someone I will do it.

If I had to do it all over again would I??? I don't know,yes the

hernia repair,but the tt,just not sure even yet.

I can tell you that my mound is up very high,but I beleive that is

because I had to heal from the inside out,and even without clothes

on I feel like I have a girdle on at all times because it is so

tight in the stomach area.

So maybe talking about it might be healing for me.

I do have to say that after staying in the hospital just before

Thanksgiving and having those 8 units of blood and 2 of iron,that I

am feeling great and I guess my labs were ok as dr.K didn't say

anything about them.I know that I am going to have a hard time

healing with the batwings,but I also know that God is in control and

there will not be a problem.

Ok,Jo now maybe I will feel better...LOL

Just remember that everyone heals different and don't be afraid of

having it done,Dr.K is a great doc and he does know what he is doing.

Have a great day and God's blessings to all of you

Pat

My weight goes anywhere from 177 to 188 and that's ok by me. My main

goal was to go from a 3-4X to a lg or xlg and that is what I have

done.I can even get into some 16's..LOL This is the smallest I have

been since before 7th grade.

HOW COOL IS THIS SURGERY!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!

March 6, 2004

> Jan of 03 was the month of my surgery.Dr.K and I both thought that

I

> had 2 hernias.One above the waist line and one just below the waist

> line.He told me from the git go that I might have a problem

> healing,little did I know how that was going to go.The blood

supply

> for the top of my tummy was terrible.

> *******************************

\

thank you for sharing that with us pat. i know its been hard for you

to talk about but its good for us to hear what can happen. its also

good for you to be able to tell us because we wuv you.

im glad the hard time is over with- you look great now

vicki

March 6, 2004

Pat... geesh I had no idea. (((big hugs))) You went through the

wringer. Such a long recovery... I'm glad you are here to share it

with us!!! I really appreciate you sharing the story with us. Ann

and I were talking the other day about how after living through this

it's like coming out of a war... you have Post Traumatic Stress

Syndrome or something. I know my PS group is going to be having a

reunion and I can't even stomach the thought of seeing those same

people... would just pull me back to the pain again I think. So I

can understand why this might have been hard for you to share with

us... but Im glad you did.

When is your batwing surgery? I will be saying prayers for you.

I'm anxious to see how you do. If you come through with flying

colors, youll be an inspiration for the rest of us that it CAN BE

BETTER the second time around.

Hugs and God Bless,

--Kym in Seattle

March 6, 2004