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Sandra3

My rescue surgery

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After months of pain and suffering I finally got my surgery Friday, five days ago.

My sleeve was working fine and my weight great until (long story short for those who didn't follow) my monthly very heavy bleeding became so bad I became very anemic, got several issues from it, I got several infections in October, then from lung infections asthma started, then it became hell.

During a really bad series of asthma attacks I had huge pain in the chest on Nov 7, a few days later a MRI showed a hiatal hernia. Reflux became crazy from the day of the pain and it took loads of PPI, cortisone and weeks before my asthma was stable. I had a first surgery on March 1st to stop the bleeding's (hysterectomy) and help with the anemia.

Since my health is tricky, I also have endometriosis, surgeons had cold feet and I saw five surgeons in total. Number 3 didn't want to do the surgery anymore "too complicated", number four wanted more exams and said October or November. I couldn't wait any longer, with 8 months of pain, sleepless for so long I was just exhausted.

I decided to go private and just pay whatever, number five is a "rescue" surgeon and when he looked at my scans he booked me right away, I was also very lucky that in the middle of the heat wave many people canceled their appointments and surgeries.

I was admitted on Thursday at 3PM, had an EKG, MRI and blood test. Light dinner (broth and apple sauce/yogurt). I had surgery on Friday morning (no pre op diet required in my case) and my surgeon said I was so so damaged a lot a sewing was necessary and I must have been in excruciating pain!! so happy this is in the past...

I woke up a little nauseous but it was not that bad, didn't vomit at all!!! (3 days of constant vomiting for the sleeve) I was indeed yellow (my liver hates any kind of anesthesia) but I was able to drink the first night, and was surprised it was so easy to drink. After the sleeve drinking was complicated, especially the first year (cold, not warm, not that water brand etc..my baby stomach was so capricious.) here...all good...

They kept me on an IV all night Friday and removed it on Saturday around noon when I could "eat".
I saw again the surgeon on Saturday, he cleared me to go home, and saw also the anesthesiologist (first time ever I see one after the surgery) and I did thank her a lot for her choice of meds: almost no nausea and no pain when I woke up! she is really nice and told me she heard me when I described how I woke up after the sleeve, vomiting for days and in much in pain. So she organized for the IV to start before I woke up, but I didn't have morphine, had an other strong painkiller.

I also had an iron infusion after the surgery since I was back in anemia again from the surgery/bleeding.
I left the hospital around 3PM on Saturday afternoon and took no painkiller since.
It was painful, especially on Sunday, but barely more than what I felt for months, I did have a script of painkiller but didn't want to damaged my new tiny stomach.

What was weird, was the nutrition part. My two years nutrition training was French but not focused on bariatrics, and I also took many other classes on specific topics (in diff countries). But my guidelines in Taipei were based on the usual American post-op guideline (with a little Asian twist) : a few days of clear liquids, two week of full liquids, then soft food, after one month everything was authorized. even rice..they had too much carbs on those guidelines so I did adapt it to my westerner metabolism.

Here in Paris, they don't do clear liquids except the first night. After it's straight to full liquid but no protein shake, the guideline is to mix meat and veggies into a soupy consistency, then make it like a puree after about two weeks, then soft food with pieces. Then after one month you can eat everything, except wait two months for beans and lentils (huh).

So on the first morning at the hospital, I had on my table for breakfast a cup of tea, apple sauce, and "biscottes" (like dried bread) with butter. I was puzzled and didn't eat, I was just drinking.
I staid on clear liquid for two days and did switch to full liquid but can't stand my protein shakes!! so instead I'm having a kind of Greek yogurt which is on the guideline. Feels weird but I'm fine! I'm ordering a new powder (same old same old..)
I did discuss the nutrition aspect with the surgeon, he said people have no issue with the guidelines, but to just listen to my body since I have a previous experience, but also the diet training.

So far, today is day five and I still have pains from the surgery but I feel better compare to right before the surgery. I think that the end of the awful reflux must have had some direct benefice on my arthritis too, that or the new PPI (pantoprazole) that might be having less side effects? who knows!!

But I'm very glad this the recovery (so far) is much easier than the sleeve was, because I was already in such a bad shape, I was worried I would have to deal with months of nausea again, on top of anemia, arthritis etc...

I did thank the surgeon several times, I'm not sure he realized he saved me from more months of suffering...

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  1. sraebaer's Avatar
    So happy things are going better!

    How does the medical system work in your country? Free medical services for everyone, or pay on your own to go to a private hospital/doctor? Big debate in the states.

    Sending wishes for a speedy recovery and no more pain!!
  2. KiwiGal's Avatar
    Really glad that things are on the up for you.
    Please take it easy and I hope that your recovery is without complications.
  3. Dutchie's Avatar
    Sandra!
    You already got your surgery, I am soooo happy for you!
    Now you can start to build things up again and with no pain.
    Just take very good care sweety, and you'll be fine in no time!

    I feel awful for neglecting you recently, sorry!

    But you are home and that is what is the most important.
    Your family must be thrilled for you!
    I wish you a speedy and complete recovery!
  4. kenson's Avatar
    So glad you were able to have your surgery and you are already on the healing side!
  5. Sandra3's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by sraebaer
    So happy things are going better!

    How does the medical system work in your country? Free medical services for everyone, or pay on your own to go to a private hospital/doctor? Big debate in the states.

    Sending wishes for a speedy recovery and no more pain!!
    Thank you!!

    Basically almost everyone has access to the national insurance because the government takes the money directly from our incomes to pay for health insurance and retirement. Then people will pay a premium to cover the extras, usually the company they work for will chip in. For indigents or people without a job or out of the benefice system, then the government just pay their national insurance, and for the very poor, they would even get a free premium.

    It does create tricky situations where people who work get to pay some part of their expensive dental work for example, and indigents get their crowns and implants for free...

    So if you got to a public hospital, usually it's covered by the national insurance except single room, TV or food, the premium would pay for that or people who don't have a premium pay, usually it is not much. If your national insurance is up to date, you pay almost nothing, during my stay in January I paid nothing, I did ask for the TV and my premium paid directly for the (awful) food.

    If you go private, it's a little more complicated. The national insurance will pay for what it would cost in public for the surgery (more or less) and the extras are covered by your premium if you got a good one. My employer does pay part of my premium like many, but since I was getting sick since last Summer, I got an upgrade in September, paid more so I would get the best cover possible. Yet, I paid around 2000€ from my pocket for this surgery. I might get a partial refund, not sure yet.
    Since this private hospital is in a fancy part of Paris and has a very good reputation, you know you will pay more from the beginning, I got a quote before the surgery.

    The French medical system was an inspiration for many countries to built their system the same way. Medicare was actually a trial to get the same result French people have (or had, the result is not as good today as it was 15 years ago, the population is getting older and there is not enough doctors in public hospitals which is why we wait for so long). The main issue in the US, that we don't have in France, is the powerful companies who make meds who lobby to make more money. In France the price for medication is decided by the government so for example we would never have issues like what happened in the US a few years back when a company decided to raise each year the price for the epipen, to the point where parents couldn't even buy one for their kids when it was 400$. What a shame...

    But here, I had to wait for months to see specialists, and didn't receive a good care for my stomach. I always preferred public hospitals because in case of an emergency they have all specialists on hand and the best equipment, but this private hospital had a good ICU (I checked before my surgery the public reports about it) and my surgeon was amazing...I think I will stick with this hospital for now...the staff is even nicer!
  6. Sandra3's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by KiwiGal
    Really glad that things are on the up for you.
    Please take it easy and I hope that your recovery is without complications.
    Thank you Lisa! so far so good...fingers crossed!
  7. Sandra3's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Dutchie
    Sandra!
    You already got your surgery, I am soooo happy for you!
    Now you can start to build things up again and with no pain.
    Just take very good care sweety, and you'll be fine in no time!

    I feel awful for neglecting you recently, sorry!

    But you are home and that is what is the most important.
    Your family must be thrilled for you!
    I wish you a speedy and complete recovery!
    Thank you Simonne for your good wishes!! and no worries I don't feel neglected!!

    Yes the decision to get the surgery was quick, the heat wave was lucky, people cancelled their appointment so I saw the surgeon quickly, same thing for the surgery, he had an opening, I took it. My husband was so stressed out because it went fast suddenly but he was relieved at the end.

    I'm very tired (still) but at the same time feel so so much better!! I can't sleep in my bed yet because the repair was huge and I'm only comfortable seating down but as soon as the healing will progress I will be able to sleep in my bed...finally!! at least now I can sleep more than one hour....that's progress!!
  8. Sandra3's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by kenson
    So glad you were able to have your surgery and you are already on the healing side!
    Thank you!! it's only day six but I feel pretty good!! finally lucky things moved in the right direction!
  9. KiwiGal's Avatar
    Hi Sandra

    How are you doing?
  10. Sandra3's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by KiwiGal
    Hi Sandra

    How are you doing?
    Hi Lisa!

    Thanks for asking!! I'm doing good!! just had a blood test this morning, my anemia is getting better which is excellent news. Sleeping better and my pain is getting lower each day. So far so good! I hope to get back to work in September!
    I will need to see again my doc at work, because I was in such a bad shape in June when I saw him he prescribed sick leave until November.
    I can ask to go back earlier, hopefully my surgeon will confirm that in August and I can start the process to go back to normal!