Hi Lauren
and everyone else,
I am so sorry to have caused you so much stress. Never knew you would go as
far as calling my hospital.
Well, I was supposed to have been home but when the 3-4 days after surgery
were over I still had a fever. So I stayed. Two days after that they
discovered that I had developed pneumonia. The next day my 104 degree fever
broke because then it was discovered that my incision got infected. When my
Dr. took the staples out my incision opened back up. So now I am running
around with a hole in my stomach. Great, isn’t it??? Twice a day it has to
get changed and re-packed. It really doesn’t feel good. My husband had to
extend his leave but will have to go back to work on Friday. It is a donsa
(day of non scheduled activities), which means they should be off but his
boss already said they might work. With all these crazy upcoming deployments
that doesn’t surprise me either.
He said I am in real pain, well, it is not 100% true. I was (still am) more
weak than anything else. The hole in my stomach hurts of course, especially
when I move around, but overall it is not so bad. I have more problems with
having to be so dependent on my husband. I am still on Jello, Shake and soup,
haven’t tried much of anything else. Thursday I will have my first doctor’s
appointment. He said he’ll let me know what he wants me to try next.
Huhhhhh, I am getting tired now. Gotta go lay down. Lauren I am so happy that
your surgery went w/out any complications. Congrats on your weightloss. You
are moving fast aren’t you? Good for you. We are finally on the other side
with the losers.
So good to feel all the support from you and others.
Talk to you soon
Bettina
September 19th, 2005 at 7:42 pm
Amazing, isn’t it, how much we care about each other. Bettina, I
hope you will heal quickly. I know another gal who went through much
the same things you’re going through, and she’s alright now. (Just
to keep your hopes up <G>)
Pam in Niceville
At Tuesday, 14 January 2003, you wrote:
September 20th, 2005 at 5:26 pm
Hi Bettina,
I, like the others, am very happy to know that you are on the road to recovery.
I read every day about everyone’s experiences and I guess I’m just a little bit
jealous. Patience has never been one of my qualities but I understand the need
to do everything correctly which will save time in the long run. I do federal
income taxes and know that I cannot have the surgery until after April 15th. My
problem is trying to get all the tests, letters and appointments with my surgeon
done in a time stream to coordinate with tax time. I would go tomorrow but….
I wish you well.
Yvonne
September 20th, 2005 at 9:48 pm
Hi Bettina,
I, like the others, am very happy to know that you are on the road to
recovery. I read every day about everyone’s experiences and I guess I’m
just a little bit jealous. Patience has never been one of my qualities
but I understand the need to do everything correctly which will save
time in the long run. I do federal income taxes and know that I cannot
have the surgery until after April 15th. My problem is trying to get
all the tests, letters and appointments with my surgeon done in a time
stream to coordinate with tax time. I would go tomorrow but….
I wish you well.
Yvonne
ADVERTISEMENT
September 21st, 2005 at 4:08 am
Thanx Pam,
I’m glad you’re here.
Yvonne
September 21st, 2005 at 7:28 pm
Bettina:
HELLO! I’m so glad you’re ok for the most part! I was really
worried. I have a friend who’s 10 mos. out, and she had the
infection that had to be packed 2x’s a day too. But her insurance
covered a nurse to come in 2x’s a day. See about that - and maybe
you won’t have to be as dependant on Robert. Don’t worry, it’ll get
better!
After a C-section w/my daughter (who’s now 14) I got pneumonia.
It’s from not getting all of the anesthesia out of your lungs. I
know you feel like crap. The worst is probably the pain when you
cough! And with pneumonia, you cough alot. I remember I used to
squeeze the pillow into my belly as hard as I could before I would
cough. It seemed to help a little bit.
I pray you feel a little better each day, and in ten months with a
hundred pounds gone, you’ll look back at all the horrors you went
through - and someone will ask if you’d do it all again, and you’ll
say YOU BET I WOULD!!
Anyway, rest and feel good, post when you’re feeling better.
Lauren
September 22nd, 2005 at 10:06 pm
Hi Pam,
thanks for the nice words. I know I will be ok, it’s just a little
frustrating when you do so well and the actual surgery doesn’t bother you,
but the pain of the infected incision. I am not trying to whine because
overall I am doing alright. I am glad that I woke up from the surgery so I
have alot to be thankful for.
Talk you you later
Bettina
285/266/
September 23rd, 2005 at 3:27 am
Hi Yvonne,
I understand fully what you mean. To read about others who just had the
surgery or at least a date is frustrating at times. I, myself, have been on
the list for the surgery for a whole year. Believe me they tried to teach me
patience that way. I always thought that I was ready just like you and was
hoping for that phonecall. Believe me when that phonecall came I thought I
wasn’t ready. I was, but it hit me that my day is coming soon. It will happen
when it is supposed to be happening. Good luck
Bettina
285/266
September 23rd, 2005 at 8:48 am
Hi Lauren,
we are military and they definitely won’t send a nurse twice a day. Right now
Rob is still on leave and at home with me until Sunday. We’ll find a way to
make it work for the upcoming weeks.
Overall I am doing fine. If I don’t move around alot it hardly hurts. Today I
had my first doctors appointment, he said everything looks not only good but
great. It kinda calmed me down a little.
Of course I will try to keep you informed. You make sure you tell me about
your progress too, we are sisters now. This one day connects us forever,
hahahahaha
Until next time
Bettina
285/266
September 23rd, 2005 at 8:17 pm
Hi Bettina,
Goodness, you say you waited a whole year. I would go nuts. The hospital where
my surgery takes place, Cabel Huntington, does not seem to be backed up. The
nurse that I spoke with advised that I get my package back to them ASAP.
Hopefully that means a quick surgery date. Well we will see. I go all next
week for tests, a Colonoscopy and CT’s, etc. The staff here are good about
getting those results back to the Doctors that orders them so maybe my package
will be complete in a couple of weeks.
I am so happy that you are ok. We guys were all rooting for ya. Thanx for
encouragement. Best wishes!!! :o)
Yvonne
September 24th, 2005 at 12:56 am
Hi Bettina:
Glad you’re feeling ok - 19 lbs. congrats!! I do feel a connection
with you and will definitely stay in touch. I’m doing well - going
back to work tomorrow! Don’t ask! I feel a little pressured, but
I’m just gonna take it slow. Are you still on clear liquids?
Feel better
Lauren
September 24th, 2005 at 11:59 am
Hey, girl, you go ahead and whine <G>. We all gotta whine occasionally,
and this is a brand new ballpark for all of us. Of course it’s frustrating.
Pam in Niceville
At Thursday, 16 January 2003, you wrote:
September 25th, 2005 at 3:34 am
Hello Lauren
Glad to hear you are doing well. Currently I’ve been cleared to venture with
more foods, except for breads and meats. My husband is doing a great job
helping out with everything and he went to a group meeting with me today and
could not shut his mouth. He talked to the group about how this experience
has affected him and what the other husbands could expect.
Bettina
285 / 266
September 25th, 2005 at 9:43 am
Bettina,
Your husband sounds like mine. It’s good to have good men but they can be a
little chatty at times. Mine loves to make you laugh, a real comic. If he gets
you to laugh once then he won’t quit until your sides split. Support from our
loved ones and especially husbands are part of the rewards in marriage but it’s
times like these when we really appreciate them. Larry and I found each other
after many years of hardship with other people. It still amazes me to see what a
great guy he is and how nice it feels to be treated with respect and love.
Bettina we both can count our blessings. I take my hat off to your husband and
mine, thanking our greater for them … a rare breed. I look forward to this
experience knowing that Larry is here for me too.
Yvonne
September 26th, 2005 at 5:00 pm
Yvonne,
you are so right. We can really count our blessings to have the husbands that
we do have. There are girls in my support group meeting who say their
husbands say:"You could lose weight the "normal" way if you only wanted to,
instead of going through these extreme measures". What kinda support is that?
It breaks my heart to see women having to deal with this on their own. I feel
for them and try to offer help. But what can you do when your own husband
isn’t behind you 100% on this?
I hope you all have a great day
Bettina