update on Rosalie

[rosalie]

Hi everyone,

I had my surgery on July 1st. I can't believe how well everything went. I never would have believed it could have went this smooth. I know having information about what to expect with the surgery has helped me tremendously. I think I would have been very freaked out with the few problems I do have if I hadn't known they were a possibility before hand. I woke up from the surgery with no facial problems. The next day I did develop the dreaded eye and lip droop. I don't think it's as bad as others, and the doctor said he doesn't think it will be long term. I can definetly tell at the end of the day though, much more drooping. I've been using the eye drops quite a bit, but when I woke up this morning I noticed that I have a little bit of a tear in my right eye. I'm taking that as a good sign. My biggest problems is the fat graft from my stomach hurting. It's so hard to get comfortable at night. My surgery was on the right side and the stomach incision is on the left so I'm having a hard time lying down.  Other than that I feel great!

Rosalie

[Debbi]

Hi Rosalie-

First of all - so glad you are home and feeling better!  Excellent news about your face - and, yes, tears are a wonderful thing!  (Wish I could get some myself!)

I had to laugh about your fat graft - my docs did the same thing.  My AN was on the right side and my fat graft was on the left so no matter which side I lay on, it hurt.  Also, while my head was numb, my belly was most definitely NOT numb, so I think that incision was more uncomfortable than the one in my head. 

Keep us posted on your progress, Rosalie - and keep smiling!

Debbi

[JulieW4]

Rosalie,

You can check out my post with pictures of my belly. 



http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=6839.0

My belly incision was on the same side as my AN incision but I was very disappointed on how big it is.  Now I am just sleeping a lot.

Julie

[leapyrtwins]

Rosalie -

sounds like everything considered, you are having a very good recovery    The eye and lip droop should get better with time.

Thanks for the update.  I hope things continue to go well.

Jan

[Syl]

Rosalie,

You seem to be in very good spirits. That helps with the recovery. How's the dizziness?
I'm 3 wks post-op and also develpoed a delayed facial droop. Like yours, mine is probably temporary. Many wishes and prayers for continued improvement.

Syl

[Jim Scott]

Hi, Rosalie:

Congratulations on your successful surgery!  Welcome to postieland'. 

I trust the issues you've mentioned dealing with ('droop') will definitely be temporary and you'll be fine, soon.

Thanks for the update and the lift your good news brought to many of us. 

Jim

[wendysig]

Hi Rosalie,
Congratulations on your return home!  Glad to hear your surgery went so well.  Here's hoping you continue to have a great recovery.  Doesn't it just figure though that the docs have to make you uncomfortable by doing surgery on both sides  of your body by doing the fat graft on the opposite side from the AN.  I wonder why?  Maybe since my doc doesn't mind my endless questions, I'll send him an e-mail and find out!

Wendy

[cindyj]

Hi Rosalie,

Glad you're home and things went so well for you!  And thanks for updating...as always, all these details are so helpful to those of us still trying to make a decision.  But, more importantly, good to know you are ok!!  Hope things continue to go well,

Cindy

[Tamara]

My AN and fat graft incision were both on the left, though the fat one didn't bother me at all.  Go figure. Anyhow, my dr. says he always does it on the left so that no one will ever think you've had an appendectomy (assuming you're brought in unconscious or something, I guess) and that if you have appendicitis symptoms they won't be overlooked.  I guess that makes sense, though it's a pain for those of you with your AN on the right.

Glad to hear of your successful surgery and great recovery...hope the droop is VERY temporary.

Tammy

[Soundy]

Glad you are doing good ...

I was told fat was taking from left side so that if in an emergency situation and you were unable
to answer that the scar from fat harvest wouldn't be mistaken for and appendectomy scar....

[rosalie]

Thanks everyone for all the well wishes. It helps to know there are other people who know what I'm going through. My biggest problem right now is getting enough food. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever say that! Everything tastes metallic. I keep trying to find something that I can eat that tastes good. I know I need to get some nutrition so my body can heal, but right now it's easier said than done. I'm kind of in a catch 22. I'm nauseated and light headed from not eating. The worse I feel, the less I feel like eating. My husband has been a godsend. He went to the store last night and got me some Carnation Instant Breakfast. I was able to drink a few sips and felt better. Today I'm forcing myself to eat even though I don't want too.

I went for a walk twice today. The first time it was quite bright out so we didn't get very far before turninig around. Tonight we went for a block or so. It felt great to get out and move around a bit. I feel like I could have kept walking but I'm trying to not overdue it.

Julie,
I looked at your pictures. Your incision is out a little farther than mine. Mine is right next to the ear. Once I can wash my hair I don't think you'll even see it. My doctor didn't use staples on either incision. I have steri-strips. My stomach scar looks like it's about 4 inches long. I think the least they can do if they have to take fat is take it all. If I'm going to be sore anyways I want a flat stomach! I'm with you on wanting to wash my hair. I've been trying to wash it with a washcloth but it still feels pretty nasty. I think the steriods are making me hyper because I can't sleep at all. The doctor asked if I wanted sleeping pills, but I turned him down. I think once I'm off the steriods I'll settle down and sleep. Right now I have so much energy I feel bad just sitting around.

Syl,
I didn't have any problems with dizziness. I lucked out on that I guess. I guess I'll have to get dizzy the old fashioned way - drinking margaritas!

Since I've never had an appendectomy I never would have thought about that as a reason for doing the fat harvest on the left side. It sounds logical when you think about it though.

Rosalie

[Soundy]

Food was a problem for me too... hungry but nothing tasted good and I would eat little bits of alot
of things trying to find something that tasted right... still have a metal taste in mouth but
kinda used to it . ...