Yesterday I drove to Seattle for my final post-op panniculectomy visit with surgeon Sarah Goldsberry-Long. It was a fabulous visit.
She is very pleased with the results (as I am), and the Board (not sure which Board, but perhaps Board of Reconstructive Surgery?) has selected my case (chest masculinization/panniculectomy surgeries) to showcase her abilities. She took before and after pictures. (I hope to get copies so I have them, too.) I took before pictures and will take after pictures as soon as the final tube comes out, which will probably be by next Monday… perhaps sooner.
As it turns out, I was supposed to wait until both of my tubes were out before I resumed riding bikes. I didn’t do any damage to myself , riding easily five and a half weeks post op, but the reason my final tube hasn’t died up is that every time I exert like that (riding bikes), my heart rate goes up, my lymphatic system goes into overdrive, and the excess lymph fluids congregate at the site of my latest “injury” (the surgical site), causing an overabundance of fluids.
Dr. Song, Dr. G-L’s colleague, explained to me that until my lymphatic system reroutes post-surgery, I need to be less active (stay off the bike!) or it will just continue to pour it out the tube and into the collector bulb. That makes sense. So, I need to stop until several days after the final tube comes out and the exit hole seals up before I start riding again. And I can’t take the final tube out until it’s putting out less then 30 ml of fluids over a 24-hour period for two days running. After that, I can resume my biking schedule.
I’ve only ridden four times at Waughop Lake post-surgery. Twice I went fifteen miles, without repercussions (except for the fluid accumulation and output). The docs were encouraged (and I think somewhat amused) by my enthusiasm to get back into action, but they did say unless I knock it off, I’ll be wearing the tube pretty much for the foreseeable future and my lymphatic system will continue to route the excess inappropriately. So, I promised I’d knock it off. I just hope I dry up before too much longer, because biking is joyous to me, and NOT biking makes me feel depressed and isolated (almost as bad as COVID back in the day).
As we parted, Dr. G-L looked a little sad and sorry. She said, “Well, I guess this is the last time we’ll meet,” a bit nostalgically.
I frowned and said, “I guess so. Can I have a hug?” I assured her I am taking great care to stay safe from COVID — following all the protocols, washing and/or sanitizing my hands, physical distancing everywhere I go, and not going very many places, etc. I told her, “I go about my business as if I were working in a medical facility!” So, we exchanged an exceedingly brief, carefully-controlled, antiseptic hug (face masks facing opposite each other, breaths held) even though we’re both fully vaccinated.
We both have friends and family members, though, who still refuse to get vaccinated. She told me she insisted on vaccinating her parents, neither of whom wanted to do it.
I wish I was a doctor. I’d just go in, vaccine in hand, and say, “We’re doing this!” and not give my loved ones any opportunity to object.
I suppose if I were really in the medical field, I would insist on it, because if I were coming into frequent contact with unvaccinated potential super spreaders, I wouldn’t be protecting my patients if I didn’t vaccinate them.
I just wonder how she made it happen. Ultimatum? “If you don’t do this, I will never be able to visit with you again.” ??? I can only surmise… I didn’t ask. I just gave her two thumbs up.
Wish I had that kind of power over the people I love. Alas, I don’t, so I will probably lose some of them, or they may survive after hospitalization with long-lasting health effects, or they may get through it without ill effect. The problem it, there’s no way to know until it happens to them. And that’s frightening as hell! I wouldn’t wish that kind of agonizing death or protracted disability on my worst enemy (if I had any enemies), let alone people I love!!! The only people who should suffer in those ways are the liars and psychopathic scoundrels who knowingly lied about COVID (Trump) and dragged their heels (Trump, Kushner, et al) while hundreds of thousands of people died in horrible ways.
ENDORSEMENT: I’m absolutely crazy about my surgeon. Dr. Sarah Goldsberry-Long. She has great skill, and she truly cares. I recommend her without reservation to anyone seeking reconstructive surgery in the Pacific Northwest.
This photo is almost a year old, taken after my chest masculinization surgery and before panniculectomy surgery
I’m more svelte these days, post-panniculectomy surgery!
Before and after proof ABOVE AND BELOW
Wearing one of DeForest Kelley’s sweaters, size medium.
Photo taken July 22, 2021
All told I’ve lost 40 pounds in the past two years, and counting. Exercise, chest masculinization and panniculectomy surgery have re-sculpted my body in wonderful ways, and the end result is still months away. (I’m still a bit bloated in the midsection, post-panniculectomy surgery, and will be for several months…)
