WOO HOO! My panniculectomy surgery has moved forward to June 9th at the Pac. NW’s #1 Hospital in Seattle. I’m eager to have it behind me!
I’ve been waiting a long time for it. Today I got a call saying my wonderful surgeon, Dr. Sarah Goldsberry-Long, has an opening on June 9th, so I grabbed it up.
In 1977 I lost a tremendous amount of weight (over 100 pounds) following gastric bypass surgery and I’ve been saddled ever since with about 15 pounds of excess skin hanging like an apron over my belly and abdomen. As I’ve grown older, the apron has caused me to experience ghastly rashes, sores and body odor that drive me up the wall.
When I had my chest masculinized last August I asked Dr. G-L what it would cost to have what I was calling “a tummy tuck” (because I wasn’t familiar with the terminology) because of the unyielding efforts I was making to keep my skin from breaking down under the apron of skin.
She told me that the procedure, in my specific case, would be a panniculectomy (a medical procedure, not a cosmetic one) and that it would be covered by insurance as long as there is a history of exactly what I’ve been experiencing for the past several years. So I said at the time, “Sign me up!”
She took pictures and sent off for approval by Medicare to cover the cost of the procedure and got it. But then she had to put off the procedure due to COVID (twice) and each time we had to get reauthorization. Well, the last reauthorization was February 2021, so she wanted to get me in before the 120-day limit ran out so they wouldn’t have to get it authorized a third time. So, that’s what they’ve done.
I’m both excited and nervous. I’m more nervous than I was for my chest masculinization surgery, because that was a DEEPLPY DESIRED (and crucial, to overcome my gender dysmorphia) surgery; this one isn’t as much desired but it is needed.
I’ve read about possible complications, and recovery times, and I know everyone is different.
Luckily, I’m not noted for being super pain-conscious. My surgeries have always caused extreme soreness but nothing I could really describe as PAIN.
So, when articles mention “pain” or “discomfort,” I tend to minimize just how unhappy I might be after this procedure. I expect I will be able to handle whatever comes (millions of others have), since I’ll have a numbing agent on board and access to pain medications if/when I need them.
But I only took one prescribed pain pill with the last two surgeries I had (gall gladder removal and chest masculinization), so I think I’m probably dwelling too much on the possibility of PAIN (as opposed to extreme soreness and discomfort, which I know I can handle).
I’m just going to do my best not to anticipate worst case scenarios between now and then.
The post-op instructions I find online say I will need help for several days after I come home. And Jackie will have to give me bridge therapy –shots — since I won’t be able to reach the areas where the shots will need to go. (They can’t go into my abdomen, I don’t suppose, which is the usual spot.)
I will be walking bent over and will have to sleep with pillows under my knees and a pillow under my head, in a semi-bent position so my stitches don’t get pulled loose. I will have to walk several times a day, no matter how pathetic I feel or sore I am.
But when I think about it, it’s a superficial surgery. It’s just skin and fat that will be coming out. My organs and muscles and such won’t be invaded or affected. So I just can’t even imagine how it could be that all-fired “painful”… I hope I’m right about that, but I could be wrong. I will certainly let you know, either way!
Most panniculectomy patients are off work for at least seven to ten days after they come home from the hospital. Some stay home two weeks. Because I’m a writer and sitting isn’t hard on my abdomen, I expect I will be able to function again pretty fast as long as I’m not on serious pain meds that could cause my mind to go wocka wocka.
Anyway, the reason I’m looking forward to having this surgery BEHIND me is that I will no longer have to sit and anticipate it. I will know what I’m dealing with and I’m sure there will be ways to mitigate against the worst of it.
My fondest hope, of course, is that there will be so little to mitigate against that it will be as easy as my earlier surgeries have all been.
That would be wonderful!
My surgeon and me post chest masculinization surgery last August.
She’ll be my surgeon for the panniculectomy, too.
Dr. Sarah Goldsberry-Long, SUPER SURGEON!
Update:
Just received a message from a good friend on Facebook, Heidi Talbert Rinker:
“I did this a few years ago…I’m so happy for you!! 1st couple days are rough, but it is SO WORTH IT!!!”
I can handle just about anything for a couple of days. I’ll have pain meds on hand, as needed.
