Checking in again. I've had regain and loss and regain and loss and bounce between 180 and 189. I still think I can lose more. I have been very lax with carbs as life has literally been kicking our proverbial asses. I am working on better coping skills and asking for help when I need it.
My 6/2015 hernia surgery site has developed into a massive ventral incisional hernia. I am in the process of trying to decide which surgeon/hospital to have it repaired by/at.
The local "experts" are at Georgetown and would require a plastic surgeon to scrub in and do the panniculectomy if I opt to pay for it (I am waiting on a consult appointment to find out the cost). Georgetown is 1.75 hours away from home. I would be in hospital for probably 4-5 days and have basically no visitors, due to distance from home. Their approach is to use the inpatient time to get adequate pain control and be sure the patient is ready to go home. Severely restricted activity for at least 4-5 months.
The "local-er to me" hospital is in WInchester, VA. He is the local hernia repair expert and I have faith in his surgical abilities. A couple of reservations. He sent me away from 2nd consult appointment with an Rx for ibuprofen and 30 count of 5/325 percocet. Evidently this is his entire plan for post-operative pain control. He said inpatient would only be 1 or 2 nights and that restrictions would be very minimal as long as I wear the binder RELIGIOUSLY - his emphasis. He plans to remove extra abdominal skin.
I don't know what to go with here.
- I feel that the Winchester MD's plan underestimates restrictions and he will not be supportive of adequate pain control.
- I am scared to death of how bad this operation is going to hurt and I don't want to go into it with big reservations about this.
- On the plus side, he is much closer to home (20 minutes) and more easy to get to for post-op follow up appointments. Post-op follow up appointments in DC will require a driver and childcare and .....
- I have limited family support. My mother is unable to come up for surgery this time, as my father has become fairly limited in his ability to move about etc due to heart failure. My sisters have families and jobs.
- Even if I go to Winchester, the odds are that my husband will not visit very much since he will be taking care of children after the babysitter goes home when he gets back from work.
- Overall, Winchester would be less time away from home.
Opinions? recommendations? specific ways to ask the local surgeon questions that might help ease my worry?
-becky