Plastic Surgery

Feb 13, 2010

Getting to Monterrey was a huge pain in the ass.  Our flight from San Francisco got to Guadalajara on time.  Customs took FOREVER, and we missed our connecting flight be 7 minutes.  We had to go find our luggage that they took off the plane we missed, go to the ticket counter & change to a flight to Mexico City, then another connecting flight to Monterrey!  We were supposed to arrive at 8:30am, but didn't get here until  12:30.  Not a big deal, at least I got here. Our 5 hour flight ended up taking 12 hours - And of course I couldn't sleep, so it's been about 72 hours since I slept.  Adrenaline is a crazy hormone.

Dr. Sauceda's assistant, Jamie, brought us to the clinic for markings. 

Okay, so what they say about Dr. S is true.  He is an intense perfectionist!  I loved it.  When I sent my pictures, we were going to do Large panniculectomy, Small thigh lift, Small arm lift and Breast lift with implants.  Once he examined me, he realized the mess I truly am!  So now it's an anchor tummy tuck (which I wanted, shhhh), full thigh lift, full arm lift & breast lift with implants.  I have these "side boob" things that are kind of where extra arm, boob & back skin meet & asked what he can do about it.  He must have spent an extra 1/2 hour messing with alternatives to fixing it.  I'm going to trust that he will make them be the best they can.  Dr. S. spent about 2 1/2 hours measuring, pulling, marking, poking, proding, remeasuring, writing numbers on my body, to get me ready for tomorrow.

Dr. S picked me up at 7:30am  to take me to the clinic.  Lisa was in the lobby, and graciously waited with me.  I really appreciated it, as she helped calm my nerves.  We got to the clinic, I filled out & signed some paperwork, went to my room, changed into a gown & was wheel-chaired into the pre-op room.  There, they put in my IV.  Then, I walked into the operating room.  The, nurse, Nora, said, "Sorry" and ripped the gown off me.  I was standing there, stark naked, spread eagle.  Then, she said, "Sorry" again & proceeded to wipe my entire body down with iodine.  It was extremely embarrassing.  Then I had to climb onto the operating table without touching anything.  They hooked up my IV port, wrapped my legs in gauze and had me lay on my side in fetal position.  Then they told me they were putting something into my IV that would make me sleepy.  They kept checking on my consciousness like parents checking to see if the baby has fallen asleep.They were waiting for me to fall asleep before they put in the epidurals.  They leave the ports in until the first shower.  My back was killing me, and removing those were the most painful removal I've experienced - worse than the catheter.

The next thing I knew was I woke up to loud music, and a blue sheet in my face.  I went right back to sleep.  Then, Dr. S was saying, "Sarah, wake up."  I said, "Already! You haven't done anything."  He said, "We are done. There were no complications and we took 8 lbs of skin & tissue from you."  Then they wheeled me back to my room.  On the way back, Lisa & Candice were at the other end of the hallway - I was so happy I was alive & it was over I was laughing & told them my boobs weren't too big!

I didn't sleep at all that night.  I put my MP3 player on & just listened.  I don't think I took my hands off my now flat stomach!  It's really weird, I've never not had a gut! 

Thursday, Dr. S came to visit me.  He said my tasks for  the day were eating, sitting in bed, sitting on the side of the bed, standing, walking, and showering.  I got as far as taking 2 steps.  I was so mad.  I wanted that shower!  The pain from the abdominal muscle tightening was excruciating.  The pain actually made me nauseous.  So I had to get back in bed & try again later.  There is pain involved, of course, as it is major surgery, but it's not the pain I expected.  The pain changes where it is most intense.  Sometimes it's my left elbow, then my right breast, then it will be my inner thigh - it's really weird. Patrece said the same thing happens to her. 

Friday, I felt much better, I could sit up on the side of the bed by myself, and even stand up.  They removed my IV and catheter, which made me feel even that much better.  Then, I FINALLY got to shower!  Where my drains come out leak, and my garments were really soaked and stinky, besides the fact that I hadn't showered since Tuesday evening.  That was the best shower ever!  I actually liked my compression garment prior to having it off, it helped keep me warm - I'm always cold.  But once I had it off, I did NOT want it back on.  I didn't realize how tight it really is.  Patrece thinks it's too small because it folds down at the top & squishes out some of my excess making it look like I have a huge roll under my breasts. Getting them back on was an epic adventure.  I'm also extremely swollen, which makes it that much more difficult to get back on. My feet barely fit into my shoes - that's how bad the swelling is.  Dr. S said it's normal & with time it will decrease.

Today, Dr. S brought me back to the hotel.  It is so nice to be free to eat, sleep, or go out side whenever I want.  The bed here is so much more comfortable than the hospital bed.  I took a 1/2 hour nap  & got better rest than I did the entire time I was at the clinic - combined.  We went to HEB today & got some snacks & sandwich making supplies.  It cost $444.49!  Which is about $35.  I wish they didn't use a $ for  pesos.  Some things are really inexpensive, while other things are ridiculously expensive.  Good thing the cell phone has a converter!

The box is AWESOME!  I haven't used anything yet, but just the idea of it is great.  I got a set of real eating utensils to add to it.  Plastics are yucky & not environmentally friendly!

Drains are gross & a huge pain in the ass.  I know they are necessary, but I already can't wait to be free from them.  I'm so scared I'm going to rip one out or one will leak all over the linens.  Oh, all the linens at the hotel are white.  I asked if they had any non-white & of course they don't I told them I was scared of my leaking drains & they said it's not a problem, they are used to it.  I just hate making more work for these hard working people. 

Anyway, it has been an interesting adventure. 

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