Today is THE Day... Bye, Bye Pannus!

Feb 29, 2012

I added this... For those of you wondering why someone would be getting a panniculectomy when they still weigh 302 pounds, I would like to have you read my blog from Nov - Dec 2011.  I started this journey at over 474 pounds, I am starting my second year after Roux-en-Y surgery.  I have lost 170 pounds in this last year.

First of all, to all those who have left me comments, I promise to write you all back, personally!  Probably should have just left my bed last night & jumped on my laptop, sigh.  Since 1:30 in the morning, I have been awake.  I actually did respond to some folks from my phone - not easy in the dark, and trying to be quiet.  My ride arrives in one hour, or less.  Maybe she isn't as giddy as me, but I feel like I could swim 4 miles and still drag my SCUBA gear over a rocky outcropping.  Yesterday, I was asked if my blood pressure was normally this high, I laughed, "Sorry, I am a little manic, I just had four days to get ready for the surgery I expected in a month from now..."

I have taken photos and will be loading them up some point after Friday.  My surgeon says as long as there aren't any complications, I am going home Friday.  I actually told him that I wanted to have a "weight pool," don't know what the prize will be, but I am taking guesses as to how much flesh he is going to remove.  Come to think of it, I am glad he was puzzling over it and not giving me a hard number - how could cheat... Anyhow, my guess is 23 pounds.  So, feel free to leave your guess in the comments - and let's have fun with this.

Okay, back to the nitty gritty of the process to remove my pannus and correction of my mons pubis.  If you aren't aware of the terms, the mons pubis is that fleshy pad over your vagina -- some of us have it worse than others, so when I load the photos, be prepared.  My friend and major supporter, Kari came with me to my pre-op exam.  Funny, the surgeon did not seem to remember how pronounced my mons pubis was (during the exam, the surgeon usually has you pull the panniculus - pannus - up, to view underneath).  So I addressed it right then and there, YANK!  My friend (poor Kari, bless her heart) was staring straight at something she had never seen before.  Yup, I can be totally naked without showing my va ja ja!  I got up on the table and made the doctor really get in there and realize how fleshy the mons pubis is, so he can be more aggressive than he initially stated in the beginning. 

I actually found surgical papers on the procedure I want, so he explained to him why I prefer the more aggressive repair, and he seems to agree with me.  If I am giving up my belly button - he asked again if I was all right with that, I said, "As long as you promise to take as much flesh as possible, I'll be happy to just get a tattoo!"  Friends who have received their panniculectomy usually have this odd notch where their hoo-ha has just been tugged up, almost making their hair line seem too close to their navels.  So, for those less faint of heart, I will be providing photos.  I told Kari it reminds me of the snout of a walrus, she just laughed, a little uncomfortably, but I get it.

Kari & I actually discussed the mons pubis on our drive home, yesterday.  "I now understand what you've been saying... I'll never complain about mine again..."  It's just what happens when you get really, really fat.

My ride should be here in a half hour - so please, happy thoughts!  Stay Positive!  Check my album for swimsuits!!!  Please leave a comment if there is a suit you can use, I promise to try to get back to you this weekend!

Brenda : )~

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