A 2 year post-op and 1 week post-reconstruction

Jan 08, 2010

I've had a lot of emotions going through my head lately.  That's probably due to two things - 1) I hit the two year mark and 2) I recently had plastic surgery. 

2 Year Mark - Wow, 2 years!  That went by so quickly that all of the pain, issues, and emotions of a newbie seem like centuries ago.  So how did I do in that 2 years... I lost about 60% of my excess weight, give or take depending on the season.  (I had my official 2 year check up the week after Christmas.  What was I thinking!).  During the weeks leading up to the 2 year mark and even after I often do a mental check of the list I wrote ages ago stating all the things I hated about being obese.  I'm very proud to say that so, so many of those things are no longer an issue.  I'm definitely healthier.  I'm off meds for high cholesterol and blood pressure (in exchange for the bag of vitamins I carry around =).  My vitamin levels have been great, with a few dips here and there when I wasn't getting enough variety in the foods I was consuming.  I move around so much better, do so much more with my family, don't worry all the time about what people think of me, don't hide in the background hoping to not be noticed, don't shy away from mirrors or pictures or giving people hugs, do care more about how I present myself (I feel good and want to show it), don't feel like I'm going to break every chair I sit in, don't have to fight with my clothes to get them on, don't almost pass out when putting my shoes on, don't use the handicap stahls, don't feel depressed and anxious whenever there is a social gathering, don't feel like a target of stares in meetings, don't worry about seat belts or how much my fat rear hangs over the tiny bike seat, don't have to worry about the maximum capacity of so many things...  The list goes on an on.  I no longer feel miserable or like I'm bursting out of my skin.  What a wonderful feeling!  In fact, I was moving photos to CD and found one taken early in 2007 (the year of my surgery).  I sent it to my dear hubby and said "thank you for loving me even when I looked like this". 

Now onto to the Plastics...
On 12/30/09, I had 'the mommy makeover'.  About October, I was getting to the point where I couldn't stand the excess baggage anymore.  Granted, I had not hit goal and wasn't even sure if it made sense to have surgery at that point.  So, I did a few consultations and did a lot of online browsing.  The goal for me was to be able to exercise, play with the kids, and yes, have sex without that load of skin (the wall of guilt as I called it) slapping around and making horrible noises and bashing my confidence.  When I did the consultations, I told the surgeons my intent was to remove the excess/overhang.  BUT... I had also promised myself long ago that if I lost the weight, I would also get my breasts put back where they should be.  In talking to the surgeons about a lift, I was informed that I would go down approximately one bra cup size.  Now for my weight/height/structure, that was not acceptable to me.  I was very comfortable being a C, even if I had to wear an expensive push up to get the girls in the right spot.  After much debate with my husband (who was ready to support whatever I wanted), I decided it was time to splurge (big time) on myself.  I went with a full tummy tuck (skin removal and muscle tightening), a breast lift and augmentation.  Now, I was not looking to increase in size - just refill to what I had been.  Of course, the surgeons don't work that way.  They talk in CCs, not Cup sizes.  I explained over and over to the doctor what I wanted, and we settled on a size. 

I had my surgery done by Doctor K from Bay City, and I had it done at Covenant.  Because I was having 3 procedures at once, an overnight stay was required.  (Thank goodness!)  I was in surgery for 6 hours.  The majority was spent working on my breasts.  I got silicone put under the muscles.  Unfortunately after pregnancies/breast feeding/obesity/etc., the muscle in my breasts did not 'melt' evenly.  It took a great deal of work on the doc's part to get my breasts looking even.  Even so, I may have to go in and have a slight 'scar revision' on my right breast... just depends on how things settle.  (I'll give it a couple months.)  I was cut hip to hip - under the c-section scars and over my belly button lap scars.  Only 6 pounds of skin was removed.  (To be honest, that disappointed me a bit.  But keep in mind, I was only looking to get the overhang removed and not become a super model.)  The pain in my tummy area was minimal.  The pain in my chest was more - like I was in a full contact sport and got my butt kicked!  I was not allowed to get up until the following morning and boy did it hurt when it did.  Then my tummy started tightening up like I couldn't believe... almost took my breathe away.  That was the only point I said "why did I do this to myself?".  Soon enough, I was on my way home and miserable until hours later when I finally found a comfortable position.  Moving around got easier by the day.  At 6 days, I went to the doc to have my tummy dressings removed and drains looked at.  Both drains stayed in.  (BTW, I was a bit surprised at where the drains actually leave my body.)  So I left the doc's office all girdled up again... another side note, in the hospital my breasts were like mountains and the compression bra was very tight... now, it won't stay together because it is so loose.  Swelling has gone down!!!  So....   After the doc appointment I thought I would go with Paul and get a few groceries.  Bad idea.  I got very sick to my stomach and just wanted to be home.  It took a while to recover.  I also tried skipping the pain med and muscle relaxer, not such a great idea so early post-op.  But now, I am taking them further apart!  Now the drains, that scared me at first.  They need to be 'milked' as the gunk builds up in the hose and can prevent draining and will produce leakage around the entrance.  Didn't take long to get that down pat... and I seemed to milk them a million times a day for the heck of it.  I mean, if I'm going to the bathroom, why not!  After the dressings were removed, and I could touch the entraces... I was like a curious george!... which isn't a bad thing since tonight I milked out a gross clot that was preventing one from working... and by milk I mean I had to get right in there... if they weren't stitched in, I'm sure I would have pulled it out.  Kind of cool and gross all in one.  Anyhow, that's the jist of it all... And for those who don't know, the drains are necessary to drain off the fluid that would otherwise collect between the muscle and skin (since they lift the skin off the muscle and pull it down to the pelvic area).  So drainage promotes better healing.  I go next Tuesday and get the drains out - no matter the output at the time.  The doc will not leave them in longer for risk of infection.  As for the no showering, girdle, compression bra... I'll have to see what the rules are... honestly, I probably was on too many drugs to catch all the rules =}

It's after midnight.  I should be sleeping... I've almost written a book and most of it probably doesn't make any sense (lol).
Goodnight.

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