Tabby C.

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What is my excuse???  I really don't have one.  Just keeping busy with life and living.  I have put on a few pounds since I started feeling better after my second surgery.  I got sick of hearing how thin I was and that I didn't need to lose any more weight.  That's not why I put the pounds back on, of course, but I did get sick of people telling me I lost too much and was looking sick.  URGH!!!  I was at the top of the "average" window for the BMI chart... definately NOT underweight.  I looked great and vow to get back down to where I was after my tummy tuck, by my two year checkup in October.  That's 10 pounds in 3 months.  Not impossible, but it will be a challenge. 

I'm leaving tomorrow to go on vacation with my husbands family.  Hopefully a week away doesn't put me up even higher.  I will be taking my walking shoes and hope to walk the beach each day.  I'm also being more prepared this time and taking things to eat that I know won't sabotage me.  Not that I will be being an angel and scrutinizing each morsel I put in my mouth, but will try to be a little cautious and DRINK WATER!!!  What's that?  I know...I KNOW!!!

I am currently still sporting a size 10 comfortably.  I was excited to get into an occassional 8, but those days are behind me.  Definately want to be in an 8 for my 20 year H.S. reunion coming up in October.  I can't wait for everyone to see me.  I wish my arms didn't look so bad, so I could show up in a halter dress, but that is not the case.  I'm sure they will be floored no matter what I show up in.

OK...time to go pack...I will try to get some pics from the beach up soon.  TTFN!!!

I had never planned for this to happen, but this morning when I stepped on the scale I weighed 149.  TEN POUNDS BELOW MY GOAL!!!  Before my PS, I could not get that last pesky 5 pounds off.  Now I have lost it PLUS TEN!!!  I REALLY don't want to lose any more.  I think my arms are looking flabbier, my boobs may not be filling out as nicely as they should since my PS and my face is getting a little too thin.  Not what I wanted to happen.  I thought that 159 would be a good weight for me and it was.

I have been having problems since my last surgery and I just don't feel like eating.  On Christmas Eve my leg started seeping during Church and has been seeping since.  I went back to the doctor and he cleaned out the opening in my leg and gave me a REALLY STRONG (better be for $60) antibiotic and told me to keep an eye on it.  I also had a cold over Christmas, which didn't

On Wednesday I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon and I was so worried about it.  I had been in pain and discomfort since the day of my surgery and KNEW that I was going to have to go through another surgery to clean out the hematoma in my thigh, which meant more pain and discomfort.  Before my plastics, I didn't know how much pain I was going to be in after the surgery, so knowing now what I DIDN'T know then, I was pretty worked up.  I was beginning to cry at the drop of a hat from stress and constant pain.

Well, when the doctor came in and asked how I was doing, I said "Not that good."  He looked at my thigh and sighed.  He said he had hoped it would clear up on it's own, but since it wasn't, it needed to be removed.  He said he would call the hospital and book an OR for either Thursday or Friday.  By the time of my appointment, I think the hematoma had even gotten bigger and on the front of my thigh in the groin area it was getting red and burning.  Not a good sign.  I also had an area in my crotch that didn't feel right and was constantly pulling and causing pain.  He snipped that area and removed 2 stitches that had poked through.  I started crying from a combination of EVERYTHING!!!  I couldn't stop crying to talk to the doctor.  He left to book the OR and I finally was able to pull myself together.

I went in on Thursday morning at 5:45am for a 7:30am surgery.  Everything went well.  He removed the drain on my stomach that was going down into my leg and was causing A LOT of pain.  During the surgery, he placed another drain coming out of my thigh.  I hope it does it's job quickly because I am sick of not being able to wear anything but sweats and having to hide drains under my clothes.  I wanted to be able to go shopping for something cute for my mom's Christmas Party next Saturday.  I'm relaxing with my leg up as much as possible this weekend.

Now I am home and am feeling SOOOO much better.  My drain isn't hurting, my crotch isn't pulling and my thigh is on the mend.  I'm feeling so much more upbeat, almost back to my old self.  (The percocets help with that...LOL)

I REACHED MY GOAL!!!  I can't believe it!!! The morning of my PS I weighed 163. My goal was 159. Last week I stepped on the scale and it said 166...I wasn't too upset because I was sure it was all of the fluids from the PS because I had not been eating much and was on fluids for a few days with the surgery. I haven't gotten on the scale since last week and figured that with the holidays coming I better start getting on the scale daily again to keep myself on track. I was worried that with Thanksgiving last week the scale was going to be up a little from earlier in the week. WELL....to my surprise, when I got on this morning it said 158!!! 158!!! ONE POUND BELOW GOAL!!!! I couldn't believe it. I may even still be retaining some fluids since my legs are still really swollen. NOW...to just get rid of this swelling and see what size I am wearing now that my tummy is flat. I can't wait to see the new me. I still have 2 drains in. Once I get them out, I will take some updated photos and get them posted. I have a followup appointment tomorrow at 2:30. I'm really hoping that I can lose these drains, they are a major PITA!!!!

WELL....I had my plastic surgery 12 days ago.  It went well and the nurses were very pleased with how I came out of the surgery in recovery.  It was very hard to sit up and move because everything hurt.  I was hoping for a pain pump to not feel much pain, but I was giving percocets and some sort of stronger shot for pain while in the hosptital.  When I got home I could barely move.  I had a breast lift, tummy tuck with stomach muscle tightening and inner thigh lift with a vertical incision to remove a good bit of the bulk in my thighs.

It was so hard to sit up and stand up because of the thighs and tummy...OUCH!!!  The incisions are healing good, but are still painful.  I came home with 6 drains and after my 1 week follow-up appt I still have 2 drains left on my right side.  Last Sunday my right thigh started swelling up big and felt like the incision was really pulling.  On Tuesday at my apptointment, the doctor told me that hopefully the blood collecting in my thigh would liquify and would come out the drains.  Here I am 5 days later and the swelling is still there and not much is draining.  I am HATING the drains.  I keep pulling on them on accident or get them caught on something.  PLUS...I am confined to this damned binder until the drains come out.  Once they come out, I can move on to the compression garment, which should be a little more comfortable.  The binder sucks, but is keeping the swelling down on my tummy.

I have been doing very well with keeping my feet elevated and not doing much right now.  I'm very tired and uncomfortable all the time.  This is the first Thanksgiving that I didn't do ANYTHING to help prepare the meal.  Dave and I went to the bakery and bought pies to take to our parents house.  NOT typical for me AT ALL!!!

I have another week off work and am very grateful for that because the way I feel now, I am not ready to be back at work.  Hopefully I will feel better by this time next week.  Wish me luck!!!

Well, here it is...FRIDAY...and my plastic surgery is scheduled for Monday.  I just have to make it through this last weekend with my beloved flab and on Monday I can say "GOOD RIDDENS....FOREVER!!"  I am both very nervous and very excited at the same time.  

I have spent the last two weeks (if not longer) preparing for this day.  I have purchased some cheap pillows, pillowcases, sheets, and a blanket, all to be used in case there is any leakage from my drains or wound sites and they get ruined and I have to throw them away.  I have purchased a comfortable sweatsuit that zips up the front to wear home from the hospital.  I wanted the purple one, but the majority of the top was lilac and I didn't want to ruin it, so I opted for the red one.  I have purchased 2 front hook sports bras to wear after my ace bandage comes off of my chest.  I have stocked up on Whey Protein powder, protein bars, frozen shrimp (love to snack on shrimp cocktail...good source of protein), a few other meats and yogurt with live cultures to keep yeast infections away that may come with the antibiotics.  I have frozen a few things for the family to heat and eat so I don't have to worry about cooking (not that I would after surgery any ways).  My clothes and bedding are washed and ready to go.  I have read and re-read my Plastic Surgery Handbook from Dr. Rubin and have checked to Plastics Message Board on OH daily to make sure I "TRULY" know what I am getting myself in to.  I have opened my Short -Term disablility claim, scheduled my time off and submitted my paperwork to HR for my leave.  I have made arrangements for the kids and for care for me for the first week.  AND....MOST IMPORTANTLY...My surgery has been PAID IN FULL...so my bed at UPMC Southside should be held.

The only things left to do now are to purchase (and consume) my Fleets Phosposoda...for that "Oh So Enjoyable Bowel Prep" on Sunday afternoon, (according to my Pre-Operative Handbook) "perform a total perineal shave of the entire genital region" YAY!!!, take some "before" photos for my own documentation and get through this weekend without totally freaking out.

I am confident that all will go will with the surgery.  I have lined up a great surgeon and I have faith in my own bodies ability to heal.  I will follow the doctors orders to a T...to minimize scarring and infection.  I am taking this surgery VERY seriously.  Keep me in your thoughts and prayers next week.  I'll try to post an update as soon as I can.

Today is the one year anniversary of my Gastric Bypass Surgery.  In the last year I have lost 117 pounds and gained a whole new outlook on life!  I have more energy than I have had in years and have so much more self esteem than I think I have ever had.  I look in the mirror and am still in awe with what I see.  My favorite thing to do (other than shopping for clothes) is to see peoples reactions that have not seen me in the past year.  I can't count how many people have walked past me and didn't recognize me until I spoke to them and they heard my voice.  I am so glad that I have pictures to document my weightloss.  I NEVER want to go back to the me I was a year ago.  NEVER!!!

When I started this journey, I wanted to get down to 165 lbs.  That is EXACTLY what the scale said this morning.  I did change my goal at my six month checkup to 159, so I still would like to lose some more weight.  I have been hovering around 165 for the past month or two.  Guess my body is comfortable there.  I can't believe how far I have come in just 12 short months.

This week I had my pre-op appointment for my plastic surgery.  I have to get a mammogram next week, some blood work and an EKG.  Then I just have to wait until November 12th for the surgery day to come.  By Christmas, I should be able to see some good results.  I purchased my sportsbra's for after my breast lift.  I want to take some before and after pics of the surgery.  I'll wait until right before the surgery to take them.  If I am lucky, I will get off those last 6 pesky pounds.  Wish me luck.

Well, the pouch test didn't work as well as I had hoped.  When I started eating "normal" again, the weight crept back up and I ended up only losing 2.5 pounds that week.  I decided at the end of the week that I am happy with who I am and comfortable at the weight I am at and if I don't get to 159, I am OK with that.  I'd like to see that number, but am not going to beat myself up and go straight protein just to get there.  I'll get there in time, but perhaps not before my surgiversary.  Oh well!!!

I am having a heck of a time kicking carbs.  I LOVE CARBS!!!  I love lowfat Cheez-its.  I love pretzels.  I love popcorn.  I eat it in moderation now, but as soon as I eat them, I stop losing.  I'm getting really good at maintaining these days.  I did find some 35 calorie bread the other day that was soft and OH SO YUMMY!!!  I can make a grilled cheese sandwich and two slices of bread are only 70 calories!!!  I can have peanut butter toast once in a while for breakfast.  YAY!!!!  I KNOW...I KNOW...MODERATION!!!  Not every day, but once in a while makes me feel normal.

Now I am just gearing up and preparing myself for my plastic surgery coming up in November.  I need to increase my protein, try to cut back on the caffine and be as healthy as possible.  I have even started going to a gym and hope to tone up before the surgery.    Wish me luck.

This week I have decided to do a Five Day Pouch Test that I came across on the internet, to flush the carbs out of my system, get back to the basics of eating (Protein first, lots of water, and not drinking within 30 minutes of my meals, both before and after)  I started the test on Monday and am now on day FOUR.  The first two days were liquids.  Lots of protein shakes and even more water.  The third day was soft proteins and today I am on to more solid proteins.  Tomorrow I will be able to eat full proteins.  

I've done pretty good at staying away from most carbs.  A few crackers here and there, but not like it was before.  I was getting bad at snacking/grazing.  Now I am thinking more before putting stuff in my mouth.  Last night while eating dinner, I actually felt full before I finished my piece of fish.  I think my pouch might be shrinking or I was being more aware of it.

The good news....I'VE LOST 5.5 POUNDS SINCE MONDAY!!!  I am now TWO POUNDS FROM MY GOAL!!!!  I want to be there by my surgiversary, which is on 10/11.  Now I KNOW I can reach my goal!!!  I am so excited.  I can't ever remember weighing 161 pounds.  I was probably in middle school when I was in the 150's and that is right around the corner!!!  Who knows, by the end of this Pouch Test I may be at goal.  Who'd have thunk it???  LOL!!!

It is with deepest regrets that I must announce that I will not be getting implants.  I know...I know...I'm still crying, too.  Just kidding.  I was kind of looking forward to having a little bit fuller "girls", but after speaking with my PS's office today, I now know I won't be getting them.  I called to get a quote on the out-of-pocket expense of my surgery if I decided to get implants.  I thought it would just be an additional $2-$3K, but NOOOOOO it is going to be an additional $8-$9K!!!!  WTF????  That was my deciding factor.  I want them, but not for that much money.  The office assistant asked me if the surgeon had recommended them to me and I said, "No, he tried to talk me out of them."  Then he went on to say that about 80% of their patients that think that they need implants are pleased with the breast lift results using the existing breast tissue and the extra tissue under the arms.  I hope that I fall into the 80% after my surgery.  I am just happy to be getting my tummy done and will be happy to have the girls up where they belong, rather than down by my belly button or under my arms when I lay down.  Hee Hee.  My pre-op appointment is on October 9th and my surgery is on November 12th!!!  I can't wait for Christmas.  I should be feeling good and able to see some results by then.  If anyone wants to know what I want for Christmas....GIFT CARDS!!!!  I want to go shopping after Christmas for new clothes to fit my NEW BODY!!!!