Okay, I was reading through my posts that I have done since I have been home from my surgery and I can't believe I didn't include one AMAZING fact!!
So, how much skin got removed???
7 POUNDS!
Can you believe that?!!
7 POUNDS OF SKIN! AMAZING!
Wish I had a picture of it sitting in a bowl! Weird Maybe!
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Friday, June 13, 2014
1 Week Out!
Today is one week since my surgery. Feeling pretty well!
I have had one drain removed. I still have 2. The drainage is slowing down. I begged to have them removed before the weekend but no such luck! I am stuck with them, probably until Monday. I have my one week follow up with the surgeon. I am assuming they will be able to be pulled then. I think that is where most of my discomfort is coming from. I don't think it's the incision pain, it's where the drains are coming out of my abdomen as they sit right above the pubic area.
One of the other pains of the drains is they have to be emptied and amount recorded every 8 hours. Yes this means I am getting up at midnight every night, stumbling to the bathroom to do this. I'm a big fan of sleep, so this is not my favorite thing to do.
My husband changed my dressing last night and all looks good under there.
I don't have to sleep with a pillow under my knees anymore. I tried it last night without and was more comfortable with a pillow under my knee.
I can see where the doctor is concerned that you not do too much because when you start feeling better you feel so caged. I just had to get out of the house yesterday. There was no other talking about it.
So just taking it day by day! No regrets!
I have had one drain removed. I still have 2. The drainage is slowing down. I begged to have them removed before the weekend but no such luck! I am stuck with them, probably until Monday. I have my one week follow up with the surgeon. I am assuming they will be able to be pulled then. I think that is where most of my discomfort is coming from. I don't think it's the incision pain, it's where the drains are coming out of my abdomen as they sit right above the pubic area.
One of the other pains of the drains is they have to be emptied and amount recorded every 8 hours. Yes this means I am getting up at midnight every night, stumbling to the bathroom to do this. I'm a big fan of sleep, so this is not my favorite thing to do.
My husband changed my dressing last night and all looks good under there.
I don't have to sleep with a pillow under my knees anymore. I tried it last night without and was more comfortable with a pillow under my knee.
I can see where the doctor is concerned that you not do too much because when you start feeling better you feel so caged. I just had to get out of the house yesterday. There was no other talking about it.
So just taking it day by day! No regrets!
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
I'm rocking the drain tubes!
I'm alive!
I am finally feeling up to writing a post. Surgery went really well. I stayed overnight. I was so snowed on medication coming out of surgery that I didn't think it would be possible I could go home the next day. They tried getting me up late afternoon the day of surgery. I stood, was in a lot of pain, nauseated, so I laid back down. They tried again at 11:30pm and I was actually able to walk to the door and back. Each time I got up was better and better! I was able to go home the next day with no problems.
So I have been doing a lot of resting. Making sure I keep up on my pain medication. Draining my 3 drains.
Today I get to have one of them taken out. I'm a little nervous about this and how it will go. This seems like it could be painful. I will update later.
I wanted to share some pictures with you so you can see what happens during this procedure.
This one is with my drains pulled down and just my binder.
This on is with my binder off with the dressing covering all the incisions.
This one is with my binder and my drains attached to the binder. There are 3 drains total.
My incisions. AND FLAT TUMMY! When I look at it, I think I'm looking at someone else yet. I have only seen it from the pictures myself. I have to be laying down when my dressings are being changed.
I am finally feeling up to writing a post. Surgery went really well. I stayed overnight. I was so snowed on medication coming out of surgery that I didn't think it would be possible I could go home the next day. They tried getting me up late afternoon the day of surgery. I stood, was in a lot of pain, nauseated, so I laid back down. They tried again at 11:30pm and I was actually able to walk to the door and back. Each time I got up was better and better! I was able to go home the next day with no problems.
So I have been doing a lot of resting. Making sure I keep up on my pain medication. Draining my 3 drains.
Today I get to have one of them taken out. I'm a little nervous about this and how it will go. This seems like it could be painful. I will update later.
I wanted to share some pictures with you so you can see what happens during this procedure.
This one is with my drains pulled down and just my binder.
I know this looks really painful, but honestly the pain has been way more manageable than I ever thought it would be. My appetite has been non-existent. I have to make myself eat something. I have just been up and walking around the house. Have not been out much. I have walked around the house outside once. Just taking it easy. My husband has been a really good nurse actually. I didn't think he would ever be able to help me with my drains and change dressing and he has been a champ through it all.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
The night before...
Well, it's the night before my skin removal surgery.
I feel good about it. It's like the last piece of my puzzle.
I had my last Dr. Appointment with my reconstructive surgeon this afternoon. All is ready to go.
I had my special wash that I took a shower with tonight.
I will have to repeat in the morning before surgery.
I need to be to the hospital at 6:00am surgery at 7:30am. I am happy it is first thing in the morning.
The hotel we are staying in is attached to the hospital so that will be very convenient.
So I am just going to read through my instructions again as well as my post op instructions and get ready to go to sleep early!
Night night! Will update as soon as I am up to it.
Complete with pictures of course!
I feel good about it. It's like the last piece of my puzzle.
I had my last Dr. Appointment with my reconstructive surgeon this afternoon. All is ready to go.
I had my special wash that I took a shower with tonight.
I will have to repeat in the morning before surgery.
I need to be to the hospital at 6:00am surgery at 7:30am. I am happy it is first thing in the morning.
The hotel we are staying in is attached to the hospital so that will be very convenient.
So I am just going to read through my instructions again as well as my post op instructions and get ready to go to sleep early!
Night night! Will update as soon as I am up to it.
Complete with pictures of course!
Monday, June 2, 2014
Those Nasty Tape Measures!
I thought it would probably be a good idea...yes....to get out the tape measure.
I have not been one to be obsessed what my body "MEASURES"
Oh, I obsess about the number on the scale, or the number on my clothes, but not so much the number on a long piece of plastic that I wrap around myself.
I guess I would say I measure myself by the size of pants I can squeeze over my abdominal folds.
I never measured myself before my lap band, or during my weight loss journey. I guess I just feel like now it is required to see how many inches I've paid to have removed.
It will be fun for us all to look at after surgery! Right? RIGHT!
Here we go:
I have not been one to be obsessed what my body "MEASURES"
Oh, I obsess about the number on the scale, or the number on my clothes, but not so much the number on a long piece of plastic that I wrap around myself.
I guess I would say I measure myself by the size of pants I can squeeze over my abdominal folds.
I never measured myself before my lap band, or during my weight loss journey. I guess I just feel like now it is required to see how many inches I've paid to have removed.
It will be fun for us all to look at after surgery! Right? RIGHT!
Here we go:
Okay, this one is 34 inches
And this one is...36 inches
Ready for this one? 43.5 inches. Really. Yes. I have THAT much skin on my abdomen. I know, Right?! It's like a plus size measurement!
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Well...Hello....Is this really my Tummy?
It has been a long time.....a really long time.
I have been just living life. Work, college, exercise.
I felt the urge to put out a post to anyone that might come across this or still be interested in reading what I have to say. There are some who lose a massive amount of weight from their lap bands and they are satisfied with their bodies for the most part. They may even be able to wiggle into a bikini. That is great, and I had that hope for myself when I started this journey with my lap band 6/7/12. I have been killing myself most of that time trying to get THAT BODY.
Yes I am healthy. That was the main point.
But I still want that body that I have never had.
So I wanted to show everyone what I was left with, because more than likely THIS is the reality for most. Not the bikini shots.
This is what a 90 pound weight loss looks like on me. I started at 258 and am living at 168 today. I am 5'7". I am 10 pounds up from my lowest. I finally realized that no amount of exercise I did was going to give me the body I was dreaming of. The skin was still going to be there. No. Matter. What.
I have been just living life. Work, college, exercise.
I felt the urge to put out a post to anyone that might come across this or still be interested in reading what I have to say. There are some who lose a massive amount of weight from their lap bands and they are satisfied with their bodies for the most part. They may even be able to wiggle into a bikini. That is great, and I had that hope for myself when I started this journey with my lap band 6/7/12. I have been killing myself most of that time trying to get THAT BODY.
Yes I am healthy. That was the main point.
But I still want that body that I have never had.
So I wanted to show everyone what I was left with, because more than likely THIS is the reality for most. Not the bikini shots.
This is what a 90 pound weight loss looks like on me. I started at 258 and am living at 168 today. I am 5'7". I am 10 pounds up from my lowest. I finally realized that no amount of exercise I did was going to give me the body I was dreaming of. The skin was still going to be there. No. Matter. What.
We all proudly display those great shots of how we look with our new clothes on. That is great! We should show it off. But this is my reality with my clothes off and it makes me feel like I am still 258 pounds.
I have been working since December 2013 to try and get my insurance to cover abdominoplasty for the constant rashes I am faced with now. They refused, due to my skin apparently not hanging past my pubic bone. So I am now a cash pay patient getting my tummy fixed next Friday 6/6/14. One day off from my 2 year bandaversary!
I am super excited and want to share this next chapter with the rest of you. Now that I feel like I have something new to share. And also, something that a lot of people maybe have questions about. I will try to be very active on my blog again during this time so I can share this experience with others who are maybe considering this journey as well.
Hope you are all well...and rocking your bands!
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