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Three weeks...that's how long it's been since my surgery... well, as of about an hour from now, anyway. I feel really pretty good. More stamina, but still get wiped out without a lot of effort. It was almost better when I could barely move - no thought of doing something silly to hurt myself and set the healing process back. So difficult to know what you can't do when you start feeling better. Dr. Cohen said, If your grandmother couldn't do it... then YOU shouldn't be doing it. Well, THAT was a lot easier when I felt confined to the recliner! lol... I am off all pain medication. Some things still hurt here and there. I get random sharp pains in all my surgical areas, but it's almost like that stitch in the side type of pain and over within moments. The numbness is WEIRD. Ctlss said after 17 years she still has an area that's numb on her belly. I can see that happening, for sure. But it's just strange - it sort of comes and goes. Sometimes I can't even feel over my belly button (or a lot of areas)... I have to actually look to see if I'm touching it -although now everything is covered up with those doctor grade silicone sheets - and I think that stuff is amazing. I could swear some of the incisions already look better and it's been two days. Can't wait to see where I am in three months! I have high hopes here. And today I was looking online and saw some guy's tummy tuck pictures and AGAIN realized how fortunate I was to have found such an awesome, artistic and perfectionist of a plastic surgeon. This guy's naval had a big, stitched circle around it - stitches you could see from the outside. All of my stitches are internal and my doc made me the cutest little belly button! I'm gonna HAVE to take pictures of that when I'm all healed up. There won't be a scar visible from the outside of the belly button at all. Amazing. He may have been trying to make up for the fact that I have a vertical scar from the tummy tuck incision up 2" that stops about 1 1/2" below my new belly button. This is where my old belly button was. Just not enough elasticity to my skin to pull it all the way down and not enough excess skin, either. But I'm okay with that... and like I said, high hopes of having minimal scarring when things are all healed in a year or so. And the guy's tummy tuck incision! Wow, what a difference between his and my own. Yes, it's huge, meaning really long - mine stops just about on top of my hip bones. But mine is a fairly straight, though curved, line with no real jagged looking edges. This guy's incision looked almost like someone cut him open with pinking shears. And he had stitches - external stitches, on that, too. When I saw that guy's picture, I think I fell a little bit more in love with my doctor! In the most innocent way. He also seems more human and more "real" each time I've seen him. Kind of wish he was a regular doctor - someone you'd see more than once or twice.
Well, I don't have a lot to talk about. My life for the next few weeks is all about healing. No work outs, no hiking...just little walks. So I can't talk about my dates with Shaun T, or how I liked or didn't like a certain workout dvd. So if it sees I'm all wrapped up in my surgery - it's kind of because I am! It's pretty much what my life is revolving around. lol... I'm not much of a cook, so I can't talk about some awesome meal I've made, or post pretty food pictures! (wink, wink, K) Oh, here's big news... I may try to sleep in our bed tonight! I've been sleeping in the recliner every day and up until late last night, my husband has spent every night laying on the sofa next to me. What a sweetie!
Well, I went to my favorite thrift store - get out of the house and get a bit of movement in without it being exercise. That store never fails to impress me. I picked up a pair of jeans and a couple of tops, but the "find" was a pair of Gorham crystal champagne flutes with hearts in the stems for $6! Got home, found my reading glasses and saw the original stickers on the glasses - $40 each! Now THAT'S a deal! But now I'm really, really tired.
Diet Calendar Entry for 10 November 2010:
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735 kcal
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Fat: 13.76g | Prot: 31.15g | Carb: 131.46g.
Breakfast: zone perfect chocolate peanut butter , kelloggs fiber antioxidant cereal. Lunch: progresso low sodium chicken and rice soupo, Toasted Sesame Rice Crackers. Snacks/Other: grapes. more...
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1 to 20 of 30
 Comments
RWL, sounds like things are progressing very nicely. I cannot wait to see the pics of your bely button. Mine has a scar around it...very light, but it is there. I had exernal stitches on all of my incisions, but they were very fine. The scar itself is very thin, but is so low on my lower abdomen, that I could wear a little teeny bikini, if I was so inclined (I am not). Your glasses sound beautiful. I love champagne flutes and Gorham crystal...so win, win there! And congrats on your clothing finds. Sounds wonderful. Have a great evening.
10 Nov 10 by member: ctlss
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Hi ctlss! yes, things seem to be going as expected. At least you scar lightly, right? It's just that the way plastic surgery is performed today is so different from years ago, so the guy's pictures on the internet surprised me. I didn't think anyone used external stitches these days, that's why I was surprised. I'm so sleepy, but hope to check journals when I get a second wind later. Hope all is well with you. Are you bundled up and sitting in front of a fire? :D That's my mental image of you this evening! Take care
10 Nov 10 by member: redwinelover
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Awe I love thrift stores and that is a great deal, mmm champagne. Who cares that you are talk about your surgery, I think we all enjoy hearing about your progress and it has been tremendous. Out of everything you talk about the thing I want the most is the cute belly button. Even at my fittest I always hated mine. I can deal with little, as I like to say sprite boobs but a tiny belly button that would be amazing, I have no idea who was my mother’s ob/gyn but if I saw them on the street I would kill them. As for working out, girl you did so much to get to where you are, however selfish me I would like to hear what you think of the video I like, I call her the drunken jumping elf. When you get your energy back you will see what I mean. Thanks for being such a great buddy/motivation and you are still in my prayers.
10 Nov 10 by member: MrsMtkr
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Actually RWL it is 68 degrees. We were wearing shorts today. lol Take care, dear friend!
10 Nov 10 by member: ctlss
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he he he... guess THAT was way off base! :D
10 Nov 10 by member: redwinelover
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Oh, it will get there soon enough, trust me! lol
10 Nov 10 by member: ctlss
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Hey RWL...that is SO SWEET your hubby has spent every night by you like that. I hope you get super comfy and lots of rest tonight! You're the best! Hope Thelma and Louise are healing in all their perky perfection. LMAO. So I should send you one of my Zumba shirts for real. The front says SHAKE YOUR TA TA's and the back on the bottom of the shirt says NO MORE BISCUITS. lol...aka muffin tops. You've got hot tats now and no biscuits! SWEET! (rather jealous right now tho) Have a great rest of the week.....REST, BE EASY, DREAM OF SHAUN...that will have to do for now.
10 Nov 10 by member: Junebug7210
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hottagain... you're so sweet! I'm going to relying on all of my buddies to get my motivation back! I already feel so ... unfit? Just sort of like a slab. Man, all my talk about my cute belly button...it better end up looking cute when all is said and done! lol... The thing is, I didn't dislike my old one. But...this one is definitely the new and improved version! Now you've really got me curious...which video?? Maybe a drunken jumping elf will be just the ticket to get me back into working out! And sorry...I didn't see this earlier, must have slipped in the same time ctlss and I were "talking"..
10 Nov 10 by member: redwinelover
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Hi Youngbug! Yes, I've ALSO fallen in love with my hubby all over again :D And yes... Thelma and Louise are doing quite well. Can't wait to take them shopping for real. No underwire bras for six months... do you know how difficult it is to find a sexy non-underwire bra? Your Zumba shirt sounds SO cute! Ta ta's and no biscuits LMAO! Off to la-la land
10 Nov 10 by member: redwinelover
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10 minute solutions carb burner, I can imagine what you mean when you are fit, it is difficult to not workout. Just take your time, and you really do have a great hubby. When me mom had her back surgery she couldn't wear I wired bra either, here is a link to vicky secret for the wireless bras some are on sale... http://www.victoriassecret.com/bras/wireless/
11 Nov 10 by member: MrsMtkr
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Glad to hear you aren't overdoing it. Your hubby sounds so sweet. I guess I will have to buy a recliner before my surgery also. Good finds at the thrift store and I can't wait to see your new pics.
11 Nov 10 by member: Multiplicity1
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Hi RWL! I'm back... so glad to see your recovery is going well. You're so lucky to have that great surgeon. I wrote in your journal the other day that I know you'll be enjoying your new body a lot just like my aunt does! Your journal is so awesome! You should publish a book for helping people those who are considering this kind of surgery. It was so fun to read! Have a wonderful healing day!
11 Nov 10 by member: happynow
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Hottagain...Is that the dvd I bought? ha ha ha...I'm asking YOU! I could just go look in my workout room to see.. but I have a feeling it's the one you recommended and I ordered that day. Nice short term memory, huh? lol And thanks for the link... can't wait to check it out :)
11 Nov 10 by member: redwinelover
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multiplicity... Nope, no overdoing it here! I'm more afraid I'll slide back into the couch potato mode! And I do HIGHLY recommend a recliner if you have the surgery... at least for the tummy tuck portion. Be prepared, though, unless you have one of those recliners with the automatic raise and lower feature (not ours), you will STILL need help to sit up or recline. You won't be able to reach around to a handle, or even if, like ours, the handle is on the inside, you can't release it. No strength and you're not supposed to exert more than a couple pounds of pressure, anyway. To me, that was the most difficult part - being completely dependent upon everyone else to even get up or lay down. Start saving now...it's not cheap! :D
11 Nov 10 by member: redwinelover
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Happynow... so glad you are back! How was your trip? I'll have to check your journal later and see how things are going for you. I did get your comment the other day and think (brain still cloudy -that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!) I responded to that, as well. I could very well be wrong! Oh, and I KNOW how fortunate I was to have found such a wonderful surgeon. I did a lot of internet searching, looked at dozens of plastic surgeons in AZ and kept coming back to his. I liked his work, liked his credentials, liked his website, enjoyed reading all the testimonials. All spoke of his skill and depth of understanding, his completely supportive and helpful staff, his excellent anesthesiologists, the great treatment they received from him and the staff and how often they would recommend him to others. And he has written papers on "mommy makeovers" as far as safety, etc. and had extensive one on one training with a top PS in CA for a year after his other experiences with other doctors, as well. Just a really highly trained, dedicated and compassionate surgeon. Yes, I was definitely lucky n my choosing him and SO glad I didn't let my "three strikes" law determine otherwise. As I've stated previously, he is young, male and good-looking... things I was SO not anxiously looking for! I'd hoped for an older, female doctor...but PS seems to be a male-dominated field! lol Thanks for reading my journal... but I think I'd write the most BORING book on the planet! But it would be fun to blog about and to answer others questions and concerns as best I could in my limited experience. What I would tell anyone, though? Do it. You'll never regret it. At least that's MY experience! Sounds like your Aunt's experience, as well. Thanks!
11 Nov 10 by member: redwinelover
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OK, if I need a ps in the future, I will ask you for his number since I live in southern California.
My aunt didn't gain a pound back cuz she's been receiving too many compliments and that made her day everyday- it's been almost 8 years!
11 Nov 10 by member: happynow
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lol... Well, highly unlikely you'll need one, but if you do, I will gladly recommend him. He's the best! You can even spend your recovery here! I feel SO fortunate that I'm willing to help anyone through the recovery period. I grew up in So Cal... in fact, when I married my husband I was living in Long Beach...there are some things I miss about So Cal
11 Nov 10 by member: redwinelover
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You're so sweet, RWL... I live 30min away from Long Beach, btw. I thought you live in So Cal.
12 Nov 10 by member: happynow
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RWL did you have a tummy tuck?
I had one in May and finally seeing the true results of it... Best thing I did. One thing you need to keep in mind is that the remodeling of scar tissue will last well into 1-2 years time but swelling etc will go away within 3-6 months as with me.
Three weeks post surgery and I congratulate you on a job well done. How much weight have you lost?
I go so much more to ask and tips to give but for now I will ask to be your buddy? ;)
12 Nov 10 by member: gizmonel
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Wow, happynow... we should meet sometime on one of my many CA trips! I have two brothers, a sister and some good friends that live there and end up going a few times a year. :)
12 Nov 10 by member: redwinelover
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