How is CeCe?

Has anyone heard anything since the last post? I am worried. Valorie

I was thinking about her today too and wondering why we haven't heard anything.... Anyone got any news????? Shawn M.

Hi, Shawn! I forgot to tell you guys that I got flowers from my surgeon today! Yes, I pay him well but it's still nice that he's so human! CeCE

HI, GANG! Here I am! I've just been lazy today. The pain meds made me nauseous so I'm not taking them. I'm feeling every stitch but it's not horrible. Again, the worst part is the swelling. Oh, my goodness, the tops of my hands, my fingers, my legs, inner thighs, feet, everything is so swollen. I told the doctor I must be up 20 pounds but he said it was probably 10. I weighed as soon as I got home and it was exactly 20! Today it is 15. Wanda, you'll be glad to know there have been no complications! As usual, they were worried about how little urine I was putting out but the blood pressure was normal, thank God I just hold on to every bit of fluid they put into me through the IV and then some! I started off with an IV in my hand. During surgery, it was switched to my foot when they operated on the arm on the one side. It was switched back to my hand by the time I was in recovery. The doctor woke me up and I asked how much he took off and it was just under 2 pounds. He came to see me about 3 hours later and stayed a while and then he was there first thing Thursday morning. He said he wanted me to stay until past noon so he came back around 12:30, checked me out again and released me. We saw him at 10 on Friday morning when he changed my dressings, checked everything out and put on my compression garment. It's like a little bolero jacket - arms and bra VERY TIGHT! I can shower tomorrow. We left for home about 11 yesterday and even stopped for lunch on the way to pick up the dogs and cat. I have four drains but they aren't draining much. Hopefully, he will take those out next Friday when we see him again. Oh, yeah, on Thursday he told me I was VERY muscular! I told him I knew that! That's why I had challenged him to a push-up contest when he was marking me in the pre-op room. I actually got down on the floor in the hotel room the morning of surgery and demonstrated how good I was at push-ups to my husband! I know I could have beaten him too! THank you for all your prayers and concern. I was so worried about complications and that I was pushing my luck in doing this surgery. I know I'll be happy in the end and I know I just have to be patient during the swelling and recovery. It will pass and I'll be back to normal! Don't be surprised if you hear from me constantly next week after hubby goes back to work! CeCe

Well my dear CeCe you absolutely deserve to be as "lazy" as you wish today. We are just glad to know that you are doing well. It is good to hear that the pain is managable even without the meds. You are such a strong woman! I can only hope to do as well when I have my arm done. I can't wait to see the PS next month! Get some rest and don't be challenging anyone to any push up contests! I know it will be hard for you to keep your physical strength in check but let yourelf heal a bit before any more contests. Hugs, Valorie

Valorie, It's now day 4 out from surgery and it's my worst day. I haven't taken any pain meds because they seem to make me a little nauseated (not eating enough) and I'm feeling the incisions today! I did take a nice shower though and I'm relaxing! I started a big pot of soup this morning and my husband finished it up. I ate a bowl and it is very good! I'm certainly not up to any push up contests or any other kind but at least the weight has dropped 7 pounds. The swelling is still bad and I'm still up 13 pounds but I know it will go down and each day will hopefully get a little easier. This is a reminder that plastic surgery is NOT easy. The results may be fully worth it and, like childbirth, you may forget how hard it is, but it is HARD! With that said, I'm still going through with a face lift - the sooner the better - but the inner thighs may wait until I've long forgotten this!!! The breasts are looking good but I know my current bras are going to be way too big! After having DD breasts for years and years, I'll be lucky to be a C but that is FINE with me!!! As long as I look good in my clothes, I can live without the weight of big breasts! I was telling hubby that I don't even remember having perky breasts! It seems like I went from nothing to big!!! This will be strange! Unless I end up very small after total recovery, I won't be looking into implants! That's one less surgery and recovery! You all have a wonderful Easter Sunday. It's beautiful and sunny here but I think it's a little cool. I may go out for a walk a little later but that will be it! Thanks again for all your support!

I'm so happy that everything went well. It sounds like your doctor is great. Maybe I should come up there for my next surgery! I can't wait to see your arm pictures! Rest up and keep us posted! Wanda

Wanda, I do like my doctor! He seems to be a tiny bit shy at times but I tease him and he opens up! My follow up visits are a long drive but nothing compared to your travel time if you came up here!!! While the doctor was marking me in pre-op, I started talking about Big Medicine and Dr. LoMonaco, the PS, who is often featured on that show! Well, I learned that my doc and Dr. L. are writing a book together. I think there's another doctor included it that as well. I'll let you know when that book comes out. Naturally, it is going to be about plastic surgery after massive weight loss. The arms are going to look pretty good - eventually! I don't think I told you that during my pre-op visit he told me he's been doing the incision more to the back of the arm the last months. He thinks he gets a much better result and they pull less. My husband thought his reasoning was sound but I know the scars will show more and it will be longer before I can wear anything with short sleeves. The scars are the biggest downside of this plastic surgery. However, I knew I would never be satisfied without PS on my arms! The scar also goes completely around my back because he removed the rest of the loose skin around the bra line. That area doesn't bother me right now. So, again, I've been cut totally in "half" and then the "lollipop" incision on the breasts, along with the cuts down to my elbows! I would hate to know how many stitches I have! That's why this surgery took longer than the previous. I had to be turned four times! The IV started out in my hand, was switched to my foot and then back to my hand again! Wanda, you said your arms were looking very toned when you were working hard on them before your injury. I would advise you to avoid this surgery if you can because of the scarring. Since I had lost a lot of weight over the past 10 years, I knew I could never get my arms toned without it. Did Randy get to come home for a long weekend? Will he be as busy traveling until the summer is over? Hope work has calmed down some and the injury continues to heal well and there are absolutely no after effects! CeCe