Plastics pre-admit done!

I am ready to go for February 7th. I had my pre-op visit with Dr. Wagstrom, paid her fee. Did my pre-admit and paid the hospital fee. Met with one of the anesthesiologists and mailed out the payment to the Anesthesia Medical Group. My prescriptions for my antibiotic and post-op pain meds are being filled. I am good to go! Still have to get some things for post-op care here at home. Dr. Wagstrom told me today that she will also do some lipo on the backs of my thighs to help with the contouring when she pulls that skin up. She told me again that she may not be able to save my belly button and asked if I was okay with that. I told her I believe I am since I have had time to really prepare myself for that possibility. I am willing to give up the belly button to the hernia as long as I can also get rid of the saggy skin. A lady on the PS forum had the idea of getting a tattoo to replace the belly button. LOL I am ready! Less than 13 days to go!!

I know that you are smiling in your avatar, but I can really feel you grinning from ear to ear in this post, I am so happy for you.  I am not sure how I would feel about the loss of my belly button, but if that is the best thing for you, then it is better than it dying off and having trouble with it later!!!!  You sound like you are off to a beautiful body!!!  NOT to say you are not already looking great, but this will be the final step of the WLS!!!  I am so HAPPY for you!!!  Need me call me, I will be working on my final that is due Sunday, but I will always have time for you!!! Love Ya!!

Hey Susan, I am so excited for you.  I know what you are feeling right now.  Just wait to you see the results. Mike

I am excited and scared too. I'm trying to prepare myself mentally for the pain. I've heard that the first week is the roughest and it gets better after that. Was that your experience? I do know that I will have 5 drains. Two for the back, 2 for the lower front and 1 for the midriff. She did say all of them would exit from the lower front incision. Also, I can't shower until 3 days after the drains come out. Sponge baths it will be. I figure that first shower is going to feel heavenly. You're looking good!! How is the swelling from your LBL? Also, did your surgeon put you on Arnica Montana for post-op bruising & swelling?

Hey Susan, I am still swelling.  I had to go to the Dr. last Thursday and I asked him how long would it keep doing that and he said 4 to 6 months.  I was like wow!! Thats a long time.  They did put me on some meds for bruising and swelling.  One week before the surgery, I took 10 little pills under my tongue four times a day.  Then the day of surgery I took a different one, the night after surgery I took one and 3 days after surgery and it really worked great.   The hardest time was laying down in bed the first time.  It took me about 35 mins to figure out how and where I was going to lay down.  You have to be real careful about getting everything on the bed at the same time.  After 3 or 4 times of doing it, it got a lot easier.  I walked like Iwas 100yrs old for aout 4 weeks.  It gets better each week, but it took a while. I also came home with a cathater in.  That was a blessing for me.  I think my mom and sister said I filled it up twice from the time I got home until the next afternoon.  They let us take it out 2 days after surgery.  There is no way I could have got up and down as much as I would have needed to, to release my bladder. If you think of anything else just let me know!! Mike

The Arnica Montana is also a sublingual. I start taking 3 tablets, 3 times per day beginning the evening of surgery and continuing for 14 days. I'm really trying to psych myself up for the long term swelling. Hopefully, with all of the advance warning from you and Mel, I will do okay with it. They have told me that I will be in the position they want me to stay in when I wake up. She described it as a sitting position with my legs and knees elevated. I'm not looking forward to having to get up as often as I know I will need to for the bathroom. She wants her patients up walking though and guess that is one way to guarantee you get up. I can do this!!!!

Yeah Susan! My birthday is almost here...I'm sorry, your PS date is almost here!  Sounds like you've got your ducks in a row and are ready.  We are so proud of all you've accomplished and you are in our prayers!

Susan ~ WOW! How exciting!!! Can you even believe it? I am so happy for you! tattoo belly button - what a funny idea!  If you have that done, you will have to post a pic! ~ Tara

SusieQ I bet every wls pt who is having plastics done is glad they didnt get tatooed...  OR those who did probably wish they hadn't...  can you imagine what a tattoo would look like after losing 130+ lbs, and then getting all the skin cut out?  Oh my I would hate to think.. I would much rather get the tattoo now !  Hmmm  lets think about what we will get... Remember as a kid when I stretched out a rubber band...  I held it tight with my elbow and hand, then wrote my name on it...  when I let go of the rubberband, I could not read my name.  I guess that's what it would be like with losing so much weight...  that tattooo sure would look weird.

I think a Beautiful "Angel" would be most fitting for the two of you!!!   What do you think???