It's officially been 1 month since my plastic surgery. I'm healing much faster than I thought. I can see now what the surgeon meant about possibly needing revisions. I guess when they take so much skin (as I had), it's hard to get it all due to the swelling, etc. Now that the swelling is mostly gone I'm seeing where more needs to go. Fortunately my surgeon does revisions in his office for a much reduced rate. I'm hopefully that for $1,000-$1,500 I'll get all the revisions I want done and over with. The healing rate for the revisions should be quite a bit faster than for the major stuff that I had done a month ago. All in all this is exciting.
And **suprise!!** the numbness that I had going in my abdominal region is quickly disappearing. I have a friend who had a tummy tuck and her chest done at the same time. She is 8 months out and still numb. She says she expects the numbness to take a year or two to go away. That's alright except the numbness is irritating. It just takes time for the nerves to grow back. However, I'm thrilled with how fast the numbness for me is dissipating.
Anyway, I have my daughter again this weekend. It's been nice to be closer to 100% and to be able to get out of the house and run around. She wanted to have a sleep over with her best friend on Friday night. Her best friend's mom is pretty upset at my ex and since we are great friends it wasn't hard to work out the arrangements. They had a ball and were not happy mid-afternoon on Saturday when everyone had to go to their separate houses.
This weekend is a lot more fun than the previous two I spent with my daughter simply because I'm physically about 90% of normal. My lower abdominal muscles are not quite 100% and the center, lower part of my abdominal area still bugs me (I think it will until after revision) but otherwise I can't really complain. We've been running all over the place.
So much more I wanted to write but it's going to have to wait until later. Got to run.
Weight Loss
My Playlist
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Importance of Water
General Facts
* 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
* 83% of Americans know they don’t drink enough water.
* Thirst in the mouth is only one of many indicators of dehydration.
* Thirst in the mouth sensations decrease significantly after age 30.
* By the time you are thirsty you are already dehydrated. Drink before you are thirsty.
* Drink twice as much as it takes to quench your thirst.
* Blood is 92% water. Brain is 75% water. Lungs are 90% water. Muscles are 75% water.
Health/Wellness and Disease
* 5 glasses of water/day: decreases risk of breast cancer by 79%, colon cancer by 45% and bladder cancer by 50%.
* Chronic dehydration causes: asthma, arthritis, kidney stones, gall stones, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, weight gain, migraines, loss of muscle tone and digestive complications.
* 8-10 glasses/day can significantly ease back and joint pain for 80% of sufferers.
* Water greatly increases the efficiency of the immune system in bone marrow, including its efficiency against cancer.
* Water helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Lou Gehrig’s disease.
* Water helps prevent glaucoma.
* Water reduces the incidence of morning sickness in pregnancy.
Performance and Focus
* Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue and performance reduction.
* A 2% drop in body fluid causes a 20% reduction in mental and physical performance.
* Water helps reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
* Water restores normal sleep rhythms.
Diet and Weight
* Even mild dehydration will slow metabolism as much as 3%—fewer calories burned.
* 1 glass of water shuts down midnight hunger for almost 100% of dieters.
* In 38% of Americans the thirst mechanism is so weak that thirst is mistaken for hunger.
* Adequate hydration relieves constipation and reduces fluid retention.
Aging and Beauty
* Aging is essentially dehydration.
* Water makes skin smooth and helps decrease the effects of aging.
* Water gives luster and shine to the eyes.
* Water decreases premenstrual pains and hot flashes.
* Dehydration prevents sex hormone production, a primary cause of impotence and loss of libido.
* 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
* 83% of Americans know they don’t drink enough water.
* Thirst in the mouth is only one of many indicators of dehydration.
* Thirst in the mouth sensations decrease significantly after age 30.
* By the time you are thirsty you are already dehydrated. Drink before you are thirsty.
* Drink twice as much as it takes to quench your thirst.
* Blood is 92% water. Brain is 75% water. Lungs are 90% water. Muscles are 75% water.
Health/Wellness and Disease
* 5 glasses of water/day: decreases risk of breast cancer by 79%, colon cancer by 45% and bladder cancer by 50%.
* Chronic dehydration causes: asthma, arthritis, kidney stones, gall stones, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, weight gain, migraines, loss of muscle tone and digestive complications.
* 8-10 glasses/day can significantly ease back and joint pain for 80% of sufferers.
* Water greatly increases the efficiency of the immune system in bone marrow, including its efficiency against cancer.
* Water helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Lou Gehrig’s disease.
* Water helps prevent glaucoma.
* Water reduces the incidence of morning sickness in pregnancy.
Performance and Focus
* Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue and performance reduction.
* A 2% drop in body fluid causes a 20% reduction in mental and physical performance.
* Water helps reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
* Water restores normal sleep rhythms.
Diet and Weight
* Even mild dehydration will slow metabolism as much as 3%—fewer calories burned.
* 1 glass of water shuts down midnight hunger for almost 100% of dieters.
* In 38% of Americans the thirst mechanism is so weak that thirst is mistaken for hunger.
* Adequate hydration relieves constipation and reduces fluid retention.
Aging and Beauty
* Aging is essentially dehydration.
* Water makes skin smooth and helps decrease the effects of aging.
* Water gives luster and shine to the eyes.
* Water decreases premenstrual pains and hot flashes.
* Dehydration prevents sex hormone production, a primary cause of impotence and loss of libido.
Recovery / Differences
Okay, so recovery continues. I can feel improvements every day. I have a tendon in my left arm that goes from my inner wrist, through my inner elbow, up through my bicep. The initial swelling irritated it and its tight beyond belief. I should recover over time but it sucks. My abdominal area and inner thighs are doing well.
I'm thinking of September as the timeline for the minor revisions that I need (and knew I'd need) -- that will have me well healed by the time my daughter and I do our Christmas time trip. Then probably February 2010 will see the second (and last) big plastic surgery that I want to get. And then it will all be about healing and getting excited about finally being where I've dreamed about being for so long.
I'm still amazed at the sizes I get into now. XL instead of 8XL/7XL (shirts). 36 waist instead of 58. Huge difference. And the best part is my ability to have better relationships with people, attract a better class of people, accomplish more every day, sleep better, breath better and finally get out and do the things I've not been able to do for so long. It's a different world now and I'm loving every minute of it.
Sean
I'm thinking of September as the timeline for the minor revisions that I need (and knew I'd need) -- that will have me well healed by the time my daughter and I do our Christmas time trip. Then probably February 2010 will see the second (and last) big plastic surgery that I want to get. And then it will all be about healing and getting excited about finally being where I've dreamed about being for so long.
I'm still amazed at the sizes I get into now. XL instead of 8XL/7XL (shirts). 36 waist instead of 58. Huge difference. And the best part is my ability to have better relationships with people, attract a better class of people, accomplish more every day, sleep better, breath better and finally get out and do the things I've not been able to do for so long. It's a different world now and I'm loving every minute of it.
Sean
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Recovery Update
Recovery gets better and better by the day. Went to my daughter's dance performance yesterday. Wow. She looks so grown up. Seems like just yesterday that she was so tiny and just learning how to talk. Why does the time have to go so fast? Makes me want to cry.
Anyway, I was able to part about 1/2 mile away and walk over to Kingsbury Hall, sit through the performance and walk back. Doesn't sound like a lot but if you've been through this type of plastic surgery, it's nothing more than a miracle.
I continue to weigh myself 2-3 times a day and I'm still fluctuating between 212 and 217 lbs. Woo-hoo! I still think I might find myself at 210 lbs one of these days. But you never know. I'm very happy with where I am.
Tomorrow I head back to work. It's going to be a big week trying to catch back up.
The swelling is going down and it's pretty obvious I'm going to need a revision on my stomach (middle abdominal area by the incision line). Irritating but I guess not all that surprising. In the end I'm going to need some minor revisions done on my arm and thigh scars as well to keep them from looking too nasty down the road.
So here's the thing about this type of surgery for those who have it after losing a ton of weight. When there is more skin on one side of the incision than the other (which happens a lot), it is next to impossible for the surgeon to completely match each side of the incision up when sewing the skin together. This is what causes the nasty scars. However, there are things that can be done after healing has occured to make it better. You just have to be willing to get it done. So pick a surgeon (Dr. Scott Haupt) who can do revisions like that in his office.
So glad my inner thigh ugliness is gone and my upper arms are no longer flapping in the wind. Yay!! I'm also happier about my abdominal area though I'm still not completely happy with it and don't want to live with the lower central part of my abdomen for the rest of my life. Not the way it looks right now. One more revision and then I'll be happy.
Happy Mother's Day!
Anyway, I was able to part about 1/2 mile away and walk over to Kingsbury Hall, sit through the performance and walk back. Doesn't sound like a lot but if you've been through this type of plastic surgery, it's nothing more than a miracle.
I continue to weigh myself 2-3 times a day and I'm still fluctuating between 212 and 217 lbs. Woo-hoo! I still think I might find myself at 210 lbs one of these days. But you never know. I'm very happy with where I am.
Tomorrow I head back to work. It's going to be a big week trying to catch back up.
The swelling is going down and it's pretty obvious I'm going to need a revision on my stomach (middle abdominal area by the incision line). Irritating but I guess not all that surprising. In the end I'm going to need some minor revisions done on my arm and thigh scars as well to keep them from looking too nasty down the road.
So here's the thing about this type of surgery for those who have it after losing a ton of weight. When there is more skin on one side of the incision than the other (which happens a lot), it is next to impossible for the surgeon to completely match each side of the incision up when sewing the skin together. This is what causes the nasty scars. However, there are things that can be done after healing has occured to make it better. You just have to be willing to get it done. So pick a surgeon (Dr. Scott Haupt) who can do revisions like that in his office.
So glad my inner thigh ugliness is gone and my upper arms are no longer flapping in the wind. Yay!! I'm also happier about my abdominal area though I'm still not completely happy with it and don't want to live with the lower central part of my abdomen for the rest of my life. Not the way it looks right now. One more revision and then I'll be happy.
Happy Mother's Day!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Outline of a Weight Loss Plan
Advice I offered a friend who is struggling. I tailored it originally for her but have tried to tweak it here to fit everyone. I hope it helps.
FOOD:
1. You have to get rid of all unnecessary simple carbs (bread, pasta, goodies) from your house. Talk to your significant other about this. If he/she needs them in the house perhaps he/she can hide them or somehow put them where they can't be seen or found by you. He/She needs to help you with this and be a good partner. As you start losing weight and get your mental strength, having some of that around won't bother you as much. But keep the amount of temptations around you down to a minimum.
2. You have to get into a routine of eating the same foods every day. I know some like to argue with me about this but if you do that you will get into the mind set of "food is fuel" rather than always eating for pleasure and taste which leads you to lean towards food for comfort when you're bored, stressed, lonely or just need to unwind. It is important to realize that if you aren't going to hit the gym 5 times a week, you are going to need to compensate by how you think about and use food. It's good to do this even if you are working out. But we can talk about that later.
3. You HAVE to keep a food journal. And you HAVE to write everything down in it. What you eat, what you drink, what you weigh. EVERY DAY.
4. You need to time your meals. Space them out at least 4 hours but ideally 5 hours apart. Never sooner. If you get to where you're starving, drink water. Water helps curb the appetite.
5. Plan your meals (especially the caloric intake). Make sure they are as close to 1:1 (Protein:Carb) as possible -- even more on the protein side if possible. Plan on no more than 300 calories for 3 meals a day and if you need one snack no more than 150 calories for that. Eat just enough to satiate your hunger never until you are completely filled up. And never eat more than 4-6 ounces. Give yourself 30-45 minutes to eat. Don't eat more than your portion. When the time is up or you've eaten your portion, you're done.
6. Get your sleep in EVERY night. That's important. The best weight loss comes from when you're getting proper rest.
7. Drink your water (and nothing BUT water). But not only that, space it out. Between breakfast and lunch you need to drink at least 22 ounces. Between lunch and dinner you need to drink at least 22 ounces. Between dinner and bed you need to drink at least 22 ounces. Get water bottles that show the ounces on the side so you can track. Write what you drink down in your food journal. Remember not to drink more than 8 ounces at any one time. For example if you drink at 10am, no more than 8 ounces. You can drink more a few minutes later.
8. Make sure you move for an hour every day. That can be three times where you're walking around a store for 20 minutes or 30 minutes around a store and 30 minutes on a treadmill or an hour around the park. Just move every day. It doesn't have to be formal exercise but you have to get out and move. Walk to the store. Ride your bike to the store. Whatever. Just move and get out of the house to do it as much as possible.
Your new MOTTO: Whenever you need to do something but your brain says "I don't want to right now I'll do it later" that is a red flag and you need to immediately get up and do it.
If you mess up by say, eating a sweet, don't despair. Write it down in your journal and do something to compensate like go out for a little walk. Then promise yourself you will do better tomorrow.
WEIGHING
Weigh yourself every single day. I don't normally say this and still don't think it's a good idea for anyone at the beginning or middle of the journey but you are so close to your goal weight that you should really be doing this. Every day. Same time, ideally naked so you're wearing the exact same thing every time.
Write down what you weigh in your food journal every day along with the time you weighed (just in case you deviate).
Don't get discouraged if you don't lose fast or as consistently as you want. It NEVER happens that way. If you have 40 lbs you want to lose, you will lose the weight. But plan on it taking you 6 months to lose it all. Let's say by Thanksgiving. It will probably happen faster but plan on it taking at least that amount of time. Remember: The last will be a lot slower than the first bit. And don't worry about how much time it takes because you are in this for LIFE. Remember that as well.
SNACKS
Try cottage cheese, Kroger's Carb Master yogurt, mozarrella cheese sticks or something like that where there is a lot of protein and the calories are low (under 150). There will be days at first (especially the first week) where you'll be craving sweets and carbs like nothing else. Each time you successfully beat the cravings, the next craving won't be as bad.
Don't be afraid to add another low calorie snack if you absolutely have to but the second one needs to be as under 100 calories. And no, low fat cookies are not good snacks even if the calories are low -- you need to have protein in your snacks.
EXERCISE
If you are working out at the gym or anything that is more than just walking around a store, remember that within 30 minutes of your workout, you need to eat protein. The more protein the better. Stay within your portion size. EAS protein shakes (the small size) are great for this. So are the Premier Nutrition protein bars (both you can buy at Sam's Club or Costco). Both of these count as meals so plan accordingly.
SUGGESTION
I know we had a discussion about protein shakes in the past. And for someone just out from WLS, I would never suggest this. But to help with your cravings, EAS shakes (Sam's Club, Costco) are good to use for a meal here and there (they are only 170 calories for the small ones -- don't get the big ones). Use them as a meal, not a snack. They are high in protein, low in carbs, and the chocolate flavor will totally help with your cravings. Just don't use them too often (no more than say 1 time a day and no more than 3-4 times a week).
FOOD:
1. You have to get rid of all unnecessary simple carbs (bread, pasta, goodies) from your house. Talk to your significant other about this. If he/she needs them in the house perhaps he/she can hide them or somehow put them where they can't be seen or found by you. He/She needs to help you with this and be a good partner. As you start losing weight and get your mental strength, having some of that around won't bother you as much. But keep the amount of temptations around you down to a minimum.
2. You have to get into a routine of eating the same foods every day. I know some like to argue with me about this but if you do that you will get into the mind set of "food is fuel" rather than always eating for pleasure and taste which leads you to lean towards food for comfort when you're bored, stressed, lonely or just need to unwind. It is important to realize that if you aren't going to hit the gym 5 times a week, you are going to need to compensate by how you think about and use food. It's good to do this even if you are working out. But we can talk about that later.
3. You HAVE to keep a food journal. And you HAVE to write everything down in it. What you eat, what you drink, what you weigh. EVERY DAY.
4. You need to time your meals. Space them out at least 4 hours but ideally 5 hours apart. Never sooner. If you get to where you're starving, drink water. Water helps curb the appetite.
5. Plan your meals (especially the caloric intake). Make sure they are as close to 1:1 (Protein:Carb) as possible -- even more on the protein side if possible. Plan on no more than 300 calories for 3 meals a day and if you need one snack no more than 150 calories for that. Eat just enough to satiate your hunger never until you are completely filled up. And never eat more than 4-6 ounces. Give yourself 30-45 minutes to eat. Don't eat more than your portion. When the time is up or you've eaten your portion, you're done.
6. Get your sleep in EVERY night. That's important. The best weight loss comes from when you're getting proper rest.
7. Drink your water (and nothing BUT water). But not only that, space it out. Between breakfast and lunch you need to drink at least 22 ounces. Between lunch and dinner you need to drink at least 22 ounces. Between dinner and bed you need to drink at least 22 ounces. Get water bottles that show the ounces on the side so you can track. Write what you drink down in your food journal. Remember not to drink more than 8 ounces at any one time. For example if you drink at 10am, no more than 8 ounces. You can drink more a few minutes later.
8. Make sure you move for an hour every day. That can be three times where you're walking around a store for 20 minutes or 30 minutes around a store and 30 minutes on a treadmill or an hour around the park. Just move every day. It doesn't have to be formal exercise but you have to get out and move. Walk to the store. Ride your bike to the store. Whatever. Just move and get out of the house to do it as much as possible.
Your new MOTTO: Whenever you need to do something but your brain says "I don't want to right now I'll do it later" that is a red flag and you need to immediately get up and do it.
If you mess up by say, eating a sweet, don't despair. Write it down in your journal and do something to compensate like go out for a little walk. Then promise yourself you will do better tomorrow.
WEIGHING
Weigh yourself every single day. I don't normally say this and still don't think it's a good idea for anyone at the beginning or middle of the journey but you are so close to your goal weight that you should really be doing this. Every day. Same time, ideally naked so you're wearing the exact same thing every time.
Write down what you weigh in your food journal every day along with the time you weighed (just in case you deviate).
Don't get discouraged if you don't lose fast or as consistently as you want. It NEVER happens that way. If you have 40 lbs you want to lose, you will lose the weight. But plan on it taking you 6 months to lose it all. Let's say by Thanksgiving. It will probably happen faster but plan on it taking at least that amount of time. Remember: The last will be a lot slower than the first bit. And don't worry about how much time it takes because you are in this for LIFE. Remember that as well.
SNACKS
Try cottage cheese, Kroger's Carb Master yogurt, mozarrella cheese sticks or something like that where there is a lot of protein and the calories are low (under 150). There will be days at first (especially the first week) where you'll be craving sweets and carbs like nothing else. Each time you successfully beat the cravings, the next craving won't be as bad.
Don't be afraid to add another low calorie snack if you absolutely have to but the second one needs to be as under 100 calories. And no, low fat cookies are not good snacks even if the calories are low -- you need to have protein in your snacks.
EXERCISE
If you are working out at the gym or anything that is more than just walking around a store, remember that within 30 minutes of your workout, you need to eat protein. The more protein the better. Stay within your portion size. EAS protein shakes (the small size) are great for this. So are the Premier Nutrition protein bars (both you can buy at Sam's Club or Costco). Both of these count as meals so plan accordingly.
SUGGESTION
I know we had a discussion about protein shakes in the past. And for someone just out from WLS, I would never suggest this. But to help with your cravings, EAS shakes (Sam's Club, Costco) are good to use for a meal here and there (they are only 170 calories for the small ones -- don't get the big ones). Use them as a meal, not a snack. They are high in protein, low in carbs, and the chocolate flavor will totally help with your cravings. Just don't use them too often (no more than say 1 time a day and no more than 3-4 times a week).
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
General Ramblings [Recovery/Plastics]
In my last two days of recovery before headed back to work. I'm glad to be going back to work as I'm bored out of my mind but I'm also a bit worried as I'm nowhere near 100%. When I'm up too much my lower abdominal area swells and hurts. It's swollen all the time but it gets worse. However, I don't know if another week would fix that. Doc says it will take 3-4 months for everything to get back to normal.
Don't know when stage two of the process is going to take place. Hmmmm. Going to have to figure that one out. Ideally I'd like it to happen this year but I don't know if that will work or not. What I do know is that the scars are jagged and ugly. I know in time there will be some fading but what about the jagged part? I guess I was hoping for some tight little scar lines. I'll have to talk to him about that. Perhaps there's something that can be done for them on the back end.
This is going to end up being all about money. I need to have the excess skin on my back removed which will also pull my chest skin tight. I expect that will involve the surgical center again so I expect that to be expensive. I'm also going to want to have a revision on my abdomen, I can tell that already. $250/hour and it will probably take 4 hours. I'd like the skin on my neck pulled up (though I guess I could live without it). Don't know if he'd do that in-office or not. If he would, that's $250/hour again and who knows how many hours. And finally I'd like to have the excess skin on my lower legs (in particular my calves) pulled tight. Again I don't know if he'd do that in-office or not. But basically if he's willing to do many of those in office, I'm still looking at a couple of years to get everything done and a couple of years to heal completely. *sigh* I just wish I could get it all done right now and be done with it -- then two years down the line be completely healed and have it be a memory. But it's really a money issue. I don't have enough to get everything done right now.
Okay there. So now you've discovered my world. I'm not a plastics addict. I promise. I'm not looking for the perfect body, I just want to make the one I have a good one so I can enjoy my newfound freedom as much as possible. I can't wait until I can jump on a mountain bike again and go out with my daughter. Fortunately this past weekend with her was rainy. She really wanted to go biking and was bummed when she found out I couldn't go. But the rain helped to soften that blow. Who knows when the swollen part of my abdomen and the stitched up incisions of my inner thighs will be ready for that. Hopefully soon.
Don't know when stage two of the process is going to take place. Hmmmm. Going to have to figure that one out. Ideally I'd like it to happen this year but I don't know if that will work or not. What I do know is that the scars are jagged and ugly. I know in time there will be some fading but what about the jagged part? I guess I was hoping for some tight little scar lines. I'll have to talk to him about that. Perhaps there's something that can be done for them on the back end.
This is going to end up being all about money. I need to have the excess skin on my back removed which will also pull my chest skin tight. I expect that will involve the surgical center again so I expect that to be expensive. I'm also going to want to have a revision on my abdomen, I can tell that already. $250/hour and it will probably take 4 hours. I'd like the skin on my neck pulled up (though I guess I could live without it). Don't know if he'd do that in-office or not. If he would, that's $250/hour again and who knows how many hours. And finally I'd like to have the excess skin on my lower legs (in particular my calves) pulled tight. Again I don't know if he'd do that in-office or not. But basically if he's willing to do many of those in office, I'm still looking at a couple of years to get everything done and a couple of years to heal completely. *sigh* I just wish I could get it all done right now and be done with it -- then two years down the line be completely healed and have it be a memory. But it's really a money issue. I don't have enough to get everything done right now.
Okay there. So now you've discovered my world. I'm not a plastics addict. I promise. I'm not looking for the perfect body, I just want to make the one I have a good one so I can enjoy my newfound freedom as much as possible. I can't wait until I can jump on a mountain bike again and go out with my daughter. Fortunately this past weekend with her was rainy. She really wanted to go biking and was bummed when she found out I couldn't go. But the rain helped to soften that blow. Who knows when the swollen part of my abdomen and the stitched up incisions of my inner thighs will be ready for that. Hopefully soon.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Phases of Plastic Surgery
Okay so I'm still swollen in the middle of my abdomen down at the bottom. You know, under the belly button and through the pubic area. If that swelling would go down, I'd feel great. But nooo.. apparently it takes like 3 months for that to go down. 3 months?!?! Crap. That's a long time.
However, the good news is that I actually got good sleep last night. My sleep cycle is so screwed up and I've been on mostly bed rest for so long that I really don't sleep much. But periodically I get so tired that I literally pass out and sleep well. Last night was one of those. So nice. Now I'm all rested.
Anyway, I'm already planning out phase two, incisions on either side to take extra skin from chest and upper back and an incision above the buttocks to lift the buttocks and to take the extra skin from the lower back. As I understand it, the lower back skin will be folded into the buttocks area to give me more contouring of my butt. That will be nice as I don't currently have an ass. Phase two will complete everything. After that there are some minor things I'd like (calves, neck, revision of abdomen) but those are all minor and I think my doctor will do them all in his office at $250/hr. But the big two phases will finally be complete!! Yay!! The question is when will I be sufficiently recovered enough from this to do part two and when can I, in good conscience, fit phase two into my work schedule. Time will tell. Either in September/October or in like January (or March). At least that's what I'm thinking.
Sean
However, the good news is that I actually got good sleep last night. My sleep cycle is so screwed up and I've been on mostly bed rest for so long that I really don't sleep much. But periodically I get so tired that I literally pass out and sleep well. Last night was one of those. So nice. Now I'm all rested.
Anyway, I'm already planning out phase two, incisions on either side to take extra skin from chest and upper back and an incision above the buttocks to lift the buttocks and to take the extra skin from the lower back. As I understand it, the lower back skin will be folded into the buttocks area to give me more contouring of my butt. That will be nice as I don't currently have an ass. Phase two will complete everything. After that there are some minor things I'd like (calves, neck, revision of abdomen) but those are all minor and I think my doctor will do them all in his office at $250/hr. But the big two phases will finally be complete!! Yay!! The question is when will I be sufficiently recovered enough from this to do part two and when can I, in good conscience, fit phase two into my work schedule. Time will tell. Either in September/October or in like January (or March). At least that's what I'm thinking.
Sean
Friday, May 1, 2009
Happy May Day - Update
Got on the scale today and *surprise!* 212.4 lbs. So exciting. 210 is just around the corner. The most interesting thing is that I haven't had a simple carb in 8 days now. The weight loss is related to that as well as the plastic surgery but the result is that I'm more dedicated to eating right now than I ever was before.
Speaking of plastic surgery, I'm feeling good today (day 8). In about 30 minutes I'm going in to have the last drain removed. Also, I'm almost able to stand up straight. At least enough so that it's not uncomfortable as it was before. I can do most anything, I just need to take it easy on the abdominal muscles.
At this point the hard part is having the patience for the incisions to scar over, the scars to become pliable (if you don't know what I mean by this let me know), and ultimately for the scars to fade. But I've got time. I'm just impatient.
By the way, what I've learned over this recovery period is that there is a show on Comedy Central called "Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire" that is absolutely hysterical. The first time I saw it, I went "cheesy!" but as I've watched it (out of boredom), I realized the pure comedy genius of the show. It's so worth watching.
Speaking of plastic surgery, I'm feeling good today (day 8). In about 30 minutes I'm going in to have the last drain removed. Also, I'm almost able to stand up straight. At least enough so that it's not uncomfortable as it was before. I can do most anything, I just need to take it easy on the abdominal muscles.
At this point the hard part is having the patience for the incisions to scar over, the scars to become pliable (if you don't know what I mean by this let me know), and ultimately for the scars to fade. But I've got time. I'm just impatient.
By the way, what I've learned over this recovery period is that there is a show on Comedy Central called "Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire" that is absolutely hysterical. The first time I saw it, I went "cheesy!" but as I've watched it (out of boredom), I realized the pure comedy genius of the show. It's so worth watching.
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