kareyquilts

Three days, oh my! I think I'm actually getting calmer. Will try and get some before pictures tonight.

Lori: Are you staying overnight at the surgery center? If so, I would take your own comfortable pj's to wear home. They make you leave at 6:00 am and no one is there, so you might as well be comfortable. That way you don't need to change when you get home. I would bring a pillow to hold against your stomach, so when you go over a bump it doesn't hurt so much. Have some jello, salt-free crackers, broth and lo-cal puddings to take with your pain meds. Welcome to the flatlands. My thoughts and well wishes will be with you on Tuesday!

laurieg: Looks like you're doing great now. I hope you can use LBT because they're alot of great people on this site. If there's anything that I can do, let me know.

Karen: Glad you only have 1 drain left. You're definetly on the mend and your energy will get better every day! Congratulations!

I felt a little teary reading your responses. Thanks for the well thought out replies. I do think I'm getting a very bad case of the pre-surgery jitters. It is hard to know how much difference the excess skin gone will make. It's hard to visualize what it will look like without it? Loosing the skin and fat on my tummy has been such a huge difference for my confidence and sense of well being. It's hard to think that getting the rest done will have as much impact as the tummy tuck and breast lift had. It's just hard to know. I feel like I have fought the good fight and done all that I could to make myself better. I do love my brother, but we had given/leant him alot of money in the last few years. He can't catch a break, but he and his wife also make a lot of decisions based on emotions instead of sound financial principles. If I give my brother the money (which he hasn't asked for), I'm not sure that it will help in the long run, it might just prolong things for a while, unless both he and his wife can find good jobs again soon. Life can sure be a struggle for some people. I have thought long and hard about what I want to do after this weight loss journey is complete. I have been so focused for the last 2 years. I am ready to work on my career, make some physical goals (like biking across Europe) and do some humantarian work, perhaps for my Church. I guess I need to finish what I have started with the weight loss and continue to think about how I will pay-it-forward. I keep praying about this, but so far I haven't felt inspired about the direction my life should take. I have thought that this would make a good thread for those of us who are at or near goal. How are we going to pay-it-forward for all the great things that have happened to and for us? I'm going to breath deeply, try and relax and think about this surgery long and hard. Unless something else happens I will probably go ahead as scheduled. (Taking some long deep breaths here).

Well, I almost decided to call and cancel my surgery yesterday. My brother is having major, MAJOR financial problems and I feel very selfish spending all this money on myself. It just feels so extravagant, especially with all the financial upheaval going on in the stock market, etc. I wish I had a crystal ball and could see into the future. We have "lost" a ton of money in the last week on our 40l k's, etc. I'm also feeling extemely anxious about all the procedures I'm having. People close to me, keep telling me that I look fine and shouldn't be doing this to myself. My weight trainer is really expressing this strongly, which is nice that he cares, but part of me thinks he's going to miss the income. I'm getting a little cynical about things like this. My husband is getting anxious about my surgery and that is also rubbing off on me. It's hard to stay strong when everyone around you is so negative. I need to take my own before pictures and remind myself why I am doing all this. Maybe I should help my brother instead, I don't know. We have helped him a lot in the past and it seems that every bad thing that can affect the economy happens to him. Now he and his wife are both unemployed and his son's school loan program was cancelled (a failed bank) so now he has to leave college. He doesn't have his house payment this month, etc. His problems are so serious and here I am spending mega bucks to get rid of a little skin (okay a lot of skin)! Am I being mega selfish? Just not sure!

Fluid build up doesn't sound fun. Glad everything else is going well for you!

Karen: I'm sure that Dr. Schulman will respond to this, but I think that you should get your band checked. It sounds like it may have slipped. You shouldn't be nauseated that far out from surgery. Unfortunately, I had a similar experience when I had my TT. I think that when my port was replaced they may have pulled too hard on the band. I had problems similar to what you are describing and ended up having to have my band replaced. I wished that I would have checked it out much sooner. I wish you the best.

Becky: So sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. I was afraid that things weren't going well when we didn't hear from you. I will keep your family in my prayers and thoughts.

Looking forward to feeling very relaxed! Just suffering from insomnia and anxiety about 3-4:00 am every night (with 8 more days to go)! Lunesta works fairly well to get me to that point, sometimes longer. I guess I'll work on deep breathing and positive imaging. I do remember that even though I was in pain after the surgery, the anxiety was gone and that was wonderful. This too shall pass. Thanks for the advice!

Wishing you the best. I'm sure you'll find a doc that will work with you!

Any suggestions for pre-surgery jitters? Is it alright to take a sleeping aid, ie. Lunesta?

Sorry the insurance didn't work out!

The barn raising went well. It was wonderful to reconnect with so much family! I cooked my heart out and I'm afraid to weigh myself. I'm going to have to work out extra hard tomorrow! Thanks for the well wishes everyone!

Congratulations, glad your slip is better!

Renewed: Did you have any problems with anesthesia when you got your lapband? If not, I bet you'll be fine. It's totally normal to worry about waking up. I sure did and do. It really puts you in touch with your own mortality. My mom and DH didn't want me to risk it and they don't want me to this time, etiher. This is how I feel about it: Is there a risk? Yes. Do my doctors care about me living through the procedure? Yes. Will I be monitored carefully for ANY signs of distress? Yes. Do I think my surgery day will be my day to go to Heaven? NO! I think that I still have a purpose on this earth, if I didn't than I could be taken will crossing the street or choke on my food, or have a heart attack, etc. (well you get the idea)! Sometimes, you have to walk by faith. It's a pretty calculated risk. There are certain thresholds of time that are safe, etc. If you have faith in your doc, than you have to put your life in their hands. Trusting someone else and giving them control, is the absolutely hardest thing to do, but it's like flying in an airplane, there are times when we don't get to be in control. I say stay focused on your goals, breath and think positive thoughts! Sorry if I wrote an essay! Just take deep breaths and try and not let others fears overwhelm you!

Lori: It's going to be great. I'm sure Dr. S will do a wonderful job and the pain goes a way before you know it! YEAH! I really do hope I get to meet you!

Joanie: You do have a while to wait! Why are you waiting so long? I've been waiting for 3 months for my 2nd go round and it's way too long to be worrying about it. I just get too many questions and anxiety's, but it does give you lots of time to exercise and get in super shape. You're gong to love the flatlands. Look forward to sharing your journey!

My, you're hard core to even attempt the exercise thing so soon! I know it's really depressing and boring not to be active, but get some good movies or something! LOL! Hope you're feeling better soon!

Thanks for all the well wishes! It is truly appreciated! Karen, thanks for the egg crate suggestion, I'll try and make that happen! I'm actually feeling calmer since my pre-op appointment. I wish I could have talked my ps into doing the inner thighs at the same time, I tried my hardest, showing him before weight loss pictures, etc., but he said it was just too much with everything else. Don't know that I'll ever get them done, because these surgeries are such a disruption of one's life. Maybe in a year, I'll feel differently, but I don't think so! I'm hoping that I'll make friends with my scars and all will be well. Rigt now, I'm trying to nip a cold. I'm using Zicam and Emergen-C and my doc gave me a Z pack. Keep me in your thoughts that this cold will be through soon and not disrupt my surgery date! Right now, we're getting ready to go up to our cabin and have an old fashioned "barn raising." There will be about 40 men, family and friends to help us and I will be cooking my little heart out all weekend. Not what you want to be doing when you're not feeling well, but so thankful that so many want to help us! I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for the support!

Frangi: Glad to hear from you. I guess you're getting to know Miami better than you would have liked to?! Sorry for all the problems, but glad that they can help you with it. I'm getting very nervous/excited about my surgery. I had a discussion with the doctor yesterday about the size of my butt. Seems it will be round at the top, but maybe still a little flat at the bottom. I guess we'll see. Glad I trust my doctor. Take care of yourself, cutie. It will all be better soon!

Okay it is going to be Halloween and this will be a bit of a gruesome party, but exciting never-the-less!

I've decided to start a new thread for my 2nd round of plastic surgery. Here is the link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f12/kareyquilts-arms-butt-thighs-oh-my-77529/#post1016720

Well, I'm ready for round two! (I had a tummy tuck, lipo and breast lift 6 months ago). I just had my two week pre-op appointment with my plastic surgeon today. My journey is almost complete. I wanted to have lost my last 10 pounds but other than that, I'm almost done with this wieght loss adventure that started a little over two years ago. I'm going to have my arms done, lipo of the thighs, a thigh and butt lift and an anchor revision to my tummy tuck. My doc is estimating about 6 hours for the surgery. I'm very nervous, but excited too. I will post some before pictures soon. So, come along and share my experience. Hopefully, we'll learn from one another!

Well this is exciting news! I just saw my ps today for my 2 week pre-op appointment. I'm totally excited to be going under the knife was again!