I had my first consult with my plastic surgeon today and am now booked in for a Torso Lift on the 2nd of April.

I will need to get completely unfilled one week prior to the surgery, and while I'm recovering in hospital, my bariatric surgeon will visit and refill me. I can commence walking as soon as I'm home from my week-long stay in hospital, and work up to my regular exercise regime over the following 4-6 weeks.

I'm being ring-barked, plus having skin removed from my upper tummy, my stomache muscles knitted together and lipo on my mons area to remove any fatty deposits that have remained there.

My surgeon says he usually asks weight loss patients to wait until their weight stabilises, but in my case, my loose skin, he believes, has more to do with my previous pregnancies, which has been exacerbated by the weight loss, so he's happy to do it now.

So the countdown begins!

Thanks for the great advice, kareyquilts, I'll definitely be packing my ipod and a few books, and I have asked my DH to bring in my laptop if I ask for it.

I'll also have a look around for that toilet riser, it sounds like I'll need it, and hey, I'm prepared to try anything that may make life more comfortable!

Bath: Toileting: Elevated Toilet Seats - Standard:

This is one place to buy the raised toilet seat.

Walgreens sells the raised seat also, about $35.00

Eep! Only 22 days until the big day!!

Today I'll be undergoing the most painful part of the whole thing: I'm going to pay for my surgery!

Also doing my bloodwork today. Then am donating my 2 units of blood over the next two weeks.

Also going to order my kelo-cote silicone spray today and will pick up the toilet riser next week.

<deep breaths>

Edited March 11, 200917 yr by lellow

Deep breathing is very helpful! Sounds like your getting organized and that is a good thing!

Lol kareyquilts, I think I've been pretty successful at NOT thinking about it too much of the last few weeks, but now with anaesthetist appts, bloodwork and unfill appts etc all in the nest few weeks, it all seems real suddenly.

I have to remember to take 'before' pics too!

lellow: You really should take before pictures. I still look at mine to reassure myself that I look better and that the pain was well worth it. It's especially helpful right after the surgery. You don't have to share them with everyone else, thought it would be helpful to others.

I just got a mammogram done today for a before base line and to make sure the girls are healthy.

I so completely understand about the painful paying part. I do mine next week Tuesday.

I go shopping this weekend for wedge pillows and toilet risers.

You are going to be so happy you did this!!!!!!!!

Wow! Your time is almost here. I am getting nervous and excited for you. I can't wait to see your results.

Cathy

Thanks mrgrta,

I can't believe I'm only two weeks away, either!

I went to give a unit of my own blood yesterday and discovered I'm borderline anaemic and have low blood pressure. They ended up taking 300cc from me anyway (instead of the 450cc they originally wanted) and are now saying that they're not sure I'll be able to donate the 2nd unit next week, JIC I end up with too low a blood count for surgery.

Am feeling a bit fatigued today because of the donation, too.

I hope this doesn't affect my ability to actually have the surgery. I would be devastated if after all this, it got postponed.

Still haven't finished my shopping for the surgery either. Spent most of yesterday in bed after the blood donation, so didn't get anything done. Still can't exercise due to my injured inner thigh muscle, too, so am feeling a little low at the moment.

Lellow,

Start eating things with Iron like red meat, spinach and broccoli. Get a suppliment too.

Don't get low. You'll have your surgery. You will, you will, you will!

Hope you feel better soon!

Thanks Juli. I think I will be having the surgery. I haven't had a call from my PS saying otherwise so far.

I've actually been on Iron supplements for the last three months, and it's only increased my blood count marginally from my BT when I had my lapband surgery. But I guess I still had the lapband surgery despite my low count, so I think I should be okay. Just probably won't be able to donate any more blood though.

Hey lellow.. you hanging in there????

I cant wait till you and julie join me in the flatlands!!!

to tell yu the truth i was able to get on and off the toilet without a riser... but i do wish i had the wedge pillows... actually ill see if i could con my mom into buying me one.. still need to sleep in that psition... i have been using alot of pillows!!!

and why do you need a silicone spray????:smile:

Thanks for the tip, Jeni. I still haven't gotten round to getting a toilet riser, but will definitely put a wedge pillow on my list.

As for the silicone spray - I've read that silicone assists the healing of scarring so that it doesn't form keloids (raised scars). I'm also olive-skinned, and silicone apparently can help with reducing discolouration too.

Some of my lapband scars are raised and darkened, so if a silicone spray will reduce that sort of thing, I'm willing to give it a try!

Edited March 23, 200917 yr by lellow

Thanks for the tip, Jeni. I still haven't gotten round to getting a toilet riser, but will definitely put a wedge pillow on my list.

As for the silicone spray - I've read that silicone assists the healing of scarring so that it doesn't form keloids (raised scars). I'm also olive-skinned, and silicone apparently can help with reducing discolouration too.

Some of my lapband scars are raised and darkened, so if a silicone spray will reduce that sort of thing, I'm willing to give it a try!

what is the name of that spray!!!!, actually all my scars have a discoloration to them, and one of them was slightly raised until this ps, it seems pulling the skin down helped flatten it out... but ya i definately would like too try it..

if your into the whole homepathic remedies, there are 2 you can use

1.) Arnica Montana- helps prevent bruising

2.) Staphysagria- promotes healing of surgical wounds

im using both, the company that makes them is Boiron, hope that helps. in the usa they sell them at whole foods, im not sure if you have one of those in australia...

Help maybe if i ever make it dow there you can show me around!!.. Its my dream vacation to go down to australia for like a month!!:crying: