I had my 18-month appointments last week, and everything is going well. It was a little surreal. My bloodwork numbers were awesome. I still haven't gotten below 200 pounds yet, which is somewhat frustrating; the scale has reflected every number and fraction between 205 and 200.9 in the last month. My nutritionist said, "It's only a number, remember how far you've come. Think about your progress." The surgeon had the same types of things to say, and it was a little surreal, hearing these kinds of phrases from several medical professionals all in the space of one day: "You're healthy." "You look good." "You're doing everything right." I had to keep shaking my head to remind myself it was real. (Where were these people when I weighed 150 twenty-five years ago and the doctors were all up in my grill? When I was torturing myself and being tortured about my weight all through my teen years? I can't even think about it very long or I go bonkers.)
I'm taking the supplements, I'm swimming, and I'm looking forward to getting plastic surgery. (not getting it per se, but the final result) I will probably try and get it when my temp job ends, working around any other job I may get and also my school schedule. It's amazing to feel this good and love silly things like buying clothes on Ebay. A lot of women my age could care less about that stuff and it does seem frivolous when you're 42, but you know what? I don't have kids so I'm not depriving anyone else, and I never got to feel young and pretty, whether I was or not. I didn't get to enjoy being young, period. (Frankly, being 'young' was hell for me.) I'm not going to apologize for feeling younger and better than I've ever felt, or wanting to do 'young' things at midlife, cause I think it's amazing! It's this amazing GIFT that I've been given, but also one I feel that I've earned. I have worked for it and will have to continue to work for it, and it is so very worth it.
Showing posts with label post-op appointment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label post-op appointment. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Post-op appointment with surgeon
It happened today. My surgery was nine days ago. I have, indeed, lost fifteen pounds. (!) They very kindly whipped out a letter to send to the insurance with my appeal claim for not covering the g-d bloodwork. How can insurance deny it with a nice letter on letterhead that says, "We sent her to the lab, please apply in-network coverage" and signed by my surgeon? Well, I certainly don't know, but I will be saving a copy just the same.
They said my incisions looked good (they're pretty disgusting if you ask me, but not bad as incisions go) and they were happy with everything. It actually was a pretty brief appointment. I see them again in three months. I am glad to have the bandages off--and no more Glad Press and Seal showers--but the sites are still sensitive so I am careful to position myself with a rolled-up towel or something, which helps. Each one is maybe an inch long, and I know they won't show much when all is said and done. They said my color looked good and that it was good that I was up and walking around. I told them I still have a fair amount of pain and fatigue, and they said that was all normal and recommended that I still rest another week or two and just don't push myself too hard, and prescribed more of that lovely liquid Demerol.
I decided to go out to lunch with my friend that drove me, so that was my first post-op restaurant trip. I ordered a cup of clam chowder and a glass of water, and finished about half and have no need to eat for the rest of the day or night. I drank a protein bullet to make sure I got my RDA in.
After that we went to TJ Maxx and I bought a few things--bras in smaller sizes (a gamble, but hard to pass up at $9.99) and some shirts. I won't buy anything smaller than a 1X, and I won't buy any pants because I will need to try those on when the time comes. I actually stuck mostly to 2Xs. I can't imagine myself being smaller than an XL, ever.
Just being out for three or four hours completely exhausted me. It was good to be out in the world a bit, but now being at home mostly horizontal seems like the most fabulous thing ever.
I see the nutritionist Monday.
They said my incisions looked good (they're pretty disgusting if you ask me, but not bad as incisions go) and they were happy with everything. It actually was a pretty brief appointment. I see them again in three months. I am glad to have the bandages off--and no more Glad Press and Seal showers--but the sites are still sensitive so I am careful to position myself with a rolled-up towel or something, which helps. Each one is maybe an inch long, and I know they won't show much when all is said and done. They said my color looked good and that it was good that I was up and walking around. I told them I still have a fair amount of pain and fatigue, and they said that was all normal and recommended that I still rest another week or two and just don't push myself too hard, and prescribed more of that lovely liquid Demerol.
I decided to go out to lunch with my friend that drove me, so that was my first post-op restaurant trip. I ordered a cup of clam chowder and a glass of water, and finished about half and have no need to eat for the rest of the day or night. I drank a protein bullet to make sure I got my RDA in.
After that we went to TJ Maxx and I bought a few things--bras in smaller sizes (a gamble, but hard to pass up at $9.99) and some shirts. I won't buy anything smaller than a 1X, and I won't buy any pants because I will need to try those on when the time comes. I actually stuck mostly to 2Xs. I can't imagine myself being smaller than an XL, ever.
Just being out for three or four hours completely exhausted me. It was good to be out in the world a bit, but now being at home mostly horizontal seems like the most fabulous thing ever.
I see the nutritionist Monday.
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About Me
- Salted with Shadows
- Seattle, WA, United States
- This blog focuses largely on a personal journey to and through weight-loss surgery. It's also about reading, writing, animals, photography, love, humor, music, thinking out loud, and memes. In other words...life.
