I Now Realize I've Used and Abused my Body, So I'm Fixing It! - Bakersfield, CA

Yes there is definitely up and down days:-( I think most of my worse days were caused by when I ate junkie or when I thought I was doing better then I really was and over doing my activity, when I over do activity I feel it that evening and through the next day. And that is still true... Yesterday I was on my feet for aprox 6 hours baking brownies for an event, I was all puffy and uncomfortable come evening time! But it is not as bad as even a month ago. So it does get better :)

My first thought "you are flying to Bako for this", my second thought is "yes! We have some really awesome medical skill and technology in Bako". Living here I don't really think about it. Driving through here most peeps think "ugh, agriculture, dust bowl, oil". But once you venture from the freeway a 1/2 a mile you see a lot more then that. You will be coming at a time when the weather is usually very nice, just about the in between when you are debating short sleeve shirts or long sleeve. Will you be staying at a hotel or with some one you know? Do you know how they handle the follow up? That's what would make me the most nervous, one of the reasons I wanted to stay local. I was really glad the I liked my PS when I met him.

I am going there because my best friend referred me to one of her dearest family friends who is the head surgeon at kern medical center. He had a private ps practice for 17 years in san ramon (he refuses to move to bakersfield so his family still lives there and he goes back home to san ramon on weekends) about 3 hours from there. He has since moved out of ps into reconstructive and vascular surgery but he is doing mine for me. It's not the traditional situation but he is really good and I'm fortunate he will do it. I'm staying at a la Quinta inn about 5 miles from kern for the night before and night after, then my bf and I will drive 1.5 hours to Arcadia to stay with her mom who is a nurse. I will go back at day 5 for post op and to have my drains removed and fly home the 26th on day 9.

No it's not traditional, but i feel confident you are probably in wonderful hands! KMC is our county hospital, but living here its easy to forget how awesome of medical doctors we have available to us there! I have a friend that many (many, many) years ago her hubby got into a motorcycle crash, broken wrists, they told him he would probably never be able to use his hands again, they transferred him to KMC and he has full functions. Considering he needs his hands to work and his skills, it's a big deal. A couple of years ago one evening my son was bit by a strangers dog in the nose, literally took a small chunk :-(, the doctor at the first hospital said the best PS doc was at KMC, he called him at home told him about it, they transported my son over to KMC, doc took him in the first surgery in the morning. He will need another surgery when he becomes closer to full grown, but it is at a healing point that a person wouldn't notice unless they already knew! I'm sure everything will turn out great! I'm only familiar with a couple of hotels in this area, unfortunately not that one. I do know there is a cluster of good hotels at the 178/Rosedale and 99 hwy off ramp. Doubletree, marriot/comfort suites, holiday inn (I think). As well as a couple nice ones buy the convention center on Truxton ave. I would stay away from KMC, probably at least an aprox 2 mile radius, unfortunately being a facility with awesome doctors does not change the location of the hospital :-(

Thank you! Often a different perspective helps:) Unfortunately my more snug fitting clothes are uncomfortable, And my looser jeans and such are fitting too well.... But I guess the good news is that I'm at a weight and size that 5 pounds really makes a difference in how things for me! I'm counting on with smart diet and activity my body will fall back on place over this next hand full of weeks. Thank you again for the kind words of encouragement, I think needed some of that!!!

Thank you! It will get better. Changes for good or bad don't happen over night... I remind myself! If you need some thoughts or just someone to bounce your feelings around with, don't hesitate, we are probably close by:-) private message me, we can maybe get together if you would like, maybe lunch or something.

Thanks! :) the last few days I've been using the golds gym exercise binder, when is Velcro, the other you zip. I actually find them both to be comfortable, they are less bulky, and don't shift and need adjustment. They are inexpensive enough it might be worth trying out. (Walmart).

For the first week I figured I wasn't going to go anywhere, so I bought 2 sets of pjs and a robe from Soma. I liked the material, it's soft and stretchy, and you don't sweat in it. I wore it on surgery day also (and uggs, it was cold out). I picked dark colors in case drainage colored the material. After about a week I didn't have a problem wearing loose pullover shirts (maybe with a little help), but I definitely wore loose sweats and stretchy comfortable lounge type clothing for a solid 2-3 weeks. I didn't really plan on this type of clothing attire (didn't own any), so sent hubby out to buy me some, used it as a bday present excuse, my bday happened to be a week after surgery. After that I started alternating some days with my " looser jeans". I would say after the first month and half I pretty much wear anything in my normal wardrobe. I hope this helps :-)

Thank you so much for the response!! I live in comfy clothes like yoga pants so I should be all set!! Thanks!!