Life changing :)

8/30/12: I just turned 40 this year and my oldest daughter (22) is about to get engaged! My youngest two (13 & 14) were born 10 months apart and I gained 70lbs total that I have just never lost. Well, I decided with this the year of milestones, I would finally take charge of my health and emotional well being and do something about it! I started eating healthy (Not a big change) and exercising regularly (Huge change...desk job!) and I decided that I was going to finally get a tummy tuck next year. I've had my saggy-baggy belly due to 3 c-sections for over half of my life now!! I avoid being undressed in front of a mirror at all costs!

I went in to see my ps just to get an idea of where I needed to be and what costs, etc. would be. To my surprise, he told me that actually I carry most of my weight in my legs, so that I am an immediate candidate for a TT ! He said I was wasting efforts with diet and exercise on an area that he could take care of for me. He said it would make me look better, feel better, and my goals of weight loss would be easier achieved. He was so very nice, I really felt at ease with him and didn't feel like he was pressuring me at all.

Sooo....I'm now booked for surgery on September 18th! :) My pre-op blood work is next Wednesday, the 5th. I could actually have scheduled earlier, but in able to get the time off work, I had to move days around (I don't want to take vacation pay) and work extra.

My personal goals are not weight loss...I would just like to NOT have this embarrassing hang-over. I would like to be able to wear regular panties instead of briefs stuffed full of tummy...See, it doesn't even sound sexy! It's not! I once tried a bikini wax, but couldn't keep up with it at home because a razor in one hand while the other is trying to lift away belly just made me look like a Cirque de Soliel contortionist. I'd like to not have to keep diaper rash cream and powder on hand for rashes.

I'm nervous because I'm squeamish...But the funny thing is, I'm mostly anxious about the IV. I have teeny little veins and always have trouble with nurses finding them. Other than that, I've been through 3 C-Sections and a gall bladder surgery. I can do this :)

Sep. 4th: Night before Pre-Op: I am a nervous wreck today! Suddenly I've got the worry in my head that they will find something in the blood work that will make me ineligible for surgery after I have my hopes up. This is, of course, a silly fear because there's never been any issue with my blood work before. But, once something gets in your head...Ahhhhh!!! haha.

I also make my payment in full tomorrow and get all my prescriptions and instructions. It's finally going to be real! I'm sure tomorrow I will be much more relaxed.

Pre-Op = DONE :)

I have a whole booklet filled with papers: Prescription list & when to take them, pre-surgery instructions & post-surgery instructions. I saw a drain and got information on how to work it. (Oh, and now I keep wondering what if it gets bumped or squished...will it pump all that fluid back IN?! But, I digress...). I had bloodwork done at the lab and they took my before pictures (That sucked). All in all it was nice to have all the information from my doctor instead of just guessing what I would need. Surgery is in 12 days...