Tummy Tuck and Breast Augmentation-June 21st - Birmingham, AL

DAY TWO: POST OP-I DID IT!
This entire thing has been an emotional roller coaster. My husband and I had to drive for literally two days-freaking out/believing in this surgery the whole way, warring between doubt and fear. We stayed in Tennessee the first night before getting to Birmingham the following day. I got into the hotel room at the Wingate-had a minor nervous breakdown-it was not what I pictured. But, after being told we couldn’t cancel our reservation, I dealt with it and honestly came to like it-due to the seclusion of the hotel in a busy area.
Thanks are to God my paycheck went through the night before surgery so we were able to get the Taxi to take us there and take us home, we were also able to go to Wal-Mart for supplies the night before.
When I got to Hedden Plastic Surgery, I was surprised-it looked like a Spanish Palace complete with villas. I was terrified, cried, shook, made my husband a nervous wreck. I checked in (this place looks like a dark palace-lol). And I went into the back of the surgical ward with a very friendly blonde nurse who looked like a cute, perky little Barbie. She was so very sweet to me, especially when she saw how scared I was. I almost yanked the IV out of my arm and ran out screaming-“I’ve got to be out of my mind!” But, I calmed them and eventually Dr. Hedden came in with this surgical nurse. I have never in my entire life met a doctor so skilled, so thorough, or so completely knowledgeable. He is straight forward and honest and when I told him my fear of blood clots-he said-yes you could get them and yes you are at a higher risk and yes, you could die, but that’s what these boots are for. He answered all my questions and told me that he would take four hours to four days to take me back until I felt comfortable with everything. They answered all my questions and were so thoughtful, especially considering how terrified I was. I was shaking like a leaf (no matter how much I wanted this I love my husband and the idea of leaving him ever terrified me more than death-I know it sounds corny-but it’s true-even if I believe in heaven there is so much I love about life.)
But, he answered all my questions, the anesthesiologist was hands down the kindest man on the planet-thoughtful, considerate answered all my questions, gave me something for my nerves and even held my hand and pat my head after surgery. I told him I was afraid of waking up during or not waking up at all. He laughed and he said that doesn’t happen to healthy people-sure people die but it’s because they’re meant to and their usually in the middle of trauma and there’s no way to bring them back. I don’t know why, but when he said he would take care of me and held my hand I just knew he cared and I knew I would be okay. I am the most anxious person on the planet and I trust these people.
The doctor came in and marked me, we picked the size and he said he’d try to fit the implant I wanted and drew a line clear across my huge amount of excess skin-after being overweight my entire life it was terrifying to think that in a few hours it could be over-all my hard work could finally pay off. I was so humiliated of my body.
It was cold, they took me back, the medicine the anesthesiologist gave me helped calm me down, they walked me back, I kissed my husband, and I went in and laid on the table, they gave me a really warm yummy blanket and told me to breath in through the mask. I prayed and before I finished the prayer, I woke up. Swore and shaking. My chest felt like a 200 lbs moose sat on it, I had trouble breathing and I started shaking so violently I was an afraid I had a seizure. The anesthesiologist came over and gave me something to stop the shaking and told me it was over and it all went great. It was hard waking up-about 30 minutes and they told my husband he could come back. They gave me a Gatorade and I felt like I was going to throw up.
I was so freaked out about blood clots-because I drove I was as at a higher risk-they even gave me boots to take home-which I found it was a good thing I wore because I was sleeping with my legs up. My stomach (know on wood it doesn’t change) barely hurts-the drains are fine. My breasts (800 cc) feel god awful. They are so sore and I never knew pain could feel this bad. I had a lot of problems with being nauseated-I was allergic to the medication, so I didn’t eat much first two days-huge mistake. Because by this morning-day 2 after surgery-I was a medicated mess snapping at everyone-including the nurse and even blinking out. So I stopped taking Loritab-switched to Tylenol and continued with the valium-this stopped the nausea, so I am not sleeping as much. I have been up trying to walk as much as possible to prevent blood clots-now that I had to return my boots). I went to Wal-Mart for an hour and stumbled through it like a crack head while my poor husband helped buy me more ensure-still am having a hard time with food. But the food and the Vitamin /Propel water make it so much better! Breasts still hurt but
I am using an ice pack. Wish my luck! My two biggest fears now are avoiding pneumonia and blood clots!

Well, today is THE DAY I leave for Birmingham and I have never been more nervous. After a VERY emotional few days my mother made several attempts to stop me from having the procedure-she believe's I'm crazy for going out of town/having it with a doctor I had a consultation with over the internet-not matter how qualified her is. I went through emotional hell hearing comments like-"I have a bad feeling" and "how do you think your husband will feel without you?" "You're my baby I want you safe." I mean, I appreciate her love more than she will ever know, but it isn't like I found some back alley butcher and said, "hey, can I get an elective surgery for no reason cause I feel like being dangerous?"

I have like 15 lbs of excess skin on my abdomen. It is uncomfortable and embaressing and I've lived my whole life this way. 10 years ago-when I just turned 18 I went (at the weight I am now) and got a consultation. Then I couldn't afford it (not that I really can now, despite earning two degrees). I gained and lost over 100 lbs in the meantime and I will not make the same mistake twice. No matter how much I exercise, no matter what I do-my body will not tone. It is just skin. It hangs and effects my life, my self esteem, and honestly, my health. But, a mother's job is to worry, but that worry caused so much anxiety, I nearly canceled it. I had nightmares. I finally called her and said, "I'm leaving on Friday, what I need is a friend" and just started sobbing-after that everything got better. I even looked for a doctor closer-as I promised her-but not only is my doctor the best-my credit card company wouldn't work with me. So, it is what it is. And honestly, I am very confident in my doctor. He has amazing reviews and his staff has never been anything but kind to me. I am realy anxious to see them though. I'm also a little nervous about going in on Monday and having surgery the same day.

My TT and Augment are scheduled for Monday at 7:30. Even thinking about a change that radical is making my hands shake. Both out of excitement and fear. I did not get alot of support this week-the week before surgery-from anyone except my husband-my rock-who always tells me to follow my heart and keeps my purposed fixed no matter how emotional I get. I am so happy he's comming with me. My boss even came back from her vacation a day early to cheer me up and be supportive, and yesterday my mom even started to come around. It was nice to finally get the love and support I wanted after having such a crazy week.

So, this morning I woke up earlier-butterflies-and we're leaving. The hotel is paid for and the surgery, but money is tight and I don't get paid until Monday. I'm so scared. I'm a writer so, I imagine every scenario in depth. I kept thinking OMG =what if this is the last time I see my house? Or my cats? What if I don't get to finish my book? Lol. It's silly-but not really. I think fear is a normal part of this-especially when I can't imagine how I will look afterwards, because I've never not been significantly over weight or had a ton of extra skin.

Scared. Nervous. Upset. Excited. So, only my husband is going with me-originally my mother was supposed to go-but I think she's afraid for me (which my nerves aren't bad enough without needing to hear all the dangers again!). I'm a little bit hurt by it, because I've always tried my best to be there for her-but, it's okay. I know I need this, I'm just scared-what if...you know? I love my life and am terrified my vanity is going to jepordize it--but than I remind myself-God is love and the universe wants me to be happy-and never feeling comfortable in my own skin-is not truly living-especially when I worked this hard to loose the weight.

The doctor's office is so far (9 hours away). I don't know anyone there and the money is really tight for the trip down there, but honestly-it's scheduled, so it's now or never.And I'm tried to waiting to create the life I hope to live-so it's now. My husband has been a saint (even though he loves me the way I am), he wants me to be happy. It's just the nerves are starting to get to me and as the time approaches I find myself thinking about it more and more-checking on hotels, checking recovery things. So far what I've found is I need to eat healthy foods, low artifical sugar and as low sodium as possible.

I made the mistake of watching the video on youtube of the procedure a few months ago-and after freaking out-certain I was going to die-I got a Reiki and meditated-and realized that my soul wants this excess skin gone and took a deep breath. I thought I was over this fear, but it creeps back in. I think it's the unknown-the what if-even if you know it's what you want. I'm going to put my anxiety and fear (FEAR=False Events Appearing Real) into God's hands.

Any advice?