A Better Version of Me - Dominican Republic, DO

Part 2 of update

My recovery thus far:
I’ve read many times before from other dolls that the first 3 days are the hardest and by day 4 it gets better and better. Well that couldn’t be the farthest thing from the truth for me!! I believe it started to become tolerable by day 8. I truly didn’t think I would be in such bad shape having had 2 C-sections and surgery to remove my gall bladder and only having done a tummy tuck and lipo. I really thought it would be a breeze ? NOT!!!! What I have been struggling with these days is that my stomach ( pelvic part under the belly button) has not gone down at all, in fact it has gotten bigger almost like it’s protruding out like I’m 5 months pregnant. When I push on it, it hurts and feels like I’m pushing on something hard. So me being the paranoid person I am I go to the ER to get it checked out to make sure there isn’t anything wrong. I’m expecting to hear that it’s just swelling even though deep down I don’t believe all of it is just swelling. I get a cat scan done and spent 8 hours there while they find a surgeon willing to come and take a look at me!!!!! No surgeon in the hospital or the surrounding area would touch me!! NONE because I had surgery out of the country. I left the ER with no answers so I got on the phone and called my insurance and got a list of PS in my network and starting calling them all. Out of
12 PS in my network only 1 agreed to see me. I had to pay $200 for the consultation which I didn’t mind; I was just relieved that he would see me. So of course I got the 3rd degree about why I shouldn’t go out of the country to have surgery ? uugghhh! Anyway, he was very nice
Even while telling me off lol the CAT scan from the hospital showed I have a seroma but in looking at the bulge he knew if couldn’t just be that so he proceeded to try to drain it and all he could get was 2 cc of liquid, not much of a seroma there. He explained that by this point my stomach should not look like this and that he is concern that my muscle repair might have not
held up and collapse! To confirm his suspicion I had an ultrasound done on Monday and tomorrow I will be going in to review the results with him.

At this point I am hoping that everything is fine and if there is anything wrong that it’s an easy fix. I couldn’t imagine having to need a tummy tuck revision.

For those of you that are planning your surgeries out of the country please keep in mind that should anything go wrong once your home aftercare in the US will be difficult. I experienced it firsthand. I never thought a doctor would ever turn someone in need of medical assistance
Away, but they can and will.

To be continued on the next post…….

Thank you all who kept me in your prayers and reached out to me to see how I am doing. What I can confirm to all who are planning on having surgery is that RECOVERY IS NO JOKE!!! I’m sure many have heard it over and over and you will hear it again from me, IT IS NO JOKE!!! I clearly under estimated it myself.

This week I will be 1 month post op and while a month sounds like a while now I still feel very much so in pain and discomfort.

Surgery and Clinic
Now, into the nitty gritty…..I had tummy tuck with muscle repair and lipo done with Dr. Fatima Almonte. The day I arrived in D.R. was pretty much spent doing labs at the clinic. I was there for about 6 hours. I met Lesley & Raquel, beautiful sweethearts. Both speak English well even though I speak Spanish. The next day I came back to the clinic at 6:30am for surgery and finally got to meet Dr. Almonte in person. She is the tiniest cutest lady! Nothing like I had her imagined to be. She was very nice, asked me what I wanted done and marked me up. I got the infamous blue pill, wheeled in to the OR a few minutes later and met the anesthesiologist who was also very nice. She put my arm on her shoulder and before I could ask her why I was out!!!! I woke up about 4 hours after my surgery in my own room with my faja on. I was so happy and grateful to be alive. Other than throwing up the anesthesia which didn’t last too long because they gave me meds for it, I was fine. No pain, no headaches, I was not cold or freezing like I have been in the past after other surgeries. I was lucky and healthy enough not to have needed a transfusion of blood or iron. I was pleased to see that the nurses at Cecip were attentive the whole time I was there. I opted not to hire an overnight nurse because I figured I would be sleeping most of the time and I’m glad I didn’t. There was no need to if you’re staying at Cecip. There nurses check on you your entire stay. I appreciated that very much.

Recovery House
I stayed at Sea Lily recovery house. I was originally going to stay at my home recovery house but I switched a week before my surgery to Sea Lily. Let me tell you, BEST DECISION EVER!!
Their staff is AMAZING! They are so sweet and caring to every patient. Christina and Rosangel mother daughter are the owners. Orlando is the son who is in Med School to be a doctor. He is a sweetheart. Maria is everything! She cleans, does laundry, and sleeps with you overnight in case you need help or something. She’s amazing. Zeneida is the cook; she will make you anything you want! Delicious food! Frank is also a house employee, very helpful. Juan is the very sexy cab driver, he’s also very nice. Then there’s Arlene and Arthur, the house translators. They are brother and sister. The house is very nice and modern and clean. Every bed had its own boppy pillow so if you’re thinking about traveling with one and you’re staying there, don’t!! They have one for your use there. They also have recliners if you prefer to live in one while you’re there. Their packages included all meals, snacks, transportation to your follow ups, all your massages, and laundry services and translators for those that don’t speak Spanish. Extra’s would be facials that Christina does, transportation to other places like the mall or the beach.

When I arrived at the airport Christina and Arlene where there to pick me up. I didn’t have to wait for them; they were already there with a sign and my name. They took me to the clinic and stayed by my side the whole 6 hours I was there getting my labs done. The next day Christina stayed with me until I went into surgery. Later that night she called to see how I was doing after surgery and if I needed anything. Orlando received a frantic call from my mother asking him to please go check on me and call her when he arrived at the clinic. He drove all the way to the clinic and called my mother back and put her on so she can calm down and know that I was ok. I will forever be grateful to him for that. Juan the cab driver stayed with me at the airport until it was time for me to be wheeled to my gate. These are the things that made this recovery house amazing! They truly care and they go above and beyond for everyone that’s in their care. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

So much more to tell ya’ll so to be continued…….on the next update ?