48 Yr, Petite Empty-Nester Ready for BA/TT

Hello ladies! It has been quite some time since I wrote an update - nearly a year - and, this is not exactly the update I planned on giving, but I thought it was an important one, so here I am.
I wanted to give an update at my 18mo. P/O mark, which would have also coincided with my 50th birthday, but, suffice it to say that this whole year has been filled with interesting and challenging events, that have way-layed my update . I wanted to give a positive update, that boasted both my happiness with my MM surgery, as well as my stellar self improvements, and general well being. Instead, however, I am going to give an update somewhat aside from my MM surgery, because I feel it is an important PSA related to health and medical procedures in general. I had asked RS if there was another place to post on this site, but at the moment, there is no venue for it, so here I am.
First, for those reading this post as reference for either an upcoming MM surgery, or for those who have recently had an MM, from that aspect, I am great! Very pleased with my results, and my surgeon. I have no regrets to having this surgery, and am thankful for it's results every day.
Now, for the meat of this post. As you ladies know from my previous posts, earlier this year I had a medical procedure of a different kind; I had a small hole in my heart, closed, known as a PFO. For those not familiar, to give a little background, a PFO is a normally occurring hole in the heart, that closes in most people very shortly after birth. In 25% of the population, it does not close on it's own. Many people never even know they have it. Most closures of a PFO can be done minimally invasively, via catheter placement, by going through a vein in your groin. Very simple to place. In my profession, we do this procedure frequently. Very low risk...unless you have an allergy to nickel.
It is the above that is the reason for this post. I wanted to make people aware of this infrequently discussed, but widely pertinent affliction, because it could pertain to you, or someone you care about.
Most metal medical devices are made with nickel alloy materials. Medical devices from artificial joints, to cardiac stents, to dental implants, to surgical clips used in a variety of surgeries, to pins used to repair broken bones, are made out of some type of metal that contains nickel (or sometimes, other common allergen metals. 20% of the population has a nickel allergy, whether they know it or not. That's 65 Million people, in the US alone! yet, the question of metal allergy is seldom, if ever, asked by our medical practitioners, and it is never automatically tested for, prior to a metal medical device implant. Reactions to these metal devices is on the rise, and is becoming an epidemic. The only resolve to these reactions, is to have the offending device removed. Sounds easy enough, but often it isn't.
As I mentioned, in January of this year, I had my PFO closed with a device constructed out of Nitinol (nickel) wires. I had a known nickel allergy, and my concerns regarding this were discussed, and laid to rest because the device company touted their device as being "the device people with nickel allergy should receive", and that it is "safe for people with nickel allergy". This is the proclaimation and selling point that they give to both patients and physicians. 3 months later, I developed an aggressive, unnerving persistent rash, that, 5 months later, is still present. It is now believed to be caused by my PFO device. The device that I was told would be safe for me. The device that was placed so benignly and easily. I am now likely facing removal of the device, which can only be done with open heart surgery. I am now likely going to be subjected to the risks associated with open heart surgery - stroke, bleeding, need for a permanent pacemaker (of note, also a metal device), and even a risk of death. I am facing these risks because, the risks of placing this nickel device in someone with a nickel allergy were ignored; glossed over and even exploited. And I KNEW I had this allergy! Had I known, everything I have learned over the course of this situation, I would have asked more questions. I would have researched alternative options. I didn't because I received false information from the physician and the device company. I do not fault my physician, as he was only going by the proclaimations of the company, and of his own personal experience. I have since learned that many others have gone through the same thing that I have with their PFO devices, and have had to endure the same fate of open heart surgery, when it could have been avoided. As I mentioned, it's not just PFO closure devices, it is so many, many medical devices that cause an issue, and some of them cannot be removed even as "easily" as open heart surgery.
I chose to include this information in this update, for the same reason any of us give updates on this site - to educate, and to advocate. While my situation has nothing to do with MM surgery, it COULD have. It could apply to any surgery, where metal is purposefully left inside the body. Metal allergies are NOT a rarity. Id like to take the opportunity of this post to advocate one simple thing: GET TESTED for metal allergies! You never know when you might NEED a surgical intervention - clips in a routine surgery, a cardiac stent for a heart disease, a new hip, a pacemaker, or pins in a broken arm. The best medical advice anyone anywhere can give you, is to be your own advocate - arm yourself with knowledge - and use it to ask questions, and help your practitioner come up with a care plan that is right, and SAFE for YOU.
I will step off my soap box for now, and hopefully, I will be able to give the positive update soon, that I hoped this could have been. Until then, hope all you beautiful ladies are well! I miss chatting with you. Love to all!
#GETTESTED

Hello beautiful ladies! It has been nearly 3 months since my last post!! Life has been very busy, lots of changes - all for the good! It's funny how quickly life comes at you sometimes! Im happy to announce that the man Im dating, that took me 48 years to find, and I have taken the next step, and moved in together! Honestly, I didn't see it coming, but I am very happy! What a surprise life can be sometimes! So, things have been a bit busy - two moves (him out of his house, me out of mine, then into ours), a procedure, getting settled in our new home, and a holiday, all in between everyday life and work. Phewww. That's a lot!
Also, if I were honest... I've been hiding. In addition to the good, there have been some set backs for me. As I mentioned in my last post, I was having to have a procedure to close a hole in my heart. Well, they had to abort the procedure shortly after it begun because of equipment failure. I was told they would reschedule in a couple weeks. That was nearly 2 months ago now! I am still waiting to be rescheduled! While the whole situation is frustrating (I just want it done and over with), there were positives to that as well. Had the procedure been completed, at the end, I would have received 3 new medications, in addition to the device itself, so, if I had had a reaction, it would have been a challenge to figure out which thing caused it. Having the procedure aborted, I only received 2 medications, and no device. I had no reaction, so we can rule out those two. Now when I have my procedure, if I have a reaction, it will either be the other blood thinner, or the device causing it. Gotta look on the bright side, right? Anyway, that wasn't really the reason for my hiding, it was just one more thing occupying space in my head. I reported last time that I was really discouraged by my workout progress, because I had worked so hard. Undergoing the procedure didn't help, because, even though it was aborted, they had started it, and as such, I could not workout for 2 weeks. Since then, Ill be honest, and because I was so discouraged with my progress, I wasn't jumping back into it. I kept thinking, why? when I was anticipating having the procedure done in the next couple weeks, and I wasn't seeing progress anyway. I have only worked out sporatically since, obviously, this has done me no good. I even FEEL out of shape now, in addition to looking that way. So many of you have jumped into a workout plan, and it has done wonders for you. You all look so amazing!! I felt ashamed - at the way I looked, at how I couldn't manage to stick with it, as many of you have, At the way I felt, out of shape, and not honoring this amazing gift I have been given. Well, enough is enough! I reached out to a fellow RSer's (Ready4nxtme) fitness coach nephew for help. He is getting me on track with a workout plan, nutritional suggestions, and some supplements to get me back on track. It's time, in fact, it's long overdue! I have a definitive goal of getting back in beach shape by my "big" birthday, and family reunion celebration at the beach next year; I have exactly 7 months to do so, so I better get moving!! I am really hoping getting a little assistance, support and guidance from an outside source will give me the boost I need. Honestly, (ok, here FINALLY is my MM post op post) because I am nearly 11 months post op, and I don't want to take this gift for granted. Out of shape status aside, I feel very blessed/lucky to have been able to have this surgery. Even with the bit of flab that I have collected, and the muscle loss I have had, I feel sexier then I have in a long time. My stomach is still flat, and I can twist and bend in any shape I want, in any clothes (or no clothes, as the case may be) without fearing embarrassment of the loose hanging skin, or the saggy, small, empty breasts. I feel confident, in that respect. Just think how I will feel when I am once again at my fitness goal!! I will feel unstoppable!! I cannot wait to stroll the beach in a bikini with total confidence! I can honestly say, that had I not had this surgery, I may not have the encouragement to care for my body, and get back into shape, like I do since I've had it. I want to take care of it, and groom it to look, and stay looking even better!
No picture updates yet, but I will post once I have made a little progress. Here's to a new, new me, and to all of you, doing you!

Hello ladies! It's been a month since my last update, and a few things have happened (or, not happened, as the case may be), and to be honest, could maybe use a little bit of that ol'RS support/suggestions/advice.
So, first, my surgery progress update. All is well there, and all the other incidentals aside, I am really loving my results! If I stand back from the mirror, my scar is barely visible on the sides, up to the part right above my groins, where it is still a little pink around the edges, and of course, my vertical scar. Im sure this is due to being the area with the most amount of tension applied during healing, and Im sure, it will match the sides in time. Im still having some swelling, in my belly, nearly every day by mid/late afternoon, right round my belly button. Again, this is more felt than seen, and Im pretty sure no one else would even notice, but it is a tad annoying at this point, but Im sure, that too will subside all together at some point. All in all, all is well there. Everything feels very natural, and each day I am more and more happy, and thankful that I had this surgery. Ok, that's the positive...
Work out progress: Struggle #1. In the past, I have gone through periods of time where I have laxed on my workouts, even sometimes laxed for a longer period of time than I should have, and lost a bit of muscle, and/or put on a little unwanted fat/flab on, but each time I have done that, within 12 weeks of getting back into a regular workout routine, I was back to my old self, and sometimes, even in better shape than I ever was. Well, this is not that time. I have now been working out 4x/wk, doing weight resistance training, plus cardio, and eating clean and healthy, concentrating on protein intake, and I am very discouraged to say, that I have absolutely ZERO progress!! I understand that when you begin a workout routine, you build muscle before you burn fat, so the scale may reflect added pounds, but the mirror will also reflect some wonderful changes. I am so very discouraged to report that the scale is not only showing a heavier weight (odd, for me, after 12 weeks of exercise), but I don't look any different! I still feel flabby, and unattractive, I see no signs of muscle increase, my clothes don't fit any differently/better, and I don't feel or see any difference (neither has anyone else, incidentally). This is very discouraging for me, because I have been so diligent in my diet and exercise, and this is not the norm for me. Am I beginning to show my age?! Did I let myself get just TOO out of shape?! What is going on?!! I am not liking it, and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to stay positive, and just keep going with my working out... I will, but my mind is saying "what for"? Arrghhhh. I thought about switching it up and ONLY doing cardio for a while, but I don't want to lose any more muscle, so I may try just weight training for a while, without cardio, and see if I can push my body to build some muscle, and let the muscle burn the fat. Not happy with this AT ALL, because I feel like I am doing all I can. I know my diet isn't perfect, because of my schedule, but I make sure to eat plenty of protein, I stay away from simple carbs, sugars, and fats. Not sure what else to do. I am at a loss. Its really important to me to get myself back into the shape I once was, especially after this surgery. I don't want to take any of it for granted, and I want to be the best self I can be - especially approaching 50!! Suggestions??
Struggle #2: I have been having TIA (mini strokes), which I have had for many years on and off. Misdiagnosed for years, A clear cut cause had not been made until about 4 years ago, at which time, I was placed on aspirin, and I had no more symptoms until a few months ago. This time, the diagnosis was confirmed, and now it is time to correct it. I have a small hole on the inside of my heart, between the two upper chambers (you have 4), called a PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale). Don't freak out - we are all born with one, but it closes on it's own most of the time, shortly after birth. In 15-25% of the population, it doesn't close. Some people never know they have it, as it is not routinely looked for, unless you have a stroke or TIAs. The recommendation in this circumstance, is to have it closed, or, "plugged", really. Its done minimally invasively, and, coincidentally, I have assisted putting this devices countless times at work, in the cath lab. Its a same day procedure, not much too it. Funny, how your perspective changes when you are on the other side of the procedure table. Here is the rub. I have so many reactions to so many things, new ones all the time. My body does not like foreign substances in it or on it, especially, medications. I have an allergy to nickel, and the device is made out of nickel wires, covered by Gortex. I have to be placed on a super blood thinner for 30 days PO, to prevent blood clots (a normal part of the healing process), from collecting on the device. Since the device is covered by Gortex, and my own skin cells grow over the device, my cardiologist said that there is very low risk of having an allergic reaction to the nickel... but it's me. How is my body going to like having this foreign thing inside my heart? What about the blood thinner? Will I react to that? This device goes in very simply and easily, but once it's in, if there is a problem, the only way to get it out, is open heart surgery. Not.A.Fan. I've thought about it and thought about it, and have decided to go ahead with the procedure to have the PFO closed, because, while the risk of me having a reaction is "low", leaving it open, comes with a very high risk of having a stroke. Again, Not a fan of that. All that said, I have one month exactly before my closure procedure; I won't be able to work out for at least a couple of weeks afterward, so that means, I have 4 weeks to get myself in the very best shape/health I can possibly get myself into! I don't want to lose whatever possible ground I have gained getting back into a normal workout routine, and I want my body to be as happy and healthy as it can be... hoping to ward off "evil spirits" ;) Yep, good times.
So, there you have it. Any suggestions, or words of wisdom will be, as always, greatly appreciated.
Hope all is well with you ladies, and that you are healing well, and basking in the new you. XOXO