Mendieta Bound - Miami, FL

SOooooo excited!!! Just got my call from Mendieta's office. Surgery will be at 6am on Monday! Follow up appointment will be the next day at 10am. I am nervous and scared but at the same time ready to start my recovery! I see days on my calendar and can't imagine that i will have my new body by then. Everything is so surreal. I went grocery shopping and purchased a lot of fruits to make smoothies and well as meats (for iron) and other comfort foods. Hopefully i can find enough things to entertain me this weekend to keep my mind off of Monday. Good luck to everyone recovering and going thru the experience.

So I am 13 days away and am starting to sleep less every night thinking of what could go wrong and how i will be able to recover as quickly as possible. I don't want to be down too long so i can be able to take care of my children alone without any help. i know i will definitely start to feel guilty if I am laying down and my children need me and i can't help. :( Today is my pre op with the doctor. Sign all my forms, pay in full, get measured for my garment, get all my prescriptions and ask any questions. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I also get all of my lab results today which i am expecting to be ok. After the consult today I am going to purchase a few things such as the hibiclens, arnica pills/gel and any last minute things. I am usually way ahead of the game but i still can't believe i am doing this. It really hasn't hit me yet. I will keep you all posted. If you can think of any questions to ask the doctor please let me know. All of a sudden i have completely blanked out!

I am back from my pre opp. You do not get to see Dr. M during this visit. The next time you get to see him is the day of your surgery. The staff is so nice and welcoming and willing to answer all your questions it really doesn't matter that you don't see him. You feel like you're in a spa when you are there. Everything is so peaceful and quiet and professional. Anyways, I got there and had to sign a packet of papers. Most of them were the ones included in the packet they send you, and others were new such as permission to use your photos, and a legal agreement of some sort for law suits and such. After I filled out all of my papers a nurse came and sat with me and went thru the papers and answered any questions I had. According to her the doctor places a catheter in you for the first 24 hours. He removes it at your visit the next day (which you dont see him just a nurse). They give you all your prescriptions to be filled before surgery. The prescriptions they give you are:

Hibiclens (to shower the night before surgery and the morning of surgery)
Trental (circulation med)
Iron Pills
Zofran (for nausea) - I always have this at home bc it helps with the stomach flu God forbid anyone at home get it.
Keflex - antibiotics
Percocet - pain
Valium - to relax and help you sleep

They also ask you to buy DMSO which is not a prescription but you do have to get at a pharmacy. It's about $50 at the pharmacy but I have seen it online for a lot less ($20).

You also have to purchase a garment. It doesnt necessarily have to be from them but I think it's best to get 1 of the one they give you and then buy another elsewhere cheaper. They gave me design veronique style # B1655. It is a below the knee compression garment. $268!!!!!!! I came home and found them online for $199. So now that you all know which one to get dont spend the extra $70 if you don't have to. They gave me one in black...I guess to hide all the ooze right after surgery. I will get my second one in a tan color so it is less noticeable or even the white so i can wear light colored clothing in these hot months. So ladies be prepared to spend more than just the surgery cost.

They also gave me the info to an after surgery care company. I was thinking of having someone take care of me the days after surgery so i wouldn't have to put so much burden on my family. The company is called "care after" and the owner is called Esther. Let me tell you this lady knows her stuff and is soooo sweet. I loved her from the second she picked up the phone. She will pick you up after surgery and stay with you for as long as you need. Even take you to your follow up the next day. She charges $20/hr and is well worth it. She has known the doctor for 20 years and she is great! Her phone number is 305.993.5445 I am off to get my meds and last minute items. Hope this information helps you all :)