Long boring story

Even before my son was born, while wearing a size 3 my tummy had never been flat. Fast forward 23 years, and and many pounds up and down later and that is where I am now. For years I have fantasized about what I would do if I ever won the lotto, since being a single mother meant that my first priority has always been my son. Now that my son is almost grown and about to graduate college, I am ready to do this for me and not feel guilty! 30 days until my dream comes true! I had already been stalking the Real Self site for at least 3-4 years reading other reviews and experiences, so it was much easier for me to make a decision on a doctor. I elected to go out of town to have the procedure not only for a lower cost, but also because the surgeons in Miami also have much more experience than the few that are in my area who charge more than quadruple what I will be paying down there. I also really liked the style of Dr. Salas's before and after results --which was also very important. A month ago, I made my decision, did my online consult, paid my $1000 deposit, booked the surgery date of September 7, 2016, then that night went home and booked airline flights, hotel room, rental car, and quit smoking. Yes, all just like that.... Never have I ever in my life wanted something so badly as I want this surgery, so the quitting cold turkey on the smoking actually was nothing, absolutely effortless!!!! (I had tried and had epic disastrous failures in the past with attempts to quit) Now the putting down the food is a whole 'nother story....lol ;) Here I am exactly 30 days out, and I have put on 15 pounds from quitting smoking and am working desperately on dropping that weight while getting myself ready for this surgery. This coming week I will be going to get my lab work, my EKG, and a medical clearance physical from family doctor. My insurance typically covers all lab work ect when my normal doctors order it, I am assuming that this would also be covered since its on a prescription that was emailed to me? (if any one knows, please feel free to share your experience) Vanity Cosmetic Center stated that LabCorp was familiar with them so they would have no issues getting the results in a timely manner. I have purchased two surgical binders, two pair of anti embolism stockings (for the flight and at night) , a rolling walker with the lil seat thingy, arnica gel, magnesium supplements , pee spouts (so i dont have to sit to pee) , wet wipes for bathing first day or so, easy to slip on dresses for the first few days and travel, slip on shoes, ect.... Trying to be super prepared for anything and everything. Does every one go through this phase of having a one track mind of not being able to focus on anything else other than the upcoming surgery and daydreaming of what they will be like afterwards? I am contemplating going ahead and throwing away some of my "fat clothes" now in anticipation of my new figure....

I am getting more and more excited as each day passes. My sister, who had lapband and later tummy tuck and lipo has been a pretty decent source of what to expect on the post op side of things, but honestly hoping that she is just whiny and weak compared to most of the stories of ladies I have read about on here. (she seems to think they are all faking it not being so bad lol) I did my lab work, physicsal and EKG last week and sent it to my sx coordinator Roxy Verde @ Vanity in Miami. She has been awesome at keeping in contact and letting me know she had received lab results from Labcorp and the ones I had emailed. My insurance did pay for everything, including an aortic ultrasound (???) that my family dr insists on doing for all patients over 40 looking for aneurysms in the abdomen?
On the sad side....I have been trying desperately to lose about 10-15 pounds that crept on when I quit smoking. I took the jump on the low carb , low cal wagon...now day 10 at staying under 20 carbs a day, lots of protein, and under 800-100 calories a day, while still at my decently active job--- total weight lost?? big fat freaking 0! That;s right, not one freaking pound....
I even talked to my family doctor about this, and his first question was if i was cheating, or not paying attention to what I was eating....so I graciously presented him with the printed out bariatric pre op diet that my sister endured (lost 23 pounds in a month) before her lapband..., which included strict intake at set times each hour during the day from 8am-8pm. The experienced really bummed me out a bit, and I went ahead and told him that I am afraid to eat even a breath mint!!! I stopped taking my probiotic gummies each morning because each one has 6carbs and 25 calories, and that I switched from the chocolate calcium chews to the pills due the chews having 3 carbs in each one. He is such an awesome doc, and told me not to give up, and to maybe increase my carbs just a lil bit. He also wants to see me within a few weeks after my tt to discuss a long lasting life style changes and to further assist in losing intro-abdominal fat and other areas that need to be worked on with diet and exercise. He is being super supportive and agrees that this will jump start things for me once that big long saggy pouch fat skin is gone. There are sometimes that this still doesn't feel real. I catch myself looking at clothes online that I imagine myself finally being able to wear for the first time in my life and looking good! At times that is almost like some drug induced high!!!!! Since I also dance Middle Eastern Raq Sharqi (belly dance) , I also find myself envisioning myself no longer being so afraid and anxiety ridden on a stage. My skill, style, technique, and talent are points of confidence for me... its just this body, and the saggy skin that keeps me from my real joy of sharing my love of dance....I can not wait to undulate and do ab isolations without my fat rolls!!! (yes i can do them now lol)

so... I am in a good bit of pain, not just sore but pain. Went in for follow up this morning and since my doctor had no intention of coming in, and I was only being checked by a medical assistant. She said no one is given decent pain medication after surgery .... Some one also died there yesterday after mine, so boyfriend told them to get paper work ready for us to fly back home tomorrow morning! Saving grace is that I already have a doc in place for follow up care back home. Otherwise I have been getting up once an hour to walk back and forth for 5-10 minutes as instructed . The act of getting up or getting back in bed is the most painful, but it's easy to get worn out by walking/standing. I have a lot of swelling and a good amount of drainage. No bowel movements yet, but I have now farted for the first time in front of my boyfriend !!!! Lol