Here Goes! - Wellington, New Zealand

So my journey is similar to a lot of stories on here. Three wonderful children, 23, 21 and 17, two grandbabies 5 and 2. After the birth of my first daughter I gained weight and gained and gained! My heaviest weight was (97 kilos) 213 pounds, after turning 40 and realising I needed to lose that weight or my health was going to be affected I decided to make the change so for the last 2 years I have been working really hard. I have lost a total of 55 pounds and now sit at 123 pounds (I'm 5"3). I have a few pounds I could lose, but not sure if I will be able to manage that before my surgery which is 4 weeks today away. So after losing my weight I have been left with a horrible stomach! Yuk! I hate it so much. I found my surgeon online and after meeting him decided to go through with it. I am a Kindergarten teacher (different to the USA as our ages are 3-5th birthday). So I'm very worried about the afterward part. I have 4 weeks off work and that will just have to do. I haven't heard from my surgeon yet, but will give him another week before I contact him. I too have been stalking the net and watched the YouTube uploads. I love all the helpful advice on here and have learnt a few tips. I wanted to write this as I'm in New Zealand and this is NOT common, I don't know anyone that has had this done so am all on my own.

So I had to download the countdown app, so according to that I've got 2 weeks, 6 days, 10 hours, 12 mins and several second to go till my appointment. I got the standard book in booklet from the hospital, which said I have to be at the hospital at 7 am. I then sent a. Dry long list of questions to my PS which he replied to almost immediately. He doesn't think I'll need lipo, and doesn't like doing it with a tummy tuck as he thinks infections are more likely. He also doesn't think I need gel strips as, as there is no proven evidence they work. However, for me, the value of what previous TT's say on here means a lot. So I' m trying to find gel strips although finding them in New Zealand seems quite impossible so I've asked a good friend in Australia to keep an eye out for me. I'm also going to buy some turmeric as lots of people have recommended those. Had my first dream last night, wasn't bad, in fact it was quite good, I just remember seeing a flat tummy! I hope that happens! Oh year dr also said if I get 'dog ears' he will fix it under a local, yay, that's a relief, hopefully that won't happen!

Not long now! 1 week and 2 days says the countdown app! Today I bought some pills to help with the constipation afterwards, I asked our chemist (not sure what you call it in the states, drug store??) for MoM and they said, they don't sell it here anymore, haven't since the 70's or 80's as its old school! I told her that it has been recommended for a TT and she said I should try these pills. Hopefully they work! I have bought some second hand tops that button up the front, not really what I would normally wear and didn't want to spend lots of money so yay second hand shopping! My PS hasn't been in touch so I'm thinking that the pre-op might be done on the day. Might have to contact him next week. Although I'm sure about doing this, I am worried something will happen and keep thinking I should write letters to those I love, but then the other side of me keeps thinking, don't be so bloody stupid! My daughter had her school formal tonight, shes 17 and in her last year of high school. This is the first daughter (I have 3) where I have felt I look okay to have photos done. She looked amazing, love my girls to bits.