:: from fat to thin ::

:: Thursday, February 12, 2004 ::

I've been moving and now I'm done moving. The second drain came out fine. All the tape is off my inscion. I still have dissolvable stitches in. I can bathe and move and pretty much stand up straight now. I'm still swollen. I keep getting antsy about all the extra skin I still have, but then again, I'm not even one month out yet! It seems like it's been SO much longer than that.
:: Lisa 7:15 PM [+] ::
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I got my drain pulled Monday. I was so nervous but it didn't hurt at all! I didn't watch but my husband said they pulled out like 2 feet of tubing out of me! Ewww! :) I think I must still be pretty numb in the area. I get my other drain pulled on this coming Monday. I'm not stressing about it now, since the first one was so painless. I'm still extremely swollen and tender and my inscsion is sore. Other than that, I'm doing just fine, just trying to take it easy. I get tired quickly and usually take a nap in the afternoon.
:: Lisa 2:17 PM [+] ::
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Well everything went very smoothly! My anesthesia experience was excellent. Everyone way very nice. I had no post op pain. I didn't need to use the morphine pump while I was hooked up and I didn't take any vicodin by mouth when I got home. I have been sore, yes, but not in pain. I am very very swollen and the drains are uncomfortable, but I am doing excellent. My doctor used that skin glue and dissolvable stitches, so I don't have to get those removed. I have an appointment tomorrow to get one of my drains out. I put some hospital pictures up HERE.
:: Lisa 3:20 PM [+] ::
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Still alive- at home recovering- more later.
:: Lisa 8:14 AM [+] ::
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Well all my final steps are done- blood work drawn and faxed to the surgeon, directions to Dallas printed and sitting by the door, phone call from my anesthesiologist letting me know to stop eating at midnight, alarm clock set for 4 am. All that's left to do is get up, shower and drive to Dallas. My surgery is at 11am. I'll post when I get back!
:: Lisa 8:40 PM [+] ::
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I have an appointment today for my pre-surgery physical and bloodwork. Questions about plastic surgery? Try Obesity Help's Plastic Surgery Peer Support Forum
:: Lisa 8:29 AM [+] ::
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Finally talked with Dr. Carman's assistant today, after waiting several hours for her to call me back. Need to get a physical and basic blood work here on the base. Will have surgery at 11am in Dallas on the 15th, but I need to be there at 8 am to do paperwork. Surgery is expected to last 5-6 hours. I will have two drains left in, one which will come out on my 3 day follow up visit, one coming out a week later. That is all the news for now.
:: Lisa 11:02 PM [+] ::
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Okay, so all over the holidays I was calling Dr. Carman's assistant and insurance coordinator and they didn't submit for approval until the 20th! I was mad. So then I get back from vacation and Tricare STILL had not received the request. So I wait a week- nothing. I called day before yesterday and talked to a nice lady and told her my predicament (The fact that I am now packing up my boxes to be moved!) and she said she could get a next day turn around on my request! Rock! So I had Dr. Carman's insurance girl fax the request and yesterday Tricare called and said I was approved! Wow! I am slightly miffed, because I could already be healing up by now....but... So anyway, when I was talking to Dr. Carman's assistant BEFORE I knew I had approval, she said she could probably squeeze me in for surgery on the 15th...so that's where I stand now, until I hear back from her MAYBE today (but unlikely, because it's Saturday) but probably Monday, morning, I hope.
:: Lisa 9:43 AM [+] ::
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I went for my consultation with Dr. Carman today. She did an examination and took pictures. She wasn't very optimistic about approval, but I am. If they do not approve, I will not appeal, as my husband is soon to be chaptered out. So now I'm waiting the usual 2-3 weeks for my answer, then crossing my fingers for surgery in early January.
:: Lisa 11:15 PM [+] ::
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Well I decided to go ahead and call the plastic surgeon to see if they got my paperwork yet. The secretary didn't know, but she said I could go ahead and schedule an appointment. I went ahead and scheduled one for December 11th. If things get approved in a timely fashion, I could be looking at surgery as soon as the second week of January!
:: Lisa 2:26 PM [+] ::
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