Plastic Surgery Journey-Part Two

 How my plastic surgery journey was jump started all over again. 

At the start of  my 50's I asked myself what I might want to do for the second half of my life. I decided that serving and helping other people in a way that I could also make a little income. I could also committ more time to painting. All those paints and canvases were ready to be resurrected on a daily basis.  I would also be continuing in my design, marketing and consulting parts of my business.   

I also became a part time caregiver. As I began caring for a number of people I learned things about the human body and the inability people have to care for themselves with failing bodies. Women who were in good health, lean, having birthed a few kids, in their later years, carrying that same belly as I.  The problem is that they were not able to keep this area clean. Blistering, pharmaceuticals applied to prevent infection, Wraps, gauze and wound care for an area of the body that was easily infected and blistered.  I use to joke that I now had a care plan when I get old for caring for this part of my body. This experience got me thinking that I may want to consider getting that tummy tuck after all. 

In early 2020 I met with the plastic surgeon who was originally going to give me my "Mommy Makeover" 17 years ago. I asked him why insurance does not cover this procedure. I shared with him my caregiving experiences and the expense, discomfort and care later on in life for this area of the body. Now that I see the other end of life and the care needed I realized that more than ever I was going to take care of myself before others would have to care for me in my old age. 

I did my research and priced out the "Mommy Makeover" procedure. Not much had changed in 17 years except the price. I also decided that this time around I did not need to have a full mommy makeover. Just a tummy tuck. I also needed to have 4-6 weeks cleared off my calendar for healing and care. 

I consulted my care team. Gordon and my daughters. Their schedules and their time. In Palm Desert, CA the price was 1/3 less than Oregon. I found a clinic with a wonderful staff and a Dr. who did not shy away from my gazillion questions. The date was scheduled. As of writing this blog I am exactly one week post op. 

The following is a few pictures which tells a bit of the story of my Surgery day. Other blogs will follow of my healing journey.

I woke up on Wednesday March 10th 2021 and made sure I was bathed, hair washed, legs shaved and ready for the big day. Post surgery you can not bath (except a sponge bath the first two weeks).

Gordon dropped me off. My surgery was scheduled at 10am and expected to last about 4 hours. Surgery went well. The procedure is basically called an, "Extended Tummy Tuck" from one hip to the other. I was told by the nurse that when I was coming off the meds from surgery I kept crying and telling them, "You have to let me leave now. Gordon is waiting on the golf course for me. We have a tee time." Apparently I was crying my eyes out and kept saying the same thing over and over. I do remember the nurse telling me if I did not stop crying I could not go home. 

Gordon returned with his daughter, Atlanta to pick me up. The doctor gave specific instruction for my care for the next couple of weeks. Gordon and Atlanta got me home and tucked in bed. Atlanta later told me that I was crying and begging Gordon not to leave me. She said that Gordon said, "Where am I going to go? I am not going to leave you." My answer through all the tears was, "The kitchen."  Oh my gosh the medications they give you make you so silly and loopy. 

One important job the doctor gave instruction on was to change my drains every 4 hours. My first 24 hour care team covered me in TLC.  Here is Gordon taking the first shift for drains being cleaned. I am not kidding when I say that through all the loopy moments post-op this moment made me love him more. 

I have had so many people on my social media postings messaging me about these drains. Referencing that this seems like major surgery. Having your body cut in half from one hip to the other is basically more than just a magician act.  I had 5 and a half pounds of belly removed. You are on pain meds, antibiotics, vitamins to heal. Your body is fighting to heal and good care is a wonderful gift.  The drains remove all the excess fluids your body is producing. 

This precious girl, Atlanta, Gordon's daughter taking care of me. Seeing that all my needs were met from helping me calm down from crying and feeling scared to laying beside me, rubbing my head and telling me it was all going to be okay.  I think as I came off the meds the reality of what my body just went through hit me. Atlanta was this calming soul, with her sweet words to get me through those 1st 24 hours. 

I woke up the next day and thought, "What the heck did I do?"  Atlanta and Gordon shared their stories, we all laughed and I took this picture of day one, swollen, bandaged and drains hanging off of me. (Which I quickly learned how to conceal.) Managing the pain is repeated over and over by the doctor. As I write this blog one week post op I can say that I have done a great job, for the most part, managing the pain.  I am truly blessed by the people in my life who extend so much love and care for me. 

On the evening of my first day post-op my daughter flew in from Nashville, TN to take care of her mama. That will be new blogs to read and follow my journey. 

Plastic Surgery Journey-Part One

 JUNE 2005

There I stood buck naked in front a doctor taking the "before" pictures. I nervously laughed and said, "This is not exactly the kind of model I ever dreamed of being." It was my way of making light of an embarrassing moment in time. 

I was very proud of myself for being able to wear my bikini after only six weeks post partem with my 3rd baby. I ran, I swam, I played tennis, I swung a golf club, I biked, I road horses and I went to the gym at least three times a week. I remember in my 8th month of pregnancy on the tennis court and announcing to my Friday evening tennis partners that this had to be my last game. Playing tennis at 8 months pregnant was now to much. The baby was delivered and walks started, which lead to a few days back at the gym and wham back into my pre-pregnant clothes was pretty easy. Then Eric happened.

That 4th child pregnancy when all activities stopped. Good nutrition went out the door. But really out of my mouth as I could not keep ANY food down. No salad, no chicken, no fresh fruit. I was throwing up several times a day.  I remember the Dr. telling me I had to find something to keep down because after losing about 14 pounds the first 8 weeks of pregnancy this was not good. I could not even keep a prenatal vitamin in my belly. Now enter the fast food drive-through for the next 6-7 months.

It only took one Big Mac to know that I had no problem keeping fast food down. One afternoon I was sitting at the dinner table and announced that my arms were getting fat. I lifted up my arm and the fast food flab was setting in. Hallelujah by my 6th month of pregnancy I gained 23 pounds. Not so good. My first three pregnancies' I had not gained more than 23 pounds in an entire 9 months. Being the good student of pregnancy I was I found what my body could keep down.  Greasy fast food, ice-cream, cookies and cakes. I had been put on partial bedrest due to a prolapsed uterus thus eliminated all exercise, and my activity was limited to getting the mail, sitting in an office and walking to the bathroom or from point A to B. But I was happy to walk to the car and hit up the next drive through.  I can say with confidence that Eric was gestated on at least 3 BK Broilers a week, 3 Baskin Robbins Brownie Sundays a week, Nachos, and fries, and tacos. And there you have me gaining up to 65 pounds with Eric. Although I always say gained 80 pounds because that is what it felt like to me. 

All would have been well if he weighed 65 pounds at birth. Then the weight would be gone. But that little stinker only weighed in 9'6 which left me with over 50 pounds of pure fast food chub. And life with a newborn, and a deaf 2 year old and tweens did not allow for time back at the gym and biking, running and tennis were put on hold.  

I had my 5th pregnancy, only gained about 22 pounds, and lost that shortly after he was born but the residual weight from baby number 4 still stuck around. And my wardrobe became leggings and long oversized shirts to cover up my belly.  I was still me. I was not someone who lived in the insecurities of my body, nor did I have sobering body image issues. I accepted that my nice wardrobe no longer fit. I dressed frumpy with oversized this or that because it was comfy and easy. My personality did not change. I did not avoid big mirrors or the stories you read or hear about with women and poor self image. Most of my life I liked myself and just saw this extra tummy hang as something to accept and I did for years. 

Before my 5th child was born I was in front of the plastic surgeon taking the pre-op pictures. I actually calculated that it would cost more money to replace my wardrobe than to have plastic surgery. I had my 87 year old best friend with her guest room ready to care for me 2 weeks post opp. I had childcare arranged for all the kids and in June of 2005 I was scheduled on a Monday to have all that fast food, which landed dead center in my belly to be removed. 

The Saturday, back in 2005  I was running errands. While eating a late breakfast I realized I was chewing ice. I have never liked ice in my beverages. The only time I would chew on ice was when I was pregnant. After that meal I zoomed over to Fred Meyer and bought 3 pregnancies' tests. ALL tested positive.  All resulted in baby number 5, Emerson. And the cancellation of my scheduled, "Mommy Makeover" surgery. I cried and cried. I don't even have my ears pierced twice. I do not like bodily pain. It takes ALOT to work up to the idea of someone cutting across your belly. I never had a C-section with any of my pregnancies. This was going to be a big deal. And one pregnancy test put this procedure to a screaming halt.

With three busy little boys and busy teenagers there was never any time to really schedule this procedure again. In 2008 I decided to work out the extra weight issues on my own. I hopped back on the bike, I started walking,  running on a treadmill and doing all the activities that I love doing. Within a year I had dropped about 35 pounds. No special diets, just cutting out the foods that I did not need, and moving my body. What was left was nothing but blub on my belly. Let's be real here. If you have this kind of overhang you know first hand that on hot days, it get's sweaty and sometimes heat blisters in that area. It's not just a cosmetic alteration, it's better feeling all around. I was sad to not have the procedure but knew someday that day would come. Now on to part two of my "Plastic Surgery Journey".