Surgeon Visit

I saw my surgeon for my two week follow up. He said he is pleased with my healing and explained that the numbness I feel in a section of my tummy is nerve damage from surgery. He said that the national average of losing is 7.5 lbs for the two week preop diet and the 2 weeks after surgery (one month total). I have lost 24 lbs! (well-according to his scale, mine says 26!) I am actually shocked, given I only had about five solid days on the preop diet (that I had a few slip ups on to boot!). He also gave me some encouraging information- he showed me the pictures he took in my belly and compared it to other sample pictures they keep. He showed me that I had very very little fat encasing my organs, and that my liver was nowhere near my stomach and quite small! He said that generally patients have a ton of fat around the stomach, making fills necessary more frequently as that fat is lost but in all the pictures he took I had one small strip of fat and that was it. I guess all my fat stays where everyone else can see it. I hope that makes this process easier on me, but who knows it probably just means I will have saggier skin! Lets see, he said my incisions will pucker until the stitches dissolve and that my four small incisions have one stitch each, while the bigger one has 10. He also encouraged me to try anything and everything food wise, to discover what food my band will handle. Right now I have 5cc's in my 14cc band and will get my first fill on 08/25. He said to expect to be hungry between now and then, and I told him I was afraid I was already eating too much but working on it. Overall I would say it was a positive visit.

I really love my surgeon, he is very very comforting and open and down to earth. Its hard to put this in words, but sometimes when I go to the doctor, I feel looked down upon, stripped of my dignity and almost that the medical professional is disgusted with my size. I get anxiety about doctors visits due to this, and hesitate looking for better docs because I always think its going to happen. I feel none of this in his office, the entire staff is wonderful and he encourages us to call call call with anything that we need, that we will not be a bother at all. I always leave with all of my dignity and feeling positive about the visit which is such a blessing to me.

I still have some pain, enough that it takes my breath away, at my port site. I am hoping it gets better soon. I have had lots of trouble falling asleep since surgery, which I have to get resolved because I go back to work tomorrow (!!) and in about two weeks my baby starts Kindergarten (!!!!!) So a good sleep schedule is a must.

That's all I have for now, still hoping to be able to see my loss in the mirror, but I know its coming!