So, I took the bus to NYC to meet Margie wearing my thick white brace under my clothes. Let's just say that it is not the most comfortable thing to wear if you are sitting. Lying down? Different story. My stomach was still very sore and it looked like the stitches under my armpit and near my tummy were healing up nicely. To anyone that may choose this additional surgery, I would have to say that it is very doable and compared to the previous ones, it is a walk in the park. My only negative is the brace...under clothes.
I had a great time at the Open and I will admit, I did not feel like wearing that brace the entire time because I soon became Deenie in "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret?". ( If you are over 40, please tell me you remember that book.) I wore it out one night and I couldn't have felt more ugly and uncomfortable although, truthfully, no one but me knew it since my dress hid it beautifully. I still felt like a dork which is not what one is supposed to feel like in Manhattan.
So here it the kicker. I fly back Wednesday (wearing my brace) to my home in SC and on Thursday, I find out that I am being deployed as a volunteer for the Red Cross! I have been training this entire year and BEGGING the powers that be to deploy me. Holy cow! I got deployed back to NY to help in a shelter in Binghamton, NY for two weeks. Immediately, I read over the information and while filling out form number 147, I see where you have to check Yes or No if you have stitches. Crap! I check No and call Margie.
"Hey Margie. Do you know how to sew? Have you ever taken out stitches before?", I ask
"No but how hard can it be?", she replied
"Ok, I'll be over in ten and I"ll bring a tweezer. Do you have tiny scissors?"
And the next thing you know, I am lying on the floor while Margie puts on her readers to clip and pull out the stitiches so that, technically, I do not have to answer Yes to that question.
I pack up my white brace and limited attire and get back on the plane to LaGuardia on Friday. I knew going into this it was going to be exhausting but highly rewarding from all that I have heard from others who have deployed before. However, this was my first deployment so I was excited and slightly nervous about the brace and the fact that I just had this operation a mere week and a half ago. I knew if I declined, I probably wouldn't be asked again for awhile. I also knew that there had to be nurses around and maybe a doctor or two. I mean, it's the Red Cross, right?
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Long Overdue Update
Seriously? It is October already? Wow..how did that happen? Geez, you are probably thinking I have been such a slacker now that I am officially finished with the entire "boobie" ordeal but, actually, I have soooooo much to tell you! So, let's roll back the months to August when I underwent the final, final operation.
We just escaped Hurricane Irene while driving down I-95 en route to my friend's house in Lehigh Valley, PA. Her electricity was out all day Sunday (in fact for 4 days thereafter) and I was concerned that the electricity would also be out in Philadelphia meaning the operation would be put off until later in the week. I called our hotel and, luckily, all was well with PECO in Center City. We drove down on Sunday to settle in to my new "residence" at Le Meridien for the next few days while I recovered.
Monday morning, we showed up at Pennsylvania Hospital and it was getting to be easier and easier for me to go through the black markups by Dr. Bucky as well as meeting the anesthesiologist and his staff. It's hard to believe that last December I was so freaked out by "going under' and now I was like, "bring it"! Of course there was the familiar bantering between the medical group which, always puts me at ease. I told Dr. Bucky to err on the side of "more". More is definitely MORE when removing fat from my body. While he was marking me up, he asked if I wanted the fat taken from my stomach. Uh, hell yeah, Dr. B. I am over 45 and that stupid roll came out of left field somewhere between 46 and 47 years of age so, yesiree, take that roll and reduce that thing! Finally, he asked if I would mind if he took some fat out of my armpit area. Seriously? And you actually had to ask me?
I woke up about an hour or so later (I think) and I had absolutely no trouble breathing coming out of the anesthesia. In fact, I just felt a little bit sore in my tummy and my armpits. He inserted the fat into my left breast so there wouldn't be an obvious ridge and it just felt a little "hard" if you will. Seriously, this was not bad at all. In fact, I only took one valium and then an Advil on occasion while I healed in my hotel room the next two days. I did, however, have a velcro white brace around my tummy to keep the swelling in place. It felt a little like one of those black braces that you had to wear if you were lifting heavy items to avoid hurting your lower back. Or better yet....they felt like Spanx.
The plan was for me to drive back with Bob to South Carolina two days later in our mini SUV with sport suspension. Right there, you should immediately gasp while reading "sport suspension". What the hell was I thinking? Twelve hours driving in a vehicle that feels every bump in the road? I must have been on something when I came up with that brilliant idea. Luckily, the moons were all aligned and an angel called Margie called me up at the last minute and asked if I wanted to attend the US Open in NY at the last minute. This would mean I could recoup at my brother's house in NJ for a few more days and then take the Megabus up to NY only to fly home a few days after. Did I mention that she also had box seats for the Open? Count me "in"!
We just escaped Hurricane Irene while driving down I-95 en route to my friend's house in Lehigh Valley, PA. Her electricity was out all day Sunday (in fact for 4 days thereafter) and I was concerned that the electricity would also be out in Philadelphia meaning the operation would be put off until later in the week. I called our hotel and, luckily, all was well with PECO in Center City. We drove down on Sunday to settle in to my new "residence" at Le Meridien for the next few days while I recovered.
Monday morning, we showed up at Pennsylvania Hospital and it was getting to be easier and easier for me to go through the black markups by Dr. Bucky as well as meeting the anesthesiologist and his staff. It's hard to believe that last December I was so freaked out by "going under' and now I was like, "bring it"! Of course there was the familiar bantering between the medical group which, always puts me at ease. I told Dr. Bucky to err on the side of "more". More is definitely MORE when removing fat from my body. While he was marking me up, he asked if I wanted the fat taken from my stomach. Uh, hell yeah, Dr. B. I am over 45 and that stupid roll came out of left field somewhere between 46 and 47 years of age so, yesiree, take that roll and reduce that thing! Finally, he asked if I would mind if he took some fat out of my armpit area. Seriously? And you actually had to ask me?
I woke up about an hour or so later (I think) and I had absolutely no trouble breathing coming out of the anesthesia. In fact, I just felt a little bit sore in my tummy and my armpits. He inserted the fat into my left breast so there wouldn't be an obvious ridge and it just felt a little "hard" if you will. Seriously, this was not bad at all. In fact, I only took one valium and then an Advil on occasion while I healed in my hotel room the next two days. I did, however, have a velcro white brace around my tummy to keep the swelling in place. It felt a little like one of those black braces that you had to wear if you were lifting heavy items to avoid hurting your lower back. Or better yet....they felt like Spanx.
The plan was for me to drive back with Bob to South Carolina two days later in our mini SUV with sport suspension. Right there, you should immediately gasp while reading "sport suspension". What the hell was I thinking? Twelve hours driving in a vehicle that feels every bump in the road? I must have been on something when I came up with that brilliant idea. Luckily, the moons were all aligned and an angel called Margie called me up at the last minute and asked if I wanted to attend the US Open in NY at the last minute. This would mean I could recoup at my brother's house in NJ for a few more days and then take the Megabus up to NY only to fly home a few days after. Did I mention that she also had box seats for the Open? Count me "in"!
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