November 23, 2011

I almost fainted


If you're squeamish, skip this part. Just go down to the page break line.

I never really understood how the sight of something could make someone faint. I watch the needle go into my arm for blood draws, I was very conscious for the removal of my arch bars, I had no problem emptying my drains from surgery... but yesterday, it almost happened.

My incision had a thin piece of extremely sticky tape all the way around the length of it. It took me a few days to even notice it was there, because it was SO stuck to my skin. It was kind of stringy, like gauze, but as sticky as super glue. Anyway, my doctor noticed it was still there yesterday, so she told me I could pull it off when I got home.

Last night, I went into the bathroom, stripped down, and found a little piece to start working on. It took me a while to just get a small piece up, and I swear I thought my incision was going to burst open. It didn't really hurt (much) because I am still so numb, but all the spots that the tape came off was starting to sting. I kept pulling, and going over certain spots felt like I was splitting open. It was so scary!

I had Jerry do the tape over my butt, since I couldn't see it well, and I kept asking "Are you sure it's not opening?!" There were a couple of spots that show a tiny speck of blood, but other than that, it was still okay. When I really couldn't see it, but I could definitely feel it, I got extremely light headed and started getting tunnel vision. I walked to my bedroom and tried to lay across the bed so that if I did faint, I wouldn't fall and break my damn jaw again.

It felt like it took forever, but the tape was finally off (oh, and I won't even mention how badly it hurt when removing the piece that was across the top of my pubic hair--imagine waxing in slow motion).

It actually made the incision look much better though, after the tape was off:


On the left, the tape was still on (this is the incision right above my left butt cheek)--I believe this was Day 4. On the right, you can see where the tape WAS, but is no more. And how much cleaner the incision looks with the tape removed. Don't be freaked out by the bruising--that's why I didn't show you my back yet!

I was trying to explain to Jerry was the heebie-jeebies was... you know that really squeemish feeling? Yeah, looking at this stuff gives me the heebie-jeebies. Try and say that word out loud without at least smiling. You can't!


Now, onto the most important part--the REAL reason I almost fainted! Just kidding, I didn't, but it probably would have been appropriate. I'm talking about my Wednesday Weigh-In today.

Remember, how I said I was prepared for a big number, because the doc said I could gain up to 10 pounds post-op from fluid retention?  I mentally prepared myself for that, and all week long I've been RAVENOUSLY hungry. I've been eating 3 meals and at least 2-3 snacks a day, because my body is hungry all the time--I think it's just wanting extra calories to heal all the trauma that was done to it during surgery.

Well, I got on the scale and saw a number I haven't seen in... God only knows how long.


Yes, friends, that would be the 130's!!! I haven't seen the 130's since early this year, probably April? So I'm actually down 9 pounds since the morning of surgery.  The doctor said she only removed 2-3 pounds of skin, so this is quite the shock.

However, I'm going to be VERY careful about considering this weight loss "permanent" until at least 6 weeks after surgery. I learned my lesson last year after my jaw surgery, when my weight dropped to 128.

I've been eating a ton of protein, at the request of my doctor, but I make sure that I'm not eating low-carb. I definitely get in a lot of carbs and protein and fat--maybe my metabolism is just going super fast to try and repair my body after surgery. Also, I haven't been running, and my body drops weight very fast when I don't exercise--weird, I know. I'm not sure what the reasoning is behind the weight loss, but I'm VERY thrilled with it!!

Well, I might write again tonight, but I was dying to post my weigh in!

21 comments:

  1. You are a champion. And it's true, you can't say 'heebie-jeebies' with a serious face. The tape was petty fun to pull off. There was a twing of satisfaction that came with it. But, you held together just fine, literally. You're awesome and you look great. Olive Juice.

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  2. Your incision looks SO good for only a little over a week out! And it definitely looks like there is no tape in that first picture, so I could only imagine how stuck on it really was!

    Congratulations on the scale! That's amazing. You are now at my goal weight! What I can't believe you got the ok to exercise, or even run if you want to! Can you walk upright yet? Don't women usually have to weight 6 weeks after a c-section to exercise?

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Katie!

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  3. Wow, you look great! I'm so glad that you got the OK to start exercising again, although that scale looks pretty happy right now :) Congrats!
    ~Paula

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  4. @Frickin' Fabulous at 40

    Linda, I think that the reason it's not the same as a c-section is because it's only the surface part of the body that has trauma. With a c-section, they have to "dig" much deeper and mess with your internal organs. With the body lift, it was only the skin and abdominal muscles that were effected. The doc said to only do what I'm *comfortable* with, and right now it would be very uncomfortable to run!

    But I agree about the incision, I'm very happy with how it looks just a little over a week post-op!

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  5. Katie,
    I got squeamish, but kept reading. Kind of insane I know, but I like to learn and you definitely keep me learning -- from medicine doses, to healtier cooking, exercise and healing processes. Your blog is like a fun encyclopedia!
    Enjoy your holiday!
    Pat

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  6. Your body has to work harder to digest protein. At least that's my understanding. So it's working to repair itself and I believe you are eating lots more protein than normal. So double whammy. Pretty awesome! I'm intrigued that you lose weight without exercising. When you are bored post some thoughts on that! Are you tracking your food by any chance? I'd like to see the carb/protein ratio.

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  7. I have to agree the incision looks awesome. You are healing fairly quickly. Protein plays a HUGE part in healing. The right kind of protein also helps with weight loss as long as you drink lots of water. I read somewhere to help with weight loss you are to drink half your body weight in water.

    You keep going like this and you will be running in no time.

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  8. LOVE the new banner. You look wonderful! You are such an inspiration. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. yay congrats on the number that is fantastic and your incision looks amazing. keep it up happy thanks giving.....
    DESYACV2)

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  10. Yay on your weigh-in! Your incision is looking fabulous!

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  11. Luckily, with having worked in Nursing and have had 3 c-sections, incisions don't bother me. It looks great though! Did she tell you to put any lotion or ointment on it to help from scaring?
    Wahoo on the weigh in! That is awesome. I wish I had the problem of losing faster without exercise. That will never happen. It will be awesome to see how your jeans fit after the swelling is all gone.

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  12. WOOHOO--139! That's great Katie-what a shock. I had a couple minor surgeries earlier this year, and thought I would surely lose a whole bunch of weight afterwards, since they wouldn't let you eat much before and afterwards I didn't feel like eating much for a day or two. But NOOOOOO....the scale was up and it took probably 10 days or two weeks to just get back to where I was BEFORE surgery. So you are very lucky!!
    I hit 139.2 lbs. earlier this month, but then went immediately back into the 140's, and haven't seen the 130's since. It's kinda depressing, but I just don't think I'm capable of eating the very little bit you can eat and stay at a weight like that. I just like food too much.

    Happy Thanksgiving Katie. Seems like you're recovering quite nicely, and I can't wait to see those "after" pictures.

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  13. You probably drop weight faster when you are not running because you are not gaining muscle. This is the experience I am having. I am very squeamish but your recall of the event was actually not that bad.

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  14. Awesome weigh in! You are going to be rockin those size 4 jeans again!

    I hope you do blog again today. I consider it a bonus when you blog more than once. :)

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  15. Congrats on the scale! That's awesome! I'm glad you didn't faint and glad that you layed down so in case you did faint you wouldn't hurt yourself! I agree with the comment above me that I love when you blog more then once! I hope you and your family have a fabulous Thanksgiving!

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  16. Yay on the tape coming off and yay on the weigh in! Boo for almost passing out... but hey, you don't have control over that! The reason some people pass out with some things is actually completely involuntary and has to do with a nerve in the body etc... I hate tape! HATE hate hate! Ever since I was a kid I hated bandaids, anything. That's always been the worst part of a blood draw or anything with the needle is the tape they put on over the cotton ball... With my C-section I didn't even have the guts to take off the suture tape until they got so gnarly in the shower and boy.. the pubes area sucked!

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  17. Congrats on the awesome weigh in!! Glad the healing process is treating you well. Thanks for continuing to blog during your recovery. I look forward to your blog every day.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!

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  18. I would have had no idea you had tape on the incision! It looks really good, I can't believe how much it's healed! THAT WEIGH IN...WHOOP WHOOP! That's kick ass!

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  19. Yay Katie!!!!! You are doing amazing!!!! You seem to be healing well and what a great weigh-in!!!!!! I have found for myself that exercise has little to no impact on my weight loss, but is 100% needed as my "outlet"!!! I can be exercising 1-3 hours a day, and gain depending on what I eat!!! I have turned over a new leaf recently though, and was able to stay on track "food-wise" for the past 11 days!!! I am taking today off, and then going to get right back at it!!
    Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

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  20. I know the feeling of almost fainting post surgery. In 2008 I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Malignant Melanoma in my right thigh. It was on a teeny tiny mole I've had for years. I was rushed into surgery a day later to have them remove the lymph node and take larger "margins". So the original place they took off was literally just the top piece of skin. I figured that my surgery would be about an inch deep tops. I was wrong. I found this out the hard way. Of course it was difficult for me to follow doctor's orders and I was back in my tap class earlier than I should have been then I went golfing with my Dad for Father's Day. There was a TON of drainage while we were golfing so we cut it short. My mom and I decided to run to Target and I tried on a bathing suit. I looked down in the dressing room and noticed my bandage had come off. Then to my surprise I realized that my 3.5 inch incision had opened and the hole in my leg was a good 2.5 inches DEEP! It was huge. I couldn't breathe and the ONLY thing that kept me from fainting was the fact that I would have to be hauled out of the dressing room in that stupid bathing suit!!!! HAHAHA! Oh and I should mention that was at 262...my heaviest. :-)
    Sorry for the long post, but I thought you'd get a good laugh. The moral of this story is to ALWAYS follow doctor's orders. I'm glad you waited to get cleared before starting exercise. Your incision looks REALLY good! In a year I bet you won't even be able to see it there.

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