Free at last!!!

NO MORE DRAINS!!!!

Yes! The bulbs of Doom are all gone! It was so much easier to remove than the stupid IV. Now I can wear normal clothing again. Ah, the things we all take for granted. I'm actually surprised that I'm able to move around the way I do. I get these energy bursts and then I have to sit and relax a bit. I'll get used to it one day at a time.

When I went to pick up the first practical set of girdles I thought it would be funny to just try on a pair of size 14 pants. I not only tried it but bought it! And I'm still swollen too. I can't imagine how I'm going to look in 2 months since I see such a difference in a week. Granted, the belly looks like I'm 4 months pregnant but that was expected. Well here are the after pics:

Okay guys, remember this is only 1 week post op. So much to go but I do have a great belly button. My contour in the middle of my belly is just starting to take shape and the cut is very low and will now show over the underwear. Happy days to come!!!!

Finally did it!!!!! 1 Week Post Op!!!!

Well guys, I FINALLY DID IT!!!!! On Wednesday, Sept. 29th I went under the knife to finally get rid of JABBA. Oh what a difference!

That day started with me getting a quick pregnancy test before the operation. Then came the IV... Okay, so how many pokes DOES it take to get to the center of a vein??? I guess it took 3 people to figure it out, along with 3 pokes and 3 bruises. Why can't these workers listen to the patient when we say, "Hey, that vein is way too small. Try another one." I guess they thought that if I am too upset because I've been used as a pin cushion that I wouldn't worry about the surgery. Try again....

My doc showed up and drew on my belly and took pics. I reminded him that I want a pic of Jabba. He said I would get it on my visit when I get the drains removed.... Well tomorrow is that day. So my pics will be taken after the drain removal and hopefully my Jabba pics.... Yeah, I'm disgusting. lol....

When the anesthesia wore off, I woke up and started talking a mile a minute, excited about the operation and asking how it went. The team was laughing that I had all this energy at just 15mins of recovery. Then I made sure to ask about my Jabba pics and the team assured me that it was taken. They said that they never had anyone wake up with just enthusiasm as me. Hey, I'm one of a kind. HAHA

My first 2 days home was very hard for me. Thank God for pain killers. Oh yes, without them bad boys I would be screaming bloody murder. After the first 48 hrs I was able to walk up and down the steps. It is still a little difficult for me with these drains on me but it's getting better.

I finally looked at my belly. It is swollen right now and it will stay that way for about 2 months or so. The belly button is going inward, taking its position. The stitches around the belly button are still on it but I know in time it will head itself.

Okay, now for the main long scar.... wow, talk about cutting low! The scar starts on the middle of my hip sides and drops so low in the middle area I didn't find the line at first. Then the hairs started to grow back. I've been itching for days at that spot. I hope it'll stop soon. Not too cool. But in the plus side - WOW, what HIPS! They're like handles compared to my waist. Hubby is happy for me and already notices the change. My pants and underwear are baggy and I can finally still upright without worrying about the flab laying on my thighs. When I lay on my back that is when I finally see a huge difference. I wanted to cry last night realizing how much of an impact this operation has made for me already. Even with all of the pain involved I am so happy I went through with it.

And now for the big surprising plus in all of this...... I am now 199lbs! I just can't believe it. I never expected to lose any extra pounds other than what was removed - which was 6.5lbs. I started this blog at 217lbs and now I'm under 200lbs. I haven't been under 200lbs for over a decade. I was so excited that I dragged hubby out of the bedroom to see the scale. I wanted to cry. I know this is due to the fact that I've been eating smaller portions because of how tight my belly feels along with alot of water, no soda or juices and no eating late at night other than crackers if I need to take my pain meds. It is a simple plan and if I keep it up, who knows.

Wonderful experience so far - great hospital, fantastic doctor (who sent me flowers on my first day home - who does that?), great family support and a loving husband. I am so fortunate.

I'm back at work next Tuesday. I actually miss being out and singing. I'm currently practicing my singing since it is difficult due to the stitches in my belly muscles. I think it'll take time but I'll be okay.

Pics will be coming soon. I just couldn't take pics with drains (yuck) but I promise that once they're gone pics will be next, swelling and all.

Thank you all for supporting my blog... there will be more to come!

24 hours.....

Well it's finally happening! Tomorrow is the big day. I am so excited. It's the feeling one has when they get ready for the first day of school, their wedding, giving birth.... It is life changing event.

I decided to take this last day before the surgery to relax, prep and enjoy the family. I went to my appointment last week at the hospital. I asked the nurse if a picture can be taken of Jabba. I think I totally grossed her out. She looked at me strange and said I would need to ask the doctor.... yeah I creeped her out. lol... I see it as a way to finally say goodbye to that gross thing.

Well, wish me luck guys! I'll be on my blog when I come back home on Thursday, pain and all.... :)

8 Days and counting........

Okay..... Now the anxiety FINALLY kicked in! My stomach is in knots both with excitement and worry. A lot of "what ifs" are popping all over the place. I shouldn't think this way at this stage of the game but I can't believe it's really going to happen. Now all of the hard work will begin.

I also have a bad sleeping arrangement. I know I won't be able to walk a long flight of steps when I come home so I might be stuck sleeping downstairs - that's if I can sleep. I know that I will be screaming those infamous "7 Dirty Words" and then some more in Spanish! Yeah, bilingual cursing will be happening at my house from the time I'm home until the drainage bags come off. The line is like 2 feet or so all wrapped inside my belly with disgusting fluid pumping out for over a week or so. 2 of them. Sucks!

And yes, intimacy is out of the question. I thought that it would be because of the drainage or popping a stitch but noooooo.... it's to prevent bleeding due to increased blood flow. So I guess what they're really trying to say is maybe you can find a way to do it, but don't get excited and don't enjoy it.... LOL!!!! Well I wouldn't be surprised if during my recuperation my monthly friend comes to visit.... Yeah, nice surprise, NOT. This house is not going to like me very much.

Well when the doubts kick in I just go to my upstairs bathroom, look at the mirror and BAM! Jabba is just staring at me, smiling at me, mocking me, and thinks it's not going anywhere. But I will have the last laugh. Jabba is finished.... HAHA!!!!

Okay, I'm getting a little nutty with my writing but hey it's fun.... I will be ready for my Superwoman costume for Halloween. Yes, I felt it was the appropriate costume for me. I'm feeling like Superwoman!

To have BELLY BUTTON or not to have BELLY BUTTON - That's the Question!

So it's been a month since my consult and today I had to go in and fill out more forms. This form was given to be prior to going in today to sign. The form has about 6 pages explaining the risks involved and some effects.... so I go on reading the stuff (bruising, scarring, lack of sensation, too much sensation).... typical stuff. So I get to the bottom of page one and there is a section on "belly buttons". blah blah blah, misalignment, odd shape. But then I read "loss of belly button". I'm like "WTF!" Oh no! I can deal with the agonizing pain, the sensations being weird, even the delay in sexual activity, but NO WAY! I will NOT become a plastic TROLL DOLL!

I proceeded to do a little research about the "missing belly button". Patricia Heaton, the actress from "Everybody Loves Raymond" doesn't have one and neither does model, Karolina Kurkova. It looks sureal.... nope. I don't care if they have to tattoo one on. I'm having one....

So I then talk to the assistants at the doc's office and asked them if my doc ever left anyone without a belly button. They both kinda scratched their head, chuckled and stated confidently "nope, he'll make sure you have a belly button."

It's funny how something so small can make me become adamant about keeping. I just feel it's like having a great sundae made and forgetting to put the cherry on top.

Oh well..... I have to go back to the doc's next week to pay off the balance and start taking my vitamin pills. One set was removed due to my fruit allergy. This is the first time my allergy ever came to play medically. Well the pills will just have to stare at me for a week before I am supposed to take it.... btw I got a cool parting gift - tote bag for the hospital stay. Cute.... 3 weeks left...... tick tock tick tock....

My Consult!

Yesterday was the BIG DAY.... the consult with the doc whose putting an end to Jabba. Well, okay. He tried to up sell me a lapband surgery. He asked if my insurance would cover it. I said "Oh yeah! After I gain ANOTHER 20 POUNDS!" Urgh!!!!

I guess he realized that "lapband" was not going to happen. He asked me why I wanted the surgery and I told him that it was the right time to do it. No more kids, flexibility to heal, hated Jabba for over 20 yrs and it bothers and at times hurts. So he agreed with the procedure!

The doc showed me before and after photos of people who were overweight and agreed to do the tummy tuck, like I am. I was hoping to see someone built like me - big butt, big boobs and a flabby belly. I saw the flabby bellies but no big rear so there wasn't really a good comparison to go by. I later spoke to his assistant about it. She said that she's hopeful that I will be more than satisfied with the results because of my shape. I guess I just might look like a plus size "Iris Chacon" (for those who don't know who I'm talking about - if not, Google her, she's hot!) hee hee. My hubby is excited for me. Yeah, I bet he can't wait until after the healing period so he can take full advantage of the results. LOL!!!

End Of Jabba Day is on September 29th. I notified one of my gigs and now between this week and next week the rest will be notified. I can't believe it's finally happening. I will need to take blood work and another consult before going - that will be on September 7th. I guess I'll try (no promises) that I'll drop a couple of pounds to satisfy the doc before surgery. Or if not, he's just going to have to deal with my big butt.

Bye for now but I'll get back once I go to my pre-op consult. Take care all and enjoy the weekend!

Reminiscing....

It was great seeing my family on Saturday. It made me realize how strong and crazy the women in my family are. My cousin and his girl are having twins. WOW! They're so young too. Just looking at her belly reminded me of my first pregnancy with my daughter. I was an 18 yr old barely graduating from high school when I gave birth to her..... and JABBA. She was a pure blessing while JABBA was my curse. I guess my young body wasn't ready to expand enough for the size of a basketball. It looked like a nasty, wrinkly, deflated balloon. It's sad to be so young and have such a disgusting belly. I knew how to hide it pretty well but I was never able to wear clothing showing any part of my belly. I grew depressed and angry. Felt ugly. It felt like luggage that did not want to leave.

So I've lived with JABBA for 23 years. This unwanted relationship must come to an end. I told some of my family members about the appointment and they are very supportive. 17 days to the consultation. I'm counting the days.

Again, this weight thing is really confusing me. So I guess I'll just measure myself in inches instead. All I know is that after it is done, if I can touch my toes, sit upright and be able to wear pants that can zipper up without my shifting my belly back and forth like a water balloon, then I'm good.

I think I'll be set with my gigs. I notified my gigs about me having to be out for 2 weeks. As long as I can give them enough notice I'll be good. So now I can relax and just focus on my appointment, surgery and recovery. I will keep hoping all turns out well and I can finally get rid of JABBA for good.

Well until next time......

Support.....

I love the fact that I have a wonderful support system. My hubby is now realizing some of it's rewards. He's now excited for me, which is a big turnaround from him worrying about me doing this procedure. I showed him some before and after photos of people with similar body shapes and their results. He keeps saying that my result will be better because of my body shape.... we'll see.

My friends are the greatest. They know how much this means to me. The freedom of not feeling the belly flap up and down as I run down the steps of my house - yuck! Then reality hit me..... if my butt is huge now, OMG it's going to look MASSIVE after the operation! LOL. At least the belly makes my butt look a little smaller than it is. Oh well, the price I pay for tightness.... haha!

This is going to be the LONGEST 3 weeks for me to wait for a consult. It's like waiting for my tax return money - tick tock tick tock....... In the meantime I hope I can shed the 14 lbs of blubber before going in. That'll be nice.

I know that some people are judgmental when it comes to me doing this without losing massive weight first. See I believe that the ideal weight is what a person feels most comfortable, not what another person thinks is good for you. If I weighed 120 lbs would I be happier or would the people around me be happier? I was that weight once and I hated it. I was not happy, feeling mostly depressed and didn't eat much. Always felt weak. Everyone else used to tell me how great I looked but didn't care to see that I was so unhappy. I starved myself back then. I will never do that again. However, I know that as I get older I really need to consider what I eat for my own health. So I believe this is all a wake up call for me. It is about me getting into healthier habits, not weight loss. If I happen to lose weight in the process, so be it. If not, that's okay too.

Well this booty girl needs to get ready for my afternoon with my little princess. She has her dance class and I don't want her to miss it. Then it's off to work tonight to sing to the regulars at my job. Take care all!!!!

The Tummy Monster.

YUCK!!!!! Well this is the first time I've EVER shown my belly. It's like JABBA THE HUT! It's very soft and disgusting and has gotta go! Talk about being EXPOSED... Oh well. Hopefully by next year it'll be a distant memory. For now, I do hide it pretty well, but it'll be nice to finally kiss this unwanted visitor goodbye.

I decided to go through YouTube to check out videos of the procedure again. I also ran into a video of a poor girl that went to Colombia for the operation only to get it fixed in the US when she became physically ill and scarred. I did my research and know my risks. So this is why I am having the procedure done at the hospital and checked for 24 hrs by nurses. I feel confident and safe about doing this. I will need to cut any drinking for at least a month before the procedure. Plus I will need a partner for my gigs because for 2-3 weeks there is no way I can carry any of my equipment or really move around.

Wow, this blogging thing is really fun, exciting and great therapy for me. I don't know who or how many people will be reading this blog but it is for my sense of reality and putting things to perspective. Now all can look at this hunk of lard and make fun.... lol

Til next time....

Lasagna.....

So I decided to put my butt on the newly bought scale and "BAM" just like a thought, 214lbs. Well I guess when you look at the actual numbers that's when it hits you. I think my butt should at least TRY to go down to under 200 lbs so I don't feel like a complete cow. HAHA!

If it doesn't happen I'm still having the operation. This chunk of hanging skin has gotta go!

I'm still trying to build the courage for the "BELLY PIC". I know thought, that if I take the pic that the reality will slap me in the face. So my next blog will include the "tub of lard of a belly".

Dieting is really not my thing, especially that I made a slamming lasagna last night. Lasagna is ALWAYS better the next day! So as I go into the fridge to go for the "yogurt" the lasagna is there in all it's deliciousness speaking to me, "eat me, you know you wanna". I have resisted so far but I know the temptation will prevail and I will be eating it soon enough. I hope it's true that maybe I'm lactose intolerant so I can stop the temptation but I guess today I will learn the hard way.

I'm going for now.... pray for me as I take these pics... urgh!

Getting Ready.....

Ok.... This might be a little "ballzy" for me to create a blog of my tummy tuck, but I thought if I start one then I will need to follow through and finally get it done!


I've wanted a tummy tuck for over 10 years. I decided not to do so with the chance of having one last child in our family. Sure enough, my little on showed up on New Years Day of 2004. Then I realized I had to wait for my baby to be old enough for me to be able to heal properly from the procedure. Well she is 6 yrs old now and I feel that now is the time - now or never. I am 41 years old and as I get older I know that the time for this procedure is fading as time goes on. This will be my first operation. I'm excited, nervous, scared all at the same time. I did a lot of research regarding this operation as well as visited the doctor twice on the possibility of getting it done. You see, I'm not a small built woman. I am over 200 lbs but if you saw me you wouldn't believe it. I've had people tell me I look about 18o lbs. I guess I wear it well. I do have a large butt that can make up for at least 50 lbs of weight. LOL!

So I will be visiting the doctor once again on August 5th. I hope he still tells me I am suitable for the procedure. I just need to raise 1k on my own to make up for the different of the portion care credit did not lend me. Once I can lock down a date I need to notify my gigs to let them know I will not be at work for 2 weeks. This is the hardest part since I only get paid when I work.

I know that it'll be well worth it. I've had to look at this horrible belly for over 20 yrs. I felt that it stole part of my youth. Doing the tummy tuck is NOT for weight reduction. I have no intention on losing weight by operation and I am content with handling my weight. The belly is just beyond what I care to handle or want to look at anymore. I get rashes on the fold. My insurance will not cover my procedure and they think ointments will help. For a person weighing at 217lbs I wear a size 16 pants. It is bizarre but true. So my calculations I might be at most a size 14 after it is done with about 10-14lbs of flesh removed. I guess I carry my weight well.

I know that another part of me doing this is for self esteem. I am tired of the "what a pretty face" comments. It is the "poor thing, she's just a fat ass but a pretty girl". Please, if there is anyone reading this - DO NOT MAKE THESE KIND OF COMMENTS. It's NOT a compliment. And NO, we are not the Purse Girls at the club, holding on to everyone else's purse for them to have a good time; we're there to have a good time too. And to the guys, NO do not ask us about our hot friends, ask them yourself..... ok I know this was out of content but it is MY BLOG, right? Venting is part of the healing process.

My next blog will have the first "belly" pic. I need to grow balls to do this one. I never show my belly to anyone other than my hubby. This is very scary for me so give me time to do this. I know it will have to be done in order to record my progress. Wish me luck! Until then, enjoy your day.....

Tummy Girl 41