Skin Removal Surgery...and a Post-Op Pic

So, I haven't really written much at all about my skin removal surgery and the following weeks. I had my surgery on April 10, 2015. The doctor estimated while in pre-op that I would lose about 20-25 pounds. I was a little discouraged about that because I was initially told a much higher number (35-50). At any rate, all I pretty much remember is asking the surgeon before hand if this would be worth it and the response I got was his slapping the anesthesia mask on. I don't remember much after that! I remember waking up briefly in recovery. Enough to hear the doctor say they took 45 pounds of skin and tissue and the bulge was gone. 

I was very swollen and didn't really get out of the bed for the first two days. After that it was torture to get up and walk around, and/or to find a comfortable position to lay since I was cut and stitched all the way around. I was discharged on April 15th and came to recuperate at my Grandma's home. 

Two days later I went to see the surgeon at his office and he confirmed that all was looking good. He scheduled me to go to the wound clinic the following Tuesday. By the time I got there, my suture line had separated in two places and was infected. This meant another stay in the hospital and another surgery to remove the infection. These types of surgeries I am more familiar with because it is the same surgery they do when I have cellulitis - it was just on a grander scale. Anyway, I was in the hospital about a week on antibiotics. That surgery hurt worse than the first one, I think because I was already tender. I went home the following  Friday. 

The next morning I woke up with my hand extremely swollen and my forearm was very taut. By that wvening, I ended up in the emergency room where it was discovered that I had a couple blood clots in my arm and shoulder where the PICC line had been. This led to another  week-long stay in the hospital. 

Now that I have been home, I have been visiting the hospital three times a week for wound care (amongst other appointments). I have seen signs of healing - although not as fast as I would like! I'm itching to get back into my routine and my gym life and start preparing for my phase 2 surgery....LEGS. That's gonna be a doozy!

Anyway, thanks to all who have encouraged, prayed, financially supported and held me accountable. Without further ado, here is the before and after pic (this is the first time I have worn real clothes except for a loose maxi dress to the doctor). The left side is at approximately 460 pounds (mind you I was closer to 500 pounds when I started) and the right is at approximately 249 pounds. 

     April 17, 2013.       May 25, 2015. 

Total loss: 251 pounds