The Good, the Fat and the Hungry - Abdominoplasty Recovery: Did someone say drains?

Welcome to the Good, the Fat and the Hungry. I'm Karla and I have been -- or am -- all those things. Here, I will share with you my lifelong struggle with my weight and I hope you'll follow along on with my determined attempt to lose nearly 40 pounds. I promise to tell you every win and setback along the way every Tuesday and Friday.

I'm sure there are drains in hell. I know we've heard about hell's heat, but I suspect that drains will be a nice surprise waiting for unsuspecting folks. If they aren't, I'll be surprised. I know drain hell personally because I'm still in it and two of the original three drains are still ... in me.

That's right folks, two weeks post-op, and I still have drains. Needless to say, I am less than happy about it. Again, my surgeon was very happy because it lends to better results for as much fluid as possible to be removed prior to taking the drains out. The alternative is to remove the drains and come to her office several times each week to have the fluid removed by needle. That's okay. I'll pass on that one.

She suggested I keep an eye on the output and call her when they are both below 25 cc's. Worse case scenario: She'll take them out in two weeks. Two weeks? Seriously? A month after surgery with drains? Wow. As of yesterday, they were 75 and 25 cc's respectively. I had an output in one of the drains of 15 cc's a few days ago and really got excited because I was sure that this drain had come to the end of its line -- until it produced 30 cc's the following day. I have great faith in my surgeon -- not only because she's one of the best but because I know she cares about her patients and the quality of her work. I'm keeping the drains. The drains themselves aren't so bad but the positioning is miserable. They are below the bikini line in the top of the pubic mound, hence they are very inconvenient. My chi-chi looks like a balled up fist ready to fight. Oh what joy.

My scar is healing nicely and is far more flat than I thought it would be. Much of the research I've read says that at three months the scars may look worse again before looking better. I have braced myself for this down the road but am really pleased with even these very early results. The drains are a small part of taking the good with the bad.

On day 15, I was able to get out in the fresh air and walk nearly three miles. I pinned my drains up high and hit the pavement. It felt good. My excitement was not only at being able to do it but the recognition in me that I really wanted and needed to do it. That is new. I've not needed much of anything aside from food and shelter most of my life. But this week, I needed to exercise. So drains and all, I did.

I think of it in terms that if I only do one thing all day that benefits me alone, exercise will be it. We give ourselves to others, we overextend, serve and care for everyone else. But what about us? Steal the time and do one good thing for you today. So what if it doesn't benefit anyone else. When it comes to health, being a little selfish is okay. You owe you. Make a healthier food choice even if it's not the most tasty option. Make a date with you to exercise or take a walk. You'll get to know you better and feel better about you because you're taking care of you. Keep the faith!