I started this last post last night, and fell asleep before I posted. I’m a lightweight when it comes to medicine, and was knocked out shortly after taking the pre-op meds.
This morning I went to a hyperbaric oxygen treatment that’s recommended by the surgeon. You’re placed in this pressurized chamber, and they pump in pure oxygen for 90 min. The session is supposed to promote healing, help with wound recovery, and help fight infection. The tube is clear and fairly large, but my claustrophobia was definitely triggered. However, the staff at the facility were incredible and made the experience as low stress and easy as possible. I watched a movie and tried to ignore the fact that I was sealed in a vault. I won’t say the 2 hours passed quickly, but they passed and it was on to my pre-op appointment.
I was excited for my pre-op appointment for many reasons but mainly because I have made so many changes in my body in the year since my consult. Yes, I lost weight, which is fine. I’ve been dieting since I was 5, so that’s nothing new and honestly the least impressive change. What I’m most excited about is that my inflammation is down and my legs are softer. Shout out to my Manual Lymphatic Drainage therapist for her incredible work over the last year!
I take before pictures, fill out a ton of paperwork, and start asking my list of questions. We talk about the logistics of the surgery, I get to ask all my questions, and he marks up my legs for surgery tomorrow. As he’s marking me up, he says you don’t have much fat left in your body. This is all lipedema. My legs, my arms, my stomach are all filled with these painful nodules that won’t go away with diet and exercise…no matter how hard I try, they’re not going anywhere. Then he tells me I don’t want you dieting after surgery. 3 meals and 3 protein shakes a day. No dieting of any kind. I needed some time with those two statements because for decades I’ve heard the opposite. For decades I’ve been told that I’m not trying hard enough and implying I’m fat because I don’t have the willpower or desire to lose weight. I remember one doctor telling me you can lie to yourself but you can’t lie to the scale. This was after I’d spent months starving myself and only lost a handful of pounds. My hair was falling out, my skin was dry and flakey, and I just looked unwell. His response was you’re not trying hard enough.
It’s taken a lot to climb out from under those kinds of statements. Especially when they’ve been accumulating for decades. Shout out to my therapist for the amazing work she’s done the last 2 years! But I’ve clawed my way out of that hole, and here I am sitting and listening to a doctor tell me you’ve done a lot and there’s not much left. Go eat. When I say my inner fat kid leapt with joy! LEAPT. WITH. JOY.
The appointment left me feeling calm, assured and ready for tomorrow!
The LipeDiva 