In Fact, It Is Brain Surgery

Tuesday night, my girls watched Deadliest Catch with me.  In that episode, the rest of the fleet found out about Captain Phil's death.  As usual, I had tears running down my cheeks by the time it was over.  It was especially hard for me to watch when Sig found out Phil had died.  When it ended, Brandi asked me why I was crying.  I told her it was because the show was so sad.  She just shrugged and walked away.

Yesterday, Junior asked about the show, and if I cried while watching.  I told him I did, and then Brandi again asked why it was so sad, and when I told her, she wanted to know why Phil died.  I told her, and we started talking about Phil's head in the last couple of episodes, because it was shaved, and kind of sunk in where they had removed his skull.  I told her the next time she saw my dad, to ask to his scar.

I was trying to figure it out, and I think it was in 1994 that my dad had a brain aneurysm and had to have brain surgery.  He didn't need gamma knife treatment; the doctors just went in and fixed the aneurysm.   Thankfully, and luckily, he didn't have any permanent damage.

I know that most people have some kind of negative side effects after brain surgery, whether it be from tradition surgery or acoustic neuroma gamma knife surgery.   Even brain tumors can cause all kinds of problems to a persons brain. There is memory loss, and loss of function to the body, just to name a couple.  I remember an episode of ER where Dr. Greene went to a brain tumor clinic and they operated on his brain while he was still awake, to make sure he didn't lose any functions.   I wonder if they do that in real life?

Lasik

I have been toying with the idea of having my eyes fixed so I wouldn't have to wear my glasses. I went online and found information about lasik eye surgery in utah. This site had so much information about the surgery. It explains the procedure, and the things you should expect before and after having it done. Of course I would have to find a local place to have my eyes done, and that should be pretty easy. My dad's wife had her eyes done a couple of years ago, and she is extremely happy with her results. I know it will be nice not to have to wear my glasses everyday.

Know Your Surgeon

I never thought that I would be one of those women who had plastic surgery. Even though mine was medically necessary, they still considered it plastic surgery. I don't regret my decision to have it done at all, but I hope to never have to go through that again. I don't know if it just me, or the type of surgery I had, but it was a tough recovery. I had a couple hundred stitches, and it was a long time before I could lay in my bed. Then when I could get into my bed, it hurt so bad to have to get out. Luckily, these things eventually passed, and I feel great now.

I know there are women out there, and men too, who have plastic surgery done all the time. My sister's friend had rhinoplasty, and she looks great now. Her decision to have it done was completely cosmetic.

My advice to anyone considering breast augmentation like I had, or plastic surgery of any kind, is to research what you are having done. Know as much as you can, and find the best surgeon for what you want done. There are Los Angeles plastic surgeons who are great at what they do, and I am sure you can find a local surgeon just as well qualified. Ask to see pictures, so you can judge their work. I was lucky enough to have found a wonderful surgeon, and I could not be happier with my results.

Ingles

I had to get toilet paper today, which meant a trip to Ingles. This is where that woman was so rude to me yesterday. You can read about that here. As soon as we walked in, the guy manager we spoke to yesterday came over, and apologized again for what happened. I couldn't even look him in the eyes. I am beyond embarrassed that I had to tell him what happened, which meant telling him about my reduction. He told Junior and I that he spoke to the woman, and then HIS boss spoke to the woman, and if she EVER treats me with rudeness or attitude again, I am to go directly to him, and he will take care of it. He is so nice, but I am still so embarrassed. She wasn't there today, so I didn't have to worry about it. I jusy dread the next time I see her.

Rudeness

I just got back from the grocery store, and I am just beside myself. I don't know if you would remember this, but right after I had my surgery, we went into this store and the manager told me I looked funny with my new boobs. I never did complain about her, though, and now I wish I had.

This manager was bagging my groceries, and Junior had walked down a few aisles trying to find boo a candy bar she wanted. This woman looks at me and asks if I was still happy with my decision to have the reduction.

I said yes, it was the best decision I had ever made.

Now, had she stopped talking there, I would have been okay. The cashier is a young girl we know well, because we are in the store almost every day.

Then the manager says to me...

I bet your husband doesn't think so.

What the crap? I was so embarrassed. She said this in front of other customers and the cashier. By the time Junior had come back, she was bagging at another register. I told him what she said, and he told me to wait by the door, and off he went. He came back with the store manager, and I had to tell him what she said. I think he was more embarrassed than I was. I told him I didn't mind discussing my surgery, but her reference to Junior crossed the line. He agreed, and said he wasn't comfortable handling it himself, so he was going to let his boss talk to her.

I hope they make her realize that some things just aren't okay to say.

My Surgery

I am not sure if I have discussed this here on this blog, but those of you who read my other two blogs know that in July, I had breast reduction surgery. It was the best decision I have made in my entire life.

It started in Junior High School, when all my friends were developing, and I was already wearing a size "D" cup. I am very shy, so the attention from boys was not something I welcomed. I learned early on that if I wore baggy clothes, or kept my jacket on all day, they would leave me alone. Of course, it didn't help that I was a little heavy as well. The rest of my school days were pretty much the same as Junior High.

After graduation, I got married and had three kids. With every pregnancy, my breasts got bigger. People told me they would go back to normal size, but they never did. At the beginning of this year, I was squeezing myself into a "DDD", and was never comfortable. I had dents in my shoulders where for so many years my bras were cutting into the skin. I had back pain all the time, and looking back, I think I let myself get so heavy to try and hide the fact that my breasts were huge. I can see now that that was not a smart thing to do, and that as I gained weight, they got even bigger. Now I am left with small breasts, and a tummy that looks like I am about to give birth.

The MYA breast reduction surgery itself was pretty simple. I was scared to death because I had never been put under before, but I was never concerned about the actual procedure. They simple removed my nipples, and after taking off the excess tissue, reattached them in a new position. In my case, I had so much breast tissue, they ended up cutting me from under one arm on one side, to the same place on my other side. He removed fifteen pounds of breast. I asked how many stitches I had, and the doctor said I had too many to count, but somewhere in the hundreds. I had a rough couple of weeks afterwards, because it was difficult to lay down because of the pain in my sides. I had to sleep in our recliner. But six weeks after my surgery I was good as new, and in love with my new breasts. There is no more back pain, or shoulder dips, and for the first time in my life I can go somewhere without a bra. I Have never left the house bra less before, and it is an awesome, freeing feeling!

If you are considering this type of surgery, do not hesitate. I did for years, and regret that decision. While it may not be the solution for everyone, at least look into it. I know firsthand how it can change your life. Let the MYA breast reduction specialists help you make an informed decision.