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TT scheduled for Feb. 2 :)
By Country Gal on 09 Jan 2011
Hello ladies I'm so glad I found this forum. I've read Kimmers guides, and quite a few of the posts, good and bad. It's always nice to get suggestions from those who've already paved the way. My surgery is set for Feb. 2, and I'm having the full TT and a bit of lipo on the back of hips.
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I know the doc will give me lots of info then, but sometimes, you just don't know the questions to ask; so all your info gives me great things to think about.
My surgery will be day surgery in the PS clinic. They've asked me to stay in town overnight at a hotel, since I live about an hour or so drive away.
Should I expect to have any leakage from the lipo or incision? Should I take a plastic sheet or something with me, so I won't damage a hotel bed or chair? I'd be so mortified!
What do you tell people that you feel you need to say something to, but don't want to get into anything too personal?
How long should I expect it will be before I can tackle the stairs? I have no kids at home, so my demands will be fairly limited. Hubby knows he's in charge for at least 3 weeks!
I'm sure I'll have tons more questions and random thoughts - thanks for any responses.
Hi There..
Some quick answers for you..
Yes you will have leakage from the lipo holes. It is really wet and tinged with blood. The first night home this happened to me and I thought I wet the bed or something. I had no clue this would happen. But I guess what goes in must come out...LOL
As far as the nosy people...ah yes. Don't offer any information up but if they ask you could say either that your back is bothering you, you had hernia surgery, you had female surgery...that usually stops the questions.
The stairs really hurt the first 3-4 days. Just go slow one step at a time and have your hubby help you. If you have a way to avoid them all together please do. When you are on the pain meds you are not exactly stable on the feet and you do not want to fall down...God that would hurt. I usually trip over cracks in the ground, fall up the stairs, down the stairs and pretty much every where else. My nickname is Tumbleweed. My hubby was in total panic just thinking about me doing the steps.
Keep asking the questions as you think of them...so many topics to cover!
I can avoid the stairs for weeks if I want. The only thing downstairs that we use now is the freezer and the furnace room, where I hang laundry.
Hubby will be doing all that for the first 2 or 3 weeks anyway, so no worry. I guess he'll be doing the laundry for a lot longer than that, as I won't be able to carry the basket of wet stuff.
Other than that, he can go down to the basement to feed the cat too.
No problemo!
Hi there,
Your procedure is coming right up. You must be experiencing quite a mix of emotions right now. I don't know how much leakage/drainage comes from your incisions, but I would definitely take some old towels/rubber sheets just to be on the safe side.
This is another educated guess, but two weeks for the stairs?
Hopefully some ladies who've been through this will comment on your post!
Good luck. We'll be thinking of you as the big day arrives.
CountryGal,
Please consider writing a review in our tummy tuck community as well. I'm trying to encourage women to start sharing their stories BEFORE the big surgery day so we can give more information and offer support.
What is a good thing to take to wear in public after the surgery? I will be going from the clinic to a hotel for the first night, so I can't really wear a nightie or my jammies. If I take sweats, will my regular ones work, or will they be too tight from swelling? These are normal, loose-fitting sweatpants, not tight workout or biking pants.
I tell you what...on my way home from the surgery center I was looking a little bit like something the cat drug in. Oh I was a hot mess. Bed head, bad breath, no panties or bra on under the zip up hoodie and stretch capri pants, and puffy swollen eyes. Bloody drains hanging from my body and my ass was swollen up like a balloon. Oh yes and no shoes on my feet. The darn things would not fit after surgery because my legs and feet were so swollen from all the fluids they pumped into me. But I was so hopped up on meds that I didn't even care.
When we got home and pulled into the driveway it took my hubby 15 minutes just to get me out of the car. It hurt so bad. A neighbor came out to see what was going on. I got a look at her face when she saw me and she had a very horrified look going on. I can remember her saying to my hubby...and she paid for this?? WOW Too funny...LOL
Just go baggy and comfy and you will be fine.
Trouble is, I'm not going home, and I have to walk into a hotel looking like however I do.
I also live in BC where it could be snowing or cold, so I need to wear warm clothing. I'm going to keep a quilt in the car for extra warmth, so I don't have to worry about a coat.
So, about the grannie panties - what do you think? A larger size than normal, and how long will I need them?
Kimmers--LOLOLOL! You're so funny.
Oh it was not pretty!
I only went up one size in the panties and that worked great. I only wore them until both drains were out which was about 10 days. I then had a panty burning party!
I'm with you in the worries!
Acworthmom - no doubt it hurts and is a long recovery but all will be fine in the end. You can do it :) Everyone is different but I assure you that women are not exaggerating about the pain. I only want you to prepare for the worst and and not go in thinking your are going to fly through it quickly. That is what I did and I was so frustrated.
I actually got irritated with the medical staff when they told me that I would experience mild pain and swelling after surgery. It hurt like hell for me and I was darn mad. The people telling me this had never even had a tummy tuck so how did they know??
Now if they had told me it hurt like hell; and then I later said "That was no so bad". I would have been much happier.
So I am hoping you email me after surgery and tell me that it was not so bad.
I know you can do it!! And you will love the new tummy when done.
I had surgery an hour away also and to be honest with you, all I wanted was to get home. I did not have any leakage from lipo and not even sure if there is a place to leak from. I dont see any holes just black and blue. This is just my personal opinion:
I wanted to be home in my own bed after surgery. I wanted no one to pressure me about getting up and then having to travel the next day. The next day I think is harder than the first since I was still under the anesthesia affect and had enough shots of morphine in my belly to last at least 12 hours before it wore off, definitely have a pain pump.
My fiance was able to take better care of me once we were home and he didnt have to go out again.
Also, granny panties should be very large. I wear a size 7 and got a 3 x. But to be honest the nurses didnt even put them on me, and just put on my jogging pants which I had in an larger size. I also have the top which was a zippered top and they stuck my bra in my pocket book, guess there is not need for all that extra stuff if you are just going to bed.
I wore slippers my son gave me for xmas and they were good ones with a heavier sole. I was able to just slip them on and get into the car and drive home, which was not that bad since it was mostly highway and I enjoyed the ride.
My drive is mostly highway too, but the PS wants me to stay overnight locally, just in case of problems, and also to avoid the long trip with my seatbelt on my incision right away.
I go in on Tuesday for my pre-op, so maybe we'll discuss it more then. Hubby will be with me, and he will be both driver and caregiver, so that will be good.
Maybe I can just stay longer in the day at the clinic, and go straight home at the end. That would certainly solve some problems - like arriving at a hotel looking like Kim! :D :D
I get what you're saying about travelling while you're still drugged, as opposed to the next day, when you might be awake.
Thanks for the input.
Once you get closer to your date, you really get nervous. But once you have it done, believe me the first week will fly by. I never thought I would be one of the post op bloggers. You will be fine, the worst again, is the wait.