Excited and Nervous - New Jersey
I am 45 years old. I have two children, ages 17...
I am 45 years old. I have two children, ages 17 and 14. I had gained alot of weight and tried every diet. I resolved myself that I would always be fat and dumpy. About a year and a half ago, however, I decided to change my lifestyle-not diet.
I started eating healthy and I went back to spinning at the gym. I didn't focus on the scale I focused on how much healthier I was feeling. I have lost over 55 pounds and kept it off for over a year now. The problem is my body doesn't show all of my hard work in the way I would like it to-I have hanging skin and sagging boobs.
I finally decided that I was too young for that and I am doing this for me. My husband loves me just the way I am but he said he will support me.I am scheduled to have a Tummy tuck, breast lift with augmentation, and lipo of flanks and thighs.
I was very nervous but this site has helped me feel so much better. I am not telling too many people because I am kind of private. That is why it is so wonderful to have all of you to help me through this. I want to thank all of the women who have posted their experiences, it means so much. I will continue to post as my day gets closer.
One quick question-did any of you rent recliners? I notice many of you post that it is easier to sleep in a recliner and there are companies who rent the recliners that lift. Is this a waste of my money? Thanks.
teachermom27's provider
Hi everyone. I am slowly getting ready for my MM...
Hi everyone. I am slowly getting ready for my MM on July 11th. I have a few questions: did any of you order supplements from "MakeMeHeal.com"? Do they really help with swelling? Did they make you nauseus? Also, I have seen different things posted by people as far as what to get before time to prepare for recovery. Of course, I now can't find these particular posts because I need them. I will be posting before pics as soon as my husband can help me-I am a dinosaur with technology.
Replies (8)
Hi teachermom,
Check out 12 Things I Wish I'd Known Before A Tummy Tuck, written by the fabulous Kimmers. It might give you some ideas of how to prepare. We'll be here waiting with you, and looking forward to following you on this journey.
I am one day post op and doing great! Ask your PS for a Pain pump--- SO WORTH IT!!
My main concern was nausea. I have had a total of 5 surgeries in my life including hysterectomy and each and every time I have been extremely nauseas afterwards. This time I asked for and received a patch to wear behind my ear that will stay in place for 4 days. It has been wonderful and I have not thrown up even one time!
I tried sleeping in the recliner, but hated it. Instead I just propped up pillows in my bed and under my knees and it works just fine.
Oh and ask your PS about the herbs out there. I had read about them and started to buy them but then called my Dr. He said there is overwhelming evidence that these (arnica m) can cause blood clots. So he says never, ever use them.
The only thing he wanted me to take is 1000 mg of pure vitamin c before and after surgery.
I have 5 drains in. 2 in the breasts and 3 in the tummy. The breast drains will come out tomorrow, the rest one week at a time. My PS is very strong about this and feels that the drains reduce swelling and infection. So far I am not that swollen at all so I think they are working. They sure are hideous though. I am so scared to have my kids see them! My hubby has been great with helping me drain them though.
Good luck to you. It is not that bad at all and you be happy when it is all over!
Are you getting a pain pump? It is so worth it. Couldn't taka a shower until it was removed (which was in 3 days) but you are too wiped out to take a shower that soon anyways. Speaking of showers, if you have room for a chair in your shower, get one. We actually have a big, walkin shower so I got a big plastic one from Lowes in their bathroom department. Only $60. I still use it.
I went out yesterday and bought the supplies...
polysporin
peroxide
surgical gloves
q-tips
gauze
wisp toothbrushes
Milk of Magnesia
Gas X
bed pads (some people said they leaked from the lipo)
feminine flushable wipes
ice packs
nonadhesive wraps
elastic exercise band
safety pins
Have I forgot anything? I am leaving for vacation on Wednesday and I will not be back until the (th of July so I am trying to get all my ducks in a row. My pre-op appointment is tomorrow. I also posted pictures.
Replies (8)
Congrats, and good luck on your surgery! You are going to love your results.
We bought a recliner. It was a godsend. We looked at a power recliner, (without lift), but ended up with a Lazy Boy with the recline handle thing. I could not recline it, nor un-recline without help for the first 4 days. I slept in that recliner at least for 8-10 days until I was able to sit up from a lying down position, on my own. (and then I slept on the sofa). I've only been back in my bed four days.
If you can rent a power recliner with lift, you will love it, and will have more independence much sooner.
Stock up on yoga pants and stretchy shorts. Im at 22 days PO and I'm still not in my regular pants yet, but hope to be soon. I can get them on, but I'm still too tender there to wear them.
Something you really should get though is a walker & the tennis balls on the bottom (unless you have a bunch of carpet). This saved my back & made getting around so much easier the first 10 days. If you have carpet, you'll have to pick up the walker but it still helps the back. Most of my pain was from my back -- you'll hear that alot on this site.
Don't get frustrated if you have to wear your "fat" clothes for a bit. I'm 4 weeks out & just got into shorts that fit before the surgery. At 2 weeks I was wearing jeans that I was getting ready to toss cuz they fit too loose. The looseness of them feel better on your incisions than our tighter fitting clohes that we worked so hard to get into. In this situation, comfort wins out everytime over vanity. Good luck & keep in touch.