6 weeks PO... all is back to normal! London, United Kingdom

Thanks Andrea, I know it's odd the differences between uk and USA for the same op! All the best for you to! X

Hello! I've been following your progress and cant thank you enough as its been so helpful! IM praying for lots of pain killers but will be per-warning the nurse who has to take them out of my foul language and whatever I say I don't mean it! I've noticed lots of differences between those done in uk and USA but I would prefer not to have to take drains home... My daughter would freak if she saw them! Still... Looking forward to 15 nov.... One question, how long before you ventured out as normal? X

Hi Kimbo - I had it done on the Thursday and first time out of the house was the following week on Friday to go back to the clinic to be re-dressed. While there I asked if I was ok to go do the dreaded asda shop. It was ok to go as long as I didn't stretch to reach for things and load the bags so my man mostly did it all. We were out and about on the Saturday and by Sunday morning I looked pregnantwith swelling so sat all day with my feet up. I felt down because I don't think I helped myself doing what I did albeit it wasn't a lot. Back at the clinic last Thursday and had to have a serona to be drained (collection of fluid on the tummy), it didn't hurt as I was still numb. But I was gutted as from what I undersand you can bring a seroma on by doing too much too soon. I went back Saturday morning as I thought I needed it draining again but didn't but they said no more driving and not to do anything, Even getting up too quickly can't help. If I'm understanding it correctly, it's to do with the muscle and the tummy lining banging together. The fluid mostly gets absorbed back into your body, it's not dangerous but what doesn't will show up like waves going across your tummy and needs to be drained........moral of this story.....don't do too much and rest rest rest! I go back to work tomorrow (Tuesday)and sort of feel a dread because I've slowed right down as in how I'm moving around and they're well nosey where I work and I don't want to have to go into it. I wish I'd had more holidays to book off as I would have booked 3 off which at the time of consults etc I did have available but as the year went on I took other time off, they said I needed 2 weeks. Yes lots of difference to the USA!!! X

Crikey you have gone through it! Hope your return to work didnt go to badly. Im carefully wording what operation Im having but its hard I know, especially taking the recovery time off work. I have my husbands company christmas party two weeks one day after op and thought I might be able to go for just the meal part (probably not eating!) show my face then go home. Talking of eating, how did you find that after the op and now? Sorry so many questions :o) x

Hi Kimbo - keep the questions coming! Work was ok. I was nervous and think I sort of held myself stiff panicking about banging into desks!!! And yes as expected I was asked questions and because not still 100% up right I went for "I've got backache" which put most at bay but not all!!! Today much better until after lunch when I felt exhausted and very pregnant looking! My scar is healing well now apart for 2 bits opening and bleeding but not bad like. So I was worried for nothing! Food has been fine. I was well off my appetite for the first few days then back to normal. I got weighed last night and lost 6.5 pounds since being weighed 02.10.12, Weighed at night time so shows as more on my scaled in the morning.............which I'm more of a fan! X

Glad your first day back at work went okay... Are you driving? Another question ;o) this time about binders, how many did you have? Oh and how long till you could shower? Sorry, these questions come to me all the time (3 weeks to go today) and I'm driving myself mad! X

Hi Kimbo, no worries:) Glad I can help you. Yes I started driving 2 weeks after surgery which was the Wed and then last Sat they said to stop and rest before going back to work so I did and drove again few days later to Tuesday just gone for work. When I first asked about driving they recommended at least a week if not more. Have to say I still feel every bump in the road on my cut now scar line. I could shower 2 weeks later, drove me scatty! First few days my man washed me, my hair and blew it too, spoilt or what! I said to him that although I was going nowhere I needed to feel better than what I looked so he blew it for me too, bless him, he's been dead good. When he was at work early and late I filled the bath and kneeled in it just so my dressings weren't in the water. Killer on the knees mind but worth it. The after care nurse who is an ANGEL :) said I could shower once she'd seen how my cut was healing. Pls if you ever want to ask me more it's no problem. X

Sorry - forgot the binder bit. Well I had none except for when I came round from surgery I had one on with the jacket top type thing. I could have had it but when going home I asked my surgeon for the compression garment that's like magic knickers so I wear one garment that goes from just below my bra down to my knees. It has a hole for the loo......not ideal but for keeping the garment on its better than up and down each time. And I've learnt to aim as straight as you can! I tell you if there was an olympic sport for it I'd win it!!!!!!! Mind you not for a number 2! Everything has to come off for that. I do think that taking the garment up and down each time has given it too much "give" and made it a bit slack. The nurses said to wash on a hot wash to bring it back in but not sure it's helped. I started on large for the body and jacket, now in medium body and small jacket. The jacket does right up to say where a short necklace on your chest may sit and goes over my hips, zips up. Can by uncomfy aroud your "flower" because the zip bends and when you sit you almost like you've grown as a man if you get me!!! I found the binder very uncomfy as the velcro is hard and either way where it was around me, stuck out everywhere where it fastened, not sure how I'd of hid it back at work but it'd make going to the loo a damm site easier! When I go back on Monday I see the nurse too for photos and I'm going to ask about the binder again just in case and for a small in the body garment. Where they are stitched around the top and legs, they are well tight so I pull to break the cotton. I made the mistake of cutting the legs a little on the first one and that was a mistaka to makea :( Hurt my legs more in th end! X

Thank you! x