Pasadena3814

Painful

Modified Abdominoplasty with Hernia Repair - Texas

I feel very fortunate that I have not experienced some of the issues that others have described in their posts, the worst for me has been the straining of the stitches on my internal mesh girdle...the pain can be excruciating! I just went to my doctor this morning and he is going to drain the fluid from my abdomen on Monday afternoon when my husband can be with me, just in case I am uncomfortable driving afterwards. He estimates that I have about 300 cc of fluid built up that my body is not reabsorbing and this is pulling at the mesh and putting strain on my stitches. Hopefully by Monday evening it will all be over and I will be more comfortable and skinnier!

Thanks Philly, it is good to know that what I am feeling is normal. I have had a tiny set-back this week that I think came from overdoing it and pushing myself too hard. I am feeling more pain the past couple days than I have since my first week post-op and it is all located along my right side, it feels like the internal girdle is pulling at the stitches and they are really tearing into the muscles along my side...this is enough to make me want to fast to lose more weight to make it comfortable! I have only lost about 2 pounds post-op and am still swollen in my lower abdomen and pubis but I know all of this will get better.

2 weeks and 1 day post-op and feeling great! I have gone back to work and while I am not back to traveling, I am working extensive hours. I did make the mistake of trying to sleep on my side the night before last and never could get comfortable. The stitching from the internal mesh girdle was excrutiatingly uncomfortable, so much that when I rolled back onto my back my side was still throbbing. I wound up taking a pain pill just to get comfortable enough to sleep...didn't make the same mistake last night, I went back to sleeping on my back with my wedges under my upper body and lower legs. Will take and post some pictures by this weekend.

Selah, congratulations on your decision to do this for yourself. Who is your surgeon? I too am in Texas and just used Dr. Horndeski (in the Houston area), he is wonderful. I am about 2 weeks post op and have no regrets...the best decision I made for myself in quite some time. Good luck and sending you positive vibes.

Thanks PhillyMom. I am almost 2 weeks post op and feeling great. The hernia was bigger in reality than indicated in the CT Scan but Dr. Horndeski's technique for repair, reconstruction and removal of skin was a perfect solution for my situation. Since his ultimate TT technique calls for creating an internal mesh girdle to hold the reconstructed abdominal wall in place, it was a perfect solution for me to prevent any future hernias from all my abdominal surgeries. The only fall back that I am experiencing is the loss of my belly button...it is not permanent but since the hernia was so severe and in such close proximity to my belly button, the decision was made to not cut through the mesh until after the abdominal muscles were thoroughly healed so that there was no risk of another hernia. This is something that he will be able to easily correct in the future and can probably be done in his office under a local anesthesia or with just numbing the abdomen. I am not too concerned about it since I understand the reasoning and after the phantom itching has stopped it will be even better. It hasn't been an issue it just looks funny to see my belly in the mirror and not have a belly button, like I'm spawned from a pod or something (maybe I watch too much sci fi)!

I haven't experienced too much pain and definitely rate this better than any of my past abdominal surgeries. I haven't even had a need for any of the prescribed narcotics since about 2-3 days post op and have been managing fine with Tylenol. I am still experiencing swelling of the lower abdomen and pubis but know that this will subside in a couple more weeks. So far I rate the experience far better than expected and am glad that I opted for doing everything at the same time. I also cannot say enough wonderful things about Dr. Horndeski and his staff, they have been awesome and I definitely plan on having him perform my breast lift. I would have done it at the same time but since we knew my abdominal surgery was going to take about 5-6 hours he didn't want to risk me being under for the additional 4 hours. Thanks for sending good thoughts my way...I truly appreciate them!