Nana Can't Wait for Her Surgery--April 5 - TX

Oh NanaMakeover, that is just the best - the oldie/goodie pic!! Luv it! Dang it, but don't we look good both then and now - LOL. Not so sure I'll wear hip huggin' bell bottoms again tho, now all I want are skinny jeans - LOL. You look great!

Cheryl, I LOVE hip hugger bell bottoms. I wear low cut jeans all the time now. I'm really long waisted so jeans that are supposed to sit just under the waist, actually sit much lower on me. I won't be wearing polyester snug pants anytime soon though. LOL

Oh ok I see I am really worried about the drains for the tummy I fate foreign things like that I had a stient for 2 weeks when I had kidney stones uggh it didnt hurt just hated feeling...

The drains are a necessary evil. I know they really did a good job of draining my wounds. The main thing I can tell you is to have someone help you strip the drains if possible. I held/pinched the tube close to my skin & let my hubby strip the drain. When we did this the tube didn't pull on the incision, therefore eliminating any discomfort. As much as everyone dislikes the drains, if I had a choice of whether or not I wanted them, I would choose to have them -- all 4 of them. Hope this relieves some of your worry. And getting them removed was nothing -- no pain at all, just an odd feeling which goes away immediately.

Thanks Nana. Stripping the drain is this when he is emptying the drain and I will most definetly have my boyfriend empty while I pinch....So as far as the garmet did you wait til tubes were removed to wear it or how di you do this!

Swam this morning & no more uncomfortable feeling or pulling under my left breast. YAY!! I think I did strain my abs though on Tuesday playing badminton. (Well, we play with tennis racquets & shuttlecocks on a racquetball court.) I was really achy yesterday, doing a little better today. I wore my binder swimming. That was interesting.

With all the issues of the surgery, I would do it again. Maybe have my incision go a little further back but all in all, I'm very happy.

I did the same thing, Heather, with the pictures. I wanted to prepare my hubby for all the drains & the blood & incisions. Seeing a loved one in that kind of condition can affect you even if you don't have a weak stomach. He had rotator cuff surgery last July so he knew all about the pain pump. Glad I could help.

NanaMakeover, you look absolutely gorgeous and your scars look to be healing really well - happy many times over for you!! Can't imagine the binder on while swimming, did it weigh you down any?

You look absolutely fantastic! Thank you for always being so helpful. You are such a great resource for those of us who are just going through recovery.
I was also interested in your comments about getting a Mystic Tan that was on another thread. As soon as I am 6 weeks, I am going to get these super white swollen legs some color.

Thanks Teacher. I'm glad I can help. Going for a Mystic today -- after the gym. My treat for working out. Actually the best treat is the effect the work outs are having on my body. YAY!!

I assume you are a teacher (hence the user name). My son starts his student teaching in August. He took his first exam for certification yesterday. He's planning on teaching middle school math & science. He's bummed cuz he's going to have to cut off his dreadlocks he's been working on for 2 years. Oh well. I digress...

I read your post today about massaging your breasts. My doc didn't really have me massage per se, just press down & up on them. The easiest way for me was to have my hubby stand next to me & put 1 hand on the breast & the other 1 on my shoulder blade & then squeeze. We did that a couple times a day for a few weeks. Then we started having him stand directly behind me & pull the breasts toward him. We did massage the scars though to try to keep the scar tissue at bay. That wasn't (& still isn't) so much fun.

How is your back doing? Are you still on the Valium? Hopefully you are doing really good & enjoying the new you!

Hi Nana,
My back is great. All I needed was a few days of that prescription and it did really help. Thanks for the advice for the breast massages.
Good luck to your son. The best decision I ever made was to become a teacher. I have been teaching for 23 years and love it. It is alot of work but it is so rewarding. I have had so many children come back over the years to visit. Making a positive difference in a person's life is so wonderful. Tell him to not be discouraged-student teaching is daunting. Tell him to stay on top of his lesson planning. Alot of the young student teachers think you can just wing it but you can't. I have never in all my years walked in my classroom without detailed lesson plans. One of the biggest complaints of mentor teachers is the student teachers not coming in prepared. I have a feeling with you for a mom however, that is not going to be an issue-you really have your act together.
I can't help but chuckle-my 17 year old son has long hair (he has a rock band). I am letting him express himself-he is a great kid but I have told him and he is beginning to realize that first impressions on job interviews count. He went for a job interview in a pharmacy (mind you he is a jock and health nut) and they wouldn't hire him. I tried to explain that nobody is going to hire a long haired kid with motorcycle boots and jacket to deliver drugs:)
Thanks again and take care.

Thanks for sharing your story. You look AWESOME! I am 53 and have scheduled a full TT and lipografting of breasts in late December. It is hard to know what to expect when the only photos are for mostly 30-40 year olds, so you have given me lots of hope for this old house! :)