32 Year Old, Arm Lift After Weightloss. Austin, TX

It took me three weeks before I would lift a full gallon of something to pour my own drink. I even had the issue that my sliding door is heavy so my boyfriend had to let me in and out of the back yard if I wanted to go back there. I also got scared of heavy looking doors in public places such as restrooms. (What if I got trapped in the bathroom?!) Over my head is still difficult sometimes. I do not think the weight is an issue anymore it is the fact that my skin feels tight in my arm pit so I am afraid of hurting anything. My surgeon kinda man handled me at the last appointment to show me it is ok!

I still have not put a tote over my shoulder since I do not like the strap in my arm pit. I am using a cross body purse. It took me 2.5 weeks to start using it. For awhile I just shoved my debit card in my back pocket but then I wouldn't have my meds with me so I couldn't be gone all day.

I drove 1.5 weeks after my surgery since I had to go to work. It was not the funnest and I took it slow and gave myself extra time. My job makes everyone park in reverse and I was so tempted to be like "screw it if they want my car backed in they can do it"! But I got it in my spot myself. I do not think I am supposed to be driving on my meds but I am on the lowest dose possible and they do not make me sleepy. The pain is much better but sometimes after working all fay it feels like a bunch of needles are stabbing me. I am an accountant so I sit and type all day in the same position. The weekends are much better for my arms since I use them in different directions.

For me the most annoying thing was sleeping on my back with my arms on pillows. I am a stomach/side sleeper. I just started gently turning on my side last weekend! I was so excited. I still have to be careful but I think it is good for me since it shows me that I can do things!

Thank you! Appreciate all the detail. :D :D

Congrats on the weight loss and surgery!! Sounds like you're doing great! I am planning on surgery in February. Have lost 55 lbs of the 70 I want to lose, maybe a little more. I am super excited about eventually having thinner arms and couldn't care less about the scars it will leave. Looking forward to trying on tops and not worrying if they will fit in the arms.
How much pain did you have following your surgery? Drainage? Did they give you a compression garment to wear? I will have to take off at least a month or more following my surgery since I am a therapist in a rehab and nursing and part of my job involves helping to lift and transfer some of my patients in/out of bed or on/off the toilet. Unfortunately there is no light duty in my job.

I was lucky that I sit at a computer all day. I had no drainage that I noticed. The doctor mentioned I would have some but I never really noticed. Paid was minimal thanks to drugs. What was annoying/slightly painful was the tightness in my arms when the swelled or when I kept them still too long. I also had bad constipation from the pain meds when though I look a stool softener for a week before and while taking the pain meds. TMI: I had to do two saline enemas.

I was in an ace bandage for compression for a week until my compression vest came in. One was given to me with the price of surgery and I bought a second one. At 4 weeks it was too big since my arms were not at swollen and I had lost more weight. My surgeon said I did not technically need to replace it but could if I felt like it would help. Since I only wore them 3 weeks I am going to try and sell them on ebay.

Congrats on the weightloss. The surgery is worth it!

I paid around $120 since I wanted the second shipped overnight. I think the actual vest was $80-$90. I just did not want to have to wear the same thing every day without washing it for a couple weeks. Although I found that they did dry very quickly (air dried)

Thx! Where did you order it from?

http://marenagroup.com/

The have stuff for all different surgeries

Thx again!!
I will keep following your posts and look forward to mine when the time comes. I'll have to learn how to post pix before then!!
Hope you continue to heal well!

Yes I have some pictures I need to get posted. The only issue I had with recovery so far is just trusting that I can use my arms again. My surgeon told me to start massaging the incision to help with the sensitivty in my nerves. It creeps me out to tough them still because mentally I keep thinking I can bust open at them seems any moment! I know that is not the case but it is still scary. The only other surgeries I have were a tonsillectomy and wisdom teeth removal so I could not see those incisions.

Not bad compared to my stomach and breast lift. I was on hydrocodine for a month but it was the lowest dose the doctor said.