49 Yr Old, TT and BR, 5'6" 155 Lbs - Carmel, IN

The surgery went really smooth. I spent the night in the surgery center and was the only patient there, with my own dedicated nurse. That was nice! It was fairly smooth and they kept up with pain meds so I wasn't all that uncomfortable. However I think they said they had given me more than 4000 mL of liquid during surgery which is a little over a gallon, and that would explain why I had to get up every two hours to pee. As soon as they rolled me into my recovery room I ask the nurses if I could go to the toilet. They looked at each other and said that they thought it was too soon for me to walk and suggested a bed pan instead. I look at that bedpan I knew I didn't want to lift my hips up to get that thing under me. So they did let me go to the bathroom and I pottied like a big girl! The nurses were impressed that I could make that happen so quickly. I feel like all I could manage to get out was about a cup's worth though. I guess my bladder is compressed and can't hold that much. I think I peed eight times throughout the night, and getting out of bed was the worst part. I finally figured out that I needed to do kind of a barrel roll to minimize the pain. I took three or four shuffling walks around the nurses station that night. Honestly it went better than I had expected. I came home and stations myself in my command center a.k.a. my lift recliner surrounded by 3 tray tables that have every possible item I might need. I found this lift recliner at a furniture liquidation store. It was $120 and it's brand-new and I'm so absolutely glad that I bought this. It has made a world of difference getting up and down. I also borrowed a walker from my dad and that also helps just to support my upper body as I walk to the bathroom and back. Last night was my first night at home and I slept in the recliner. It was very comfortable and I had very minimal pain. Of course I set my alarm throughout the night and kept up with my pain meds. My mother and husband are here to help me but I didn't really need them during the night. I started with Percocet 10 mg and while it kept the pain away it certainly made me feel woozy and very drowsy, so for now I have switched to Norco which is a little bit lighter but still effective for pain. I snuck a peek at my boobs which are sitting high and tight pretty much right under my chin LOL. They look great and I'm excited to see the final result. I haven't bothered to look at the incision under the compression garment I'm going to leave that alone until tomorrow when I shower. I have been taking stool softeners before and after surgery and this morning my husband made me a big glass of fresh fruit/veggie juice, which always has a diuretic effect on me. I can feel my bowels working and I am afraid, very afraid for my first BM.

The information I gathered from this site has been invaluable, and I would highly recommend a lift recliner and a walker even if you just rent them on a short-term basis. I will likely be spending the next two or three nights in the recliner, it just makes it so easy to get up and down without pain.

Insurance is covering the BR, wish I had gone for a consult earlier. I was astounded that they would cover it. I thought I'd have to be G cup or something. I thought I was 38DD but my most recent official measurement is 36DDD. No wonder my shoulders hurt! At the BR consultation I asked about a TT. There's a small discount by doing the two at the same time. I was told I could get a mini or full TT. I opted for the full TT. If I'm going through this painful recovery I want to come out with abs I can bounce a quarter off of! The results photos I'm seeing are unbelievable. I've been working my butt off the last several months but especially as my surgery date approaches. I've done 15 Pilates classes in the last 18 days. And I STILL have that damn jelly roll. I feel strong and I'm so stoked to get this done! As I was out and about today I saw the bathing suits on display and I am actually really excited to go shopping for one this year. Until now I'd say 90% of the suits were out of the question. Not with these boobs. Can't wait to get this done and hope to be enjoying the results in time for my 50th birthday 8 weeks after surgery.