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I'm a single mom to an 18 month-old. My stomach...
I'm a single mom to an 18 month-old. My stomach muscles never recovered from pregnancy. I'm constantly asked when my next little one is due, and I find it very embarrassing. I look about 5 months pregnant. I went over the summer for a consult with a plastic surgeon who did a breast reduction for my sister several years ago. She said yes, she could make me look not pregnant and also recommended thigh and hip liposuction.
I thought on it for several months. I wasn't sure I wanted to commit to the long recovery time, especially since it meant I could not lift my young daughter. The more I thought about, though, the more I decided I would be very happy in the long run. I decided that with several months of planning ahead of me, I could commit to the long recovery. I set Jan. 2, 2013 as my surgery date and began planning for child care. My daughter will go to my family during the initial recovery (about a week). The only reason for this is that my house is fairly small (1200 square feet approximately), and it's all one floor. I'm worried I wouldn't be able to recover as quickly with my daughter playing all day, and also that she would be able to sense that her mom is home but can't play, and I don't want to make her anxious and upset. After that, she will come back home, and I'll have full time help, either in the form of my nanny (during the daytime) or my family (nights and weekends) until I can lift again.
I had a scare at my pre-op appointment. I was having some symptoms I thought were a non-issue for the surgery. Turns out, my surgeon said she wouldn't do the surgery until it had been determined that my symptoms wouldn't interfere. Luckily her patient coordinator was able to get me in with a specialist ASAP (next morning). I needed a CT scan to rule out anything that would make my surgery a no go. It all came back normal! It was a stressful 48 hours for me! I was certain my surgery date would have to be pushed back, and that my hard work to make preparations for my daughter would be all for naught. Luckily everything can proceed as planned!
I am not exactly a skinny girl. After losing 60 lbs in the past 15 months, right now I am a solid size 12. I am 5'3" and weigh 155 lbs. I know this surgery isn't going to give me back the body I had in college, but I feel quite certain it will leave me a whole lot happier with I see in the mirror right now.
I can't decide if I'm more nervous or excited right now! I've done everything I can think of to prepare. I've rented a recliner and borrowed a walker from a friend. Over the weekend I did a grocery store run and stocked up on easy-to-prepare, low-sodium foods. I have all of my prescriptions filled and waiting on my bathroom counter. I still need to set up a table by the recliner with anything I might need-- pill bottles, water, snacks, lip balm, phone charger, etc. and pack an overnight bag for the hospital (change of clothes, lip balm, toothbrush).
I am staying the first night in the hospital. I will be on my own after the surgery as my family will be occupied with taking care of my daughter. I have hired a home healthcare agency to come in the first few days, until my first post-op appointment. Someone will come in and help me for 3 hours each day. I doubt I will need help for that many hours each day, but the agency has a 3 hour minimum. It makes me feel better to know someone will be here each day of my recovery.
My biggest worry is my daughter. I'm a single mom, and aside from her nanny in the afternoons and help when I needed it from my family, I've been her only caregiver up until now. We're extremely close. I'm worried about how she'll cope with her mom needing to recover for so long. I wish I knew what I could do to make it easier for her. I know that despite all of the work I've done to set up caregivers for my daughter and keep her at home where she's most familiar as much as possible, it's going to be hard on both of us, and that part is making me anxious.
I work from home. I've taken off the rest of this week and all of next. I'm very lucky my job allows me maximum flexibility. I can schedule my own hours and work when it's convenient for me. As long as I have in my hours at the end of the week, I don't really have a set "schedule." It's an ideal job being a mom. Hopefully I will be feeling well enough 12 days post-op to return to my work.
I've been feeling a combination of nervous and excited. Going back and forth between the two. A few days ago the nerves were really starting to get to me. I have some valium to take for muscle spasms after the surgery, and I was pretty tempted to take one just so I could calm down. I'm not sure what's changed, but yesterday and today I'm feeling strangely calm.
I thought on it for several months. I wasn't sure I wanted to commit to the long recovery time, especially since it meant I could not lift my young daughter. The more I thought about, though, the more I decided I would be very happy in the long run. I decided that with several months of planning ahead of me, I could commit to the long recovery. I set Jan. 2, 2013 as my surgery date and began planning for child care. My daughter will go to my family during the initial recovery (about a week). The only reason for this is that my house is fairly small (1200 square feet approximately), and it's all one floor. I'm worried I wouldn't be able to recover as quickly with my daughter playing all day, and also that she would be able to sense that her mom is home but can't play, and I don't want to make her anxious and upset. After that, she will come back home, and I'll have full time help, either in the form of my nanny (during the daytime) or my family (nights and weekends) until I can lift again.
I had a scare at my pre-op appointment. I was having some symptoms I thought were a non-issue for the surgery. Turns out, my surgeon said she wouldn't do the surgery until it had been determined that my symptoms wouldn't interfere. Luckily her patient coordinator was able to get me in with a specialist ASAP (next morning). I needed a CT scan to rule out anything that would make my surgery a no go. It all came back normal! It was a stressful 48 hours for me! I was certain my surgery date would have to be pushed back, and that my hard work to make preparations for my daughter would be all for naught. Luckily everything can proceed as planned!
I am not exactly a skinny girl. After losing 60 lbs in the past 15 months, right now I am a solid size 12. I am 5'3" and weigh 155 lbs. I know this surgery isn't going to give me back the body I had in college, but I feel quite certain it will leave me a whole lot happier with I see in the mirror right now.
I can't decide if I'm more nervous or excited right now! I've done everything I can think of to prepare. I've rented a recliner and borrowed a walker from a friend. Over the weekend I did a grocery store run and stocked up on easy-to-prepare, low-sodium foods. I have all of my prescriptions filled and waiting on my bathroom counter. I still need to set up a table by the recliner with anything I might need-- pill bottles, water, snacks, lip balm, phone charger, etc. and pack an overnight bag for the hospital (change of clothes, lip balm, toothbrush).
I am staying the first night in the hospital. I will be on my own after the surgery as my family will be occupied with taking care of my daughter. I have hired a home healthcare agency to come in the first few days, until my first post-op appointment. Someone will come in and help me for 3 hours each day. I doubt I will need help for that many hours each day, but the agency has a 3 hour minimum. It makes me feel better to know someone will be here each day of my recovery.
My biggest worry is my daughter. I'm a single mom, and aside from her nanny in the afternoons and help when I needed it from my family, I've been her only caregiver up until now. We're extremely close. I'm worried about how she'll cope with her mom needing to recover for so long. I wish I knew what I could do to make it easier for her. I know that despite all of the work I've done to set up caregivers for my daughter and keep her at home where she's most familiar as much as possible, it's going to be hard on both of us, and that part is making me anxious.
I work from home. I've taken off the rest of this week and all of next. I'm very lucky my job allows me maximum flexibility. I can schedule my own hours and work when it's convenient for me. As long as I have in my hours at the end of the week, I don't really have a set "schedule." It's an ideal job being a mom. Hopefully I will be feeling well enough 12 days post-op to return to my work.
I've been feeling a combination of nervous and excited. Going back and forth between the two. A few days ago the nerves were really starting to get to me. I have some valium to take for muscle spasms after the surgery, and I was pretty tempted to take one just so I could calm down. I'm not sure what's changed, but yesterday and today I'm feeling strangely calm.
I think today the reality of what I am about to do...
I think today the reality of what I am about to do has set in! Less than 24 hours until my surgery. It's pretty exhilarating!!
My big day was two days ago! I remember being...
My big day was two days ago! I remember being wheeled back for surgery, but nothing after that until I woke up in the OR and they were trying to get me into my compression garment. It wasn't fitting, so they ended up needing to cut it in several places.
I was doing well in recovery and had my pain under control until they switched me over to a morphine pump. By the time I got up tony room, I was in excruciating pain. Luckily I had an excellent nurse who recognized what was happening. Apparently a select few people don't respond to morphine. What a time to discover I'm one of them! The nurse promptly called my surgeon to get me switched to a dilaudid pump instead. This would take awhile to get ordered from the pharmacy, so in the meantime, the nice nurse brought me some Vicodin tablets. I'm also on Valium to control muscle spasms.
Finally the dilaudid pump came, and I was able to get some rest. In the morning, the nurse took out my catheter. Several hours later I could really feel my bladder getting full. So the nurse helped me make it to the bathroom. I sat for almost 30 minutes trying to pee. I tried putting my hands in warm water, letting the water run, squirting myself with a bottle. Fail! The nurse had to do a catheter (which wasn't bad at all), and I felt instant relief.
In other news, I was able to pee on my own several times yesterday. I also began getting out of bed to walk the hall. It really helped to have a walker (I borrowed mine). Being all hunched over isn't exactly comfortable, but the walker helps take some of the pain off my shoulders and back.
I decided to stay a second night at the hospital. I live alone and really didn't feel ready to give up my support system so soon. So I will be discharged this afternoon and will spend lots of quality time in my recliner at home. Thankfully my sister has stayed in the hospital with me! I'm not sure I could have made it that first night without her.
Best part is, despite all of the dressings and swelling, I can tell I am thinner! It's a pretty incredible feeling. :)
I was doing well in recovery and had my pain under control until they switched me over to a morphine pump. By the time I got up tony room, I was in excruciating pain. Luckily I had an excellent nurse who recognized what was happening. Apparently a select few people don't respond to morphine. What a time to discover I'm one of them! The nurse promptly called my surgeon to get me switched to a dilaudid pump instead. This would take awhile to get ordered from the pharmacy, so in the meantime, the nice nurse brought me some Vicodin tablets. I'm also on Valium to control muscle spasms.
Finally the dilaudid pump came, and I was able to get some rest. In the morning, the nurse took out my catheter. Several hours later I could really feel my bladder getting full. So the nurse helped me make it to the bathroom. I sat for almost 30 minutes trying to pee. I tried putting my hands in warm water, letting the water run, squirting myself with a bottle. Fail! The nurse had to do a catheter (which wasn't bad at all), and I felt instant relief.
In other news, I was able to pee on my own several times yesterday. I also began getting out of bed to walk the hall. It really helped to have a walker (I borrowed mine). Being all hunched over isn't exactly comfortable, but the walker helps take some of the pain off my shoulders and back.
I decided to stay a second night at the hospital. I live alone and really didn't feel ready to give up my support system so soon. So I will be discharged this afternoon and will spend lots of quality time in my recliner at home. Thankfully my sister has stayed in the hospital with me! I'm not sure I could have made it that first night without her.
Best part is, despite all of the dressings and swelling, I can tell I am thinner! It's a pretty incredible feeling. :)