31yo, 4 Kids, This Stomach HAS GOT TO GO!!! Dominican Republic, DO

Hi dolls! Im into my 5th week post op. Hopefully the next few posts wont be as long. :-) So..that being said I left DR on day 8. I continued my medication regimen and bandage change and cleaning thru the next few days. Sleeping comfortably was not at all feasible. I tossed and turned. I couldn't sleep some nights. I went to my local ER on day 10. Nothing was wrong or anything that I thought of..i just wanted to be sure since I did leave early. They ran cat scans, did ultrasounds, x rays and blood work. I was in the clear for infections,blood clots or seromas or anything like that however they would not remove the drain. They said since I had surgery out of the country it would be hard to find a dr for follow up care and drain removal. They suggested I try an urgent care clinic. They wrote me a rx for more pain meds which were awesome and more antibiotics. I called several urgent care clinics and plastic surgeons. Even my primary care dr wouldn't remove these drains. Those things alone are depressing. geesh..necessary but depressing..I have family members that are RNs. I called to ask them. Both said they could but it wasn't that hard. I youtubed a video and did it myself. (I wouldn't advise no one to do that though!) I had my sisters (2) there to help. It wasn't bad. It didn't hurt but you can feel it coming out. I will say that ive heard and even on the videos I watched the tube was small. The tube I pulled out wrapped around my whole midsection. You could feel it in my back. There was a small black stitch wrapped around the tube at the opening that I cut first. I cleaned around it and made the site soft. I pulled a little and then stopped a little. I did that until it was all out. I put gauze on the whole. It soaked that up quickly. Did twice. I got a huge maxi pad and put over it. By now I was so doped up from the Percocet they gave me at the ER I went to sleep. When I got up the pad wasn't completely soaked but a good part of it was but I wasn't draining anymore so that was good. A week went by and I continued my garments and bandages. My sides felt so tight. I tried to shower since my drains were out. Bad mistake. I got so dizzy. I wasn't in the shower 2 minutes. I tried the next day with a medical chair I had already had from when my son was sick. Didn't last 2 minutes in the shower. Back to the stand in the tub while the water runs..lol..the next week I tried the shower again. I was able to shower with the shower door open but I had to make it fast. Like long enough to loufa my body, lather a rag to cleanse my belly button and incisions, rinse and out. The last few days Ive been able to close the door A LITTLE. My 6 year old was getting in behind me one morning and closed that door all the way. I went into panic mode..LMAO but so serious. That door closed and I swear I got light headed and started hyperventilating..lol..I had to get out and go sit down immediately. I wanna tell you guys everything from start to finish but that seems impossible as I remember certain things at certain times. Im gonna end this post but start my next one about finding a PS for follow up care here in the States..If theres anything I leave out that you want to know please ask and ill give you my most open/honest experience!

Hi all..so the last update I wrote/typed was the day of surgery. Let me pick up from days after. I had to stay at the clinic for another day because I had to get 2 bags of blood (which was an extra $200 each). The massage therapist came there and did my massage and changed my dressings and sponge bathed me. That was cool. Her name was Anna I think. Medina did come to see me there too. I left for the Recovery house that following day after. I was originally supposed to be staying at My Home I believe is the one Medina recommends to ppl but it was full. Me and another girl that flew from Atlanta ended up having to stay at Armonia Recovery House. It wasn't that it was bad or nasty or anything. It was hot as hell though..lol.. All the ladies are extremely nice but speak VERY LITTLE ENGLISH but at this point it was to be expected. Im in their country. I should know their language..sigh..anyway..my rom had 2 beds but my mom was with me so she got the other bed (my stay was $75 a night and my moms was $50 a night). The rooms have a window air conditioner. There were these blue curtains I never attempted to open to let sun in but they mustve been black out curtains or something because even in the brightest daylight no sun came thru.. :-) They cleaned the bathroom daily. The few english channels I found played old CSI episodes, old NCIS episodes, and a few old movies which didn't bother me. They make sure you take your meds on time. They did bring in a menu with about 5 combos for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They bring you fruit throughout the day. I ate the same thing for breakfast everyday-bacon, scrambled eggs and buttered toast. For lunch and dinner I ate the same thing-sautéed chicken salad with ranch dressing. I tried their hamburger once and I was not happy at all. Another night I tried their taco. Again unimpressed. My mom ate steamed vegetables everyday. One thing I will mention. Eating that salad everyday I had no problems when it came to having to have a bowel movement which they say is very important. I brought Dulcolax as instructed just in case but ended up giving it to other girls that were constipated. One of the girls had said she had just finished getting her massage and I was like what?? Nobody came to get me for a massage. My mom went to ask and there is a massage therapist upstairs. She worked my ass for 2 days and I couldn't take it any longer. They say the massages are good for drainage but it felt like she was massaging to my bone! I was done. I tried that 3rd time and thought I was gone have a heart attack..lol..By day 8 I had cried myself to sleep the past 2 nights prior. I MISSED MY KIDS!! My mom was fussing at me..lol..I was just homesick. She suggested I go sit on the roof. I did. Not really a good view. I WANTED TO COME HOME TO MY BABIES!! We would Glide and video chat everyday but it only made me miss them more..i had surgery on Tuesday the 28th of July. I had a follow up with Medina Monday August 3rd. She cleaned my incision. I asked her could I leave. She said no of course. She started talking about blood clots and flying long periods of time and sitting too long in one position for too long. I got spooked and was like let me sit my tail down somewhere..She told me I wouldn't see her again until Wednesday. Im also in a group of hers on Facebook. I saw where one of the girls that was doing her follow up when I first landed said she left early. I inboxed her and asked her about her flight..how far did she have to go..was it uncomfortable..did she wear compression socks..she was nice and responded with everything I asked. Wednesday came around and the nurse woke me up around 8:30 am saying the driver would be there in 5 minutes and to get dressed. Me and my mom proceeded to do so. She came right back in saying I wasn't going today. I asked her when and she said she didn't know maybe a day or 2. I was like wtf but I kept my cool. They went ahead and made breakfast. This lady brought me a plate of eggs and toast. I asked her where was the bacon and she said they didn't have anymore. I forgot to tell yall the night prior to they bought me a bed of lettuce with ranch. I asked where was the chicken and they said they didn't have anymore. I was already frustrated and now yall out of chicken and bacon..I called the Delta and asked did they have any flights left for that day. They did! I called American Airlines and asked did they have any flights to Miami (for my mom) and they did. I booked those damn flights and packed my bags so fast and called Gorge (the driver) to come get us. Before he got there the owner of the house and a nurse came in and asked did I have any pain medicine. I showed her the ones I purchased from their pharmacy and she was like (in so many words) did I have any of my own. I knew she meant the strong stuff..lol..she said the girl across the hall had just had surgery and she didn't bring anything. I asked did she speak English. She did. So I went in her room to talk to her. Luckily I did have 2 Tylenol 3's in my purse. I gave her one to take then and the other later. I asked her about why she didn't have anything and whatever dr she used said she didn't need to bring anything. She had some pesos but not enough to pay for meds. I looked at her dressings and they were soaked in blood. My first instinct was let me get out of here before I catch an infection or something ( I heard it happens) but I was concerned for her. I told the nurse that needs to be changed.. she said (in little words) that the girl didn't bring anything but her clothes. No gauze, no creams, no tape no supplies, NOTHING. Im like so she just supposed to lay there like that?? I went back to my room and gave her some gauze, tape, Neosporin, just about whatever I could get back to Atlanta and get from Walmart. I just couldn't believe that. And her room was hot. The a/c hadn't kicked in fully yet. I was really ready to go then. I stopped my Medina's to tell them I was leaving and she wasn't there but her 2 assistants were. I told the one and she was like I have to speak to the other one and she was seeing ppl. I politely told her my flight leaves in an hour and I have to go. she came out then. I still owed the $400 for the blood but I didn't stay for the 10 nights I paid for or get the 10 massages I paid for sooooo.... we discussed it and I walked away with $50 headed to the airport back to Atlanta on day 8 with drains in and compression socks on. 3 hour flight..Its time for me to get off so I'll tell yall about once I landed tomorrow..ttyl

These are day 18 post op pictures..