POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck Reviews
TT, Back Lipo and tube removal - Houston, TX
UPDATED FROM Shivers2
5 months post
3 Month Update
Shivers2June 10, 2016
WORTH IT$5,400
Sorry it's been a while. It's been so busy at work since I went back! I am swamp more than ever these days. Hopefully things will calm down soon. I have been hanging in there. My 6th- 8th week was very uncomfortable, guess the meds wore off. I am 14 weeks (3 months) My back lipo still hurts. When I lay down it feels good, getting up is the challenge. It hurts getting up, I feel like someone is ripping my skin apart. I do breathing treatments getting out of bed. Even when I sit on the couch, I have to sit straight up, can't get too comfortable or it hurts getting up. My last visit with Dr. Altimira was last Thursday and he said everything looks good. I am still swollen every where. He said it will be another 6-9 months before the swelling goes down. I did away with my girdle about a month ago, I miss it but it was uncomfortable at work so I just deal with the aches and pain. The lympathetic massages helped with the swelling and help released stubborn fluids in your body. I feel very tight during the night, when I wake up I am very tight around my abdominal area. When I get in the shower I massage it with coconut soap or chamomile soap to help relax my muscle. Still not working out because I swell up easily. Overall, I am doing good just taking it one day at a time. Hope everyone else is recovering well. Happy healing everybody! Will post pics soon!
Shivers2's provider
Replies (1)
UPDATED FROM Shivers2
3 months post
5 week update
Shivers2April 8, 2016
This past week was better than the week before. I hope it continues like that. Well I started lympathetic massages Tuesday. Dr. Altamira's office has a recommended therapist for their office and boy was she great!! She does the massages their at his office Tuesday's and Thursday's. She also does house visits. My 2nd massage will be here at my house. It's very convenient. I started off with 3 massages for $300 and will take it from there.
I went back to work yesterday, everything was fine except for me chair. It hurt my back really bad so looking at other seating arrangements. Other than that I did pretty good. Just was ready for a nap when I got home.
I'm still swollen, still have the itching, burning and sting feeling throughout my body. And still wearing my garment, I swell worse when I don't have it on. I still rub Arnicare cream all over my abs, sides and lower back. I feel it helps with the pain. I bought that at Walgreens before my surgery. I started my scar cream this week. The doctors office gave it to me. Little by little life is getting back on track. Thank god!!! Attach are some updated pics.
I went back to work yesterday, everything was fine except for me chair. It hurt my back really bad so looking at other seating arrangements. Other than that I did pretty good. Just was ready for a nap when I got home.
I'm still swollen, still have the itching, burning and sting feeling throughout my body. And still wearing my garment, I swell worse when I don't have it on. I still rub Arnicare cream all over my abs, sides and lower back. I feel it helps with the pain. I bought that at Walgreens before my surgery. I started my scar cream this week. The doctors office gave it to me. Little by little life is getting back on track. Thank god!!! Attach are some updated pics.
Replies (1)
April 8, 2016
Shivers !!
So happy your life is getting back to normal. You look good !
Is the itching and burning in your tummy tuck incision or from the Lipo??
Tell me what the lymphatic massage does ( Other than release toxins) I am just curious !
So happy your life is getting back to normal. You look good !
Is the itching and burning in your tummy tuck incision or from the Lipo??
Tell me what the lymphatic massage does ( Other than release toxins) I am just curious !
April 8, 2016
Thank you! It's from the lipo. They say it's the nerves being reborn/reconnecting itself. The massage feels great and I feel it's helping me. I have this knot feeling on my lower right scar and I've been massaging it daily and it's getting smaller. The therapist and nurse said it was scar tissue and it will eventually go away. The therapist massaged that as well. I peed a lot afterwards. Lol
UPDATED FROM Shivers2
3 months post
4 week update
Shivers2April 1, 2016
Yesterday was 4 weeks PO since my surgery. I extended my FMLA to go back to work April 7th. Glad I did bc I started feeling better yesterday. I was able to get around more and do a little housework on my own without help. I started driving this past Monday. All I can say it feels good to be independent again! I saw Dr. Altamira today and he is just the sweetest. :) I just adore him!!! He always takes his time with me, very gentle and answers all my questions. Definately would go back to him for anything. He said I'm healing good! :) belly button and scar looks good. There's still a lot of swelling but will take time for that to go down. He also said I can do away with the garment if I feel secure without it. If not continue to wear it until I'm comfortable not wearing it. I still feel the sting throughout my body where lipo was done but I guess that's expected and it will eventually go away. I bought chamomile body wash by Aveeno to help with the soreness. I think I'll do some lympathetic massages to help with this healing process. Other than that I'm feeling a lot better. The healing process takes time and a lot of patience. Attach are some updated pics.
Replies (1)
April 1, 2016
Shivers,
You are looking good. And I am glad that you feel well. Getting to drive again is the best !!
I am happy that you like Dr. Altamira so much. He's cute, too !!! lol
Your scar looks great. Hang in there. It does take a lot of patience. My bb still not closed after 2 1/2 months. It takes forever. !!!
You are looking good. And I am glad that you feel well. Getting to drive again is the best !!
I am happy that you like Dr. Altamira so much. He's cute, too !!! lol
Your scar looks great. Hang in there. It does take a lot of patience. My bb still not closed after 2 1/2 months. It takes forever. !!!
April 1, 2016
Thanks! Yes he is a cutie! I can stare at him all day. Lol Your BB looks good, hang in there it will heal soon.
April 1, 2016
Too bad your bb didn't die.
You would get to see him more often ( And if that is an upside, it's definitely the only one there is.) lol
You would get to see him more often ( And if that is an upside, it's definitely the only one there is.) lol
Just curious.
Yes, I felt mildly depressed after surgery, but a lot of stuff happened in my private life, and my bb died and left a big hole ( big is relative here.) in my belly. The weather was dreary and cold. I couldn't get out and exercise to relieve any stress. Looking back, I think I did pretty well considering.
I didn't even lose my temper.
(I don't do that much anyway. I am not a yeller or a fighter. I don't find those methods very effective.)
I already take antidepressants, though. I have been on those a long time. (25 years or so.)
So, that is the thing.
You might want to talk to your doctor about getting some just to get you through.
I will mention, though that SSRI antidepressants like Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft will take at least 3 weeks to work for depression. They sometimes work faster for anxiety.
If the pain is bad, you might try something like Elavil. They use it for neurological pain like shingles. If your quality of life is being affected by your mood, then this is worth talking to your doctor about.
Most plastic surgeons are aware that patients can have depression after any major surgery, but ps, in particular, has certain psychological considerations. If your doctor doesn't feel comfortable treating your depression, then he can refer you out.
I hope this helps you some. I will mention that meds are only 1 of a basic 3 pronged approach to treating depression. The other 2 are talk therapy (counseling), and exercise (which you probably cannot do since you are in pain.) You are reaching out for support through your forum friends, which is great!! And I am happy to share and talk to you anytime. You might want to private message me though if you want to get very specific on your issues.
:)
I am sorry you are dealing with daily pain and depression. I know this is hard. When is the last time you saw your PS? You might want to call him and make an appointment to discuss your pain and mood issues.
I know it is hard to talk about that, but trust me. It is not going to be the first time he has ever heard it!!!
Good luck. I'm here for you if you need me.... :)
Hi there!!! Been thinking about you also. I am so glad you finally responded. I mostly get PM's and just hit reply to send info, so not sure how to send one, but you can try messaging one of the forum directors. They will send a response to you.
I am sorry that you are depressed. Do you have any idea what triggered it? Are you just prone to depression? Most people who have had at least one depressive episode are higher risk to have another. I am just wondering if that is what is going on with you. I know you probably don't want to say it on public forum, but I will PM you, and you can PM back. I am willing to bet there is more to this story than just your surgery. You cannot simply "will" yourself out of depression, any more than you can "will" yourself to get rid of a brain tumor. Depression is a real disease state, just like high blood pressure, and it requires treatment, especially since you have been depressed about 2 months. I am happy to hear that you are meeting with a therapist. I strongly believe in therapy, and there is scientific evidence that talk therapy can change your brain waves, and help to heal your depression. Also, the exercise you are doing is awesome!!! I am very proud of you!!! Keep going. Baby steps is the way it happens. You do not need to apologize to anyone for "not being much of a friend". I am fine. I want you to focus on making yourself better. That is what you need to do. Do not worry about anything else....
You have enough on your plate right now. I will PM you, and we can talk some more if you want to. It's up to you.
XOXO,
TXmom
To PM someone, go to your profile page. Type in the person's screen name in the search bar. Click the link that comes up. It will open their page. Hit the big blue "message" bar at the top. Type your message and hot send. It will go to their Inbox.
To check your PM's, go to your profile and click inbox.
You can set your page up to e-mail you when you have an inbox message on RS, or you can just check it when you are on RS.
Hope this helps!!!
XOXO
Txmom
How are you doing?
I wrote to you how to PM me. !!