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Needing my Sexy Back!

UPDATED FROM babynurse1012
8 days post

1week and 1day

babynurse1012
WORTH IT$7,799
8 days out from my TT and breast lift. I am perfectly miserable. My back hurts so bad I can hardly stand up or move around. I’m out of pain medicine and only have 2 days of muscle relaxers left. I can’t to anything at all and I can’t stand it! And these drains are not helping matters. My abdomen is till very swollen. I’m earring my binder religiously. I see no sign of swelling going own at all. Right now, I hate myself for doing this to me! I’ll try post pics tomorrow. Right now I jut feel too miserable to do it.

babynurse1012's provider

Mel T. Ortega, MD

Mel T. Ortega, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Replies (2)

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March 28, 2018
Those early days are hard but it will get better soon. It will be so worth it! For me, after day 10 or so, I improved a little every day. You will barely remember this misery in a couple months when you are enjoying your body. Just focus on taking care of yourself: low sodium healthy foods, lots of water, and rest!
April 16, 2018
Hey there! How are you doing? You are a couple days before me. I had surgery the 21. Are you feeling much better? I feel like I have turned the corner. Recovery is soooo long! I did nap a lot last week after work. lol But am starting to see some results. But the swelling is so real and is unbelievable!
April 16, 2018
I have been doing really well but last night I started having a lot of pain on the right side of my upper abdomen and I became really bloated. I had to take my compression off and I took half a pain pill. I’m till hurting today. it even hurts to breathe. I’m considering going to urgent care. I’m trying o give it a little one. this might sound crazy but my stomach is gurgling and making all kinds of noises. I’m thinking it could be gas. Good grief! If it is, please tell me it won’t hurt like this every time I get gas!
April 16, 2018
Well you are a nurse so listen to your gut! I have had a lot of pain in my upper right side and almost sensitive to the touch but have come to realize it is from my muscle repair. Yesterday I swelled like crazy. I have no idea why. I had to take Ibuprofen and ice my stomach. It was so uncomfortable. I measured my waist and I swelled 3 inches...lol I have never had an issues with pain with breathing though. Plus you are 4 weeks out so that seems a little strange. Have you been just taking it easy this month or have you been working?
April 16, 2018
Working but I have. desk job. strange that both of us have discomfort in the same area. That is Keats where I have hurt. It seems to swell up a little there sometimes, and can be slightly tender. Sometimes I have o remove my compression because that area will start hurting. Everything else feels fine. I’m giving this some time right now. I took some simethicone for gas. Drinking coffee. My stomach looks like I’m 4 months pregnant at this moment. I don’t know what I did or ate to deserve this. I did eat some Mexican food Saturday, so maybe it’s having a delayed effect on me!
UPDATED FROM babynurse1012
6 days post

Surgery 3/19

babynurse1012
Traveled to Miami and had TT with Lipo to flanks and Brest lift with Dr. Mel Ortega on 3/19/18. I was originally ping o get implants but after discussing it with Dr. Ortega we decided to just do the lift for now. The initial post-op period was really rough. I went four hours after surgery with no pain meds because my support person did not get them filled while I was in surgery. After getting medication though, I felt pretty ok. I slept a lot. Next morning I went back for a follow up. I only saw a nurse that took my vitals and changed my dressings. I had a massage on Thursday. It was a little uncomfortable due o Lipo areas being tender, but it kind of felt good too. Fist I ent back for my follow up with Dr. Ortega. He said there was a pot that was dying due o insufficient blood flow and I needed a second surgery to cut that area out. So I spent 9 hours waiting at the office and then had a scar revision. They cut out he bad spot and also evacuated a hematoma that was behind it. The next day I saw Ortega again and everything was just fine. I have two drinks I have to keep for two weeks from second surgery. I’m wearing a binder until he drains come out and then will wear Faja supplied by my doctor. My pain is minimal until I try o move around much. I’m pretty stooped over and my back keeps cramping up when I try to walk around. I only have 3 pain pills left and Dr. Ortega will not call in for more. Hopefully I can get by with Tylenol for this back pain. My abdomen is still pretty swollen but I can already tell a big difference. My breasts look like they are 18 gets old but thy seem smaller. I think I will want those implant in the future.

Replies (1)

March 26, 2018
I had the problems with the back spasms. I could totally go without pain meds but can not miss the muscle relaxers. Pre-op my doctor placed the order for them with a refill and told me if all things not to miss them. I totally understand why! Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery!
UPDATED FROM babynurse1012
29 days pre

Surgery scheduled

babynurse1012
I have had 2 local consults and 2 in Miami. I'm still schef led for a consult March 3 at the UC Senior Residents Ckinic. I think I might just cancel that although I am curious to see what they would say. I have scheduled a Mommy Makeover with Dr. Mel Ortega at Spectrum Aesthetics in Miami on March 19th. I'm excited and nervous. Mostly I'm afraid I won't have enough money to get the entire Mommy Makeover. I had plenty of money set aside but had to dip into it to pay for care for a sick dog and some other expenses due to things beyond my control. So now I'm freaking out. I had a difficult time choosing between doctors. I decided to just go with my gut. I felt like my consultation was handled more professionally with Spectrum and I like that Dr. Ortea recognized the fact that I will need a longer incision (extended TT) to avoid any dog ears. The other surgeon never mentioned that. I definitely do not want to travel back to Miami to have to have dog ears fixed. Plus, I just had a good feeling about Dr. Ortega. I don't know why, but I believe in trusting my gut. Also they don't sell insurance to you in case you aren't happy with the results. To me, that says they aren't just trying to take your money. I guess that depends on how you look at that though. They said if I wasn't happy after 3 months, I could ask for a revision, no insurance needed. Kind of like a free warranty versus having to pay for a warranty. Any way, my credit sucks right now. I've been working really hard to repair it, but apparently it went down recently due to a medical bills reported to collections. I was never even billed for it and wouldn't know about it now if I hadn't pulled a credit report 2 days ago. Does anyone know a loan company for people with bad credit? I only need a few thousand dollars and I have cash for the rest. I'll try to post my embarrassing before pics because I'm hoping I have some amazing after pics to post. I'm 32 days away from surgery. At 30 days, I have to refrain from any alcohol. I don't smoke so that is no problem. They also said to start taking Floradix iron and a calcium supplement. I've already started the calcium. Floradix should be arriving by mail any day. They haven't told me what prescriptions I have to stop yet or what labs I need but hopefully I will find that out Monday so I can get that ball rolling. I have a beach side apartment reserved as I opted to forgo a recovery house. My daughters will travel with me and take care of me. I relish my privacy and want to be able to work some the last couple of days I'm in Miami so that seemed like a better option for me. It will cost me about the same as a RH by the time I pay for my own food, but at least it will be MY food. And we will have our own car. I started getting some anxiety over RH's and coordinating transportation and flights after reading reviews. I have some control freak tendencies. Maybe it's the nurse in me that is used to being the caregiver and directing and coordinating everything. Anyway I think the apartment I found on Airbnb will be better for me and my girls will be able to enjoy a little beach time as well. Plus I won't have to leave Miami without getting some amazing Cuban food. If anyone has suggestions for Cuban food in Miami, let me know!!!

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