POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS
Fit Woman on the Surface, Saggy Tummy Underneath - Massachusetts, MA
ORIGINAL POST
So far so good! This has been a LOT tougher than I...
Carr915September 26, 2013
WORTH IT$11,600
So far so good! This has been a LOT tougher than I thought, mentally and physically. I figured being young (28, turned 29 10 days after surgery) and having worked out lifting heavy weights for the past 2 years would make recovery easier. It's still been hard, I can't imagine doing it 20+ years older or out of shape.
So today is 3 weeks post op! Also happens to be my first day back to work. I'm a very busy hair stylist on my feet anywhere between 5-8 1/2 hours 5-6 days a week. For the first full week I'm back I'm doing partial days, 5 hours or less with "rest" breaks scheduled in.
I'm gonna be honest today was rough. I immediately went home, looked at the damage (swollen belly) put my CG back on and got in my zero gravity recliner lawn chair. Best money spent on surgery prep BTW.
I'll add some photos and write more about surgery day and what's happened since then very soon!
So today is 3 weeks post op! Also happens to be my first day back to work. I'm a very busy hair stylist on my feet anywhere between 5-8 1/2 hours 5-6 days a week. For the first full week I'm back I'm doing partial days, 5 hours or less with "rest" breaks scheduled in.
I'm gonna be honest today was rough. I immediately went home, looked at the damage (swollen belly) put my CG back on and got in my zero gravity recliner lawn chair. Best money spent on surgery prep BTW.
I'll add some photos and write more about surgery day and what's happened since then very soon!
UPDATED FROM Carr915
24 days post
PO day 24
Carr915September 29, 2013
Post op Day 24
So I survived my first 3 days back at work. In this update I'm going to talk about surgery day and my hospital stay.
My SO and I arrived at the hospital at 6am. We were brought in, answered questions and I was brought back to change and answer more questions. All the while trying to hold back tears. I hadn't cried up until this point and I was trying my hardest not to. Especially in front of the nurses. Idk, I'm just not a cryer.
So she left to get my guy and as soon as he walked in the room I started bawling! I didn't say a word as to what I was thinking, it was a combo of everything, he hopped in bed with me and held me til I stopped. It was exactly what I needed.
Around 7am my PS came in, answered any questions and marked me up. Shortly after my anesthesiologist came in and before I knew it I was saying good bye to my guy and being wheeled in. I was given something to calm me down on the ride into the OR. It didn't knock me out, just felt really nice and relaxed. Once in the OR I remember switching to the OR bed and was out. Was the best sleep of my life!
I can't remember if I woke up in the OR or recovery room but I slowly came to and felt a lot of tightness and very very sore. They gave me anti nausea meds and once I was awake enough some ice chips. I was SO thirsty. And starving! Surgery was supposed to be about 4 hours, it was closer to 6. When my PS got in there my abdominal damage was much more severe than originally thought. I also had a breast implant exchange which I'll talk about at a later update.
So I get to my room around 330. My nurse came in and by then I was starting to feel some pain. I was given IV morphine. I have an extremely high tolerance for pain meds. What would make a normal person extremely "high" does absolutely nothing for me. The whole time I was in the hospital I felt pain, and quite a bit. That was with IV morphine and something like ibuprofen but stronger in the IV, and oral Percocet and Valium. It wasn't unbearable but I guess they were afraid of over medicating me.
Oh before I forget. Do not, I repeat do NOT eat more than 5 bites for at least a week after surgery, especially if you get MR. When they brought me my dinner I was so hungry I scarfed at least half of it down, big mistake. When your stomach expands after MR, it stretches it and is SUPER painful and tight. My SO and daughter came by to see me, it was so nice to see their faces, and I think it helped ease my daughters anxiety. She just wanted to know I was ok, she's never seen anyone in the hospital.
First night was ok, I slept for 2-3 hour stretches at a time, not wanting to miss a pain killer dose. They made me walk once which sucked but other than that it was so nice to lay there and had round the clock care. If you have a choice between an overnight stay or not, pick that stay. I honestly don't know how I would have survived that first night at home.
So next morning my PS came by, opened my binder up and said everything looked awesome and that I'd be very happy. I told him how the painkillers were doing almost nothing. So he wrote out my scripts and was able to be released later that afternoon.
SO came to get me and by then I was on my stronger meds so i remember very little about the car ride home. Actually i remember very little about the first 5 or 6 days lol.
So I survived my first 3 days back at work. In this update I'm going to talk about surgery day and my hospital stay.
My SO and I arrived at the hospital at 6am. We were brought in, answered questions and I was brought back to change and answer more questions. All the while trying to hold back tears. I hadn't cried up until this point and I was trying my hardest not to. Especially in front of the nurses. Idk, I'm just not a cryer.
So she left to get my guy and as soon as he walked in the room I started bawling! I didn't say a word as to what I was thinking, it was a combo of everything, he hopped in bed with me and held me til I stopped. It was exactly what I needed.
Around 7am my PS came in, answered any questions and marked me up. Shortly after my anesthesiologist came in and before I knew it I was saying good bye to my guy and being wheeled in. I was given something to calm me down on the ride into the OR. It didn't knock me out, just felt really nice and relaxed. Once in the OR I remember switching to the OR bed and was out. Was the best sleep of my life!
I can't remember if I woke up in the OR or recovery room but I slowly came to and felt a lot of tightness and very very sore. They gave me anti nausea meds and once I was awake enough some ice chips. I was SO thirsty. And starving! Surgery was supposed to be about 4 hours, it was closer to 6. When my PS got in there my abdominal damage was much more severe than originally thought. I also had a breast implant exchange which I'll talk about at a later update.
So I get to my room around 330. My nurse came in and by then I was starting to feel some pain. I was given IV morphine. I have an extremely high tolerance for pain meds. What would make a normal person extremely "high" does absolutely nothing for me. The whole time I was in the hospital I felt pain, and quite a bit. That was with IV morphine and something like ibuprofen but stronger in the IV, and oral Percocet and Valium. It wasn't unbearable but I guess they were afraid of over medicating me.
Oh before I forget. Do not, I repeat do NOT eat more than 5 bites for at least a week after surgery, especially if you get MR. When they brought me my dinner I was so hungry I scarfed at least half of it down, big mistake. When your stomach expands after MR, it stretches it and is SUPER painful and tight. My SO and daughter came by to see me, it was so nice to see their faces, and I think it helped ease my daughters anxiety. She just wanted to know I was ok, she's never seen anyone in the hospital.
First night was ok, I slept for 2-3 hour stretches at a time, not wanting to miss a pain killer dose. They made me walk once which sucked but other than that it was so nice to lay there and had round the clock care. If you have a choice between an overnight stay or not, pick that stay. I honestly don't know how I would have survived that first night at home.
So next morning my PS came by, opened my binder up and said everything looked awesome and that I'd be very happy. I told him how the painkillers were doing almost nothing. So he wrote out my scripts and was able to be released later that afternoon.
SO came to get me and by then I was on my stronger meds so i remember very little about the car ride home. Actually i remember very little about the first 5 or 6 days lol.
Replies (6)