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One week down! And over the hurdle!
Yesterday was my 6 day post op dr appt. I can't say enough good things about my dr. We went over my hernia repairs (I had 2 hernias), and I was so happy he did not use mesh. He feels better to do the repair without it and I was on the same page, so that was a relief. It is all my own muscle repair that he did double duty to so that they would be nice and reinforced. Stitches came out in belly button, and both drains were removed. That definitely took my breath away for a moment. Especially the right side. But he warned me and it was over in seconds. Soooo glad they are out, even though I didn't have problems with them. It just feels easier and one step back to being normal. My dr gives you a vitamin recovery program to do 2 weeks before and after surgery. Includes Bromelain and Arnica to help with inflammatory, bruising, and pain. No antibiotics. It is another thing I love about how he does things. More natural the better for me, unless something else is really needed. I did need to get a prescription for Zofran because nausea hit me really hard on Monday and stayed until I had that in me on Wednesday. I can handle pain, which I didn't really have much of, but nausea seriously took me down, lol.
I know everyone on here has had different stories, and different degrees of recovery. I took so much in and prepared myself for the hardest. I've had 4 c-sections, one with almost a hip to hip incision due to his size, and for me, this recovery has been almost identical. Pain level, mobility, pretty much all of it. My incision is actually less painful with this. Maybe because I always had staples with the c-sections. They always got so infected or irritated.
My biggest post op helpers:
1. Vicks! I had quite a bit of congestion and I kept that by my side to sniff, rub on, or whatever I needed to do not to cough.
2. Toilet riser - still using it. I never had it post c-sections and it was a great purchase for this. So wish I had thought of it then.
3. Shower seat - what a life saver. I could only sponge bathe until today, but we have a shower sprayer and I would sit and my husband would help clean. I could lean my head back for him to wash my hair too. One of the days when my nausea was in full swing it saved me from passing out, while changing things for the day. I took my shower on my own today and still used it.
4. Bed wedge - purchased from Brookstone. We did not have a recliner. Looked at buying one, but decided to go with this bed wedge. I can adjust the level of reclining I am at which has helped relieve my back from being in one position alot. And it has a curved area that helps with the lower lumbar area. I've been in my bed since I came home from the hospital. My bed is high and with a little step stool I am able to easily get in. The first few days I needed my husbands help with my legs and swinging them around but was able to do it myself quickly.
After 5 hours out yesterday between drive to the drs and a little lunch out after, I was pretty tender and swollen in the lower parts last night. Still kind of swollen this morning, and other than taking a shower, finally SHAVING, lol, and drying my hair (with a big rest in between) my husband insists on the bed rest today. Other than that, I can tell for sure I am past the first week and onto the second. Get through your first week with remembering that one week goes pretty fast and it will definately be better at the end of it :)
Hope something here helps someone as much as all the info I read helped me :)
I know everyone on here has had different stories, and different degrees of recovery. I took so much in and prepared myself for the hardest. I've had 4 c-sections, one with almost a hip to hip incision due to his size, and for me, this recovery has been almost identical. Pain level, mobility, pretty much all of it. My incision is actually less painful with this. Maybe because I always had staples with the c-sections. They always got so infected or irritated.
My biggest post op helpers:
1. Vicks! I had quite a bit of congestion and I kept that by my side to sniff, rub on, or whatever I needed to do not to cough.
2. Toilet riser - still using it. I never had it post c-sections and it was a great purchase for this. So wish I had thought of it then.
3. Shower seat - what a life saver. I could only sponge bathe until today, but we have a shower sprayer and I would sit and my husband would help clean. I could lean my head back for him to wash my hair too. One of the days when my nausea was in full swing it saved me from passing out, while changing things for the day. I took my shower on my own today and still used it.
4. Bed wedge - purchased from Brookstone. We did not have a recliner. Looked at buying one, but decided to go with this bed wedge. I can adjust the level of reclining I am at which has helped relieve my back from being in one position alot. And it has a curved area that helps with the lower lumbar area. I've been in my bed since I came home from the hospital. My bed is high and with a little step stool I am able to easily get in. The first few days I needed my husbands help with my legs and swinging them around but was able to do it myself quickly.
After 5 hours out yesterday between drive to the drs and a little lunch out after, I was pretty tender and swollen in the lower parts last night. Still kind of swollen this morning, and other than taking a shower, finally SHAVING, lol, and drying my hair (with a big rest in between) my husband insists on the bed rest today. Other than that, I can tell for sure I am past the first week and onto the second. Get through your first week with remembering that one week goes pretty fast and it will definately be better at the end of it :)
Hope something here helps someone as much as all the info I read helped me :)
Day 3 Post Op
With one percocet every 5-6 hrs the discomfort is very manageable still. The nausea is a different story. Although I handle pain much better over nausea. Not sure if it is the pain meds, needing to have a bm again, or not eating enough. If I keep pretty still it's not so bad. Everyone is right about showering wiping you out. I haven't showered yet, but did get a good sponge bath, and hubby washed my hair for me. Totally exhausting and took two hours to feel not so nauseous. But so worth it!! All of it! Still not as bad as I had myself prepared for and would do this again, for those that are preparing and getting nervous. My swelling has pretty much contained itself to my hips where the drains are, my pubic area, and thighs. I guess even my feet a bit when I get up and move around. My pic for today, everything still looks good. Not sure what is up inside my belly button, and don't really like to investigate because it makes me more nauseous, lol. I did not have any high expectations on my belly button so however it turns out, I'm sure I'll be fine. My biggest concern was my roll which is now gone :). I also ended up having a second hernia that we weren't aware of and I'm pretty sure he said it was around my belly button. He repaired it, but maybe it is why it looks funny to me. When I look past the part that I look like a chuckie doll, lol, I am just amazed at the results already. Even if I go through swelling, and more bruising, or whatever, I feel so excited at what the end result will be after healing is done. I really did it!! Why did I wait so long!!
Day 2 Post Op
Followed the advice from another blog on constipation after surgery and already had a bm. She said to start Colace AND Senokot the minute you start the pain medication. So I did and then last night had one dose of mom and by 1:30am it decided to all take affect. Which I was super happy about. I'm pretty sure one of my hernias came from being constipated after my 4th c-section. I was so worried about it being difficult again. Probably way too much info here, lol, but it is even difficult to pee. Amazing how much you use those muscles to pee.
My dr said no showers until he sees me at post op appt, so sponge bathes it is. So thankful for my hubby!! He has helped every step of the way. Cleans me, holds my drains, dresses me, and even keeps track of how much is draining. Made me a nice breakfast of egg white on low fat whole grain english muffin and warm lemon water with honey. Much needed this morning. Still don't have a lot of pain, none at all if I am resting, but I felt a little off when up and about this morning and it really does drain you just getting cleaned up and redressed. Tomorrow I will make sure some pain meds are in me along with some food before I get up and about.
Probably won't take a pic today since I'm all wrapped up again. Not much difference from yesterday except some crazy swelling in my mons area. Dr wants binder worn as low as possible, and I think it is pushing all of the fluid there. Doesn't hurt though, just looks pretty silly. The only thing that is bothering me with the drains is a spot on my left side that pulls inside and burns a little when I move. Other than that I don't even notice I have them. I'm sure in a few days I'll be praying for their removal.
My dr said no showers until he sees me at post op appt, so sponge bathes it is. So thankful for my hubby!! He has helped every step of the way. Cleans me, holds my drains, dresses me, and even keeps track of how much is draining. Made me a nice breakfast of egg white on low fat whole grain english muffin and warm lemon water with honey. Much needed this morning. Still don't have a lot of pain, none at all if I am resting, but I felt a little off when up and about this morning and it really does drain you just getting cleaned up and redressed. Tomorrow I will make sure some pain meds are in me along with some food before I get up and about.
Probably won't take a pic today since I'm all wrapped up again. Not much difference from yesterday except some crazy swelling in my mons area. Dr wants binder worn as low as possible, and I think it is pushing all of the fluid there. Doesn't hurt though, just looks pretty silly. The only thing that is bothering me with the drains is a spot on my left side that pulls inside and burns a little when I move. Other than that I don't even notice I have them. I'm sure in a few days I'll be praying for their removal.
Provider Review
Dr Chevalier is very kind and soft spoken. He gave us full detail of what to expect and what would be performed during the surgery. His office is run well, and the ladies at the desk are super sweet and very helpful.