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More pics - recent
here are more recent pics of the healing transition.
Time to update review!
Tomorrow marks 3 weeks post op and what a 3 weeks it's been! Here are some suggestions along the way:
1. Day of surgery: DON'T forget to bring a pillow in the vehicle for ur post op travels home! Needless to say, I did and the 2 hour drive home was a bit uncomfortable. Speaking of travel arrangements, think about the vehicle you will be using to go home in! My hubby has a F150 and didn't think about having to climb back into that bad boy after surgery! Also, as good as ur hubby or helper's intentions may be to make u comfortable in the vehicle... DO NOT and I repeat, DO NOT allow them to recline the seat for u after ur surgery! My hubby was trying to make the car ride to the hotel after my surgery comfortable, so he reclined the seat back quite a bit for me, well in my drugged up state and trying to hop my medicated butt up In The truck, I simply laid back in the seat not realizing it was reclined and (due to no use of my stomach muscles) I fell back into the seat and stretched the hell out of my stomach! The pain was horrendous and apparently I cried a bit afterwards! My hubby felt terrible!
2. Things I wasted money on and realize that I'm glad I am a cheap ass and didn't waste money on some suggested items: I bought the antigravity chair that did nothing for me! Even padded down with blankets and pillows I could never quite get it to recline in a comfy position! I stuck with my recliner that I slept in for 10 days! I did purchase a leg pillow wedge and a regular pillow wedge. Definitely a useful buy! Still use it and it helps in relieving back pain. I used my daughters animal neck pillow that I bought her from walmart for 5.88. It's bendable and it worked wonders for making my head comfy in the recliner. Other than already owned pillows and blankets... That is all I used for simple comforts. I didn't buy a walker- I hunched over and walked trying to stand straighter each day. I didn't buy a toilet seat.. I worked the hell out of my thighs 2 weeks before surgery and the muscle build up helped me those first few days. I didn't buy a shower chair because I had a pull down shower head and already have a bench in my shower. I could see a chair being useful though... Thanks goodness for my bench.
3. Those first 4 days post op: listen to everyone on here when they say that if u can pass those first 4 days you are good! Listen to people when they tell u that you will get depressed within those first 4 days cause it's true!!!! When I read reviews I was thinking nah, not me... I'm athletic and I will kick this recovery thing in the butt and move on! Ughhh No that was far from the truth! It kicked my ass!!!! I always felt that I was a mentally tough person but somehow being stuck on a couch watching life continue around u while u rely on others and u hurt and can't get up without assistance and u can't eat but are hungry and u can't poop or the meds are nauseating you... IT WILL PLAY MIND TRICKS WITH yOU!!!! I have never been in that state and can honestly say that I feel for everyone that has a medical debilitating issue that is chronic, etc... I couldn't get my parents out of my mind cause I watched them both wither away to cancer and to know that I felt only about 10% of what they must have felt those many dragging months of the fatal illness, killed me mentally. Believe us when we say it's a temporary feeling, but it really messes with you. It occurred for me during those first 4 days!!! It sucked!!! Not only that, I also kept thinking, why the hell did I do this to myself! I'm never going to get better... There is NO way I can work next week or even stand up straight ever again for that matter. Those first 4 days suck!!!
5. Once u get past those first 4 days: u really start to see the light at the end of the tunnel! U can walk a bit straighter, ur drains are coming out, u can get up from the couch alone! Ur doing simple tasks around the house. Ur able to get off the pain meds (which I suggest to try to do as soon as possible! ) They really messed me up... I stopped them after 3 days and stuck to Tylenol extra strength and Advil. Ur appetite begins to pick back up and u SLOWLY think ... Ok... I can do this...
6. Your changing body: u will also do an emotional roller coaster with this as well! U will think, what the hell did I do, they r never going to get smaller, what about The scar, etc! For me though... I can't stop touching my boobs! Lol... I love them and I love touching them! I think I may have a new obsession! I love where my incision was made and I am really liking the belly button. I am concerned that it's pulled in tightly! But hopefully it will loosen over time!
7. Going back to work: I went back to work on my 11th day post op. I was a bit hunched over (so of course people were concerned). I had told a few people what I was going for, so my close coworkers new. I had a very positive reaction from them and most were eager to hear the details-mainly cause they r interested in it for themselves! If they asked, I told them... I didn't shy from the truth too much. The only medicine I was and still am currently taking is over the counter Advil 3 times a day. My PS instructed me to do that to help with inflammation. I was sore and hunched but by the end of the week I was standing a bit taller. I would be hunch by the time I made it home. But for the most part, I rested when I needed, overdid it a few times and realized it and stayed at my desk quite a bit. I also had a bunch of people help me with things... So it wasn't a challenge to return to work so quickly. This week 18 days post op, I was cleared to fly to Atlanta from Maryland for work. The flight was uneventful (thank goodness) and work this week has been good to me (I'm currently laying down in my hotel bed).
8. Swelling, binders and spanx: I never really was super swollen. I swelled the first week in my breast (of which I never really had any pain. Maybe the tummy tuck trumped the breast pain! I dunno). I do have occasional swelling from the top of my pubic area to my incision (I will attach a pic). But for the most part- no major swelling concerns. I fit in all my pre surgery clothes- even with the binder so I have no issues there. I still wear my binder over asset branded spanx. I don't technically have to wear the binder as my PS released me from wearing it and only having to wear a spanx style undies. I prefer to wear it over my spanx though. I love the bra given to me by my PS but I did buy a couple more to rotate with. Did I mention I love my boobs! Lol
9. Sleeping: I sleep fully on my back now. I slept in the recliner for 10 days though! I do use the leg pillow wedge in bed. I don't move much while sleeping so I find myself having to get up a bit more cause I simply put strain on the same area throughout the night. I still use a bunch of pillows.
Well that's all I can think of at this moment. I am a bit tired and need to wake up early for work. I have attached some pics of the healing process this far...
1. Day of surgery: DON'T forget to bring a pillow in the vehicle for ur post op travels home! Needless to say, I did and the 2 hour drive home was a bit uncomfortable. Speaking of travel arrangements, think about the vehicle you will be using to go home in! My hubby has a F150 and didn't think about having to climb back into that bad boy after surgery! Also, as good as ur hubby or helper's intentions may be to make u comfortable in the vehicle... DO NOT and I repeat, DO NOT allow them to recline the seat for u after ur surgery! My hubby was trying to make the car ride to the hotel after my surgery comfortable, so he reclined the seat back quite a bit for me, well in my drugged up state and trying to hop my medicated butt up In The truck, I simply laid back in the seat not realizing it was reclined and (due to no use of my stomach muscles) I fell back into the seat and stretched the hell out of my stomach! The pain was horrendous and apparently I cried a bit afterwards! My hubby felt terrible!
2. Things I wasted money on and realize that I'm glad I am a cheap ass and didn't waste money on some suggested items: I bought the antigravity chair that did nothing for me! Even padded down with blankets and pillows I could never quite get it to recline in a comfy position! I stuck with my recliner that I slept in for 10 days! I did purchase a leg pillow wedge and a regular pillow wedge. Definitely a useful buy! Still use it and it helps in relieving back pain. I used my daughters animal neck pillow that I bought her from walmart for 5.88. It's bendable and it worked wonders for making my head comfy in the recliner. Other than already owned pillows and blankets... That is all I used for simple comforts. I didn't buy a walker- I hunched over and walked trying to stand straighter each day. I didn't buy a toilet seat.. I worked the hell out of my thighs 2 weeks before surgery and the muscle build up helped me those first few days. I didn't buy a shower chair because I had a pull down shower head and already have a bench in my shower. I could see a chair being useful though... Thanks goodness for my bench.
3. Those first 4 days post op: listen to everyone on here when they say that if u can pass those first 4 days you are good! Listen to people when they tell u that you will get depressed within those first 4 days cause it's true!!!! When I read reviews I was thinking nah, not me... I'm athletic and I will kick this recovery thing in the butt and move on! Ughhh No that was far from the truth! It kicked my ass!!!! I always felt that I was a mentally tough person but somehow being stuck on a couch watching life continue around u while u rely on others and u hurt and can't get up without assistance and u can't eat but are hungry and u can't poop or the meds are nauseating you... IT WILL PLAY MIND TRICKS WITH yOU!!!! I have never been in that state and can honestly say that I feel for everyone that has a medical debilitating issue that is chronic, etc... I couldn't get my parents out of my mind cause I watched them both wither away to cancer and to know that I felt only about 10% of what they must have felt those many dragging months of the fatal illness, killed me mentally. Believe us when we say it's a temporary feeling, but it really messes with you. It occurred for me during those first 4 days!!! It sucked!!! Not only that, I also kept thinking, why the hell did I do this to myself! I'm never going to get better... There is NO way I can work next week or even stand up straight ever again for that matter. Those first 4 days suck!!!
5. Once u get past those first 4 days: u really start to see the light at the end of the tunnel! U can walk a bit straighter, ur drains are coming out, u can get up from the couch alone! Ur doing simple tasks around the house. Ur able to get off the pain meds (which I suggest to try to do as soon as possible! ) They really messed me up... I stopped them after 3 days and stuck to Tylenol extra strength and Advil. Ur appetite begins to pick back up and u SLOWLY think ... Ok... I can do this...
6. Your changing body: u will also do an emotional roller coaster with this as well! U will think, what the hell did I do, they r never going to get smaller, what about The scar, etc! For me though... I can't stop touching my boobs! Lol... I love them and I love touching them! I think I may have a new obsession! I love where my incision was made and I am really liking the belly button. I am concerned that it's pulled in tightly! But hopefully it will loosen over time!
7. Going back to work: I went back to work on my 11th day post op. I was a bit hunched over (so of course people were concerned). I had told a few people what I was going for, so my close coworkers new. I had a very positive reaction from them and most were eager to hear the details-mainly cause they r interested in it for themselves! If they asked, I told them... I didn't shy from the truth too much. The only medicine I was and still am currently taking is over the counter Advil 3 times a day. My PS instructed me to do that to help with inflammation. I was sore and hunched but by the end of the week I was standing a bit taller. I would be hunch by the time I made it home. But for the most part, I rested when I needed, overdid it a few times and realized it and stayed at my desk quite a bit. I also had a bunch of people help me with things... So it wasn't a challenge to return to work so quickly. This week 18 days post op, I was cleared to fly to Atlanta from Maryland for work. The flight was uneventful (thank goodness) and work this week has been good to me (I'm currently laying down in my hotel bed).
8. Swelling, binders and spanx: I never really was super swollen. I swelled the first week in my breast (of which I never really had any pain. Maybe the tummy tuck trumped the breast pain! I dunno). I do have occasional swelling from the top of my pubic area to my incision (I will attach a pic). But for the most part- no major swelling concerns. I fit in all my pre surgery clothes- even with the binder so I have no issues there. I still wear my binder over asset branded spanx. I don't technically have to wear the binder as my PS released me from wearing it and only having to wear a spanx style undies. I prefer to wear it over my spanx though. I love the bra given to me by my PS but I did buy a couple more to rotate with. Did I mention I love my boobs! Lol
9. Sleeping: I sleep fully on my back now. I slept in the recliner for 10 days though! I do use the leg pillow wedge in bed. I don't move much while sleeping so I find myself having to get up a bit more cause I simply put strain on the same area throughout the night. I still use a bunch of pillows.
Well that's all I can think of at this moment. I am a bit tired and need to wake up early for work. I have attached some pics of the healing process this far...
Tired of this already!
6 days post op and I am driving myself crazy cooped up! I am still trying to find the positive on the whole tummy tuck portion of this mommy make over! The boobs are good to go, but the fact that I still can't stand straight, still having to sleep on the recliner at night and watching everyone around me go-go-go is absolutely killing me! Lol. You would think a week off to do nothing Is good, but I guess my personality of being able to get up and go is not jiving with the laid back part! I just wish this healing process was a bit quicker than it is becoming! I just figured In my head that it would fly by and quite frankly it's dragging! I just feaR that I will not ever be normal again to stand up straight again, to sleep on my back again, to run again, to work out again... I just don't see it with as much pain as im still in! Lol I'm just whining, forgive me! I'm just jealous of everyone else further along in their recovery and doing so much better than I am! Lol I did leave the house yesterday and went to Walmart with the hubby (although I had to use the cart as my walker)! It did feel good to get around a bit! I wish I could physically stand up straighter! I'm only taking Tylenol extra strength every 6 hrs for pain as the narcotics were kicking my butt with nausea! I guess in the grand scheme of things i am doing well. I shower by myself daily, have been doing light cleaning, walking around a bit during the day, just no where near 100%!! I do go to the PS tomorrow and hopefully will get these drains removed. I start back to work on Monday (desk job if needed) and dreading that! I just need to take things one day at a time... I know! :-) happy healing everyone!!!
Provider Review
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
895 City Center Blvd., Newport News, Virginia