BR- And a TT with MR- Healing well in FL

I have decided to add to my surgery (since I will save money doing it at the same time and will already have a recovery time) by getting a tummy tuck (with lipo at the flanks). I have had the saggy-baggy "flop" over at my lower belly above the C/S scar and want to lose it. Weight loss shrinks it but the skin is hopelessly stretched and saggy here. I feel a flop over start at the front of my hip bone all across to the other side. The Tummy Tuck incision will probably follow this ridge and go across my old C/S scar. I won't need to have the longer incision that some people get that goes from behind the hip to the other side. This will be purely a cosmetic procedure but it won't cost as much for the OR and anesthesia fees since my insurance is already paying for my overnight and I just have a facility fee copay. Now or never for me! My insurance portion for the BR will be about $1500. This additional stuff will add about $7K to the cost (but it would be much more if I did it separately).

I would like to add an update now that I am post-op! The BR portion of my surgery has given me minimal trouble. The TT part about the same, but the MR is what is the KILLER! From the moment the nurse wanted me out of the bed to go potty my abdominal muscles started screaming. The worst was the getting out of bed and then maneuvering back into bed. If the person assisting me understood the need to give me back support, this was only mildly painful. If they did not, then this was agony. Be SURE to insist that the nursing staff give you full back support as you move about the bed.

My experience was that the worst of this whole thing was the anesthesia. I never threw up and actually was not ever close. But my head was killing me, I felt sort of dizzy/fuzzy/woozy, and kind of like after you have gone on a spinning ride at an amusement park. But this didn't go away until about 24 hrs AFTER I got out of surgery. UGH! They tried zofran (didn't help), they tried dilaudid (didn't help, and in fact may have made it worse after I woke back up), percocet just made me more sleepy. I think it just needed time, fluids, and getting up moving around. Truly this was the worst part. I think that since my surgery was so long (over 6 hours) it made it worse. I have had a shorter time under anesthesia before without any problem.

I am now POD#9 and feeling SO much better. Each day after Day #3 just got better. Each day I had less stiffness, less pain, more mobility, more energy, more appetite, etc.

Things that are hard in the first week: ups/downs position changes, dealing with the abdominal swelling, pooping, coughing (I had mucus that just about killed me trying to get out), keeping your strength up by eating b/c you won't have much of an appetite, and getting good sleep.

Getting a good night's rest is so important. UGH, the nights- I dreaded them! I never slept more than about 2.5 hrs straight and then would wake up restless and with bad back pain. I am a stomach sleeper and sleeping in my back was hard. I had to pee all the time as my bladder was coming back on line. And my back and hips really ached more than any of the surgery sites! I found a good combination was tylenol, muscle relaxer, and heat. Changing positions also was very helpful.

Last night (POD#8) I tried sleeping in my own bed with only pillows (no memory foam wedge) and only woke twice and then was able to get back to sleep. A good night's rest will help you feel so much better, so be sure to do what you can to ensure this! I also found that sitting in a comfortable chair on my back patio in the sunshine really helped revitalize me. I do live in Florida which is why this can happen in early March, but if you have a sunroom that could also be good. Somehow the sunshine just worked its healing magic on me. I get restless when I cannot be active and this helped.

My advice: The abdominal binder is very supportive- use it as long as you need it. Tylenol on a daily basis can keep the aches to a minimum. The heating pad is great- just DON'T SLEEP WITH IT ON! You can also use the microwave warmers or a hot water bottle- these will cool if you fall asleep so you can't burn yourself! Just remember some areas won't have normal feeling so you have to be sure you are not getting burned! Push your fluids- the last thing you need is a UTI, and your bladder will not be working right for a few days. For the BR- I find that the Genie bras and the Playtex full support/Simply Sized Wire-free bras are very supportive, soft and comfortable and will stretch with swelling and then still work after the swelling goes down. Found them at Target and Walmart. Also find that long pantiliners work great under the bra to dry up any oozing. Target brand regular pantiliners are short and nice & soft. Carefree Original Long Pantiliners are great for the under the breast incisions.

I don't know how the other women on this site can blog daily updates right after surgery. I was in no shape for that! But I hope to help anyone who is trying to understand what this will be like.

I will also post some before and after pics.