Breast Reduction - Part 1 - Includes photos up to and including Week 2 post-op

Pretty nervous/scared to see the crime scene this aft', but am excited (of course) at the same time, primarily to be cleared for a frigging shower!!! I swear, washing my hair over the sink does not yield the same results. I know that doesn't make sense, but tough. Also, I'm thinking if he, or his nurse, or whomever, gets rid of all this damn padding, "I'll be able to test drive a few tops :) At home, I mean! No PUBLIC (ie: store clothes with OP's cooties) clothes shall touch these [RS bleep] until everything is closed and sealed. Or at least, that's my story at the moment!

Okay, I fully admit it; this procedure has turned me into a narcissistic f***. I swear to you all, I'm not usually self-obsessed, but by God, I am now. Yesterday, when I changed bras (YES, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus!), I MIGHT have snapped a few lame photos of the new and (hopefully) improved booblettes with the bloody gauze a hangin' off. Very yummy looking, but you've been warned :) I still can't get a REALLY good idea, but I've seen enough to know they are DEFINITELY boxy. Totally cool with that as given the girth of these bad boys, I figured with an inferior pedicle that would inevitably be the case. I also have seen the extent to which this resolves over the months. In some cases, they seem to maintain a boxier shape (flatter bottom) that some of the perfect tear-drops we've seen here, but I'm totally and utterly cool with that as it's a small price to pay for the lightened load AND it's nothing that a good bra doesn't camoflauge :) So I've posted a few interim shots that don't show much but some bruising - which as usual looks about 100X as bad as it feels, but is buying me some serious sympathy :))))) The stuff you're able to see doesn't hurt AT ALL. The only discomfort is right along the bra line under my arms (Lipo) and it is still not in the least disabling, but I'm not about to slam my upper arms against my sides...if ya know what I mean. Noticing a little incision discomfort under righty this morning, so I'll be interest to see what's going on down there.

Anyhoo, off to degrease and slough, so back later, post appt. Hope everyone has a good day and to those recently post-op gals, hope you're taking it easy and resting up! Have a good day everyone!
  Continued... to Part 2

Hi Kids! What up?!

Everyone doing well, I hope. How are our 2 adopted kittens doing? I'm persona non grata around here at the moment because our two labs are used to some serious lap time after dinner when DH and I usually settle on the couch. And, needless to say, they are both having to make do with DH's lap. I try to explain that in a few months when they are once again accorded lap privileges, there'll be more lap to enjoy, but that concept seems to elude them. They're just pissed. If they keep up the attitude, I may just threaten them with a kitten. PNW made an excellent point about the appropriateness of kittens for we convalescents :)

So, the big news from day 4 post op (surg was Friday):

1. I WASHED MY BRA!!!!!!
2. I went to the mall

and last but not least, I went totally rogue last night and snuck onto my side for 15 minutes. The guilt and wild imaginings of blood and guts pouring forth and drowning/smothering my DH, coupled with the fact that it hurt like a [RS bleep], finally flipped me back, but damn, it was sweet while it lasted.

Even though the PS said not to take my bra off, I could no longer stand myself, so had to change. Weirdest damn thing EVER was taking it off and nothing fell out! Swear to God, it was almost.....I dunno.....I don't have an adjective. Some part of my brain still things it was the tape and gauze holding them up. Seriously. Can't get my head around that one.

The Lipo bruising has moved in with a vengeance. Still no where close to what my poor former boobs experienced in a car accident in 2002, but pretty damned impressive nonetheless. Goes down to my waist on the left side.

I was surprised to see my underboob incision seems to end at the outside of my boob; it doesn't extend across the ribs like I've noticed so many do. Believe me, I'm not complaining, but I wonder why. Perhaps because he lipo'd he didn't need to cut out side boobage? Does that make any sense? I'll obviously get a better view tomorrow because this was all seen through gauze etc. which I couldn't and wouldn't remove because it was stuck on with some dried blood. Have to admit, I'm dying to see how my nipples look. The little buggers are certainly on the ball in terms of sensation and I THINK theyre standing proud when asked, but tough to tell through the gauze, padding etc.. Anyway, what I was getting at, is that I always had very pale NACs, so now, thanks to the carving, they'll actually have a defined perimeter which will be a trip. Can't imagine what I'll/they'll look like.

Have serious cabin fever and walks through the hood just weren't cutting it. So tonight I asked DH to take me to the mall (Yorkdale for you Ontarians). Was dying to try on a couple of things at J. Crew and TopShop, but was a good girl and resisted the urge. Was able to blow right by Victioria's Secret; I think I'll always be pissed at them for excluding me from the cool girls' club for so long. (oh he'll, who am I kidding? Talk to me in a couple of months....). Anyway, an hour and a half there and I was DONE. Home, Jeeves!

Currently sitting on my butt, which, sadly, was not reduced, waiting for DH to get dinner the hell on the table. Yes, I did say that. The guy is a fabulous cook and has been overly solicitous and thoughtful, but when it comes to cooking, he's slow as molasses in January. And when I get really hungry, my inner [RS bleep] rears her head.

SO HURRY THE HELL UP IN THERE! The patient needs sustenance!

Tomorrow is first pot op appointment and that SOB has GOT to clear me for a shower. Baby wipes and kitchen sink shampoos we're cute for about 24 hours. A girl has needs.

Hope everyone is faring well and has a good day tomorrow. Look forward to everyone's update as always.

High five from T.O.!

p.s. On my phone and too damned hungry to check for typos, so apologies in advance.

Hi all!

Well, don't have much to update, but will fill you in on what I can.

First and foremost what you've ALL been dying to know - I had a poop last night!!!! Off-loaded a few golf balls Saturday night, but they didn't really count. But once that seal was broken, I knew good times were ahead. Sure enough, last night, the real deal! Reminded me exactly of first one post baby #1. I mean, they should give out medals for this stuff. Couldn't have been more excited. Left the dinner table, went into bathroom and a minute later, yelled, " It's a boy!!". My mother-in-law who had brought over dinner - she's SUCH an AMAZING woman on all levels....and she's 82... and DH, both cheered for me, but declined my invitation to a viewing. I'll spare you the posting, but I did take a photo. Yup, I'm THAT pig. :)

In other news:

Took my T3s until bedtime Friday night (Friday was surgery day). Saturday, took extra-strength Tylenol in late afternoon and just before bed. Nothing at all yesterday until bedtime when I took 2 ES Tylenols - just in case. No need for anything today yet.

Forgot to mention in first post-op update; full sensation in left nipple and at least a lot in right. Seems to be more gauze in right cup, so can't tell if the difference in sensation is surgery related or just extra padding. Don't much care either way. One'll do the trick anyway :)

Taking it super easy, but not tired at all. My energy level is absolutely no different than prior to surgery. I am fully cognisant of the downside of this - the temptation to do too much etc. and am being extra vigilant for that reason. Limiting myself to two or three walks around the block/day and that's IT.

I do NOT want to sound the least bit cocky, arrogant, self-satisfied or anything like that; I fully realize I'll hit many challenges and down days etc. over the coming weeks, and I'm fully aware there are some folks who have bad a rougher ride since their surgery on Friday, but for any pre-op gals out there, I want them to know my experience as well. I fully expect to be on here in the not-too-distant future, down in the dumps and reaching out for support - week 3 anybody??? tomorrow?? - but for now, I'm just very happy to not have any complaints at all.

I'm taking Arnica, Bromelain, 2,000 mg of vitamin c every day and confining my diet to lean protein, greens, fruit and 3-4 liters of water/day and two lemon teas. Have no idea if the Arnica, Bromelain and lemon tea are doing any good, but cant hurt, so what the hell. The peeing is a pain in the ass, but I want all the IV crap GONE. I was not prescribed any post-op antibiotics, although PS pumped me full during surgery. Taking 2 Colase every day and a tablespoon of Metamucil and one dose of Miralax. Will continue this until Wednesday and then ease off when what goes in is coming out - regularly.


PS's only instructions were to sleep on back ( no elevation necessary) and, for first 10 days, to walk for at least 5 minutes of every hour that I'm awake. Lastly, not to touch bandages or bra until he sees me Wednesday at 3:15 pm EDT. No problem there buddy!

As I've mentioned to a few of you, I'm very surprised at my ambivalence around my first peek. While OBVIOUSLY curious as hell, I'm also not in a rush to see my re-sectioned tender, white fillets. I'm not squeamish about most things, but I've read about too many people who freak when they get their first view. Makes total sense, too. Right now, I'm just so damned grateful to be in no pain and to see how much LESS freight I'm carrying, I really am in no hurry to witness the reality of blood, guts and stitches. Having said that, however, I realize that when I'm cleared to shower (surely to God Wednesday?!?), I won't have any choice and will need to be monitoring the incisions anyway.

So, that's pretty much it for now. I hope my Friday surgery buddies are coming along nicely and look forward to comparing notes.

Thank you all so much again for your outstanding and deeply appreciated support, humor and intelligence. Without a word of a lie, I would not have made it through this surgery without all of you. I chickened out in 1999 and I would have again; no question. I can't express the depth of my gratitude. Truly.

I'll be back as soon as I have anything to update. Or even if I don't. :)