BethinPA

I know you weren't asking me, but it do think surgery is tough emotionally. It didn't help that my boyfriend broke up with me 9 days after my surgery, it just compounded my emotions. I think the anesthesia does a number on you, plus the disruption of your normal activities and interactions with people. Exercise is a way that I deal with stress, so I lost that outlet temporarily. I'm just so eager to be back to normal!

I think I pushed myself too hard, and did too much too soon. It's that nurse mentality, that gotta-stay-active-and-keep-moving attitude. I was out walking every day from the get-go, and post op day #7 I was out shopping, driving and visiting. I wished I had dialed it down a bit, I think it set me back, healing wise. I'm really trying with the nutrition, supplements and protein, but I could have done better. I just have to stay the course and take the long view. Tonight I was looking at pictures from last summer/fall - the warm weather will be back before we know it, and I want to be ready for anything when it comes! ????

I was pretty miserable at first, but I can assure you that it does get better! I gave myself 6 months to just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and do the best I can to follow the rules. I don't know how or why, but at 6 months I turned a corner. I don't know if I detoxed enough and got used to this new way of eating, or if I lost enough weight for it to really make a difference in the way I felt…please just stick it out, and things will improve!

I totally agree with you. My surgeon recommended 3 weeks, which I took. I worked three full days out of five in week four, and that was rough. So, I decided to work 5 half days this week (week 5), to ease into things somewhat. My job is semi desk work, semi active. I still have a seroma that was drained again today, and stitches in the back where my incision opened up. If I could do this again, I'd do it differently. But I hope to never have to do this again! When I look at the reviews on realself.com, everyone seems to have a great recovery and are able to spring back with no complications. How can that be?

Thank you for the pillow idea. I worked the past 3 days and the pillow was helpful. To sit on, but also for my head - I got dizzy several times, and just laid down on the floor with my head on the pillow for a bit until my head cleared. I saw my surgeon yesterday - he put stitches back in where my incision had opened up (big time) and drained 450mls of a seroma from my abdomen. I almost fainted twice while was doing it. I just keep telling myself this will all be worth it in the end!

I know I'm far behind you at only 3 weeks, but my mons is really swollen, I would almost describe it as pendulous. I'm really hoping this is temporary.

You make a good point - I spent a boatload of money on this surgery, I should be really careful to be sure I get good results for my investment. I thought I was by making sure I had plenty of Protein, but I think I have to adjust my thinking a bit also.

Amen sister! My brain isn't up to snuff either, and I too was thinking it could be anesthesia related. I do stupid little things like leaving the keys in the lock of the front door all day, and wishing people good morning at 8pm. Scares me a bit. I agree that I must be doing too much too soon. Interesting your comments regarding our skin! Thanks for your support and sharing your experiences- that is so helpful to me!

I can eat a fair amount of salad, and find that to be a good choice in those circumstances.

I don't know if I jinxed myself! Thursday the surgeon removed my stitches, and yesterday I was 3 weeks out from my surgery. Yesterday I went out to lunch with friends and then had a game night at my house afterwards. My incision opened up after lunch just above the gluteal fold, and by the time everyone left last night, I truly thought I was going to explode from the swelling. I don't know how I'm going to be able to work for 8 hours on Monday! How do people work and continue to heal with all his swelling? I'm worried.

I'm so sorry that you had to go through that! I am praying that I don't ever develop any complications. Could the seromas have contributed to the prolonged swelling that you experienced?

I don't know…I think what we see in the mirror and feel in our clothes is more important than what the scale reads. I'm sure you are looking and hopefully feeling great!

What dosage of lasix did your surgeon prescribe?

My surgeon told me to get a cheaper spanx knock-off that was a shorts style and compressed up my entire abdomen to my breasts. He said that would keep the fluid from collecting in my thighs, even though I had no legwork done.

Yeah, my doctor told me I could schedule my breast lift in a few months, but I think I'm going to need more time than that to recover from this surgery. Good luck with the lasix! I hope it gives you some relief!

Thank you for the feedback! I just like to have an idea of what I can expect. I will ask my doctor about the compression time frame at my appt next week. I'm going to have to get a couple of pairs of pants to get me through, but I won't go crazy!

Reading these posts are reassuring to me - I'm almost 2 weeks out from my lower body lift, and the swelling is irritating! I'm wearing a shaper as a compression garment, but I feel like my skin is a sausage casing! I want to unzip and just take a break from it! Please tell me this won't last for too long? Thanks!

My LBL surgery is scheduled for Friday, and I am so anxious about it! 6 hours of anesthesia sounds overwhelming and from what I'm reading, it seems the recovery period is really painful, and does a bit of a number on your mind for a bit. Please tell me this is going to be worth it! Thanks!

A question for those of you who are more experienced …the surgeon removed my 4 drains Monday afternoon and told me I should be able to remove the drain dressings and take a quick shower this evening. But one of the drains is still draining pretty heavily, to the point where I'm not comfortable leaving the house, and I walk around with a cloth held against the hole to catch the drainage as it happens. Has this happened to others?

Thank you so much for this feedback, I hope my experience will be the same over time as yours was. At the doctor's office yesterday I could see a lumpiness over my stomach from the swelling. At the doctor's suggestion I got a couple of pairs of shape wear that covers me from shorts to the bra line. It's annoying to gently get everything situated over the weepy dressings where the drains were removed every time I have to go to the bathroom, but I guess I will get used to it in time.

I took your advice and bought myself a lacy black thong today! I have never worn a thong in my life! Even back when I was thin, I still had a little fat pad above my mons, and now even that is gone. I had a 30% off coupon at Kohls, and also bought a simple Vera Wang dress that hugs my middle. For what feels like the first time in my life, my breasts stick out further than my belly - I was so shocked, I just stared at myself in the mirror wearing that dress! My doctor removed my drains yesterday, and one of the sites is still really weepy, so I couldn't keep shopping, which is probably a good thing. But today was definitely a special memory for me!!

I wanted to get my lower body lift and breast reduction done at the same time, but it required too much time under anesthesia, so I just got the LBL for now. I'm a nurse. My friend, who is also a nurse, got an abdominoplasty and breast reduction at the same time a year ago. She was a month out of work. She said she theoretically could have gone back after 3 weeks, but was glad to have the additional week. She also said the surgery affected her energy level for a lot longer, and she just got sick more often than ever before over this past year. Could be a coincidence though.

Well I am 9 days out from my surgery, and I can't believe what a difference a week makes! My anxiety before the surgery may have been the worst of it. The pain has not been bad overall. I had both of my knees replaced 6 years ago, and every sort of pain pales in comparison to that. The first 2 days after the surgery were the worst, and then I began to feel more myself again. He took 10 pounds off, but I wasn't at goal for this, so I'm looking sort of boxy, but pleased nonetheless. I still have all of my drains in, which is a real drag, because they are leaking from the insertion sites, which is hard to manage. I can't wait for my appt on Tuesday - I think I will feel really different with the drains out! I want to go shopping and buy just a little celebratory something to see what fits me! It's early days, but I definitely think the surgery is worth it! Thank you all so much for your supportive posts - they really did help!!

Thanks so much! I'm to be at the hospital at 5:45am tomorrow morning, so I just have to wait a little longer to get on the other side of this!

Thank you all for your words of encouragement! I will keep my eyes on the prize, and I took my "before" pictures today. I can't wait until this is over! I so appreciate the support! And CowgirlJane, you are more creative than I! It is Beth. : )