Hi Julia,
You Do put a smile on my face it was not so long ago when I was in your shoes - Spent hours mulling over pictures of success stories and doing research on a surgeons. I am happy to help. xxx
Okay! lets go to - Firstly you asked was I in pain? - I have had 2 c sections and it was better than that , I have to admit I am the worst for pain I hate, hate being in pain and am one big baby - If there is a lowest threshold in the world put me there. I did not find my c sections painful due to mentioning to them about this worry of mine and therefore was well looked after--- I do Laugh at myself sometimes as I have man flu --- Quite shameful - Moving swiftly on:~:
The operation. I have to say again I did mention that my pain threshold was low so regardless of what I felt when the four hours came about I asked and got the pain relief < which was given by drip> .. I remember the pain relief theory for kids keep topped up then if you don't you wont have to catch up ... This Hospital in belgium where you would be going is soooo clean and when you ring the bell for any concerns they are happy to help I have never ever come across anything like it .... You will truely be amazed the place and you have a lovely bathroom - I tell you I will put some pics of my room on my site so you can see .... You are also in with others having the op the same day so you don't feel isolated and you know and see everyone going through the same thing. I was lucky and was put in with two friends that had tummy tucks with Dr De Bruyne and they were fab when they walked out and had the op on the same day as me... It was truly fab....Here I come in two years... and will have a boob op too I think. Hell give me it Alllllll - LOL...
So to conclude just ask every four ours for your pain relief and keep topped up. You can't go wrong there. Also I did need the lav in the night and got help and the next day I was walking the corridors to get rid of the wind... it does feel uncomfortable but nothing major, and can easily be releived.
About traveling - Welll now that is a tricky one - if you are coming by air definately stay an extra 2 days because of the health risks - thrombosis.
If you are coming by car I would advise a pillow < for the bumps - to put under your seatbelt < someone advised this when I was asking around must say it was good advice too, I had no pain at all> I would treat myself for an extra day if I was you. But is is not neccessary. Just get the pillow.
If by train well I guess it is the same advice as the car. Personally I DID have an extra 3 days, my family enjoyed Belguim for the first day of my recovery and on the second day I went out for the morning then on the day went out for 6 hours and had a good time. So I guess this one will be up to you no hard fast rules here .
Wow when you have had the op I am telling you the protien drinks you have you only can manage 3 mouthfulls it is FAB you will lose about 7 lbs for the recovery period. Sadly this is the honeymoon period you really do have to wait to get restriction for major weight loss, I am half way there>. Therefore I suggest you get to grips with a good diet now - less the bread, Pasta, rice - none of these I can eat. The diet you choose now will be good . Don't wait like I did to just work with the band because until you get ristriciton you are pretty much in the same boat you were before you started. You will need a couple of fills to start wow losing - But Girlie IT IS WORTH IT... Cause the pounds you lose you lose forever -< well until the band is out of course - I am having another one> lol. As for feeling it yes you can but it does wear off and becomes unnoticable. The fills are not painful either by the way my last fill I did not notice at all.
The aftercare that the doctor offers is that he is on call 24 hours a day so if you are really scared or something has gone wrong you can just call him. < I think this is FAB!!! - even now should, I need him he is there. I don't know of other surgeons that offer this service.> . Nutrion wise he gives you advice on what you should not eat and what the band does not take - bananas, bread, pasta, rice ect......... But he is respectfull and pretty much lets you decide on your own diet afterwards - AND don't forget your Vitamins... you can have tablets until ristriction, then you have to have liquid vitamins I will be listing those on my site with time so when you get there check my site out. lol ... I have not got there yet but have tried one liquid Vitamin which you can get from a health store - I am Rubbish with names and date really . It is a surprise I remember when I was born lol..
Well that pretty much covers it all if you think of something else you are not a pain just let me know
Have a good week too -BBFN < Hug> x
Tanya
As for the aftercare one more thing I can tell you is that when you go for your fills - Say now you were overfilled and you need an emergancy fill there is a Saturday open surgery that Dr De Bruyne has got with another Dr so you don't have to worry about that.