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How are you feeling today @rs?

Opposites!

Other than the tailbone pain you mentioned in an earlier post do you have any pain/discomfort from sitting or leaning back?

Ah, but I did! I didn't post them cuz I was too tired, LOL. Here they are. They aren't much better. I ate/drank 1/2 the apple juice in #2 , 1/2 the chicken breast in #3 and 1/2 the omelette and the whole yogurt in #4. And I had the coffee or tea in all of them.

Love sweater! P.S. Your belt is too long!

Get comfortable, this is a long one... So here is the additional backstory info to my PS journey: So I ended up getting a last-minute tummy tuck two days ago (Dec 18), along with my arm and breast lift. Back in June 2019, when I initially scheduled my procedures, I was going to get an arm lift, a breast lift (to address side boob skin), and a tummy tuck. The tummy tuck was actually partially covered by provincial insurance. Basically the panniculectomy part was covered and I we only need to pay out of pocket for muscle tightening or any required lipo. But sometime around August or September, I decided to forego the tummy tuck because I thought that I could live with the state my stomach was in, and I didn't want to have more surgery if I didn't really need to. So I called my surgeons office and let them know. Fast forward four months later and I'm at the registration desk at the hospital on surgery day. I'm signing all the papers, and one of them is a confirmation surgery procedure form and lo and behold the tummy tuck is still on there. Apparently, the fact that the tummy tuck was removed was not properly communicated to the hospital. (As an aside, this is a perfect example of why confirmation of surgeries is necessary at registration!!) I had a discussion with my surgeon: he said the OR is already booked and set up for all three procedures including the tummy tuck. So if I wanted to, we could go ahead as originally planned back in June, or not. Whatever I decided was fine with him. If I didn't want the tummy tuck, there would be some paperwork to do beforehand, but it was doable since the OR was booked for all 3 procedures, and there was time to do the paperwork/system corrections and still complete the arm and breast lifts in that time. So now I had a discussion with Mr.: It wouldn't really cost much more, and they were all set up for it already anyway, so why not? It's funny because the decision making process felt like when you're in a grocery store line and decide to buy that pack of gum at the checkout. It's been almost 48 hours since the completion of my surgeries...here's what's happened so far: Day 0: Got to hospital at 7am and all the above happened. I got on the operating table at 9:30am, and don't know what time I woke up at recovery. The surgery was supposed to be 4 hours. All I remember was that it was 4pm when I got rolled into my room. That first night after the surgeries was relatively pain-free as I was drugged up and in bed the entire time. I slept a lot but not for very long periods of time. They put these leg type massagers on my legs that work kind of like a blood pressure cuff. Each one inflates a chamber with air starting from ankle to thigh, to squeeze my leg nicely and then deflates. Then the other one on the other leg does the same thing. Its to promote circulation and prevent blood clots. I've had them on the entire time (except when going to bathroom or taking a short walk) and I LOVE THEM. I want to buy one of these contraptions for home! The nurse said that I am the first patient she's met that likes these things. Which I find hard to believe because these things are awesome. Didn't eat anything all day, other than water, a cup of tea and 1/2 an unsweetened apple juice box. Day 1: Now the next day I felt the pain for the first time when my drugs wore off and I had to get out of bed to go to the washroom (they took my catheter out). Oh. My. God. When I twisted my body and put my foot on the ground, I felt like I was being stabbed in my hip with a large knife. It was so painful that when I walked I couldn't put my heel down. I had to do I sort of walk–tiptoe shuffle to the toilet. So first lesson: do not twist your body. Because of the tummy tuck, I have to walk hunched over and this quickly puts a strain on your back. So second lesson: walk with the help of your IV pole/cane/walker/buddy. I have 2 drains in my tummy, which are mildly annoying. I forgot about them once when I got out of bed and pulled on one a bit which caused some bleeding. Boo. I was surprised that I could move my arms relatively freely and pain free. I could even put weight on my arms to lift myself out of bed, type on my laptop, feed myself, and go to the washroom by myself. I may not have been very efficient, but I could do it. Also, I could brush my teeth but not my hair. Nor could i adjust my head pillows. Basically anything where I have to raise my arms above shoulder height is a no-go. My boobs didn't/don't hurt at all. As if nothing was even done there. I got to see all the work done when the nurse changed my dressings. My arms are tiny. My boobs are nice and perky with matching nipples (my previous breast reduction had one of the nipples wrinkle/fold over at the outer edge and my guy fixed it). My tummy is wrinkle free and my new belly button looks better than the old one. My inner thighs from the front has been smoothed out! This was an unexpected bonus My va-jay-jay, however, is quite "perky". When I look down sitting in bed it stares right up at me. My nurse said she noticed it was swollen. She said it is a combination of being yanked up and the use of the stomach binder. Didn't show it to surgeon this first day, but will remember to bring i up when I see him before I leave. Today I had a cup of coffee, 1/2 a chicken breast and some beef jerky. Day 2: Now today I feel exponentially better. I got an a good seven hours of continuous sleep. When I woke up I could feel that my pain meds had worn off but I was able to get out of bed and walk to the washroom just fine. I can tell I'm walking much faster now and am much less hunched over. I could probably skip the pain meds from now on but I think based on @sillykitty's comments, i'll take them for another day or so. Mr. has already filled my prescriptions, so I may as well take them. I'll play it by ear. I find that the only real pain I get is from twisting my torso. I can easily do a sit up or leg lift motion pain free, but if I twist in any way, I get a sharp pain. Everything else is bearable. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd say my pain level is about 1.5. Compare this to the pain of WLS recovery, which I would have given an 8 at its worst. They took the IV out this morning because my swollen hands were basically embedding that entry thing into my flesh and it was starting to hurt. They tried to put a new one in twice but couldn't find a vein because I'm too swollen. They asked if I was OK with them trying a third time, and I was all, No Thanks. IV insertion hurts, man! So they are off finding an alternate antibiotic to administer without an IV. I'm supposed to be discharged sometime today but honestly I'd rather stay because I love these leg massager things. Plus I like the adjustable hospital bed! Anyway just hanging around now waiting for my surgeon and next instructions. P.S. I ate 1/2 an omelette & a peach yogurt cup so far today.

I asked if i had a continuous line from elbow to boob area. she said yes. I still haven't seen it at the time of this writing, and surgeon hasn't come in to see me yet this morning. I'm getting kinda impatient to find out!

I was allowed the same - shower, drains, garment off. I've just been too chicken to do so. Scared of the pain of putting this dang garment back on. i got the same instructions as fluffy...no showering until after drains out (this Monday) and compression stuff stays on unless showering for 4-6 weeks, longer if i can stand it.

well, my surgeon said he wasnt going to do one continuous incision, but earlier i asked the nurse if it was one line and she said yes?. i cant see it myself, so i need to get confirmation. ill find out for sure tomorrow

1 was around 500 at 3 months, 700-800 cals at 6-7 months. Reached goal at 7 months (110 lbs lost since start of 2-week pre op diet)

im here for 2 nights...heading home tomorrow afternoon. am glad to be here as i've got round clock care and help. i asked my surgeon if i could stay till xmas. he laughed. i wasnt joking. im pretty drugged up so minimal to no pain. so i was going to write a post about this to explain, but i cant seem to stay awake long enough to finish, so i'll just give a heads up now...i ended up adding a tummy tuck last minute yesterday...so that means i had a tt, an arm lift & a breast reduction revision aka breast lift yesterday. so when the drugs wear off, im in a good bit of pain from the TT, very minor pain on my left elbow from the arm lift, and no pain at all from breast lift. i'll tell the story of the surprise tummy tuck in anothr post. yeah i looked when nurse changed my dressing...not gory at all, and looked like a nice thin straigt-ish line, i think. and ya no drains in my arms, but i have 2 in my tummy incision...and they are annoying. k tired of typing again. time for a break

really? i showed my swelling to mine and he said its expected! (though i did ask nurse to loosen after she redid the dressing too tight for my taste. my hand is still pretty big). worth mentioning that i dont have drains in my arms. @mousecat88, i know u had arm drains... @rs, do you have arm drains? Edit: just read ur post re drains @rs, answered my question!

not one like yours...they just wrapped those ace bandages on me. TIGHTLY. im actually going to ask them to loosen my left one..i think its too tight...my hand is HUGE! ...are you home yet? or still in hospital?

You guys are funny. Those are curtains of skin draping from my arm in those before pics! Everything below the arm bulge is skin. You don't want that. But am glad to say all the skin is gone now! My arms are tiny. Like almost freakishly tiny. My forearms (and hands) are swollen, so right now my upper arms are smaller than my forearms. I look like I have Popeye arms! Am typing up a blog entry about my experience so far, but its taking me forever cuz I get sleepy very quickly and I get tired from typing. Im sleepy this very moment..post over. chat later.

ouch! maybe get back on pain meds when taking garment on and off? Are you allowed to shower with the drain tubes still in? Hope you are feeling better today!

All done and drugged up. Cant stay awake for longer than 15 minutes mins. Cant stay asleep for longer than 10 mins. Weird. Surprisingly feeling well-rested despite the weird sleep cycle thing. ZERO pain (thanks drugs). So much to say, but too tired to post it. Maybe later ❤️

All packed: button front top, joggers, zippered hoodie, underwear, sports bra, socks, crocs, toiletries, lip balm, gum, biotene throat spray, laptop, chargers, headphones, electrical power bar, hugging pillow, protein powder, beef jerky. Tomorrow’s clothes laid out to wear. Alarm set for 5:30 am. Surprisingly calm. Will try to check back in here whenever I get the chance

@DaisyChainOz ! @Arabesque ! (pardon me if I already told you this, but I can't remember if I did...) I consider myself an former honourary Brisbane resident myself! Almost 10 years ago, we lived there for a little over a year. Kangaroo Point for a couple months, then New Farm for the rest. Mr. has been saying we will go back again at some point, but we haven't found the time yet. Soon, I hope ❤️

...omg you are gonna have soooooo much fun when you do!

I think someone needs to put on a more fitted outfit to show off all her hard work.... (Congrats!!)

LOL, this is a combination of a couple recipes... INGREDIENTS 1 stick of butter 1/2 cup preferred sweetener (I used a granulated monk fruit erythinol blend. I found it too sweet for my taste the first time around, so I will likely cut this to 1/4 cup the next time). 2 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups almond flour Pinch of salt * Optional: Extra sweetener to dust on top of cookies * Optional: 3/4 cup chopped up candied ginger * I also will likely add some molasses type sweetener next time as well. DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Blend together butter, sugar, spices, vanilla, and salt. Add in the almond flour and optional candied ginger until the dough forms together. Roll the dough into 1’ balls. Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes. Take a fork and squash them all down and put back in the oven for another 3-4 minutes. While warm, dust optional sweetener on top of cookies. Allow to cool before eating...if you pick it up before it cools, it will crumble and fall apart.

K, just got a chance to take some before pics of my arms (see below). And here are some background details: 5'2" female, 14 months post op, weight stable +/- 5 lbs for about 7 months. Today's weight 115.7 lbs, 21.2 BMI, 13.7% body fat Procedures, as listed on procedure form: BRACHIOPLASTY (aka Arm Lift) + BILATERAL BREAST REDUCTION REVISION (aka Breast Lift). I am getting the Breast Reduction Revision mostly for the fact that it addresses my excess side boob skin. The actual boob lift aspect of it is just an added bonus. In June 2019, when I booked the procedures, the cost of these two is/was $10,000 CAD (plus 13% taxes), and it includes all costs associated with the procedures, including 2 overnights in a private room.

SACRILEGE.

They are/were soooooo good. I love all ginger cookies: gingerbread, snaps, regular, etc. And yeah, 38 (or 52) cals per cookie. Sweetness aside (which I will address the next time I make them), these are probably my faves, crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. I made 40 in total, and there are 10 left in the pantry as of this morning. Though the Kid packed 15 of them to bring to school to share with friends.

Welcome to the dark side.