kareyquilts

Hope you get your date soon!

Went back to the ps today. He removed 3 of the 4 remaining drains, yeah! Unfortunately, I have a little spot on my back that is not healing well, so I was told that I can't sit up for another week! Bother, bother, bother! I also was told that I have to postpone my knee surgery for another month. I was trying to piggyback both recoveries together so that I could get back to exercise sooner. Now, I'm going to have my knee surgery Dec. 10th. UGG! I guess I'm going to learn patience whether I like it or not! Also, my son and his wife with my 1 year old grandson are moving in with us for a while, while my son applies for his medical school residencies and goes to interviews etc. I am so looking forward to their visit and my ps said that I canNOT pick up my grandbaby for 3 more weeks. He's going to think that I don't love him. I am really going to have to think of my blessings and stop thinking about what I can't do! This can get to you mentally if you let it and I feel like I could succumb to depression easily if I don't do something to counteract the negative thoughts. I'm trying to remember to breath and to think about all the good things in my life. I have so many blessings, including being able to have this LAST set of plastic surgery procedures. Well, I've written a book, so I'll quit for now.

Shalee: Sorry you lost your pain pump a little early. It is our friend. I was glad that I woke up with one. Okay it won't help to worry about your incision. You will cope no matter what. Right?! The pain is going to get better every day. That muscle repair is the pits, but that's what is going to help you keep that new flat tummy. By next week you're going to be able to get up and down by yourself, it will be one of the small miracles that is happening for you. I called my tummy tuck, "the painful miracle." I just got back from the docs today, and was told that I have to stay in bed for one more week because of a little spot on my back side and that I have to postpone my knee surgery for a month. So, believe me that I feel your frustraton. We'll just have to get on line together more. I wishing you lots of good healing!

Renewed: Thanks for sharing your before pics. It's such an inspiration. Really gets me teary thinking about the possibilities when people decide to go for it! With the lower body lift, you're recovery is going to be tougher, but your results will be screaming! Congratulations!

Shalee: Welcome to the flatlands! Within the week you will feel much much better, promise! The muscle repair is a killer, but that's what gives you nice flat tummy! May you heal quickly!

Marjorie: Thanks for the support! It has been the "improvement" year. I thought that the lap band year was a big year, but this has made as much difference to my quality of life as losing the weight did. I think that exercise is probably the biggest change, but it is impossible to get rid of the loose skin. I'm feeling better every day, but I'm not going to jump on the plastic surgery band wagon again anytime soon! Starting to think of new goals and directions for my life.. Not sure what I'll do next, but it's time to get more well rounded and serve others in some capacity.

Marjorie: Thanks for the support! It has been the "improvement" year. I thought that the lap band year was a big year, but this has made as much difference to my quality of life as losing the weight did. I think that exercise is probably the biggest change, but it is impossible to get rid of the loose skin. I'm feeling better every day, but I'm not going to jump on the plastic surgery band wagon again anytime soon! Starting to think of new goals and directions for my life.. Not sure what I'll do next, but it's time to get more well rounded and serve others in some capacity.

Thanks for the well wishes! Yes, I have a great hubby, just don't want to take advantage or wear him out. I know he doesn't like to see me suffer. Saw the ps today. I got the drains out of my arms, YEAH! Even though the remaining 4 drains weren't draining alot (except for one) the drainage was very red, so he said no drains out until Monday. Oh well. Ps said everything else looks really good. He said, I still have to stay reclined or lying down and NO bending over for one more week. Oh bother! I guess I'll cope, just wish I could be more independent. Went off all the pain pills, I feel much better without them. No more light headedness and my energy levels are up. I guess I'll survive this process and hopefully look better.

Frangi: Hi! Hope your doing better and the wound healing is going well. My admiration for your ability to handle all of this has increased 100 fold. I don't know how you did this by yourself or how you went shopping, etc. The hardest thing I am dealing with is getting up and down. How did you do it? I still need help? Did you have a special chair, technique?

Today has been a hard day. I'm really not experiencing much pain anymore. I just feel like I'm burning out all the people who love me and are helping me, especially my DH. It's really hard to be patient and wait for people to help you get up, eat, etc. It took my DH 45 minutes to help me shower and get back into the compression garment. It takes a while to unpin the drains get them through the crouch of the compression garment, re-attach them to a string around the neck and then reverse the process after the shower. Except the after process is more difficult because my ps uses foam pads around my thighs, and waist (prevents bruising, but makes the garment VERY tight). He could hardly get me zipped back up! I think tomorrow I will get the drains off my arms and maybe 2 others. I think that I will lose the foam pads too. If I don't have to be dependent on others (so much), I'll feel alot better. Anyway, wish me the best in getting rid of the drains and foam.

Renewed: Just wishing you the best! Please feel free to pm me if you have any questions or need some reassurance!

Yes, I had a pain pump and it helped a lot. It was taken out today, but I'm really not that painful on the stomach area anymore. Shalee, I could only sleep on a regular bed with a wedge pillow and pillows under the legs, etc. I found with my first tt, where the muscle repair occured that a recliner was very difficult to get in and out. With this set of procedures, I have found the recliner to be invaluable. Good luck!

Since not very people have had a thread on arms, I thought, I would post a few pictures. Today is a better day. Not much pain, just extremely tired and dizzy when I get up,(which I am trying to do frequently). The pictures in black are my before pictures. The drains and wraps are after. I'll post more when the drains get out, hopefully on Wednesday!

Glad it went well. Are you happy with the results?

Thanks for the feedback! You know I think you're great!

Karen: Thanks for the pics. You're looking awesome! You are goiong to look freaking fantastic at the 6 month mark! YEAH!

Shalee: Looking back, I see that I didn't answer all your questions. Sitting is hard, my butt is numb and sore at the same time. I can't sit straight up, I have to be reclining or lying down for 10 to 14 days. My butt seems very large and the right side is a lot bigger than the left. It is nice and round and my legs look much better. The anchor revision isn't too much more painful. Doc did a lot of revision of original scar too. I hope that you have a pain pump. It is helpful and I'm glad that I have it. I think that my stomach will look wonderful when all the swelling goes down, etc. My knees which had lipo already look better than they did. The thighs are smooth, but a lot larger than when I went in. I'm sure I'll be told that this is all normal. My arms are gettin alot more mobile and I can find myself now, but it will be a while before I can get dressed by myself. Took the wraps off for my shower today and the wings are gone. The arms look pretty good. I don't think I'll mind the scar too much. Overall, this has been a very hard set of procedures and I'm not sure if the results will have been worth the pain, time out of my life, money, etc. for the results I will have to with hold final judgment, till the final results are more apparent and I'm feeling better. I'm feeling very emotional and tearful, which can be part of the process, especially when you have to go off your hormones. I'm sure that 7 hours of anestesia don't help, either. I will try and post some pictures later today. Shalee and Renewed: I wish you the best with your upcoming surgeries. I think that your are going to be extremely happy with your TT and breast surgeries. It is worth it all for those procedures!

Dr. Schulman: I survived my tt revision (extensive anchor with more skin taken to almost 2 inches back to my hips), brachioplasty, lipo and thigh and butt lift. The surgery was on Wednesday the 15th (it took 7 hours). I had my first look today (shower). I know from previous experience that alot of what I am seeing is swelling, but I still have to ask. LOL! My right butt check is ALOT larger than the other one. Is that normal? It all looks too larger. Also, my thighs are so large that I can't fit into my size 6-8 size pants. Also there is still dimpling on the lower back thigh. Am I stuck with this? I have to say that this has been a very difficult set of procedures. I wasn't prepared for the lack of mobility with my arms. I didn't know that I wouldn't be able to feed myself, etc. I did know that I wouldn't be able sit up straight, but I didn't know how hard that would be. This part isn't a questions, just sharing my experience for anyone that is interested. I guess I'll weigh in on if it was all worth it in 4-6 months.

Manatee: Sounds like your in a funk. Major surgery can cause depression so be aware that might be happening. I agree with everything that has been said thus far. I would add that even though your ps said you don't need to wear the dreaded compression garment, you will feel better if you do. Especially when you know there is going to be a lot of walking. It really will help. Also, start taking vitamin D3. It will help the depression. Good luck!

Shalee: My ps said to stand as straight as possible (for the butt, I believe). However, I didn't have any muscle repair this time and I know that makes a big difference.

What a difference a day makes. I feel so much better today. I can even move my arms a little. Funny how your perspective changes. Yesterday I couldn't hold my own water or feed myself. Today, I can sort of do both. I feel like there will be hope, yesterday I was question my decision big time. I'm falling a sleep as I type this, but I think I'm doing pretty well. This is a very hard procedure. I don't know how Frangi managed this by herself. I'm not supposed to sit up straight, so getting up and down is very challenging. I have 6 drains instead of 3 and I have a pain pump again. I guess the ps did a pretty extensive revision of my tummy tuckl I went back to the docs today and I got to see my arms today and the scar only went about half way down my arm and it looked so so much better. Well if I can answer any questions for anyone bring them on. I am trying to used the laptop in my recliner chair and I'm falling asleep again. I'll check in later.

This is Kareys husband, and she wants me to let you all know that she is doing ok. The surgury took 7 hrs. and she can not type because of her arms. She will check in with you all later. Thanks for the well wishes.

In a few hours, I'll be off to the hospital. I've paid all the bills, written all the lists for my 9 year old's schedule. Called all my children and told them I love them. I've got clean sheets on the bed, meds all organized, etc. I guess I'm ready. Hope all goes well and I'll post in a few days! Just trying to take some deep breaths!

Karen: I'm out 6 months on my TT and I think I look flatter and better even now. If you exercise, you will continue to improve for a long time!

(Good luck! Butt is much easier than tummy. Keep us posted! ) I'm counting on it! Thanks for all the well wishes. I really want to get some pictures. Everything is happening so quickly now. I have my son home visiting from college, my mom came to help and my list of "to-do's" is very long! I'm trying to remember to breath!