I have my date :)

[farmgirl04 231]

Hi All, I got my surgery date, Monday December 2! Knowing everyone is different I'm wondering how long people here have taken off from work. I will talk to my doc when i have my pre-surgery visit but wonder what real experiences say. I am a para-educator in a high school with no lifting, but some walking. I am able to take it easy if need be. I'm hoping to take off 2 weeks, then work two weeks and then have Christmas vacation. My thinking is even if things are much worse than I think I'll still have Xmas added on. What do you all think? Ann

[mrsto 2,925]

I think that two weeks is a reasonable amount of time. Everyone heals differently after surgery. Some spring back in a few days like nothing ever happened. And some (like me) took longer. I think you'll feel more relaxed with the whole thing, if you have those two weeks lined up & don't feel rushed to have your energy back.

Good luck - very exciting!

[2muchfun 8,927]

One week should be more than enough so two is just icing on the cake. Be careful though, I had mine on 11/28/11 and the Holidays are extremely difficult to maneuver around all those tasty foods. Work is always good to get away from food?

[ChicagoRose 650]

I'm an elementary teacher and I took two weeks. My surgeon said average was one week but basically how much I wanted he would sign me off for and I had the sick days to take two weeks. I'm glad I did. I would have been physically able to work after about 7 days but between being on liquids and all the gas and bloating I suffered with (no pain though) I'm glad I was able to walk around my house instead of walking around the halls of a school.

I say if you have the days two weeks will be perfect =)

[LEXUS86985 21]

I'm only at 8 days post op.... The thought of having to work.... Right now I couldn't. I had a pretty significant amount removed... 14lbs. My incision goes from hip to hip!!! I can't even change the dressings myself.

The first two days are horrible!!!! Take the pain meds round the clock!!! I chose to go on liquids to cleanse my system before the surgery. I stayed on liquids after ... To be honest I didn't want to deal with pooping. Lol I'm take less pain meds but still need them!!!

If you can afford two compression garments go ahead and get an extra!! It takes a while for the garment to air dry and you need to stay in it!!

Get lots of pillows... For your back and under your legs!! A cup with a tight lid and straw is perfect for drinking in that position. Ginger ale and crackers for the ride home!!

I have a wicked red rash basically everywhere from the garment.... Benedryl cream helps a bit!!!

Good luck!!! Just be prepared!!

[farmgirl04 231]

Yikes! They told me I'm getting the compression garment at the hospital so I'll wait and see if I can order another one. I'm worried about the 'poop' issue as well, I'm thinking of starting colace before hand. I'll call the office and check with them. My doc says milk of magnesia, so I'll do that as well. A lot is going on here as well. My 86 year old mom broke her leg Tuesday and it turns out it was due to cancer. Still waiting for the biopsy report, it will probably come right before my surgery. I've decided to plow on ahead with the surgery not knowing what the future holds. It has changed it in my head a little though, from a grand milestone to something to just get through as fast as possible.

[LEXUS86985 21]

Awwww I'm sorry about your mom!!! My mom had the same situation a little over four years ago. Pain in the knee that turned out to be lung cancer that metastasized to her femur. Luckily it was caught in enough time to put a rod in her leg to keep her walking. That surgery actually isn't that bad!! Maybe a week between the hospital and rehab and she was home. Obviously she had stage IV cancer and she passed away 6 months later but for the moment I think you should go ahead with your surgery and later on you can be there for her!!

Believe it or not it's more comfortable to stay in the garment. My doc told me not to take it off for 72 hours. I kept it on for 6 days until I saw him for follow up. At that point he said I could shower so when I got home I took it off and showered. It was washed but took a day to dry. I had another garment I bought at kohls but it sucked!!! I guess once the bandages are done and stitches heal I can get something different. I have a Veronique garment style #853..... It unzips down both sides. It's a size 4x so it cost $150. When they measured me before the surgery I was a 5x but since I was having actually tissue removed the dr wanted the smaller garment. Fits perfectly!!!

Do you have everything prepared for after??

[farmgirl04 231]

Well...... Not so much! I have the special soap from my lapband surgery so that is there. I have all they hay and grain for my animals so people can take care of them for me, I have Protein Shake on hand, the hospital will provide the garment. I have a ride to and from, need one for the visit to the doc on day 4, need Benadryl cream (!), iPad will be ready. Hopefully my husband and adult kids will step up.glad I had the blood work done already, and my primary moved my physical to this Monday since I've been out of town with my mom. Hope that covers it!

[LEXUS86985 21]

What about the bandages??? We kind of were last minute with that because my friend works for a dr and was supposed to get them for me. She did but it wasn't until a few days later. I had to change the bandages twice a day. Drains have to be emptied. Do you have someone to do that??

[farmgirl04 231]

Don't have bandages. I never had them with my 3 c sections, doc never mentioned them. Can't I drain my own drains?

[farmgirl04 231]

My doc is low key about this. Wants me out of the hospital that afternoon even though insurance covers the night. He doesn't like the.increased exposer to infection. Other than not lifting more than 10 pounds the first 6 weeks he wants me pushing and up and going

.

[slomeli84 17]

Hey, well I had my surgery on 11/22/13. I picked that day because I was going on thanksgiving break. Yea it was a tough decision especially during thanksgiving. But I managed to get through that day and had a lot of self control. But I thought I had plenty of time off work to heal enough to get back. But my doctor put me back with restrictions, light duty and don't lift over 20 pounds. Well my job don't do restrictions and have to able to lift up to 40. So now with that I'm out of work till next year 1/6/14. I don't know what your job requirements are but I'm hoping they let you back with restrictions cause if not you'll probably be out longer then just a week.

[LEXUS86985 21]

Yea I'm a little over three weeks post op and there are days I am absolutely miserable!!! I still have the drains and to be honest.... Taking a shower is exhausting!!!! I am not working right now which is why I did this!!!! I cannot imagine having to get up get dressed and go to work!! Not to mention I have not been cleared to drive!!! I may have had more work done than a standard Tummy Tuck. I have incisions from hip to hip... He tightened the underlying abdominal muscles and had to go lower to smooth out the fat pad over the pubic bone. He said I won't really feel better for a few more weeks!!! He always said 6 weeks but I handle pain well and heal quickly so it's been a rude awakening that I haven't bounced back!!!

[farmgirl04 231]

I guess I have been extremely lucky, that or reality still hasn't hit yet. I had a full tuck, hip to hip and with muscles tightened. I had it done Monday. I see the doc on Wednesday. He had wanted to see me last Thursday but as many of you know I just lost my mom and that was the day we buried her. I'm up and putting around the house. Trying not to do too much. I'm down to oxi at night only, but still sleeping a fair amount during the day. I think I could physically go back to work at one week, but I know my brain is absolutely useless!