Need encouragement!

[tztmama 0]

Okay brave people, my extended tt date is set for 7/19. I am very nervous and am wimping out here! Oh, I'll do it, but I hate to go in to this feeling so anxious. Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. Stats regarding complications would help if they are good.

Thanks!

[Bawilliams1 1]

You are going to be just fine! I had a lower body lift aka belt lipectomy and a breast lift with implants on 5/1. I couldn't believe it, but I didn't have much pain at all! The biggest thing I felt was just such an overwhelming tightness when I would stand up. The worst time was first thing in the morning when I would get out of bed. I was able to take care of myself. I was in Mexico in a hotel room for a week and I was just fine. I only took my pain meds at night to help me sleep well. The only advice I have is to follow the doctor's orders and don't over do anything. Rest as much as you can, but get up and move regularly. I got up and went down to the hotel lobby and walked to a pharmacy that was in the hotel. By the time I got back to my room I was tired, but I think it helped me to move around. At times you may feel a little down in the dumps, but in a few weeks you will be amazed at how much you have healed. I am almost 4 weeks post op and I have a ways to go before I will be back to normal, but I feel pretty good and I can do just about anything. I just have to move a little slower and remember that I just had surgery! Good luck and I will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

[Spydr 0]

It is a major surgery so don't be a hero. Let people take care of you. Yes, at first you may think, "Why the hell did I do this to myself?" That feel ing will pass as soon as you see how much extra space you have in your pants!

I want to make sure you have all the information. I too felt really good at first and was surpriosed that the pain was not so bad. A few weeks post op the tummy pain started to get bad. That is because the nerve ending the doctor cut during surgery are healing and coming back to life. There is a strange numb feeling and every now and again there will be sharp, stinging pains. It is normal and it goes away. i just want you to know it will happen. Wish someone would have warned me so I didn't freak out.

Listen to your doc. If something feels weird or not quite right, CALL YOUR DOCTOR!!! You paid them good money and deserve their attention. It does not matter if it's 3a. Your health and peace of mind are the most important things. Just ask my doctor. I woke him up 5 times in the first week with what I thought were "silly questions". He didn't mind and I felt better.

This is so exciting! Everybody is getting skinny!!!!!!!!!

[tztmama 0]

Thank you so much, ladies! I am sorta stessing this. I will have 4 weeks to heal before I return to my teaching job.

I'm getting excited about it though. Do you think I'll be able to wear my same clothes by the time 4 weeks are up? I have this vision that I'm going to be in too much pain to shop and also be swollen up so bad my pants won't button. Sounds like that isn't going to happen but thought I'd ask.

Thanks again, youv'e both helped immensely!

[Spydr 0]

Don't even think about pants that button. It is all about the stretchy pants. I lived in warm ups and pants with elastic bands. I was not in jeans for 6 weeks. Why? It was too painful. Remember, comfort is the key. Worry about fashion later.

[tztmama 0]

Wow! all i have is zip/button up. right now i'm a comfy size 10, snug 8. were you a size smaller at 6 weeks?

[Pacomomma 0]

HI Tztmama I just had surgery on 5/21 went home later that evening . on percocet and antibiotics. had my drains removed on 5/25 but I will not lie the first morning was awful. I stayed in bed and just got up to go to the bathroom. But on Fridy I went to the doc and then went to Walmart and rode around in the motorized cart. please take this advice. For the first few days take the pain med as directed. I was to take 1-2 every 6 hours .I took 1 every 6 hours and it was a big help. When I did get dressed on Friday I put on a pair of yoga capri pants and they were very large on me . I just tried on my uniform pants and they are roomer than normal but then again I am still swollen. My PS told me to take it slow and he said that I should be seeing improvement in the way my clothes fit soon. As for school go out and get MED stretch cotton pants. You do not want anything tight or binding due to the nerves as Spider said. Just remember that this is a MAJOR surgery and it take time to heal. IF I can help you at all please feel free to contact me.

best of luck.

[tztmama 0]

Thank you so much, you all have helped so much. I will go out next month and get those stretchy pants, for sure. My surgery is July 19. Countdown!

[tztmama 0]

Pacomomma, I just realized you reallydid just have your surgery! I thought about the date after I posted a response. You are already up and around???? This makes me feel sooo much more at ease. I'm visioning myself lying in bed for weeks unable to even lie flat. How did you sleep? Did you have to sleep sitting up? Any helpful hints regarding how to prepare? I live alone so I need to get everything set up before I go in. Thanks ladies!

[Pacomomma 0]

oh sweetie, You are going to need some help for the first few days even if a friend comes over seeral times a day to help. I am sleeping on a incline .You know those backrest pillows for you bed,The kind with arms ? Thats what I am sleeping up on along with 3 pillows on the one side and a rolled up pillow under my knees.Please take an old pillow and wrap in up in a roll then place in a pillow case. works wonders at relieving stress on your incision and also helps you from falling down in the bed when you are sleeping.I also have a large bedside table so everything can go there and I placed a plastic storage bin by the side on my bed to use as a step to help getting in and out of bed with,(This I learned at the hospitalafter surgery)Also my PS told me that whenever I am sitting down to try to keep my legs bent,to keep tension off the incision. Today,5/27 I want to go out and do something but I am under orders from my children not to do anything. I am getting very bored here today I plan to sit in my chair for as long as I can. The bed is starting to get annoying.

I starting to get prepped 4 days prior to surgery.

[tztmama 0]

Thank you so much for the tips. Okay, so far on my list is....stretchy pants, back rest pillow, sounds like a "lunbar" pillow (tube shaped), and set up card table beside bed to hold supplies (pills, magazines, remote, etc.) I cared for my totally disabled mom for 6 years before she died in Feb. 06. She had an electric wheelchair and I am seriously thinking about charging that thing up and having it near my bed just to get to the bathroom and back. I think my ex hubby may stay with me for a couple of days, or at least come and check on me. I'm having surgery on a thurday. My daughter will stay with me that weekend if I need her to. She is 27.

Thank you so much for all the help and I hope you don't mind if I pop up with questions or concerns for awhile. i will return the favor by sharing my experience with others.

[Pacomomma 0]

its not a lumbar pillow its a back rest for the bed. As for everything else you look like your set. The wheelchair thing is a bit excessive. I have heard that one person had a walker and I think that it would have helped out alot. But I did ok without it. Just wanted everyone to know that I made dinner tonight and even did the dishes. And no pain meds x3 days

[JulieNYC 4]

I had an extended TT and BL 8 weeks ago and I promise, you're going to be fine -- it's not going to be as bad as you think. You definitely won't need a wheelchair. I really encourage you to have your daughter spend that first weekend with you though. For the first 48 hours, you really might need some help getting to the bathroom, even if it's just someone walking with you to make sure you don't fall. Having someone to prepare your meals/change the DVD/get you the box of kleenex you can't reach, etc. is really useful for about 3 days. After that, you can do it on your own with minimal discomfort.

You might have that "what have I done to myself" moment within the first 48 hours -- it passes. When the bandages come off (for me this was at 2 weeks), you'll be so, so glad you did this.

A month is PLENTY of time to be off work. I suspect you'll be down a pant size by 1 month, or at least in your current pants. At 1 month, I really don't think you'll be so swollen that you need bigger pants. For me, once the main bandages were off and I was in a girdle rather than a binder, the clothing options really opened up (zippers and buttons became OK again). I'm with the rest though -- elastic waist is your friend for the first few weeks.

You're going to do great!

[tztmama 0]

Ok I am feeling better about this. The pillow is the backrest with arms type, I can get that at Walmart. Pacomomma, wow! already cookin' and cleanin'! You all have really helped to ease my mind. I am grateful, really. Thanks for being there and I am in awe of what you all have accomplished!

[Bawilliams1 1]

It sounds like you have everything covered. I agree, no wheelchair! You will do just fine! I was alone in a hotel room in Mexico for my first week of recovery and I was slow moving, but it was not bad at all. Besides the overwhelming feeling of "tightness" of my skin, the only pain I really felt was a burning sensation along my left side on the incision because I moved a little to fast or stretched a little too far. It lasted just a second and went away. I really wasn't taking my pain meds much at all except at night to help me sleep well. I was amazed at how easy my recovery was going! I know everyone is different, but I just want you to know that you can do it! I wore the stretchy yoga type capri pants too. I went back to work two weeks after the surgery and on Fridays we can wear jeans. Before surgery I was wearing some size 6's and a lot of 8"s. My size 6 jeans are much looser through the tummy and rear end and my 8's are huge. I am 4 weeks post-op today. I am pretty sure that some of my skirts that are 6's are going to be too big.