What could you not have lived without?

[ramsmommy 20]

So I am scheduled for a panniculectomy and breast reduction in 2 weeks from tomorrow and I am super nervous. So my question for everyone that has been where I am...what do you wish you had known before hand? What could you not have made it through without at the hospital or after you went home? I need to know all the ins and out for what I am going to be going through....i have researched the hell out of everything I possibly can about these surgeries but now I need to know the extras....and go....

[TheRealMeIsHere! 863]

A comfy place to sleep sitting up for 1-2 weeks. I sat up on the couch and kind of leaned to the side on a pillow. Sounds awful, but was actually very comfy!

A long strip of gauze or cloth. Make a loop, put it over your neck to pin the drains to, while you shower.

Other than that, recovery was so much easier than I expected. I expected to be incapacitated, instead, I was doing all of my normal stuff from day one, just slower and walking like Quasimodo, lol! And, of course, no lifting.

[trekker954 421]

I'm going to follow this, as these are the two exact surgeries, I'm expecting to do in about a year out. Please continue to post how it goes @@ramsmommy

Is insurance covering any of this for you?

[Djmohr 6,965]

I have not had my TT and Breast lift done yet but I did have my Brachioplasty 8 weeks ago so take this for what it is worth.

Ice packs! Ice packs and more ice packs. LOL.

I think the biggest thing I learned was how badly your body reacts to plastics. With swelling you get burning pain. Your lymphatic system is definitely effected and even though I had my arms done, my feet, hands and even stomach was swelling. The major swelling went down after about 5 days but even now my arms swell every day.

In talking with my surgeon who was phenomenal she told me I can expect my tummy to swell as well.

But let me tell you, it is all worth it and I cannot wait for my TT and Breast Lift. The difference for me was unbelievable. I am including some pics.

Before

After

I should also say that my after pic is only 3 weeks post op and still shows swelling but you see what a crazy great result I got. For the first 3 weeks I had my arms buried in ice packs. LOL.

[TheRealMeIsHere! 863]

Oh yes!! I swelled A LOT as well. Had minimal pain, more of just discomfort and getting used to tight tummy muscles. Did have to wear larger clothes for a while. Stretchy pants, at first, then as I healed, i could do real pants, but larger than my normal size. I'm a size 00-0 and had to borrow my sis' size 4's, made her feel like they were fat pants, lol

[ramsmommy 20]

Trecker954 yes my insurance is covering them and I have a secondary that is covering my copay.

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[Valentina 2,642]

I wish I had known that my Fibromyalgia would make my "nerve pain" increase ten fold.

WLS recovery pain was NOTHING compared to the nerve pain I had for the first two weeks.

I've had a total knee replacement and even that pain did not come close.

I just wish I had known, so I could have mentally prepared myself.

[DaisyAmy 561]

Nice. Wishing you all the best! Hoping you'll share pics as I'm thinking my insurance will cover those exact procedures as well!!

[ramsmommy 20]

Nice. Wishing you all the best! Hoping you'll share pics as I'm thinking my insurance will cover those exact procedures as well!!

I will definitely post updates...here are some current photos. My specs are I am 5' 4'' and 196 lbs. I was 350 lbs as of feb 2015 and had the vsg on June 10th of last year. I really needed to get this extra skin off...I can't exercise any better than I already do with all this extra skin on my belly and boobs...can't believe I am putting myself out there like this posting the skin photo. But heck who cares it's all going away in 13 days any way. I am so terrified but exited at the same time. Now I am just worried about what I need to pack since I won't be admitted to the hospital but I live 4 hrs from the hospital and so have to stay a few days in a hotel nearby.

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[Scamp 207]

Funnily enough - It was no actual THING I could live without as - Luckily for me - I had very little pain - But...

As you said - Researching the hell out of everything - I put the fear of God in myself - That I was gonna die - I re-did my will - Made sure everything was ready for my demise etc...

But - One person on here - She gave me the thing I needed to get me through it all - FOCUS.

She said to me these words ''Keep your eyes on the prize''

I told all my family members to repeat these words to me whenever I was having a 'wobbly moment' I had quite a few wobbly moments pre-surgery - Worrying about the what 'might' happen and freaking myself out - And they did... It really helped me through.

The things I did not know at surgery1 that I did by surgery 3 - Was = Keep that paper tape on the incisions for 12 weeks - No matter what that Dr says! - The paper tape (Micropore tape) supports the incisions as they heal and stops them stretching so much - My No1 scar is so much different to the no 3/4/5 scars as they are finer and look much better and are not stretched out - Bar one... On one leg (For testing reasons unknown on myself) On my left leg I used the drug stores paper tape on my right leg I used Micropore tape paper tape. - And now - 5yrs on - My left leg scar is still alot different to look at than the nice fine scar of right leg... (That was of inner thigh lift) - So I would say to anyone at the start of the journey of PS - Use the paper tape - Keep wearing your compression garments to support that tape - Even if it takes 12 weeks - After all - You can only do this once, and what's a few weeks in compression garments extra to a lifetime of a great result? :-)

Everyones pain is different - And the only pain I had was when I had the inner thigh lift - The first time I stood up - It was a shocker as in Op1 and 2 I had had very little discomfort - But - The moment I was in my compression garments all that pain left (Design Veronique are fantastic garments - They are not the cheapest - But - I felt like they were my protection from the world... A comfort blanket maybe in some ways lol - I wore them for 10-12 weeks, mostly 12 weeks. Which held the tape in place and made sure that I did not get swelling problems which could stretch the scars...

Good luck on your journey - This site is great for giving you anything from - A helping word - To the best advice you will get :-)

Edited September 14, 2016 by Scamp

[DaisyAmy 561]

Thank you SO much for sharing your pics. I cannot wait to follow the rest of your journey!

[ramsmommy 20]

Thank you SO much for sharing your pics. I cannot wait to follow the rest of your journey!

No problem...I will post pictures as soon as I am feeling up to it after my surgery next Monday

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[MaryCatherine 173]

1. A walker for support when walking around bent over

A mattress pad to protect where you are sleeping from any seeping blood from incision or drains

A shower chair

[ramsmommy 20]

• A walker for support when walking around bent over
• A mattress pad to protect where you are sleeping from any seeping blood from incision or drains
• A shower chair

Thank you I do have a waterproof mattress topper since my mattress is under warranty lol

My shower has built in seats but I hadn't thought of a walker. When did you have your surgery?

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[MaryCatherine 173]

Thank you I do have a waterproof mattress topper since my mattress is under warranty lol

My shower has built in seats but I hadn't thought of a walker. When did you have your surgery?

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I had mine in 2008. I had Tummy Tuck with muscle tightening. I was sore for about a week. Best thing to do is rest as much as possible until the drains are out. I had no swelling post op but many people do. The best place for information is a website http://www.makemeheal.com