Feeling Much Better Today!
I am moving about much better, much less pain, and I was able to sleep in my own bed instead of the recliner! Granted, it took 9 pillows to prop me up in bed, but I was able to sleep next to my dh and hold his hand! YAY!
I went back to the doctor on Friday, hoping to have at least 1 drain removed. He left them all in because they were all draining too much. I go back again on the 23rd. He had me work on removing the steri strips while in the shower, and told me to begin increasing my activity. He also told me that I was doing amazingly better than any of his other patients who have had this surgery. I am off the percoset, except at night to help me sleep, and am only taking the vicodin 1-2 times during the day. I am walking more upright, and moving so much better. I am still having problems bending over to pick stuff up, and i don't even think about doing household chores right now.
My tummy is getting smaller each day - I've been measuring. The swelling is going down - YAY. I do have a funny little fluid like "pooch" on my upper tummy. Doctor Lee didn't think it was fluid at all, maybe a little fatty pocket and it sticks out funny because I really don't have much fat there anymore. Right now, I'm pretty much measuring 39" 35" 38" and thighs that are about 20 1/2. Before surgery, I was 40 34 42 and thighs of 22. I was pleased to find at the bra store that I went to a 34 D - probably will end up a C. Hopefully, once my tummy/waist swelling is all gone, I will end up at 28 or so. I can hope! I did have to go somewhere yesterday, and I wore some size 12 pants - the largest ones I own. They were big in the waist, butt and thighs, but OK in the hips because I had to have the little fanny pack with my drains tucked into my pants. My daughter gave me a size small Forever 21 top to wear, and it was slightly big! Then she gave me one of her sweaters in an XS, and it fit too - a bit snug on my arms, but it worked.
When I went to the surgeon, he told me that aside from making my tummy really flat, his biggest area of emphasis was getting my outer thighs as smooth and pulled up as possible. They do look really good when compared to the before.
I will work on getting some pics up - need to have my dh do some editing, since most of them are nakkie pics, and I want to have him "cover" some of my parts.
Right now, my body fat percentage is fluctuating between 17 and 25% - pretty low for someone who just turned 45. Anything under 21 shows up as too low on my scale.
Oh, for those who asked, I was told to take 6 weeks off of work/activities, but expect that it could take longer if infections or other problems like lack of healing came up, and that it will be about 10 weeks to get back to heavy exercise, lifting, etc. I was told the other day that when the drains come out on the 23rd, I could be back to easy swimming, pool exercise about 48 - 72 hours afterward to allow the drain holes to seal up. Also, I have been told that if I had a desk job, I could go back to work in 4 weeks if I had no complications.
I really, really, really appreciate all of the positive thoughts, comments and prayer!
Jennie
31 lbs lost before surgery
31 lbs lost before surgery
I have a pretty high pain tolerance as well, and was TERRIFIED of the initial recovery post op. I have not been in any terrible pain - except when getting up to walk the first time. I did hit my morphine button 3 times in a row before getting up, and twice after getting back to bed. Otherwise, I have been very, very comfortable. I had the lower body lift, and breast lift, and have been told that the only procedure more painful than the LBL is the medial (inner) thigh lift. I had been very afraid of what the pain and recovery would be like, and even told my family to please excuse me if I yelled or screamed, but that never happened. You will do better than you think!
Jennie
31 lbs lost before surgery
31 lbs lost before surgery
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