How Long Before. . . . . .
I am having a TT, brachioplasty & BA in May. I know my PS will give me a vague range of time but I was wondering:
How long before I can lift more then 5 pounds?
How long before the drains come out (TT & arms)?
How long before you could open a car door?
Drive?
Shower?
Work out on an eclipticalal machine?
Carry an oversized purse/bag on your arm?
Pull on panty hose?
I know this seesm strange - but for some reason I think I am going to be in bad shape - then I read posts & folks are doing great!!
Thanks!!
How long before I can lift more then 5 pounds? (10 lbs until 6 wks)
How long before the drains come out (TT & arms)? depends on your doc and your body. Anywhere from 4 days to 4 weeks
How long before you could open a car door? 2 days
Drive? 2 weeks
Shower? next day
Work out on an eclipticalal machine? 6 weeks
Carry an oversized purse/bag on your arm? three weeks
Pull on panty hose? two weeks
Thanks so much!! I think I am just WAAAYYY over thinking this whole recovery thing - perhaps it won't be as bad I as I envisioning.
Would you say at about 6 weeks you felt pretty "normal"?
How long did you wear your compression garments?
How long before you can wear a regular bra? I can't wait to go to Vicotiras Secret & get new 36 D bras!!
Good Luck!!!
I just had surgery (brachio and side/back fat removed) November 20, but I will answer what I can!
How long before I can lift more then 5 pounds? Have not tried more than 5 pounds yet.
How long before the drains come out (TT & arms)? Arms and back/side both came out on day 4
How long before you could open a car door? One week
Drive? 2 weeks...still hurts a little, but I only drive to work and back
Shower? after drains came out...day 4
Work out on an eclipticalal machine? never ever been on one of those!
Carry an oversized purse/bag on your arm? just started that this week....not much in the bag!
I started back to work this week (I was off 3 weeks). There are others that have gone back sooner than that, but I just couldn't do it. I just had no energy. Three weeks seemed to be the "magic" time for me.
Good luck! You will do fine.
Brooke
P.S. I got my compression garment about 10 days after surgery. Before that I was wrapped in stretchy ace bandages. Both are 24/7 only off for showers and washing the garment. Doc hasn't said how long I will wear it, but I figure 3-6 months???
Lifting 5 lbs- I did that after 2 weeks up to 50 at 4 weeks
My drains (TT) 2 came out at 1 week the other 2 at two weeks but I also had a LBL
Car door day after surgery
Drive 5 days after surgery
Shower as soon as I got home day after surgery
I never excercise I know I am bad so I can say the doc said I could do eliptical and treadmill at 4 weeks
I carried my oversized bag home day after surgery
Don't wear panty hose but wear spanx and put them on right at 2 weeks after the drains came out.
Best wishes to you on your journey just remember everyone is different
I am 5 weeks out from a BA and LBL/TT and feeling great
Cheers
MO
on 12/15/09 9:54 am - West Central FL☼RIDA , FL
How long before I can lift more then 5 pounds? 4-6 weeks but not more than 10
How long before the drains come out (TT & arms)? really depends....I've had some out in 2 days and some up to about 2 1/2 weeks
How long before you could open a car door? When I had my arms done it took a few weeks to be able to really reach the door but i figured out a way to get in and have the door practically closed so I could reach it.
Drive? You have to be totally off pain killers before you can drive. I wasn't comfortable driving after my TT for about 3 or 4 weeks because it was just weird getting in and out of the car.
Shower? next day
Work out on an eclipticalal machine? Depends on the procedure.... after my arms it was 2 weeks, after my TT it was 4 weeks, after my LBL....I don't know yet - I just had surgery 2 weeks ago and there is NO WAY I'm getting on the machines yet. I'm just happy to walk around.
Carry an over sized purse/bag on your arm sorry can't help with that...don't carry an oversized bag.
Pull on panty hose? You will NOT want panty hose on your incisions for a long time. You'll be in a compression garment for probably 3 months......Hope that helps some..
New question: the brachioplasty is the one that is really frightening me - can you bend your arms at all after surgery?? Of do you look like the tin man for a few weeks?
Thanks again!!
Linda