Pre-op tips needed

I have a surgery date of March 8 for a TT, LBL, and breast lift. So far I've been focusing all my research on the procedures and finding the right surgeon. Once I found him, things all began to move very quickly. I wasn't expecting to be able to have my first procedure until next fall due to some obligations at my job. However, things have all fallen into place and my date has moved up. Now I'm feeling a tad panicky lest I'm not ready for this phase since I haven't really been paying attention to all the details of pre-op preparations. So I'm asking for all the help I can get.

Do you have any tips of what I should be doing to prepare, supplies I should be gathering, etc. I have already been given the suggestion of renting a power lift recliner for the first month. I also remember taking note of somebody's post that prepared meals ahead of time and froze them. That is also now on my list. I've read some discussions about binders, but I'm unclear if this is something that the surgeon provides or we get ourselves. If we get them, how do we know what size to get? What have you been using for dressing supplies?

Did you take extra supplements before the surgery to build your stores of proteins, etc.? If so, what did you take and were these recommended by your surgeon or by others on the forum? I've also read in several places where people recommended taking laxatives/stool softeners from the start. Is there anybody who leans more to the loose stools done this? I will often take anti-diarrhea pills now, but I know one of the side effects of narcotics is constipation. So I'm wondering if that side effect will just make me normal or actually constipated.

On the topic of after care, how much help did you need and for how long? I live by myself so I'll need to make arrangements for help. My mother and sister-in-law will most likely be here for the first week or 2. Fortunately, I have some awesome co-workers who have offered to help me out whenever I need them. Being the independent sort, I am hoping to be able to care for myself as quickly as possible.

Any tips I haven't addressed will also be highly appreciated!

Sara

Hi Sara,

Here's what I can offer from my perspective. I took procare ( Doctor insisted) for three weeks prior to surgery and then for several weeks after...your surgeon may have something he likes you to use. I definitely needed help the first week, had help thru weeks 2 and 3 and was up and around by week 4. I am 53, so healing is a bit slower and I wanted to take it as easy as possible in order to help prevent any complications like opening of sutures. I think it is common for us as women to try and do too much too quick!!! I was  prescribed stool softeners and they worked within about 7-8 days. I had a toilet seat riser, which I highly recommend. It made getting up and down much easier, especially with a LBL....I also rented a lift recliner, which you indicated you might do....I highly recommend that as well...it made my getting up and down so much easier....My surgeon provided me with my binders so he chose the size...you can check with your surgeon about that and if he doesn't provide them for you, he will be able to tell you what size to get....I had the same proceedures you are having and am now 4 months out. I am doing very well, not much swelling and able to do everything I did prior to surgery. I will be going in for some revision work in January. Best of Luck on your ps journey....

Where do I get a toilet seat riser? Where do you get procare?

I may have to wait until 4 weeks to go visit my family. I guess I'll just wait and see.

Hope your revision goes well.

I did the pre and post op vitamins from makemeheal.com along with SinEcch arnica program which starts the day before surgery and goes for four days along with extra Vitamin D for a month ahead of surgery.  I have MUCH less brusing that a girlfriend who has very similar weight, fat distribution, disposition, etc.  My GP, plastic surgeon and physical therapist believe that Arnica and Bromlein reduce swelling and bruising. 

Other things I did - get a waterproof matress cover and sheets that I wouldn't care about tossing if they got gross; fill all scripts and get tylenol, stool softeners, topical arnica, neosporin, chapstick and ice packs.  Put extra TP in a place you don't have to bend down to pick up - same with a stack of washcloths.  Buy (or hold on to) sweats/cotton shorts in a size that's two sizes too big from where you are now. 

I haven't been really interested in food but made sure I had plenty of single serve meals in the freezer (lean cuisine) as well as fruit and yogurt ready to go.

Most importantly I've made a little post-it note list of the times I could take meds and set the alarm on my phone for those times each night before I go to bed so that I'm not getting behind and waking up in agony.  Then I just circle the time that I took the med and can log it into my notebook when I get out of bed in the morning.

Good luck!
Dana

That's a good website.

I'm bad about remembering when I took meds too. I'll have to do something about a record too.

Thanks for the tips.