Working with Drains in?

Hello All!

My work is prepared for me to be off for a month, however, money wise that will probably not be possible for me (Unless Doc says so).  Having said that, I'm trying to prepare myself for the possibility of going back to work while having my drains in after my Anchor Cut TT on 2/25/10.

A couple of co-workers keep saying that I can't come back to work with my drains in.  My thinking is: How in the heck are they even going to know that I have the drains unless I tell them?

I've never seen a drain, however, I'm thinking that they are safe to wear around in public and that they aren't going to spill or leak?

Legally I could go back to work with drains in - yes?

I know it seems obvious that I could and that I'm sure lots of people go back with drains in.  Just preparing myself "just in case".  If I do have to go back to work with 1 or 2 drains in then I'll just keep my mouth shut. ;-)

Thanks!
Tisha

you probably could go back to work with drains in and keep them concealed under clothing, but what about emptying them be careful when emptying them in a public place, throw the drainage down the toilet  DO NOT USE A SINK in the public work place,, your drains should be out before 2 weeks and most definetly before 3 weeks, cause after 3 weeks u can get an infection.
how soon do you think u will feel like going back to work after an anchorcut TT? and what kind of work do you do? , even just sitting at a desk before 3 weeks can be painful , the first 2 weeks are really not an option, I had no complications at all and i never even took any pain medication that is how good i felt but the first 2 weeks you will feel so tired and sluggish at certain times of the day cause u will not get proper sleep at night.
good luck to you
Susan

 Hi Susan - 

Thanks for your reply.  I'm thinking that I'll be out minimum 2 weeks.  I really can't afford to be out too much longer than that.  I will stay out longer if I need to but I'm hoping my prepping myself pre-op that will help myself post-op.

I'm a desk jockey - I am a Health Benefits Broker/Administrator so I'm at my desk most of the time.  I'm going to talk to my boss next week about possibly letting me work from home, if I can, since the majority of our work is done via email anyway.

I seem to be a good/fast healer so I'm hoping that stays true in this case.

So excited that the time is finally here!  How will I ever sleep? lol

start eating extra protein if  you can't eat ity with food take protein powders. Protein aides in healing . I always up my protein intake before & immediately after surgery. it seem like it istaking so long to get here for your surgery it is exciting. I know you keep looking in the mirror & trying to imagine what it will look like after. your last week will go by so fast & then its here and over YEAH. I realy think if you have a positive attitude and you know & realize this is what you have to do you can do it it is not impossible you will just be tired so go home from work & put your feet up . after surgery it will not be comfortable but you must walk in the end it  will do you good
good luck keep me posted
Susan

 Susan - 

Thanks for the protein advice!  I will do that immediately.  I really want to make sure that my healing goes smooth.

I'm sooo ready for this.  I've been absolutely standing in the mirror in the mornings and moving skin around and going, "Hmm...I wonder.." LOL

With Bypass we see the change gradually but even with swelling I anticipate some sort of a different look but understand that I won't be rail thin immediately.  I feel like I've been researching the procedure forever.  Insurance is paying for panni removal and by the grace of I don't know what I was able to get a large enough refund for my Federal to afford the Tummy Tuck upgrade. :-D

that is great that they are paying the panni, it is good you are getting the muscle tightening,  because you don't see the final results for maybe a year and you will be so happy withe the MT,
I can still feel my muscle after 14 months, it feels like I walk around all day with my belly pulled in
that was my first surgery and I am so happy with it if I could only get 1 done that is what I wuld have done, check out my profile pix and   u will see how horrible it was.
 I am happy for your excitement, it is such a thrill

 You look amazing!  Your before/afters are wonderful to look at - Thanks for sharing!  I've been so busy buying all my pre/post-op stuff that I forgot to get my daughter to take my pics so I'm going to do that tonight.

 I had heard that megadoses of Vitamin C helps with the bruising.  I took 2000 mg daily before surgery and my doctor was amazed that I had hardly any bruising.  However,..... go easy on yourself.  Sitting is hard.  I had LBL and went back to work in 8 weeks, but one of my friends who had a simple TT was off for the eight weeks (still couldn't sit straight), came back for two days and ended up with another 8 weeks off.  We have simple "desk jockey" type jobs too.
L.

 I take 1000 mg daily right now with my Iron to help absorb it (my original surgery date in October was delayed partially because my iron levels were very very low).

I've been thinking of increasing it (with doc's permission) so that I can also help ward off whatever is floating around our office.  Every little bit helps. LOL