TT, breasts, etc: 6 week follow-up appt. today

I saw the doctor today for my six week checkup. Everything is going great with my healing. I was able to ask about the swelling which has been UNCOMFORTABLE to say the least. Basically, he said it's normal and there's not a whole lot that can be done for it short of wearing compression garments, resting with legs elevated, etc., which I knew. He gave me the green light to get back to "normal life 100%", which I'm so happy about. I've missed my running and was afraid the continued swelling would curtail my SCUBA diving on an upcoming vacation; he said "activity as tolerated" means if you can tolerate it, you can do it!

In the fall the doc is gonna do a small "scar revision", under local anesthesia and free of charge, to remove a little excess skin that he couldn't do 100% at the time of my surgery. It is up high, near my breasts (which I also had done at the same time), and he showed me how because of the breast incisions he couldn't extended it the way he ordinarily would like because then he might involve the breast incisions and a "this way and that" scar would be more likely to have healing issues. He said it's very minor; under local anesthesia, takes about 10 minutes; only miss day-of surgery at work (which isn't an issue for me as I don't work outside the home).  After that, he said I won't have this little "bulge" of skin (I thought it might be fat) that's been bugging me. He wants to wait until then because part of the bulge is also swelling and he'll have a better idea of how much additional skin to remove once that is gone.

Anyway, just wanted to let other PS peeps know my progress, especially since I was here whining a few weeks ago!

Glad to hear all is well! 

Marilyn,
 I'm so happy to hear your 6 week post op went well and you will be able to dive on your vacation. I know you were really hoping that you would be able to. Best to you on getting back to your normal routine. I have felt so much better since I am back to doing my full cardio worout and since I started, my overall swelling has improved. I swell a little right after  if I don't rest but am less swollen overall then before. I pray that your swelling is soon a thing of the past! Take care.

Sandi

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts.

ANewMii: (love that name, by the way!) I am hoping that getting back to a routine will help with the swelling as well. Lying around doing nothing sure isn't helping!  Today was a good day; yes, swelling....but not as uncomfortable.

BEST WISHES EVERYONE.
 

Marilyn,
Glad to hear you're doing so well. Where are you going that you can do some diving? Carribean? Enjoy your vacation!

We are going half way around the world, to the Philippines, to visit hubby's family. Not looking forward to 20 hours on a plane...but definitely looking forward to seeing the inlaws (MIL is a doll) and going diving in my favorite dive destination on earth! Oh...and eating all my fav Filipino foods, since I no longer have ready access to an Asian grocery store that carries the ingredients for me to cook them.

Interestingly enough, one of my extended Filipino family members is a cosmetic surgeon! Hubby reminds me I could have had my procedures done for ALMOST free (would have had to pay hospital) and at a deep discount over US prices; but I wasn't comfortable with that idea.

Hope everyone else has some fun summer plans...

You might want to double check that you can scuba dive that quickly after surgery.  After I had my VSG last year in February we went to Hawaii in June and the scuba diving company wouldn't let me scuba dive because it had not been at least 1 year.  I forget their reasons but remember that it sounded scary - something to do with the pressure under water??

My surgeon gave me the ok....I'll take his word for it over the SCUBA operator. They won't even KNOW I had surgery because I have no intention of telling them.....they were probably more worried about their own liability than anything.

I was diving 4 weeks after my small bowel obstruction was fixed in 2007!  I talked to DAN (diver's alert network....the premier authority on medical issues as they relate to diving) at that time 'cuz I wasn't sure if the doctor knew what he was talking about...and they told me if the surgeon gave me the go ahead then there was no reason NOT to dive after abdominal surgery once the surgeon determines you are healed enough for "activity as tolerated".

But thanks for your concern!