having a TT next week very scared

Hi My name is Yahaira I'm a little over 2 yrs since I had my gastric bypass surgery and Im having a Tummy tuck on Sept 21st very scared... I dont really know much on it... I'm scared of the pain and how am I going to do everything? How long is it going to take me to recover? Am I coming home the same day? I have 3 girls to take care of!!! just so many things going through my mind.... if anyone can give me some advice would be great thanks!!!

Hi Yahaira. I'm a little over 2 years out from VSG and i'm having tummy tuck and lower body lift the day before you. I hear you. Me too. I'm excited and scared. And I have two young kids; one 8 and one 6.

I am a little surprised that your doc hasn't provided you with information on some of your questions.

Mine is saying in hospital one night at a minimum; possibly two (that's up to me). Go home with drains. It will take about one week to one and a half weeks before drains come out. Also it is normal to be on pain meds for that amount of time too. So long as you are on pain meds, no driving. Weight restriction: no more than 5 - 10 lbs for 5 weeks; off work for 3 weeks (I have a desk job--no weight to lift.)

I have lined up neighbors and friends to help with the kids. A friend from my church is spending the night with the kids while I'm in the hospital. She will get lunches packed, and then send the kids to a neighbor's house so she can get them off the bus. Another neighbor will get them off the bus and keep them until my friend gets off work. My husband took the week off work to be my help. It sounds as if it will take a days before I will be able to shower without help, etc.

Even when I get home, my friend from church will stop by after work, pack kids lunch, prep dinner for the next day; help daughter with bathtime.

I don't know if that is helpful to you, but it is what I am planning on doing.

I had gastric bypass 17 months ago...I came home last night from having my TT on monday....In the hospital with my morphine filled pca i thought this was the easiest thing ever. Now im not so sure, I wont lie, the pain is excruciating. Im supposed to be out of work for 4 weeks. Im hoping tha once I start to heal and the drains come out that things get better. Im sure all this pain is worth the flat tummy I NEVER had before...good luck to both of you. My dr told me more than 5 lbs lifting I cant even picture lifting that right now.

I'm 2 weeks out so here's my experience with an extended TT and breast reduction at the same time.

1 night in hospital and came home with 1 drain. First 2-3 days were easy peasy and I thought "this isn't going to be so bad afterall!". I slept in a Lazy Boy, had a toilet seat riser (highly recommend this if you can get one affordably), had my parents here to help with the kids (I have 4 kids ages 11.5, 11.5, 7 and 5 and one of my sons is in a wheelchair so I *had* to have help) and well... they were here to help my husband!

I saw my surgeon on Friday (surgery was a Tues) and had my bandages removed. By that evening, I had a little pain (compared to more discomfort than pain up to that point). I had a rough weekend, especially overnight. Was back to more "discomfort" during the daytime by Monday (so 6 days post-op).

1 weeks post-op was the first day of school and I was up with my crew making lunches and helping to get kids out the door (couldn't have done it without help but I did it!). By this point, I was also fully on Advil only during the day, with Percosets at night.

Tuesday (so 1 wk post-op) I saw my surgeon and had my drain out (ouch - er - more uncomfortable than ouch) and then Aunt Flow showed up Wed. That was uncomfortable but mostly because of my boobs than anything else.

Here I am 2 weeks + 1 day and I am driving very short distances (no Percosets since Friday night). I walked 0.5 km yesterday after I put my youngest daughter on her school bus. Feeling pretty good. Still needing an Advil every 8 hrs or so and definitely overnight (I'm back in bed and able to roll over, etc but I find I need it mostly for swelling?).

Looking forward to seeing the surgeon tomorrow - I still have stitches in my belly button (it's going to be cute!!), 1-2 in my hips and my nipples (I cannot wait to have them out - they are getting longer as the swelling decreases and they are wiry and catch on my bra, etc).

Honestly, from my hazy memory, this is no worse than how I felt post c-section with my twins back in 99. I know I wasn't walking upright or this well at 3 weeks. My abs are tender but not horrible like I expected. By the end of the day, I can tell if I've overdone it - feels like you've done an ab class from hell if you aren't careful.

I'm three weeks out as of today from a fleur de lis tummy tuck (i'm cut from my breast bone down and from hip to hip).  The first three days i thought i wanted to die. But after that everyday I felt so much better. I haven't been on pain killers for a week and a half now.

I have some skin narosis, which sucks...it doesn't hurt though, it just looks horrible and makes me depressed. I didn't think it would happen to me cuz i don't smoke and i'm a perfectionist, but this has taught me that no matter how you plan for things you never know how things are going to turn out and surgery is one of those things that you never know whats going to happen.

I would read up as much as you can and try not to think about it too much, i think that was the worst part of the whole thing the obessing about it!  Naw, it was those first three days....i won't like, those are a *****! but in the long run i know it will be worth it!

Relax!  I'm 5 weeks out from a tummy tuck/breast lift/breast augmentation and I have 3 kids under the age of 4 (including a 25lb.16 month old)   :)  You'll do just fine.  I won't lie, it will be painful at first but just make sure you stay on top of your meds.  Have plenty of help, if you can.  I only needed help the first week.  The second week, I was bringing my 3 kids back and forth to daycare.  My bbs were 10 times worse than the tummy tuck.  I'm still sore from the breast lift/augmentation.  My stomach has had no problems.  In fact, I have only gone to my Dr. for check ups.  I haven't had to call them until this week, and it was an issue with the incision on my breast.

Best of luck to you!! I am two weeks out today from a fleur de lis tummy tuck (hip to hip and breastbone all the way down.) I also had a hernia repaired at the same time. Honestly, it hurt, but as of today the only complaint I have is that I still have one drain in (I had 2 to begin with.) That is coming out on Friday, and I think I will feel fabulous then. You'll get through it, and you'll be happy you did it.  Oh, also, I don't do well with most pain meds, and have only taken tylenol since day 5! Please let us know how you do!!

Thanks everyone for all the great advice... I think I'm just over thinking everything that how I always am cant help it...I have 3 girls and not really alot of help... I'm so use to taking care of them myself that I just dont know what they would do with out me..... my youngest one is in a wheelchair so I have to do everything for her from getting dress to changing diaper to everything else she needs from me so I'm not use to having anyone else do everything for her.... but I quess for a couple of days she will be ok she is only 3 yrs old... I have faith in God that everything will be just fine!!!!

 

Thank you,

Yahaira