Surgery Thursday........last minute tips

Well, my surgery date is here!!  Thursday, December 9th at 7:30 a.m. with Dr. Capella.  I am having total body lift, arm lift and breast lift done.  I am beyond nervous.  I am mostly scared of 2 things.  Being under anesthesia for 6 hours and the pain the next day when I have to get up.  Anybody have any thoughts for me.  Also, what did you bring to the hospital?

Alice

Mine is the day after yours so I'll keep you in mind! I have no clue what to expect except pain and am scared to death! Best wishes to you!

Hi Kitten,

Thanks for the well wishes!!  What all are you having done??  Maybe we could email each other or text or something.

I am scared to death to put it mildly.  I am terrified of pain.

Best wishes to you! My surgery was close to 10 hours (lbl, butt aug., bl/ba). I had anesthesia brain for a lot of the next day, but the pain wasn't at all as bad as I expected, either. Each person's pain tolerances are different, but my pain was very well controlled. i believe my c-sections were more uncomfortable than my ps. Keep your dr. in the loop if your pain becomes too great- he/she will want to help you keep it under control. I took Vicodin for a several days, then Tylenol for a few days, and then I didn't need anything. I was stiff and sore, but not at all at the pain level I expected.

As far as what I took to the hospital, I took chapstick, stool softeners (let the nurses know you have it), some nice moisturizer (my face dried out a good bit from the surgery), a robe, and to wear when I left the hospital, some drawstring waist sweats and a big tshirt.

I dozed a lot while I was in the hospital, so I wouldn't have read much.

Good luck on your surgery. It's normal to be nervous but everything will be okay.

I had LBL/hernia repair and arm lift - 6 hours of anesthesia and in the hospital for two days post op. My PS doesn't use the OnQ because he finds they slip out of position - but I did have morphine for the first day. I found by the second day I didn't need any pain medication which is funny because I was all prepared to take everything they would give me for pain. I had so much nausea from the pain medications and they made me fill like I was going to faint. They did have very effective anti-nausea medication so let the nurse know if you need it. BTW, the first day I still felt the effects of anesthesia - sort of brain fog effect and it lingered for a few days.

I brought chapstick for my lips and a pair of large pajamas with button up the front top to wear home. I didn't know how much I could move my arms to get into clothes immediately post op so I looked for button front tops. Pants are tricky because you'll probably have drains, a binder and swelling - for the first few days I couldn't fit into the pants that I wore just before surgery - instead I had a pair of larger yoga pants that were loose enough to encase my 6 drains for those first few days. I wore the hospital gown and housecoat in the hospital - I figured if I bled or something leaked the hospital laundry could deal with it. I didn't bring things like makeup or books and frankly I didn't have the energy or concentration to do much more than sit in a chair or walk in the halls etc.

One of the smartest things I did was in Target I bought these very long cotton/lycra tank tops to wear under the binder. You need it long enough to stay under the abdominal binder. The reason for cotton/lycra is you want it really soft and stretchy - I never taped bandages to my body. I took a shower every day, just lifted the tank top and allowed the bandages to drop off - took a shower and after the shower I placed the bandages over the wounds and just pulled the tank top over them to hold them into place and then put the binder ontop. It was so much easier on my body and faster to get that binder back on after a shower. I bought 4 - I will wear them for the 6-8 weeks that my surgeon wants me to wear compression garmets. I've decided to just keep wearing the binder instead of moving into the Spanx because it's so much easier to go to the bathroom with a binder. I'm returning the Spanx.

Ladies,

I cannot thank you enough for your responses.  I am going into panic freak out mode right now.  I am excited to actually have all this junk removed.  No more flapping arm wings up against my body, a new flat stomach for the first time in my life and to have the girls where they are supposed to be will be exciting, HOWEVER, I feel unprepared, like I am missing or forgeting or should be packing a huge suitcase or something.  I can't believe that you guys say your pain was okay, that is just nuts to me.  I know with my C-section, I wanted to kill the doctor for not prescribing me pain medicine.  I was okay after about a week but still, no pain meds and it burned inside.  Has anyone had a c-section, what is the pain like compared to that?

I am open to any other advice and/or tips as well.

Alice

I had two abdominal C sections - and I had bronchitis after both of them - very unpleasant LOL. I think the pain from my hernia repair was comparable. I really didn't notice too much with my LBL and the arms just occasional feels uncomfortable. I think when one thing stands out as painful the rest of the stuff gets ignored by the brain, for me the hernia was the worst.

Don't worry about the pain - you will have effective pain management - just ask when you begin to feel the pain creeping up - don't wait until it's terrible.

when i had my breast lift and augmentation - my breasts were tender and felt "sunburned"  but, did not really hurt -

my hernia repairs have been pretty painful - but, not as much as my RNY - i think because i wt about half what i did at the first surgery - so i think that your level of fitness does make a difference

i am having lbl on thursday also - with double hernia repair and muscle something  - i cant remember exactly what he said

i am looking forward to it with dread - i think you know what i mean -

for my last few surgeries - i have taken a sleeping pill the night before which really helped me get to sleep without so much anxiety

i am glad you posted this - the chapstick and t shirts and tank tops and spanx - i hadnt thought about in a couple of years - well - since i had my bilateral thigh lift done - he took 2.5 pounds of SKIN off my thighs - doc said he thought there would be fat too - but, none - said it was all skin -!  amazing! 

only 39 hours till i will be rid of all of that extra skin and tissue - the last reminder of the old life - good bye saggy extra skin - you will not be missed! =0) 

even though, like you , i am dreading the pain - because i have a LOW pain tolerance - and a HIGH drug tolerance - i am looking forward to seeing my new body - i'm trying not to let my expectations get too high  - i know i'm not gonna look like a barbie doll - and i also know that the pics on the internet are usually the BEST resulted patients and not EVERYONE will look like the "example" model - but, i do know that i will look better and be smaller - eventually

when i had my bilat thigh lift and skin removal - i gained 13 pounds of fluid and it took me 6 months to get rid of it - then suddenly - like in one week - it just "went away"  i wonder if that will happen this time? - i hope not - but, my results were fabulous! so - that I WILL take

I don't have any advise to give as I have not yet had my ps (mine is on the 12/17) but I wanted to give you some encouragement!  Sending prayers up for you.  I have been reading these boards and writing down a lot of great information.  The people here are wonderful and very supportive, so follow their advise and I am sure you will be just fine. 

Val