Doing better

I am on day 6 today and feeling better. this is a rough experience but one that I know will be worth it. still cannot believe it is over with.  Somethings that have helped me the most are my lift recliner chair (i bought on cragislist for $75), baby wipes, and a very large sippy cup my hospital sent me home with.

I cannot wait until these drains come out.  I am terrified of this though.. is this painful? Can they give me morpine before they do this? I am a very big wimp.

smiles, Jen

My experience with the removal of my LBL drains was waaay better than it was for my gastric bypass and my brachioplasty.  I took a pain pill about half an hour before the appointment and had three taken out.  I was pleasantly surprised that it did not hurt this time.  The 4th fell out on it's own. I have one left. 

Good luck!

Having the drains pulled out was not painful. No pain at all.

But it was WEIRD. The weirdest thing I've ever felt. Someone else described it as an alien baby trying to crawl out of their belly. The drains don't hurt coming out, but it feels like something crawling across the INSIDE of your body.

My surgeon took the first 2 drains out at my 1 week follow up appointment, it was so easy that I took the second 2 drains out by myself at home.

I had one drain removed 2 weeks post op and it was mildly painful.  The drain was sutured lightly into my skin and that stung a bit coming out.  He gave me a blast of a chilling spray that helped.  He had me hold my breath (and my husband's hand) and pulled it out.  It stung coming out and the stinging continued for about 10 seconds and then it was over.  Not as bad as I'd imagined.

I have the three remaining drains coming out tomorrow (8 weeks post op- YIKES!)  He said he is going to use lidocane shots as the skin has closed around where the drains enter my body.  I'm planning on taking a pain pill when we get in the car and it should be at peak effectiveness when we get there.  

I'll update tomorrow for you.

 p.s. I had breast reduction surgery when I was 20, and the drain removal for that was completely pain free.  I mean, no pain at all.  He was already done and I asked him when he was going to start. So there is hope for no pain.