day 4 post op..feeling worse? (lengthy post, sorry!)

Hi All-

Yesterday I went to see my surgeon and he was very pleased with the way everything looked (post Brachioplasty and breast lift on Tues).  In the office I didn't look too closely at the incisions as I was reclined so they could do the first dressing change and what not.  At this time he cleared me for my first real shower (thank god) and told me to just place 4x4 over breast incisions and an abd pad inside the surgical bra and for the arms I could just wrap the guaze rolls over them after applying bactroban to all of the incisons.

So yesterday after a long trip to and from the surgeon (driving in snowy weather), trip the the bank (long line) and pharmacy I was really feeling wiped and sore, laid down for a while before getting up to take a real shower and do the dressing change. 

In the shower I first noticed puckering on my arms that I didn't notice in the drs office (although I wasn't really paying attention), and I was feeling so sore and itchy.  The pharmacy didnt have the guaze rolls so I figured I could place 4x4 over the incison sites and then wrap with an ace bandage (which my sister made too tight at first, I rewrapped looser, and then ended up ditching them and using the guaze rolls again bc I was so uncomfortable).

Today I woke up feeling the worst since surgery.  I am so sore, especially in the arm pits which hadn't really been bothering me and the puckering is still there.  I expected to be feeling better as time passed but I am just feeling worse, plus I have this headache that won't go away- I at first blamed the anesthesia, but am now thinking it might be the percocet so I am using mostly extra strength tylenol to manage pain. 

Should I be concerned or did I maybe just over-do it yesterday opening and closing the car door, in running errands etc.?  Can you all share your experience?  Thanks in advance!

Oh honey yes you overdid it!  I didn't leave the house for a whole week and even then I had hubby come around to my side of the car to open and close it for me.   Lesson learned okay?  Take it easy!  These early days it is imperative that you do not do too much.  Let others help you out or it doesn't get done - life will go on.

As for the puckering I had some of that - my bracioplasty was one month ago today and it's smoothing out.  It takes a long time for stuff to settle down so be patient. 

No heavy lifting, or reaching up too high or too low for that matter.  Some of my worst pain is when I dropped a fork on the floor and leaned down to pick it up - ouch!

Happy healing!

Mickie

and even then I had hubby come around to my side of the car to open and close it for me.

Mickie,

Isn't that included in his job description to begin with? 

I have puckering on my arms after the brachio, and some around the back of my hips after LBL.

My surgeon warned me before surgery that I would have this - and that, after time, it WOULD go away. It's caused because they're fitting a longer piece of skin into a smaller piece, so there are initially some puckers where the "easing" (a sewing term) takes place. I've found that mine is improving almost daily, but there is still some left at the moment.

But yeah - my right armpit aches more than my left at this point!

It definitely sounds like you over did it. I went to my post-op appointments and that was it. I tried to maximize my healing by not doing too much. I know we all react differently to the pain meds but if you need them you should take them. Tylenol doesn't do a thing for me. There's nothing wrong with taking the pain meds and you will probably find that you'll wean off of them fairly quickly with the procedures you had done. Rest up and take it easy.

Oh, the puckering is not uncommon and normally flattens out in time. Especially once you are able to start massaging the incision.

Oh yeah, over exertion.... you feel good, start to be active, and then it hits you.  It can be discouraging... take care!  

My arms have gauze taped down the inside from the armpit to the elbow.  The boobs have a a square guaze over the nipple area, then a strip down from the nipple to the bottom of the anchor cut, then a strip from side to side taped up.  So both sides are the same.  My compression garment then slides into one arm then the other arm.  Fastens in the back, then pulled in the front covering all the gauze - so I'm all squeezed together.  The sleeves are 3/4 length and it fits nicely. 

Brand name is Veronique  www.designveronique.com  510.970.7990
http://designveronique.com/cgi-bin/ic/dv2/B943.html
It's pricey at $131, but it is comfortable.  I've been in it since the 13th.  I do have 2, one to clean one to wear.

I find it's very comfortable and will be in it for at least 6 weeks, if not longer.  Mine is a medium

yep -- sounds like a rough day

I went back the day after bracho/BL and had 2 drains removed -- armpits were very tender

I also had abd pad to wear inside the bra --- I put on a very soft undershirt, then the pad, then the bra ---- and I put abd pads on my arms, then light gauze -- then the long-sleeved undershirt.

Days 2 and 3 were harder than day 1 -- then, it started to get better.

Remember, you had surgery -- hours and hours of surgery --- give yourself a break.
Take your pain meds (don't forget something for constipation at the same time) --- I was also encouraged to take some benadryl with my pain meds (they make me itch) -- and to get plenty of sleep -- naps and night time

Go easy -- it should get lots better in the next few days.

the puckering in my arms has smoothed greatly in just 2 months.

Just wanted to thank you all for the reassurance.  I didn't do a damn thing all day, and am feeling much better, although my butt hurts from sitting around all day lol.  Thanks again ladies!