10 days til surgery......eeekkkk.......

ok so here goes...
I am 2 years and 5 months out from Lapband surgery. I have lost somewhere between 92-97 pounds depending on the day and have been bouncing over the same 5-7 pounds over the last year or more. I have  quite the apron of lower belly skin. I am starting to have backaches and get rashes esp in the Florida heat that this  summer has brought.  Last Oct I began the quest to an abdoninoplasty and after much thought  and 3 consults I am doing it.... ON Monday June 27 at 730 I will undergo an extended abdominoplasty and liposuction.....eeeekkkkkk....
I am a bundle of mixed emotions.....happy excited nervous and scared about sums it up. I am a nurse and am taking a  6 week leave of absence from work as I will have a no lifting more than 10 pounds rule for that amount of time. I have 3 kids 14 11 and 6 and a hubbie who are willing and able to help. I will be alone with the kids during the day but hubbie will be here at night.
sooooooo any sage advice to offer?????
What do I bring with me to the surgery center??....I will be in overnight.
What to wear??...I have a few loose fitting sundresses I thought might be comfy
Did you wear a thin undershirt under your binder?
Did you pin your drains to your binder or clothes or rig them with a belt?.....I thought about getting a couple of tele boxholders from work for this but am not sure......I am told I will have between 2-4 drains depending on how far he has to make my incisions.
What kind of things did you all stock up on for your first couple fo post op days?
Sleep in a recliner ???/ I figure I will be in the recliner for at least 3or 4 days...how have you al found the whole sleeping thing//
How soon did you all drive? I am told no driving for a week or until I have been without narcotics for 24 hours or more...
I know lots of questions... the closer it gets the more ervous and more questions I have...Thanks for all your wonderful advice in advance...
Janet

So excited for you!! My big day is the day after yours.  I'm getting a lbl and bl. I had my pre-op today. I was so nervous that my blood pressure was 150/110. I think they thought I was going to have a stroke....lol. My blood pressure is normally 120/80, but under stress, it spikes (I just checked it several times and it's 110/70).

I look forward to seeing what advice other give you.

Laura

Janet, congrats on your success and upcoming plastics!  I am having a TT and BA just a few days after you.  Liike you, I am a nurse (retired) and am excited, nervous and happy.  I will be done as an outpatient.

I also want to know what most do about sleeping.  I am not concerned about it as far as the TT goes as I have had a c-section and a hysterectomy and had no problems sleeping in a bed then but with the added BA, I don't know if a bed will work the first few nights.  I have already planned to use the recliner.

I just bought two shirt dresses to wear home and post-op.  I thought they'd work best for me as they button up the front from hem to neck and are loose fitted so should accomodate binders and swelling.  It is also very hot here in Alabama so I figured baggy sweats would be too hot.

According the my surgeon's nurse, my binder will have a place for the drain so that isn't something I need to figure out.  She said it will keep it well concealed under clothing.

Haven't addressed the driving issue yet though I had emailed that question to them early this morning.  I will let you know what my surgeon recommends, but as you know, each surgeon is different.  :)

Good luck!

Congratulations, on your soon and up coming surgery...The best to you through it all..!!

Janet, I got an answer as to when I can drive again.  I was told I can drive again when I am off all pain medication (being a nurse, I know that is the standard rule) and when I tolerate making a sudden movement.  The office said that that is usually 5 to 7 days for most people.  Hope that helps!