TT on Tuesday!
I've been waiting so long to get rid of this excess skin after weight loss!! It's finally time bright and early Tuesday morning. I am excited but I can't help but be questioning everything and if it is worth it at such a young age (19). I feel like my surgeon didn't prepare me as well as I'd hoped in terms of what I needed at home for the best recovery. So I've come here to ask for ANY advice and experience regarding things to have on hand after surgery. My mom is taking off work to take care and cook for me, so I'm in good hands.
Are there any items you wished you would have had during recovery? Are there ways to prevent swelling? I'm hearing about something called Armica Montana but my surgeon said not to take supplements after because of blood thinning and such.
Do most people wear underwear afterward or would this interfere with the scar? Did you go out and buy comfy large clothes for recovery?
Just trying to make sure I have everything set before such a big change! Lots of emotions going on as it gets closer but I cannot wait!
All the best,
Lauren
Are there any items you wished you would have had during recovery? Are there ways to prevent swelling? I'm hearing about something called Armica Montana but my surgeon said not to take supplements after because of blood thinning and such.
Do most people wear underwear afterward or would this interfere with the scar? Did you go out and buy comfy large clothes for recovery?
Just trying to make sure I have everything set before such a big change! Lots of emotions going on as it gets closer but I cannot wait!
All the best,
Lauren
Banded 7/29/08
Starting Weight: 240 Goal Weight: 140 Current Weight: 119
I didn't wear underwear because I was wearing the compression garment. Many use the Arnica but my PCP advised against it due to some having bleeding issues with it after Plastic Surgery. I ate pineapple daily which contains a substance that helps with bruising. I really didn't have much bruising. I slept in bed with lots and lots of pillows. If you don't have a lot of extra pillows you might want to buy some.
12/09 and 6/11, 9 skin removal procedures with Dr. Sauceda in Monterrey Mexico
Revised to the Sleeve after losing 271 lbs with the LapBand.
Congrats on your upcoming tummy tuck! I just had a breast reduction/lift and extended tummy tuck Wednesday. I'm 34 and didn't want to spend the nect 30 years with saggy boobs and a blobby stomach with excess skin that I knew would only go away via surgery. I'm sure everyone's experience is different but here's what mine has been like.
Day 1 (surgery day) I could barely walk but I think it's because the anesthesia was still in my system. I was under for 7 hours since I had two procedures done. Went home with a catheter in which I wasn't happy about until I realized how hard it was for me to get up and walk. I had 2 drain tubes coming out of my pelic region that need to be "stripped", measured and emptied 3x/day. I also had a fanny pack with a pain pump that was slowly pumping pain medicine in me via 2 tiny tubes also in my pelvic region. Maybe that's why there wasn't much pain unless I was trying to stand, sit down or walk. I also was taking Percocet, and Valium around the clock to "stay ahead of the pain." I was outpatient so I got sent home with these leg wraps that continually pump your legs to help circulation and prevent blood clots. I didn't have much of an appetite so I drank protein shakes and flavored waters to stay hydrated. Slept a lot.
Day 2 Went back to surgeon's office and returned leg wrap thing since they expected me to start walking around the house that day. It still hurt a little to stand up or sit down but was much better than day 1. They also had given me a prescription for a shot blood thinner and they gave it to me and showed me how to do it because I needed to do that on day 3 & 4. They inspected everything and I brought a soft long tank top to wear under the binder because it was itchy and the nurse helped me out that on. Still slept a lot.
Day 3 Even easier to get up and move around. Still napping but I went with a friend to Walgreens to get a few supplies and felt fine, just awkward walking hunched over at an extremely slow pace for someone my age. The only bad thing & the worst pain since surgery was dealing with some constipation.
Day 4 (today) Feeling even better, actually pretty great! Can get up and sit down without pain but still being careful. Went to the park with my husband and kids and just relaxed on a bench. Still walking hunched over at a very slow pace and I'm supposed to do that for 2 weeks. Still napping or just resting throughout the day but not as much as the last few days.
Things you might want to have/do:
1. Have all your prescriptions ready
2. Have your fav protein drinks & zero-cal drinks on hand in case you don't feel like real food
3. Have some saltines & low sugar applesauce in case you need to take your meds w/ food. These tasted good to me when other food did not sound appetizing.
4. Stool softener - might want to start a day or two early
5. Soft tank top that you don't care if gets stained for under your binder if you get itchy
6. Box of alcohol swabs, assuming you'll have drains. These make it easy to "strip" the tubes which is basically pulling on them to get the stuff in the tube down to the bulb at the end.
7. Have your mom write up a schedule of your meds once you get the instructions so you won't have to think about it each time & you can check them off as you take them.
8. Have some sort of slightly loose zip up or button up top you can wear out to hide your drains. Our weather is still cool so I've been wearing my hudband's hoody.
I know this was long but hopefully you got something useful out of it :).
ETA: Oh and yes I wear underwear and just pull it up over my binder. Also I know I'm swollen but I can still fit into my yoga pants comfortably that I was wearing before the TT. I don't think I'll try wearing jeans for awhile because it's uncomfortable for anything to be pressing too hard against the drain tubes.
Day 1 (surgery day) I could barely walk but I think it's because the anesthesia was still in my system. I was under for 7 hours since I had two procedures done. Went home with a catheter in which I wasn't happy about until I realized how hard it was for me to get up and walk. I had 2 drain tubes coming out of my pelic region that need to be "stripped", measured and emptied 3x/day. I also had a fanny pack with a pain pump that was slowly pumping pain medicine in me via 2 tiny tubes also in my pelvic region. Maybe that's why there wasn't much pain unless I was trying to stand, sit down or walk. I also was taking Percocet, and Valium around the clock to "stay ahead of the pain." I was outpatient so I got sent home with these leg wraps that continually pump your legs to help circulation and prevent blood clots. I didn't have much of an appetite so I drank protein shakes and flavored waters to stay hydrated. Slept a lot.
Day 2 Went back to surgeon's office and returned leg wrap thing since they expected me to start walking around the house that day. It still hurt a little to stand up or sit down but was much better than day 1. They also had given me a prescription for a shot blood thinner and they gave it to me and showed me how to do it because I needed to do that on day 3 & 4. They inspected everything and I brought a soft long tank top to wear under the binder because it was itchy and the nurse helped me out that on. Still slept a lot.
Day 3 Even easier to get up and move around. Still napping but I went with a friend to Walgreens to get a few supplies and felt fine, just awkward walking hunched over at an extremely slow pace for someone my age. The only bad thing & the worst pain since surgery was dealing with some constipation.
Day 4 (today) Feeling even better, actually pretty great! Can get up and sit down without pain but still being careful. Went to the park with my husband and kids and just relaxed on a bench. Still walking hunched over at a very slow pace and I'm supposed to do that for 2 weeks. Still napping or just resting throughout the day but not as much as the last few days.
Things you might want to have/do:
1. Have all your prescriptions ready
2. Have your fav protein drinks & zero-cal drinks on hand in case you don't feel like real food
3. Have some saltines & low sugar applesauce in case you need to take your meds w/ food. These tasted good to me when other food did not sound appetizing.
4. Stool softener - might want to start a day or two early
5. Soft tank top that you don't care if gets stained for under your binder if you get itchy
6. Box of alcohol swabs, assuming you'll have drains. These make it easy to "strip" the tubes which is basically pulling on them to get the stuff in the tube down to the bulb at the end.
7. Have your mom write up a schedule of your meds once you get the instructions so you won't have to think about it each time & you can check them off as you take them.
8. Have some sort of slightly loose zip up or button up top you can wear out to hide your drains. Our weather is still cool so I've been wearing my hudband's hoody.
I know this was long but hopefully you got something useful out of it :).
ETA: Oh and yes I wear underwear and just pull it up over my binder. Also I know I'm swollen but I can still fit into my yoga pants comfortably that I was wearing before the TT. I don't think I'll try wearing jeans for awhile because it's uncomfortable for anything to be pressing too hard against the drain tubes.
Thanks so much for posting this. I am going in for a tummy tuck on June 7th, and have a class five days later. It's three hours in the morning, a two hour break, and another three hours in the afternoon. I was wondering if I was going to be able to walk and sit well enough to make it, and it sounds like(with a great deal of determination), it may be manageable. Hope your healing continues to go well.
Justlookingtoo...
Today is Day 5 for me. I was ridiculously exhausted last night but yesterday I had been the most "active" since surgery and also I hadn't been sleeping very well at night so I think the exhaustion was building. I finished the antibiotics yesterday and switched to taking my pain meds every 6 hrs so last night was the first night I got to sleep for 6 uninterrupted hours instead of waking up every 2 hours for an antibiotic, painkiller, Valium etc. It felt great. I think that if you rest and eat/drink well before your class (even if it's just a protein shake), you should be able to tough it out for the full 3 hrs. But for that 2 hr break I would suggest having another protein shake, snack or something and taking a nap or resting reclined, even if it's just in your car because I think you'll be tired. Hopefully if you can rest during that break, you'll be able to make it through the next class. I'm not sure what the seats are like in your classes but you'll kinda want to slouch a bit and maybe put a rolled up jacket (so it's less conspicuous than a pillow) at the small of your back. Also after going out twice in my yoga pants, I decided a skirt was the most comfortable thing to wear out (an A-line athletic skirt so it's roomy) because it doesn't apply any pressure on my pelvic region where the drains and pain pump are connected unlike my yoga pants, which are not even that tight.
Good luck and hope you have a quick & easy recovery!
Today is Day 5 for me. I was ridiculously exhausted last night but yesterday I had been the most "active" since surgery and also I hadn't been sleeping very well at night so I think the exhaustion was building. I finished the antibiotics yesterday and switched to taking my pain meds every 6 hrs so last night was the first night I got to sleep for 6 uninterrupted hours instead of waking up every 2 hours for an antibiotic, painkiller, Valium etc. It felt great. I think that if you rest and eat/drink well before your class (even if it's just a protein shake), you should be able to tough it out for the full 3 hrs. But for that 2 hr break I would suggest having another protein shake, snack or something and taking a nap or resting reclined, even if it's just in your car because I think you'll be tired. Hopefully if you can rest during that break, you'll be able to make it through the next class. I'm not sure what the seats are like in your classes but you'll kinda want to slouch a bit and maybe put a rolled up jacket (so it's less conspicuous than a pillow) at the small of your back. Also after going out twice in my yoga pants, I decided a skirt was the most comfortable thing to wear out (an A-line athletic skirt so it's roomy) because it doesn't apply any pressure on my pelvic region where the drains and pain pump are connected unlike my yoga pants, which are not even that tight.
Good luck and hope you have a quick & easy recovery!
Thanks SO much for the information! I wear dresses all the time, so I will just wear some lose, dark colored, gauzy, maxi dresses on class. My instructor knows what I'm doing (the surgery), and he said that if I have to miss, it's ok. Still, it's VERY hard to catch up on labs (Microbiology), so I'd like to be there if I can possibly make it. My lab is in the morning, and lecture in the afternoon. He said that he puts his lectures and powerpoints online, so if I have to miss that, it's not a huge thing. I have class on Monday and Wednesday. Summer semesters are short as it is, so if I can pull this off and not miss any class, I'll be doing well. We'll see. A nap between classes is possible, so I'll do that, for sure. Hope your recovery continues to go well, and thanks again for the advice.
I was in hospital for longer than most people (two and half weeks) -Thank GD for Socialised Medicine and my living three hours away from the hospital by bus snd I live alone.
That being said I still learned a few things--- wipes for the toilet, bottle to keep drinking, walk around when you can,rest and take pain meds.
It's great your mom is coming to help you out. I think once you learn how to get from sitting to standing it will be so much easier.
I needed help with showering and getting hospital pj pants. My drains were below bikini-cut in the pubic mons.
Mikimi in Israel
That being said I still learned a few things--- wipes for the toilet, bottle to keep drinking, walk around when you can,rest and take pain meds.
It's great your mom is coming to help you out. I think once you learn how to get from sitting to standing it will be so much easier.
I needed help with showering and getting hospital pj pants. My drains were below bikini-cut in the pubic mons.
Mikimi in Israel
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