how long
Wondering how long people were in the hospital for a breast reduction and lift and how long you were off work?
Was denied twice already for a lift from my insurance. We had to wait 6 months to try it again but now we added the reduction. I have been going monthly and have been taking lots of pics with all my rashes and so. I have BCBS and did approve me for a panni and hernia repair after the 2nd attempt. All my Dr's are in shocked they denied me the first two times and are confident they will approve me this time but I'm worried.
I'm a PE teacher at a state facility for troubled teens (so they sometimes get aggressive) and it is a year round school.My surgeon made me take 8 weeks with my panni and hernia because of that and also I have a history of hernias. I had my other surgery in Feb so I'm not sure what they are going to think if I have another surgery so soon even if I have the sick time and vac time.
Thanks
Julie
Was denied twice already for a lift from my insurance. We had to wait 6 months to try it again but now we added the reduction. I have been going monthly and have been taking lots of pics with all my rashes and so. I have BCBS and did approve me for a panni and hernia repair after the 2nd attempt. All my Dr's are in shocked they denied me the first two times and are confident they will approve me this time but I'm worried.
I'm a PE teacher at a state facility for troubled teens (so they sometimes get aggressive) and it is a year round school.My surgeon made me take 8 weeks with my panni and hernia because of that and also I have a history of hernias. I had my other surgery in Feb so I'm not sure what they are going to think if I have another surgery so soon even if I have the sick time and vac time.
Thanks
Julie
HW 304, SW 291, GW 160, CW 140 H-5'9.5"
Hi, I had a breast reduction 10 days ago (along with an extended TT). My PS has his own outpatient surgical center so even though my surgery was 7 hrs (yours would be much shorter for just the BR), I was fine to go home about 2.5 hrs later. It was ridiculously hard to muster the energy to move (I think that was primarily from also having TT & being under anesthesia for so long) and they wanted me to have someone with me for the first 24 hrs. I went home with a catheter in and leg pump things so I got home and sat in my recliner until the next morning when I had my first post-op appt.
If you're having your surgery at a hospital, I think the average is one overnight if you don't have any complications. Obviously insurance doesn't want you to be there any longer than absolutely necessary ;). I had the choice to have my surgery at a hospital with my surgeon and I think it would've still been an outpatient procedure. His surgical center is supposedly "state of the art" and his nurses are way nicer and *gentler* than the ones I've had in a hospital. Plus I liked the idea of him being right around the corner in his office in case anything came up during recovery, which he probably wouldn't have been at the hospital.
So every doctor's rules are probably slightly different but here are some of the rules I received for my BR. He wants me taking it easy for 2 weeks... I'm not supposed to push, pull, or lift anything weighing more than 10 lbs. I'm not supposed to vacuum, fold large loads of laundry or any other strenuous housework. I'm to avoid using my arms as much as possible when getting up from a chair or bed.
For the first week post-op, I can slowly raise my arms above my head once an hour. After the 2 weeks, I'm allowed to slowly increase my walking and activity, but I'm not supposed to do anything that raises my heart rate over 100 for 4 weeks post-op. I'm allowed to start jogging and light lifting at 4 weeks out. Then at 6 weeks out, all restrictions are lifted.
Hope that helps. Good luck with getting your insurance to approve the BR!
ETA: My dr said most people return to work by 7-10 days out, but I think that's if you have a desk job. Be prepared to have to take 2 weeks minimum off but if it were my dr, he might me take off 4-6 depending on the specific details of your job.
If you're having your surgery at a hospital, I think the average is one overnight if you don't have any complications. Obviously insurance doesn't want you to be there any longer than absolutely necessary ;). I had the choice to have my surgery at a hospital with my surgeon and I think it would've still been an outpatient procedure. His surgical center is supposedly "state of the art" and his nurses are way nicer and *gentler* than the ones I've had in a hospital. Plus I liked the idea of him being right around the corner in his office in case anything came up during recovery, which he probably wouldn't have been at the hospital.
So every doctor's rules are probably slightly different but here are some of the rules I received for my BR. He wants me taking it easy for 2 weeks... I'm not supposed to push, pull, or lift anything weighing more than 10 lbs. I'm not supposed to vacuum, fold large loads of laundry or any other strenuous housework. I'm to avoid using my arms as much as possible when getting up from a chair or bed.
For the first week post-op, I can slowly raise my arms above my head once an hour. After the 2 weeks, I'm allowed to slowly increase my walking and activity, but I'm not supposed to do anything that raises my heart rate over 100 for 4 weeks post-op. I'm allowed to start jogging and light lifting at 4 weeks out. Then at 6 weeks out, all restrictions are lifted.
Hope that helps. Good luck with getting your insurance to approve the BR!
ETA: My dr said most people return to work by 7-10 days out, but I think that's if you have a desk job. Be prepared to have to take 2 weeks minimum off but if it were my dr, he might me take off 4-6 depending on the specific details of your job.
ETA: Kelly
Glad it made you feel better ;).
The instructions for my BR were basically the same as my TT. Good luck with your surgeries and I hope you have an easy and speedy recovery! As my mother-in-law said "Don't be a hero, take your pain medicine if you need to." :D
Even though I still have a fair amount of swelling, I am SO thrilled with my results. I can't get over my boobs being UP at the right height. I'm loving it ;)!
So the office manager at my PS's office had a BR and TT a month before mine and she said that she didn't have any pain in her breasts at all, just some from her TT. So far I'm experiencing the exact same thing. If I gently press my breast or even if my little purse rests against the side, that hurts a little, but otherwise, they're fine. I thought maybe the pain from the TT would be so awful that I wouldn't notice the lesser pain from the BR, but the pain from the TT hasn't been very bad at all so it's so bizarre. I hope you have just as easy (or better!) of a recovery :)!
Glad it made you feel better ;).
The instructions for my BR were basically the same as my TT. Good luck with your surgeries and I hope you have an easy and speedy recovery! As my mother-in-law said "Don't be a hero, take your pain medicine if you need to." :D
Even though I still have a fair amount of swelling, I am SO thrilled with my results. I can't get over my boobs being UP at the right height. I'm loving it ;)!
So the office manager at my PS's office had a BR and TT a month before mine and she said that she didn't have any pain in her breasts at all, just some from her TT. So far I'm experiencing the exact same thing. If I gently press my breast or even if my little purse rests against the side, that hurts a little, but otherwise, they're fine. I thought maybe the pain from the TT would be so awful that I wouldn't notice the lesser pain from the BR, but the pain from the TT hasn't been very bad at all so it's so bizarre. I hope you have just as easy (or better!) of a recovery :)!
Thanks pagek77!
I'm still waiting on a new date but your info has helped meca lot although being Israel is socialized medicine and my surgery will be with scar Rwvision and teeny hernia repair, I've been told that I will be in hospital about a week if all goes as planned.
How do you manage with shirts and with taking a shower?
Mikimi in Israel
I'm still waiting on a new date but your info has helped meca lot although being Israel is socialized medicine and my surgery will be with scar Rwvision and teeny hernia repair, I've been told that I will be in hospital about a week if all goes as planned.
How do you manage with shirts and with taking a shower?
Mikimi in Israel
Hi Godzilla,
I'm glad my info was helpful :)! I'm not sure what your weather is like in Israel this time of year, but where I live we're still wearing long sleeves and light jackets so I just bought a few cheap full-zip "hoodies" to wear after surgery. But as long as it's not a tight shirt, I can actually pull things over my head slowly and gently like a nightgown or t-shirt. I waited a few days post-op to even attempt that though. I also was able to fit into my pre-op comfy yoga pants post-TT but with the drains there, I found wearing a skirt was way more comfortable because it didn't apply any pressure on the drains.
I wasn't allowed to take a shower until 24 hours *after* my last drains were removed, which was 8 days post-op. I'm a bit on the cautious side so I actually waited 48 hours after my drains came out. I'm married so my husband was in the shower with me and we have a handheld shower nozzle so he was washing and rinsing me. I was able to wash my hair though. My nurse recommended to have someone help you in the shower or be within earshot in case you feel lightheaded or fatigued since it'll probably be the most strenuous thing you've done since surgery. If I had to shower by myself the first few times, I would probably get one of those seats you can put in your shower and shower sitting down so that it wouldn't be so exhausting. I also kept my shower kinda short, maybe 8 minutes. (That's short for me compared to my husband's 20 minute showers ;)!) I'm not sure how long you'll have your drains in or if they even will do that, but you might end up taking your first shower (which I'm sure is the hardest and most exhausting) in the hospital and I'm sure a nurse will help you.
ETA: Or you could wear button-up shirts if pulling a shirt over your head is too difficult and your weather is too warm for zip-up hoodies.
I'm glad my info was helpful :)! I'm not sure what your weather is like in Israel this time of year, but where I live we're still wearing long sleeves and light jackets so I just bought a few cheap full-zip "hoodies" to wear after surgery. But as long as it's not a tight shirt, I can actually pull things over my head slowly and gently like a nightgown or t-shirt. I waited a few days post-op to even attempt that though. I also was able to fit into my pre-op comfy yoga pants post-TT but with the drains there, I found wearing a skirt was way more comfortable because it didn't apply any pressure on the drains.
I wasn't allowed to take a shower until 24 hours *after* my last drains were removed, which was 8 days post-op. I'm a bit on the cautious side so I actually waited 48 hours after my drains came out. I'm married so my husband was in the shower with me and we have a handheld shower nozzle so he was washing and rinsing me. I was able to wash my hair though. My nurse recommended to have someone help you in the shower or be within earshot in case you feel lightheaded or fatigued since it'll probably be the most strenuous thing you've done since surgery. If I had to shower by myself the first few times, I would probably get one of those seats you can put in your shower and shower sitting down so that it wouldn't be so exhausting. I also kept my shower kinda short, maybe 8 minutes. (That's short for me compared to my husband's 20 minute showers ;)!) I'm not sure how long you'll have your drains in or if they even will do that, but you might end up taking your first shower (which I'm sure is the hardest and most exhausting) in the hospital and I'm sure a nurse will help you.
ETA: Or you could wear button-up shirts if pulling a shirt over your head is too difficult and your weather is too warm for zip-up hoodies.
Well, daytime is hot sun (30C) but night have a nip in the air!
I wear live in a hi-rise (10 stories) apartment building and I live alone in the top floor.
Since I'll be in hospital for at least a week, that time will cover the scary and difficult task of taking a shower alone and dealing with the drains which there will be one under and a bit to the side for each boob and most likely another one in the groin.
When we (hospital staff and myself) saw the slowly developing slough to gangrene,I was not actually physically able to deal all by myself what with the binder and laying down when having dressings changed. Part of my difficulty last year after I got home from my TT was not being able to see the area of my pubic mons. I know that sounds strange and being short but still fat (no more morbid obesity!) with the hanging pendulous boobs and a long mirror (but obviously not with a proper enough angle).
After the debridement for the dehiscence and gangrene I was (as I've written before) on the WoundVac for about seven weeks and due to my living far away from this hospital and the fact that I live alone, my PS and the staff in the Plastics Department finangled the system "against" the HMO rep for me to remain in hospital as long as we could get away with it.
A WoundVac machine can be arranged in home care situations (as in diabetic ulcers, bedsores and other medical reasons). It would have been for me very discerning to be home with the small version and I am so relieved and blessed and grateful that it worked out for me to remain in hospital as long as I did!
Back tp my hopefully soon to have Breast Lift (Mastopexy) etc.... I guess I'll pack a couple of loose/wide over the head t-shirts for my release from hospital.
Another stupid question that may seem obvious.... I assume after the surgery one needs to sleep only on the back for a certain amount of time (and elevated legs with knees bent) to promote a more symmetrical healing and less chance of certain types of complications? I normally tend to fall asleep on my left side (I read that it aids digestion) but I always wake up on my back.
Thanks for answering me! I'm so glad we are able to ask and help one another - even if many of us are not in the medical field, the honest and personal 1st-hand experiences we share make a world of difference in understanding what will/might/had happen. I know that for me the forewarned knowledge really helped me such that when it came to possible depression/buyers remorse after Plastics that many talk about-never really happened to me. I had loneliness and sadness from being in hospital for so long and it was during the time period of the Jewish High Holiday season. Most of my friends do not own cars, two and a half hour traveling each direction (w/o even mentioning parking in hospital and paying) and friends'
grown married children home for the Hoildays- meant I was a bit on the unlucky side when it came to company.
I pray to Gd that this surgery and its hospitalization will go a lot more smoothly than last August. At least this time around I know many of the nurses and doctors on the Plastics Department.
Sorry for the extra rambling...loneliness and I'm actually in bed with the purpose of going to sleep but sleep eludes me! I was having horrific pain from my ankle (ankle fusion 2006) and although I took a pain killer (in my case Oxycontin) I was waiting for it to kick in -but then there its side effect which in my case is itching. Thank GD my ankle pain had finally dissipated and now I have this major case of the itchies. I should really ask my GP for a script for Benadryl. Pain relief for me often comes with itchies. I know I could ask for a different med but it is easier to stay with this that to possibly fight the HMO.
Similar to trading and getting rid of our blubber and excess skin and having scars. Most of us will take the scars if it means getting rid of excess skin. And most people do not scar like me.
Thank you for whoever chose to read this long..,
Mikimi in Israel
I wear live in a hi-rise (10 stories) apartment building and I live alone in the top floor.
Since I'll be in hospital for at least a week, that time will cover the scary and difficult task of taking a shower alone and dealing with the drains which there will be one under and a bit to the side for each boob and most likely another one in the groin.
When we (hospital staff and myself) saw the slowly developing slough to gangrene,I was not actually physically able to deal all by myself what with the binder and laying down when having dressings changed. Part of my difficulty last year after I got home from my TT was not being able to see the area of my pubic mons. I know that sounds strange and being short but still fat (no more morbid obesity!) with the hanging pendulous boobs and a long mirror (but obviously not with a proper enough angle).
After the debridement for the dehiscence and gangrene I was (as I've written before) on the WoundVac for about seven weeks and due to my living far away from this hospital and the fact that I live alone, my PS and the staff in the Plastics Department finangled the system "against" the HMO rep for me to remain in hospital as long as we could get away with it.
A WoundVac machine can be arranged in home care situations (as in diabetic ulcers, bedsores and other medical reasons). It would have been for me very discerning to be home with the small version and I am so relieved and blessed and grateful that it worked out for me to remain in hospital as long as I did!
Back tp my hopefully soon to have Breast Lift (Mastopexy) etc.... I guess I'll pack a couple of loose/wide over the head t-shirts for my release from hospital.
Another stupid question that may seem obvious.... I assume after the surgery one needs to sleep only on the back for a certain amount of time (and elevated legs with knees bent) to promote a more symmetrical healing and less chance of certain types of complications? I normally tend to fall asleep on my left side (I read that it aids digestion) but I always wake up on my back.
Thanks for answering me! I'm so glad we are able to ask and help one another - even if many of us are not in the medical field, the honest and personal 1st-hand experiences we share make a world of difference in understanding what will/might/had happen. I know that for me the forewarned knowledge really helped me such that when it came to possible depression/buyers remorse after Plastics that many talk about-never really happened to me. I had loneliness and sadness from being in hospital for so long and it was during the time period of the Jewish High Holiday season. Most of my friends do not own cars, two and a half hour traveling each direction (w/o even mentioning parking in hospital and paying) and friends'
grown married children home for the Hoildays- meant I was a bit on the unlucky side when it came to company.
I pray to Gd that this surgery and its hospitalization will go a lot more smoothly than last August. At least this time around I know many of the nurses and doctors on the Plastics Department.
Sorry for the extra rambling...loneliness and I'm actually in bed with the purpose of going to sleep but sleep eludes me! I was having horrific pain from my ankle (ankle fusion 2006) and although I took a pain killer (in my case Oxycontin) I was waiting for it to kick in -but then there its side effect which in my case is itching. Thank GD my ankle pain had finally dissipated and now I have this major case of the itchies. I should really ask my GP for a script for Benadryl. Pain relief for me often comes with itchies. I know I could ask for a different med but it is easier to stay with this that to possibly fight the HMO.
Similar to trading and getting rid of our blubber and excess skin and having scars. Most of us will take the scars if it means getting rid of excess skin. And most people do not scar like me.
Thank you for whoever chose to read this long..,
Mikimi in Israel
Whoa, that sounds like an awful ordeal!!! I really hope that this experience is much better and easier!
Yes, you definitely need to sleep on your back after both BR and TT surgery. I think the TT instructions are more strict in that ideally you'd sleep in a somewhat reclined position for TWO weeks. If you have a recliner, they suggest sleeping in that so you can be in a slightly reclined position and won't be able to sleep on your sides. I've been sleeping on our couch that reclines with a pillow next to the empty spot so I'm not tempted to roll over and a pillow under my knees and one behind my lower back because it's the most comfortable that way. If you're in the hospital, I'm sure the bed will be able to be adjusted properly and they'll provide extra pillows. If you don't have a recliner at your house, then they recommend putting a few pillows behind you to prop you up a big, a pillow under each arm to prevent you from rolling on your side, and a pillow under your knees to take the strain off your stomach. My doctor said that after 2 weeks, I can try to sleep on my sides. I have my 2-week appt later this week so I'll see if that's still ok or if he still wants me to sleep on my back a bit longer.
Oh I was going to say that I would just wear the hospital gowns and robes while you're there. Then just take a button-up, zip-up, or loose top for the ride home.
Yes, you definitely need to sleep on your back after both BR and TT surgery. I think the TT instructions are more strict in that ideally you'd sleep in a somewhat reclined position for TWO weeks. If you have a recliner, they suggest sleeping in that so you can be in a slightly reclined position and won't be able to sleep on your sides. I've been sleeping on our couch that reclines with a pillow next to the empty spot so I'm not tempted to roll over and a pillow under my knees and one behind my lower back because it's the most comfortable that way. If you're in the hospital, I'm sure the bed will be able to be adjusted properly and they'll provide extra pillows. If you don't have a recliner at your house, then they recommend putting a few pillows behind you to prop you up a big, a pillow under each arm to prevent you from rolling on your side, and a pillow under your knees to take the strain off your stomach. My doctor said that after 2 weeks, I can try to sleep on my sides. I have my 2-week appt later this week so I'll see if that's still ok or if he still wants me to sleep on my back a bit longer.
Oh I was going to say that I would just wear the hospital gowns and robes while you're there. Then just take a button-up, zip-up, or loose top for the ride home.
I imagine this experience will be tons better and easier.
I always wear hospital clothing once admitted-why should I get my clothes dirty with icky secretions/discharges?
Yeah,in hospital they adjust the bed into all sorts of contortions and Thank GD I do have a recliner at home.
My biggest fear is that the bra I ordered from the lingerie shop is the wrong size! They would not measure me but "eyeballed" my size and I'm afraid what was ordered is too big. I have to come in with the bra when admitted.
Mikimk
I always wear hospital clothing once admitted-why should I get my clothes dirty with icky secretions/discharges?
Yeah,in hospital they adjust the bed into all sorts of contortions and Thank GD I do have a recliner at home.
My biggest fear is that the bra I ordered from the lingerie shop is the wrong size! They would not measure me but "eyeballed" my size and I'm afraid what was ordered is too big. I have to come in with the bra when admitted.
Mikimk
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