Checking in 10 days after anchor TT and inner thigh lift
ToBeAble
on 7/25/12 12:44 am
on 7/25/12 12:44 am
Hi all!
I have been reading the PS board daily during my recovery, but today is the first day I have the clearheadedness to sit down and write a post.
Overall, surgery (anchor TT and medial thigh lift) and recovery thus far has gone great. I live alone, so I hired a wonderful nurse who spent the first 48 hours with me, and has been coming by every other day to help me shower. (The shower itself hasn't been a big deal -- it's getting the compression garment back on that takes a village!) Friends have filled in the rest of my support schedule, and have been wonderful.
Healing seems to be going well so far (knock wood) and with the help of pain meds, the pain has been minimal -- discomfort is probably a better word. I'm trying to forgo the oxicodone in favor of tylenol today, we'll see how that goes.
The biggest challenge thus far has been the drain sites -- over the last few days, the ones behind each knee have become increasingly uncomfortable for me. I have my second follow-up with the surgeon tomorrow. My dream is that he'll take out those and the remaining one in my abdomen -- but it's still a little early, so we'll see if that's really realistic. My drain output has lessened significantly, but it did increase a bit more after I was more active around the house yesterday afternoon. I really think that getting the drains out will be a milestone that will allow me to transition to the next stage of healing. I might even be able to go out in public for a little while when those dangling drains are gone -- then I will *only* draw attention for being hunched over!
Family and friends keep asking me if I'm happy with the results. Honestly, I feel like I'm not even at the stage to evaluate that yet. With the exception of the hour or so when the compression garment is off to shower, I really haven't gotten to spend any time looking at how my body has changed. And I'm only wearing baggy, loose clothing to go over the drains. (Since looking at incisions, stitches and such makes me queasy anyway, that's just as well for now!)
I have found this messageboard invaluable over the past few weeks (and pre-surgery) to look up questions I have about swelling, drains, etc. Thank you to all of you who have shared your experiences and wisdom so openly on this board.
I'll post pix in a few weeks.
Best,
Laura
I have been reading the PS board daily during my recovery, but today is the first day I have the clearheadedness to sit down and write a post.
Overall, surgery (anchor TT and medial thigh lift) and recovery thus far has gone great. I live alone, so I hired a wonderful nurse who spent the first 48 hours with me, and has been coming by every other day to help me shower. (The shower itself hasn't been a big deal -- it's getting the compression garment back on that takes a village!) Friends have filled in the rest of my support schedule, and have been wonderful.
Healing seems to be going well so far (knock wood) and with the help of pain meds, the pain has been minimal -- discomfort is probably a better word. I'm trying to forgo the oxicodone in favor of tylenol today, we'll see how that goes.
The biggest challenge thus far has been the drain sites -- over the last few days, the ones behind each knee have become increasingly uncomfortable for me. I have my second follow-up with the surgeon tomorrow. My dream is that he'll take out those and the remaining one in my abdomen -- but it's still a little early, so we'll see if that's really realistic. My drain output has lessened significantly, but it did increase a bit more after I was more active around the house yesterday afternoon. I really think that getting the drains out will be a milestone that will allow me to transition to the next stage of healing. I might even be able to go out in public for a little while when those dangling drains are gone -- then I will *only* draw attention for being hunched over!
Family and friends keep asking me if I'm happy with the results. Honestly, I feel like I'm not even at the stage to evaluate that yet. With the exception of the hour or so when the compression garment is off to shower, I really haven't gotten to spend any time looking at how my body has changed. And I'm only wearing baggy, loose clothing to go over the drains. (Since looking at incisions, stitches and such makes me queasy anyway, that's just as well for now!)
I have found this messageboard invaluable over the past few weeks (and pre-surgery) to look up questions I have about swelling, drains, etc. Thank you to all of you who have shared your experiences and wisdom so openly on this board.
I'll post pix in a few weeks.
Best,
Laura
RNY 7/30/10 SW 302/CW ~150/First Goal 155 (reached 9/2011)
Extended TT & Medial Thigh Lift 7/16/12. Arms, Butt Lift 2/6/13.
I'm glad you are feeling so good. Getting the drains out is really a huge milestone, you just feel so much better. I had two from my butt lift, I pulled one after 2 days because there was hardly any out put and the second one I just pulled the day before yesterday (at 6 days out) because it had gone way down in out put too. My doc was out of town so he said I could pull them if I wanted too, or go to his office, I managed on my own. It's just amazing how you feel so much more healed once they come out! That's great that you have had nursing help too, it's amazing how great a shower can make you feel too. Best of luck on your recovery!
On July 25, 2012 at 8:36 AM Pacific Time, ToBeAble wrote:
Thanks, Anne! It sounds like your recovery is going well so far, too!
You've got more guts than I do to pull out the drains yourself. Just the thought of one of the drains falling out makes me squeamish!
Best,
Laura
ToBeAble
on 7/31/12 11:50 pm
on 7/31/12 11:50 pm
Thanks, Danielle!
I had an anchor TT and medial thigh lift, with a vertical incision running from my knees to my groin, and then a horizontal incision on each side of the groin. My doctor took out the drains last Thursday, and I felt like a new woman! But over the weekend, the areas where the vertical and horizontal incisions meet started opening a little -- not uncommon since it's a high stress point. On Monday the surgeon put in a few sutures to help keep them from opening more. Other than the drains, this has been the most uncomfortable part, since I feel the irritation every time I move. But it's not too bad, and overall I have been very pleased with the recovery process so far.
As for how my thighs look, it's still early to tell -- they still feel pretty tight and are swollen. But my tummy is looking incredible! I have had two rolls of fat/skin there my whole adult life -- I can't believe it when I look down and I see a flat belly!
Glad yours went well!
Best,
Laura
I had an anchor TT and medial thigh lift, with a vertical incision running from my knees to my groin, and then a horizontal incision on each side of the groin. My doctor took out the drains last Thursday, and I felt like a new woman! But over the weekend, the areas where the vertical and horizontal incisions meet started opening a little -- not uncommon since it's a high stress point. On Monday the surgeon put in a few sutures to help keep them from opening more. Other than the drains, this has been the most uncomfortable part, since I feel the irritation every time I move. But it's not too bad, and overall I have been very pleased with the recovery process so far.
As for how my thighs look, it's still early to tell -- they still feel pretty tight and are swollen. But my tummy is looking incredible! I have had two rolls of fat/skin there my whole adult life -- I can't believe it when I look down and I see a flat belly!
Glad yours went well!
Best,
Laura
RNY 7/30/10 SW 302/CW ~150/First Goal 155 (reached 9/2011)
Extended TT & Medial Thigh Lift 7/16/12. Arms, Butt Lift 2/6/13.
ToBeAble
on 8/1/12 12:43 am
on 8/1/12 12:43 am
Yep, definitely wearing a compression garment! As of yesterday, my doc said I can move to 12 hours a day rather than 23 hrs in the garments...but it feels like a security blanket for me so I'll probably wear it more for at least another week or two. I am trying some Spanx this morning -- but they're size large and I think I need medium (ordered online, waiting for them to arrive soon) to get more compression.
My next follow-up is August 9th -- hopefully by then the healing will be a lot better! (And the surgeon said it looked a lot worse than is was as far as healing -- but I get queasy at the sight of just about anything!)
Laura
My next follow-up is August 9th -- hopefully by then the healing will be a lot better! (And the surgeon said it looked a lot worse than is was as far as healing -- but I get queasy at the sight of just about anything!)
Laura
I had the shoulder to ankle full body compression garment from www.designveronique.com and it was wonderful! I felt like I would burst after my shower! It did feel like a security blanket and I wore it 14 hours a day for 6 months or more. I wore it 23-7 for 12 weeks. My doctor's recommendation was 6 weeks.
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.
ToBeAble
on 8/1/12 1:14 am
on 8/1/12 1:14 am
Thanks! I'll look at that brand. I did just buy a variety of brands online, including flexees and spanx -- TBD how they fit. Plus, I bought an extra of the garment my surgeon gave me, which feels good. (although I'm getting tired of using the bathroom through the hold in the bottom! TMI!) I don't want to go too crazy buying garments...on the other hand, from all that I've read on the boards, lots of people wear them for several months, so I'm guessing I'll choose to, too.
L
L
RNY 7/30/10 SW 302/CW ~150/First Goal 155 (reached 9/2011)
Extended TT & Medial Thigh Lift 7/16/12. Arms, Butt Lift 2/6/13.
I am one who went crazy! Spent way too much money! But I still wear my garment when I work my nights at the hospital. I have really bad dependent edema from being so obese for so long and the garment helps with that!
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.
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