5 day post LBL Update - and an important detail for the guys [X-Post]

So, I have been absent for the past few days recovering from my Lower Body Lift.  I posted right after surgery, but not alot.  Heres a brief summary of where I am:

Currently I feel pretty good considering I look like a low rent Darth Vader.  I still have my On-Q pain ball around my neck and all 5 of my drains pinned to it.  If I knew this is how I would look I would have scheduled my surgery closer to Halloween - Imagine that opening the door.

I am moving atround pretty well and the pain is actually a lot less than I was expecting.  I haven't had to take my muscle relaxers or Dilaudid in two days now.  I could legally drive - but not going there.  My biggest area of discomfort, and the reason I am not walking as much as I thought I would be at this point, is my balls.  My discomfort is managed by tighter underwear and OTC pain meds.  

No one warned me that my scrotum was going to swell up to the size of a small grapefruit.  The surgeon told me to expect some - but I wasn't thinking i'd be making a bull elephant jealous.  They are gi-normous, and slight shaking leads to tome pretty obnoxious feelings.

I have been sleeping in my recliner every night.  It is beginning to feel a bit like a prison.  I am planning a bonfire for it after surgery!

Just to recap I had an anchor-cut abdominoplasty with muscle repair, Median Thigh Lift, Butt Lift.  They took 7.5 lbs of skin.  I was in surgery 10.5 hours.  So heres how things have gone for me so far:

Surgery day - felt pretty good coming out of surgery.  HUge discomfort changing positions in bed.  I walked the halls twice the day of surgery.

Day 1 - In the hospital.  Bored most of the day waiting for the surgeon to release me.  Not a lot of appetite.  Walked the floor 5 times for up to 6 laps at a time.  Got released about 4PM.  Home and in the recliner after that.  My bladder re-opened for business about 1 PM.  That was NICE!

Day 2 - Moving around even better.  A lot of abdominal soreness.  Getting up and down is a real challenge.  Coughing or laughing is a new experience in pain.  I take my first shower.  Its nice to feel human again.  

Day 3 - Getting Stronger.  I can get myself in and out of my recliner without much help.  Walking upright instead of hunched over.  Still some soreness, but feeling better.  Bowels re-open for business.  Given how coughing and laughing feel, I was afraid it would be too painful to go #2.  It actually made me feel much better.  First day making my usual hydration goals.

Day 4 - Even better.  I feel confident enough to plan on going to my therapy appointment in the morning and maybe even group.

Day 5 - Still house confined.  The swelling down below is still the main thing limiting my mobility.  My shower convinced me I was not up to going out yet.

 

So I try to walk around for 15 minutes each hour.  I bend and flex and try to live as normally as I can with mutant south park gonads.  I am getting 100 gr or more of protein a day with around 1000-1100 calories.  I am continuing to meet my hydration goal.  That concerned me a lot at first, but I applied the same rules I always did - sip sip sip.  

Tomorrow I have my follow up with my plastic surgeon.  I expect we will be removing the pain ball and probably 4 of the 5 drains.  My abdominal drain still produces about 40 ml over 12 hours.  The color is much better - but still quite a bit of volume.  Some of the others only produce drops by now.  

I am not seeing the full benefits yet - still alot of swelling in general.  I did weigh myself - but its not accurate with all the swelling and hardware.  I went in at 183 or thereabouts, they took 7.5 lbs, and when I weighed yesterday it was 186.  Oh well.  THe scale can wait - I still have healing to do.

I am SOOOO looking forward to getting out of the house tomorrow!  Wish me luck!

 Hey Rob,
Sounds like you are quite the trooper. All of that and I didn't even hear a well deserved whine anywhere in that post! Sending prayers for a speedy recovery, and um, hope the swelling of the jewels subsides soon, that sounds like no fun whatsoever!!
keep us posted,and congrats that the worst is behind you now! 
Big hugs to you,
Christina

WOW Rob, that's wonderful!! I'm beyond glad you are one, okay, two, having a pretty normal recovery despite the huge gonads! LOL. I'll keep you in y prayers all goes well! 

I loved your post. Thanks for sharing your experience. How do you look minus the giant balls? Is your tummy/butt/body very swollen? I'm starting my ps journey and I'm terrified!

Right now I don't look too different versus pre-surgery.  The swelling I have makes me look about the same as before.  In about 6-10 weeks all of that should be gone.  I am really looking forward to clothes shopping in December!

Rob,

Good to know that you are healing well and have your sense of humor.   Never thought about how the "boys" might be effected by PS.  Don't take much to make them unhappy.  Little "help" for getting around tomorrow!

 Now that is funny!

Oh Rob,
So sorry for your ball pain!
I still sleep mostly in my recliner since my Breast Liftt as one boob had opened and when I lay down I like to sleep on my side and then the sport bra opens at the top.
Hope your pain disappears real soon!
Rest,walk,drink,protein.
And keep us posted!
Mikimi in Israel

Glad your on the mend.

I felt like you after my LBL surgery. Although my balls were unaffected. I didn't have the inner thighs done only outer. The Sleeve was the first surgery I ever did. The Sleeve surgery was a breeze and that was my frame of reference. My LBL was a much rougher surgery, recovery was longer and didn't feel quite like myself for a couple of months. Now that I'm almost a year out I can say it was definitely worth it. And I would do it again. Your quality of life is un measurable not having to deal with the excess skin.

Well, you made me giggle!

I'm so glad you are healing well, and quickly!  Enjoy your "robust" manhood............I'm sure it will go back to normal soon.