It's my time for PS and I have a question!
on 10/26/12 11:01 pm
Hey Everyone,
I've been at goal for a few months now and have scheduled my surgery for 12/28. Like you all know, I am SO excited and SO nervous. I am having a full TT, lipo on the tummy and outer hips, BL/BA and a very small arm lift. All within the "6 hour window" that many doctors like to stay within. Here are my questions:
l am concerned that getting my arms done with the TT will greatly limit my ability to get around. I know that many of you had your arms done with these procedures, how did you did it? I will be going home the same day and will have my husband to take care of me.
What are some items that you just couldn't live without in recovery? I want to ensure that I have all the essentials needed for success!
I plan to take 10 full days off from work and then work from home with my laptop for a full week, longer if needed, after that. I can return as needed to the office physically as I have a very flexible workplace like that.
So what else have a missed? I value your feedback and suggestions. Thanks everyone!
on 10/27/12 12:14 pm
I suggest you put all essentials at. Pinter height so you don't have to reach for anything.
I set up a little table next to my recliner with remotes, lip balm, meds (I even split my meds into 2 different containers in case I dropped one and could not retrieve it by myself).
I bought my drinks in smaller bottles so I didn't have to lift anything over about 16 ounces.
I had my husband pre-open some of my Vitamin waters so I didn't have to strain to open them.
I stocked the fridge with easy to eat food .... For me, that was chili, tuna, applesauce, yogurt, crackers, hearty soups.
Then, I used a walking stick to help stand up.
You can put it in front of you, between your legs and place one hand on top of the other to lift yourself up to a stand ing position.
Sometimes heating pad felt good, sometimes flexible ice packs felt good, so you might want to have both available to you.
I have read that people hang their drains from a lanyard around their neck when showering. I did not have drains.
My doctor wouldn't do upper and lower in one surgery. He said you would have to have your upper body strength to help you get around and stay mobile while the lower body healed.
HE WAS RIGHT!
I had the full LBL and Thigh lift.. JUst getting up and out of my recliner I needed my arms to be able to push up and to brace myself while sitting. If my arms had been cut, I would have needed someone to get me up and set me down.
Never mind the toilet situation - Getting up and down from the toilet extender, cleaning yourself, etc.
I can understand how excite you are to do the "full montag" I was. I can see now it would not have been a good idea. It would have been disastrous.
My advice, do the lower body, heal, then do the upper.
_____________________________________________________________________
160 lbs lost. Surgeons Goal Reached in 33 weeks. My Goal in 37 Weeks.
VSG: 11/2/2011; LBL+Thigh Lift+BL: 10/3/2012; Brach+Mastopexy: 7/22/2013
on 10/28/12 2:53 am
Yep, that's good advice. I might opt to do the thighs instead of the arms at the same time of the "Mommy Makeover" so I can have my arms and then do the arms later. I only need a very small arm lift so it will be an easy healing time a few months down the road. I have an appt this Friday so I'll let you know what we decide.
Thanks Rob!
Personally, I do not see how he can do all of that and do a good job. My arm lift by itself was 3 hours. My lbl/bl was 7 hours and that was really not enough time for my breast lift. My surgeon even admitted that (he is a perfectionist) and when I get implants my surgeon will fix my breasts (they don't look bad, just not as good as they could be).
Laura in Texas
53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)
RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis
brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco
"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."
on 10/28/12 3:41 am
I am not getting a lbl, just a TT. My arm lift is underarm incision only as I do not have that much skin to remove from my arms. I will ask him Friday what he thinks - maybe we do the BA/BL, TT and thighs instead of the arms. I would only need the though lift where they do NOT cut down leg, just the incision on the panty line. I will know more Friday, I'm nervous AND excited!
Thanks for your reply.