Suggestions please

On the 17th of this month, I go in to have my tummy tuck with lypo done.  I am extremely nervous! I was hoping some of you could give me some suggestions as to what I may want to have at the house for after surgery.  I already got me a little lap table and plan to sleep in the recliner.  I got cleaning whipes for the time I can not take a shower and some big pads to put over my incision.  Should I get a good stool softener?  What is something I can take for swelling since ibuprofen is out of the question.  I am really freaking out. 

Up your protein intake now and for a few weeks after.
Make little meals and freeze to have ready.
If you don't normally do shakes, consider doing so for at least a week or two after as eating may be difficult.
Other recommend stool softener. I never needed but I know that real pain killers (narcotic) are known cUse for constipation.
Drink liquids after your surgery as fluids in help fluids out.
Binder? I have read about wearing a soft sleeveless t-shirt underneath the binder to avoid chafing.
When at home, go from sitting to standing; laying to sitting...in a slow manner to prevent possible dizziness. Try to take a sit-down shower or have someone in the home when showering in case of feeling weak.
Smooth Healing,
Mikimi in Israel

Dear goodness, yes, get stool softeners!  and start taking them several days before surgery.  The narcotic painkillers and anesthesia will do you in.  In fact, you may also want to get a box of the Fleet liquid suppositories.  Nothing worse than being stopped up and unable to push - the muscle repair makes it really difficult and painful to bear down.

Have a reacher/grabbie tool.  You'll be amazed at how many things you'll drop or need to reach, and bending down is going to be hard.

I didn't find sitting on the john to be an issue, but several people swear by the toilet seat riser and having a female portable urinal.

Check with your surgeon to see if they prefer a certain kind of dressing for the incision.  Mine did.

Pillows to prop yourself up in different positions and keep your legs elevated.

Ask your doc for an anti-nausea drug as well as a painkiller.  You don't want to heave.

Up your protein now and have plenty on hand for after - all the usual plus protein shakes and bars.  Something easy to keep bedside and munch on.

The only extra supplement my surgeon recommends is Vitamin C, but your doc may have some other recommendations.

http://www.dbreath.com/documents/PlasticSurgeryPlanner.pdf

I posted this into the fall.  It is one of the most comprehensive pre and post surgery planners I've seen and covers just about everything.  Good luck!  :-)

 

p.s.  at the end of the planner, the doctor's office says to feel free to share it with anyone...

 

Thank you :)

Oh - I totally forgot about the T-shirts until Mikimi mentioned them.

I went to Walmart and bought a men's small wife-beater tank.  Wore it under my binder - it helped TREMENDOUSLY as my binder didn't rub on my incisions.  Buy a 6 pack of them if you can.  I had creams I had to put on my scars too and the shirts helped keep it from gouping on the binder. 

and YES with stool softeners!  a MUST-HAVE.  You don't ant to be straining... OUCH!

Do you have someone that will be helping you?  You must have someone with you for the first-second shower.  You will feel like you may pass out... if not, be sure you have a stool or something you can sit on in it.  

Nothing for swelling... just for pain.  The swelling will happened even with the ibuprofen... it takes time!