2 Days Post Op from Lower Body Lift with Dr. Capella

I have a question for all of you veterans of a lower body lift.  I decided to do the muscle tightening and Dr. Capella agreed that would be the best outcome for this surgery.

How long did it take you before you could lay down?  I am sleeping in a chair with an ottoman.  Pain is tolerable and I am walking hutched over which is what I expected.  I am drinking and doing protein shakes because I just do not feel like eating.  Today I forced myself with some protein.  I did my first shower today and tomorrow I will email him pictures of my drains.  I have 5 in total.  I haven't even looked at my scars because at this point, everything will change and I am starting to get itchy which I know is a good sign.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Cindy Cooney

I could lay down right away.  Getting up again was the problem. 

Seriously, the recliner is probably your best bet right now.  In bed, I used a lot of pillows to both take pressure off various body parts and to wedge me into position to pull myself upright.  If I had a recliner at the time, I would have taken up residence in it.

Keep getting the protein shakes in.  You need it for healing.  Congratulations on making it!

Thank you.  A recliner I do not have.  You are right the problem is getting up.  I can sit on a couch and sit up in bed, but laying down and getting up is the whole problem.  

Cindy

Not sure. I slept in an adjustable bed for the first 3+ weeks. By week 4 I was back in my regular bed.

Same as Laura here.  I kept trying but just couldn't get back to laying in the bed.  The recliner was great for my recovery.  

I slept in my bed the first night, propped by many, many pillows..

my hubby eased me into pillows for probably the first week...

then I could do it by myself, very, very cautiously...

I was sooo afraid of popping something open, and so sore from the tightening

I was afraid of laying flat for a long time....

took me a month to work up the nerve to sleep on my side...

although, Dr.Capella told me I could do it as soon as I was comfortable...

I still to this day (almost 8 months later)

have soreness when I rise from a flat position

on my lower right side...

I laid down right from the beginning, although I propped myself with pillows as needed. Only sat in a recliner type chair in the day.

The swelling makes you look very weird the first couple of weeks, between that and the drains. I remember I started to see the 'new me' around week three.

The first week is kind of a blur with pain meds, and didn't feel normal until my drains came out on days 10 and 16. I only had 2 drains though.

I'm doing the upper body next week, but I wanted to let you know that my surgeon wants 80 gms of protein a day starting a month before surgery through a few months post-PS to help the healing process.  SO keep sucking those prtein shakes - get your 80gms in.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.  I am still sleeping sitting up 2 months after my facial work, so I sort of feel When is this going to end - 6 to 12 months. 

I just bought an electric recliner - OMG why didn't I do it sooner.  Between shoulder and facial surgery I have been sleeping sitting up for 3 months - my beach chair is getting old. And I have another 2 months to go (at least).   I also bought an ICEMAN - tired of peas and ice packs.

I got both off of Craigs list for less than $100 total. Keep your eyes out, you will want an elec recliner.  I've been looking for a few weeks and finally found one that even gives you a boost to get out of the chair (just in case I ever do the LBL or have knee problems).   I rented a steam cleaner but it is ready to go.

http://www.jcpenney.com/robins-bonded-leather-lift-wall-hugg er-recliner/prod.jump?ppId=pp5006540010&cmvc=JCP|SearchResul ts|RICHREL&grView=&eventRootCatId=¤tTabCatId=®Id=&r rplacementtype=item_page.dpcontent3

The one I got is not as nice as this leather one, but it functions the same.  I am in heaven compared to the beach chaise lounge or a dozen pillows in my regular bed.

Congratulations. Just keep your positive attitude and keep trying new more comfortable ways to hang the drains.

I know I kept them in the inside out pockets of a soft robe (when I was down to 3) and that helped. The lariat around the neck gets tiresome!

Just take it easy and let the healing happen:-)

And thanks to you I did buy that robe but right now it's in the washing machine I seem to be oozing out from the drain sites so I'm just washing all my night gowns.   U am thinking about buying a second hand recliner