Plastic Surgery Away From Home

That's awesome about the flight! Google maps was saying it would be a 3ish hour flight. So you'd still have to factor in driving time from B'more, but that's a bit easier :)

Since this was something I cared about - I needed help getting in and out of my recovery chair, getting into my compression garments when I got them at my first follow up, I needed help showering/washing my hair, and I couldn't cook/do laundry. I also was happy to have someone else managing my pain medication because I couldn't have done it appropriately. I was, however, always able to toilet on my own, so that was a relief!

My biggest fear is the narcotics. I've never taken them outside of an IV in the hospital. Not for my two c-sections, not for my kidney stones and not for my VSG surgery. I know I will need to for plastics and I'm scared of that.

What is it that scares you about it?

1. I'm afraid they'll make me sick, as I tend to be really sensitive to pain drugs (at least via IV). Like they knock me out cold with a normal dose for my weight.
2. The above-mentioned control freak part of me does NOT like to be dopey/out of control/unable to function.

For some reason via IV it's ok with me because I'm in a hospital bed and really what could anyone ask of me? I may just need to let go and act like that at home, I guess.

I get where you're coming from. Definitely worthwhile to talk to your surgeon about these concerns. I wasn't worried about the sick part, but I definitely hate the dopey part. I console myself with the knowledge that I'm a really poor candidate for addiction as a result because I hate the way the drugs make my brain feel. So.. at least there's that?

Yeah, I don't even know how people function taking them all the time. I also think that some of what I think is a reaction to pain meds is my reaction to anesthesia. This recent minor surgery I had was really telling because it took me a solid week to feel completely normal as far as the stomach upset and tiredness went.

One of the reasons that I went to Dr Sauceda was for twilight sedation. It allows him to do longer surgeries (I had 4 during the 12 hrs). Plus, I felt great after and didn't have a week+ of reacting to anesthesia.

How exciting, Erin! I am a total Dr. M lover - he did incredible work for me! I am with you - painkillers make me super nauseous. Everyone's pain level and threshold and how they react to drugs is different. I was on some great IV drugs in the hospital, and then for maybe the first 3 days/nights, I took them every 4 hours at home, after eating a snack (something dry and filling like 4-5 pretzels to make sure my stomach could handle it). I can't remember which one he prescribed, but I told him they make me sick so he took that into consideration. My only REAL pain was my first night at home when I didn't set an alarm for 4 hours later and woke up from the abdominal tightening pain. EEK. But as long as I kept up on pain meds I was fine, and after 3 days, I could switch to super strong Tylenol.

Dr. M also gave me an anti-naseau patch the day of surgery that I kept on for a few days. And he injected Experol in the abdominal area for pain relief.

The results are well worth the discomfort! Again, everyone's experience is unique, but here is mine :) Good luck!

Since I made this post I had a virtual consult with Dr. M. My surgeries won't be for quite awhile, but I have reasons to plan way in advance (my job, the distance to him and the potential of a long distance move in our future). We've agreed that I'll likely have an LBL and Lift with no augmentation. Did you have an LBL?

My first surgery with him with an LBL and a breast lift, no augmentation. Once that was all fixed and looking amazing, my batwings stuck out even worse, so I had a second easy arm lift surgery. Click on the blue hyperlink in my prior response and it's a Word doc I put together about the experience, how it was, what I needed, etc...I knew I had to document it or I would forget it (which I have totally forgotten, two years later :))

Dr. M is the BEST. I can't say enough incredible things about him!

Also, I recently posted recent post-op pics - my scarring is really incredible. Some of it is how your body scars, but some of it is how your surgeon stitches. Here it is: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/6022374/Pic s-2-years-post-op-lower-body-lift-breast-lift-and-1-5/