5 days post TT & BL

Writing from my new home, my power-lift recliner. It certainly has been easier to get in and out of by myself without twisting my abs. I may move back to the bed this weekend but it has been a real key to easing my home recovery!

I had an extended abdominoplasty and extended mastopexy on Friday with Douglas Forman at Sibley hospital. I hadn't ever had anesthesia for that many hours (about 6) but I came out pretty quickly and without an nausea. When I got to my room, they hooked me up to a morphine pump and gave me Valium for the muscle tightness. I used the pump 2-3 times an hour just to be sure that the pain didn't get too bad. Most of the pain was when I changed positions and got up and down. That really hurt but I just took my time and moved slowly. I walked the halls a few times while I was in the hospital but very slow and bent over to not pull on my incision. They took my Cath out at 5 and I didn't have any problems going. I just had to be sure that I gave myself plenty of time to get up!

The PS stopped by at 10 and said that I could go home. I used a small pillow to protect my abdomen from the seatbelt and hitting potholes hurt but I was just glad to be going home!

I've pretty much lived in my recliner since then except for laps around our house. I took my oxy and Valium regularly Saturday and Sunday and really only had pain when I got up and down from the chair. I wasn't really in any pain on Monday but I took the meds before riding to my followup appointment and haven't taken anything since. Twisting and bending too far does twinge but just reminds me not to do too much.

My PS is very pleased with my results and I'm just having trouble not seeing the extra ab skin and smaller firm breasts. It's just as much shock as seeing the smaller me in the mirror.

Here's a few pics:

Me in my compression wrap and bra. I had 4 drains in, 2 in my breasts and 2 in my ab. My left breast drain came out on Monday and the other breast and one ab drain should come out tomorrow because they are barely draining. The other one still needs a few more days.

Here is my abdomen. You can see the low abdominal incision. The vertical is because the PS had to take out my RNY incision to put in the belly button. The RNY incision was pretty bad so I'm excited to see how that turns out!

Also meant to say that I got to have a shower after my first appointment and it was pure heaven!

So that's my news. I'll keep you updated!

Edited to add that the PS commented that there was no fat to Lipo on my ab, just skin. Never imagined that!

That's a lot of surgery. Glad to hear you are recovering so quickly.

It will be interesting for you to see the change after all the drains go away.

You're on the other side!

Janet,congratulations and happy healing!

I'm so excited for you Janet, and very glad that you have been healing so well. I'm not surprised there was no fat to remove - as I recall you had gotten to a very low body fat percentage - 16% or so, is that correct? Keep on healing! Thank you for sharing your photos. Can't wait until you get to really see your results sans drains, bandages, and compression gear!

Well, the compression gear ain't pretty and neither are the incisions, but I think it will help pre-op folks to have a better idea of what they are in for and what the drains look like.

Woohoo! Glad all is going well! I really feel like Sibley nails anesthesia. My surgery was 10+ hours and it's the only surgery I've ever had where I wasn't really sick when I woke up. I still had some nausea but it lasted for only a couple hours and I never actually vomited or needed anything other than Zofran.

I know that it's warped, but I love Sibley and have had such a great experience there for my hysterectomy and PS. My wife has also had two hospitalizations plus multiple ER visits. It isn't convenient to get to from anywhere, but they do what they do right!

Wow, you look fantastic already. Wait until you are cleared to swim again!

Thanks Liz! It is an amazing change already. Is it too soon to buy a bikini?!! Never thought I'd say that!

I am so glad that you are doing so well.