2 days post LBL

Wowza is my skin tight! The tender spots are the two drains in the mons, the other two coming from my hips are no problemo. The other tenderness is the skin over my hip bones, not the incision which is lower...but my PS said it would be tight because I had almost nothing to work with meat-wise. I was in surgery 5 1/2 hrs, started a little after 8am Monday and I was home by 3pm drugged out in the recliner. The very worst thing is for my mother to make me laugh, after the first belly pull I am in tears and even though I am dying I can't stop laughing cause she can't stop laughing, she has to step out of the house. Happened twice...followed by drugs and a nap. My ass looks fabulous..LOL..yes I know the swelling will go down and some wrinkles will return, but still gonna look great with the muscles I built. Dr Hensel took 6 inches from the back of me, and 12 inches from the front(I had 2 skin rolls), and said it was 5 1/2 pounds. He said he took pictures for me in the O.R, depending on how they look, I might share...I have a follow up on the 7th. I'll have him take more pictures that day too. Overall not doing too bad, I can get up and down from the sofa and recliner but need help adjusting and propping once I am down. The bed is still scarily too flat. I made it up the stairs on day two and back down, and I made it up here twice today, earlier this afternoon for a shower ...interesting...followed by drugs and a nap...nice pattern eh. I have issues with peeing, I go put I can't get the last push, so I seem to have to go more often. I have issues with blowing my nose, either I can't or I am just to chicken **** to pull the muscles for the deep breath. And my appetite is fine, but not bm since I got home...again fear of pushing but it doesn't seem to be a problem and it's only been 2 1/2 days. I took the support hose off before my shower and my legs feel tight, time to put them back on me thinks, and time to get out of this chair. Any advise welcome, but I think I am doing pretty good, the incision looks great all the way around, tape and dissolvable sutures still in place, and I'm sure it must be numb(sp) cause I don't feel any pain their, not even in the little line he sewed down me arse crack..oi! Well worth my tax refund and extire savings LOL. I'll update more another day. The scale says 149!! Michelle 324/149..with 4 drains and swelling.

Michelle, I'm so happy to hear that things are going so well (or should I say "swell" lol). Did you get insurance to pay any of this? I need a LBL badly, my back is really starting to hurt with all the hanging this-and-that. Any clue how much this things cost? Also, how much time can you expect to be off of work? Michelle

Thank you Insurance denied me, said it wasnt medically necessary, and the rep said I needed to have "problems", which I had no rashes. I paid 8700. (50 consult, 500 deposit for a surgery date, surgeon and anestisiologist fees due two weeks prior to sugery 6500, O.R fees due day of surgery 1650) No other hospital fees cause it was an outpatient surgery. Some surgeons require overnight stays, I was prepared with a overnight bag just incase, but went home same day. I took 4 weeks off work, but going into this had no idea how well or slow I would heal. It's only day 3...still no clue when I'll stand up straight, etc etc. So if I need more time I'll take it. Mentally I am bored, I do not normally lay around watching TV. I have been pacing the floor, washing dishes after mom cooks, squating down to the ground and picking things up...thank goodness for the lunges and squats at the gym the past few months, it doesnt hurt or pull on the incision. I had to pee and mom was hoggng the downstairs bathroom so I came up here, but I just woke up and its kinda stiff to sit here so Im going back to my recliner. Michelle

Wow Michelle! I'm so excited for you =) Glad to hear you are doing well too! I will be watching for your posts. Michele

Congratulations Michelle, I'm so happy for you, hope you continue to heal well. Best wishes, Dana

Michelle, Glad to hear you're home and doing so well! I looking at having a LBL, probably in June after I've healed from my first ps (doing the face later this month). Keep us posted on your progress! Vickie J.

Hey Michelle ... good to hear everything went well ... and I'm glad you shared with us! Hopefully someday I'll get there too, but its nice to get some details! Those drains do NOT sound fun at all. You said the scale says 149 ... what were you prior to LBL? Karyn

Thank you and you are welcome. I was 324 presurgery, my goal was 155, for the last 4 months I have floated between 154-158. 158 being the top side of my normal BMI. I was 156 day before LBL wearing medium scrub tops or large t-shirts depending on how they clung to my skin rolls and 10/11 jeans. My thighs are still big so I do not imagine I will go down in jean size till I have that surgery, but the 10's will fit beter and no over hang roll! Michelle