OT: Nervous................

Oooooooh my! Ok so yesterday I had my preop appt for my panni which is scheduled for next week wed. I can't believe that day is so near. It seems like it was just last week that I had the Dr say that he did not think my surgery would get approved because there wasn't enough of the "apron" skin. Well needless to say it got approved and are finally moving forward. The best part of it is that with the mamogram and ultrasound that I had done last week it cleared what was left of my deductible so now I have to pay nothing. Thats awesome! Not like it was much $240 were left of my deductible but free is even better! lol. I m excited, nervous, anxious you name it Im feeling it. Tomorrow is another day and have a follow up with my breast specialist regarding my cyst and skin abcess. So I'm going to request the biopsy to be done on both just to have piece of mind! Hopefully all goes well! Which I have faith it will be. Well can anyone whos had their panni done or tummy tuck done give me some input on what to expect after surgery. Pain wise and getting around. How long did it take for you to recover and get around like your normal self? I can tolerate pain but for some reason Im afraid I won't be able to tolerate this surgery? Don't know why?????????????

No advice or experience but I want to wish you all the best. I'll be thinking of you and swinging lizards.

--gina

Thanks Gina! Its just around the corner too............Wednesday Oct 13, 2010. Good thing it didn't land on a Friday that would have been a little freaky. lol......:P

Little Lizzy U get the award for the BRAVEST Lil GRRL in da World !!!!! LOL !!! AWWWWW .....

My heart SOOO goes out to U ........ Im SURE GOd's does too.. He wouldn't let shining bravery like yours and such a sweet little face suffer .....how COULD he ?!!

I had a mini TT years ago with extensive muslce tightening .... way before wls ....basically so i could model like a normal person and actually eat during bikini shoots without my stomach pooching out .
I would have to say the whole goal of he surgery ( by one of the world s best docs ) was to be scarless and so tight that U could bounce a quarter off my abs .... so dont be frightened by what im about to tell U .. this is extreme ....

I was in the hospital for a week being shot up with demerol . they discharged me ( due to insurance ) .. i checked myslef in again in another hospital that afternoon - stayedt wo more weeks . on demerol . after i went home i had a full time nurse /housekeeper /ex Polish doctor to take care of me ANOTHER three weeks .... because i could barely lever myself out of bed .to go to the bathroom .

Am I glad i did this ? Well I have no scars ..because they didnt stretch .. whereas if id moved around they would have . Even though i gained a hundred lbs after the surgery my stomach went back to bikini shape ( ok no bouncing quarters but perfectly presentable - look on my profile)

I would advise telling Ur docto make the muscles as tight as he can ... to take as much fatcells offas he can ... to liposculpt .. give u a six pak and abs .... and TAKE THE LOVE HANDLES AWAY .

If hell do THAT hes my hero .... good luck BAY- BEE .... big hugs please make sure U tell us the specific day so we can swing some critters 4 U !! LOL

Thanks mini me for making me more nervous than ever! LOL... Im playing yes I am nervous but Im very sure that I will be ok and do just fine. Im trying to stay very positive and focused. My procedure is not that extensive, since its being covered by my insurance. So my PS is only going to trim the fat and make a new belly button. Absolutely no muscle tighting. Sucks but oh well atleast part of the problem will be resolved. LOL...Well thanks for sharing with me your experience. Like I said any information is good no matter how bad it may sound. Atleast I'll know more or less what to expect.

Liz

No experience or advise from me.  I just wanted to wish you good luck on your surgery.

Hope everything goes ok with you tomorrow  regarding the cyst and skin abcess.  Please let us know how it goes.

Linda

Thanks, well everything went really well with my breast dr. She said that both the abcess and the cyst were fluid filled not solid. She could remove or try to drain what is left which isn't much of the infection but didn't want to compromise its healing process. So she said to keep taking antibiotics and return in a month. But if I notice it getting worse or larger then to come in immediately to see her again. I trust her and her judgement and know that everything is okay and everything will be fine.  Well Thanks again..will post once everything else is done and over with.

Liz

Sending you love and good vibes!  And I'm so excited for you!

Thanks, Im so freaking excited and nervous and happy all in one!!

Well... I had my TT back in January and it IS a very emotional time.  Its an elective surgery and we wonder often if its something we really should be doing.

Now - lets get this out of the way.  I'm EXTREMELY happy with the outcome.  Yes, I have scars that need a revision, but my tummy is flat and I no longer have my apron swinging around.

Now -as far as pain goes.  Yes, there's pain, but its not the pain that got to me, it was the drains.  The drains are, as far as I'm concerned, the hardest part, both emotionally and physically, to deal with.  I gained a little water weight in the hospital, but within a few days was back at my pre-op weight.  What was tough was I was back in my size 10 jeans to accomodate the swelling and drains.... but- it DOES go away..

Swelling is one area you will just have to live with.  Learn to LOVE your compression garment - it wasn't hard for me to love it.  I felt awful being out of it.  The compression garment will adhere your skin to your muscles that was tightened (not sure if you're having that or not), and make sure it heals properly.  I felt SO naked without it afterwards. 

As far as care goes.  Are you having muscle tightening or just the panni removal?  I believe if you have just the panni removal you won't have to deal with the soreness of the muscles above the belly button and have the muscles still work for you.  I slept on the couch for a few days after surgery the was able to sleep in a regular bed.  You will need someone there to help you for the first few days.  Be VERY careful when you take a shower for the first time - you can faint.   Have someone in the bathroom with you.  2nd time, and so forth isn't so bad. 

I was on my pain meds for about a week.  I had a kitchen timer that had hours on it and would set it to go off every 3-4 hours during the night to wake me up to take them.  As far as I'm concerned this is a MUST - that way when you wake up you aren't nearly as sore and can get out of bed yourself.  If you let the meds wear off you won't sleep as well and morning is a *****

For some reason plastic surgery is a head game with us.  The uncertainties that go along with it - BUT - you will do fine.  I didn't realize just how much it would affect me mentally - now, if I go back for another round I know what to expect.

Not sure if you're a friend (I think you are), but I have a blog about my post-PS experience that does talk about the mental part of it.  Go read it.  Hopefully it will help you.

Please feel free to PM me with any questions - I'll be very happy to help as much as I can.