Saturday, March 30, 2013

PO Day 10

I have doing pretty good. I am the middle in what fellow tummy tuckers call swell hell. I started wearing two compression garment. The one thing I can't believe is my lack of energy. I do anything and I am just wiped out. I went to the store Friday and rode in the electric cart. We were gone less than an hour. I felt horrible when I got home. Today I had breakfast with friends. I literally sat in a restaurant for 2 hours and talked. that's it. bye time I got home I was super hunched over and had to take pains pills. I would take a nap if I didn't have 3 kids running around. I hope i get some energy back soon. I used to going going going.
Another thing I started was scar therapy. Let me back up to my 1 week post op visit. i have been super happy with my doctor but my 1 week follow up was disappointed. He seemed hurried through my follow up and didn't really give me a lot of information.Which brings me back to scar therapy. He said to start it yesterday. I using coconut oil and some scar treatment I got at the doctors office. I know i am supposed to message my scar but I was not told anything about how to do it. I do have a lot of numbness around my my incision. very similar to when you have a c-section.I wont lie its hurts to touch my scar. so messaging it seems like torture but its a big scar and I want it to be smooth. Its berry thin so that is mice and he got it nice and low on my hips. honestly a scar doesn't bother me, its will always be covered anyways. So now I have to do research and figure the best way to do scar message. I would take some updated pics of my scar and swelling but honestly i am in my recliner and so tired I am not getting up anytime soon. I will try to get some later.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Crazy emotions

So I am post op 8 days. I have been ok pain wise. its manageable. My abs ache and my left drain site aches. I am in what other tummy tuckers call swell hell. my sides and upper abdomen are swollen. All normal. I am using ice, my binder and eating pineapple. I am avoiding salt and things like pop. they just add to the swelling. One thing I would like to talk about is the emotional part of getting a tummy tuck. I didn't really consider this. The past few days I have been on an emotional roller coaster. I am feeling good one minute and then next I am depressed and want to cry. i have time where I feel like i am the size of a whale. Al of this is normal. I have left my house once in a week and that was to get my drains out. I have had great care from my mom and husband but besides them I have had no other contact with other people.
Also something normal I didn't think about is the over analyzing other parts of my body. Before the TT I was happy with the rest of my body. Sure I wanted to tone and loose a10 more lbs. i am far from skinny but I am at a healthy weight. Now I focus on everything. My legs are hug in my mind, my sides are flabby. Its weird I am just obsessed with other parts of my body. this is all a normal part of recovery.
 I made a big no no this morning. I got on the scale. I am at my presurgery weight which isn't bad but it was depressing to know he took 4 lbs off me and you cant tell. I know I am swollen and retaining fluids. I just have to keep telling myself that.
The biggest thing I am having to learn is patience. It is not one of my virtues. But recovery is a process. I have to wear my bulky binder for a few weeks. So I will have to wear my frumpy clothes for awhile. I will swell for months. I just have to focus on eating right. I cant exercise for another 4 weeks. i have to accept that. I wear out really easily. My body has been through a lot. I am inpatient so I want to be in regular clothes and back exercising like yesterday. SO yeah, I am glad I did it, I would do it again but recovery is not all rainbows and unicorns, but everything I am experiencing in normal.

Question and answer

I have had so many people ask questions and I try to answer them all. email me or Facebook me questions and I will go over them. I am an open book so ask me anything. evanaudrey@yahoo.com

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Good bye drains

So I made it a week post op. I went for mt post op appointment today. Dr Robbins took my drains out. It was so weird. I could feel the drains move inside me. My left side hurt to take out but that side has been sore. It wasn't too bad. it was over quickly. My dr. said I am looking good, obviously I have tons of swelling but that is normal. I am avoiding salt, minimizing my caffeine and eating pineapple to to help with swelling. The compression garment I got didn't fit right and was not firm enough so now i am on the hunt for a new one. I have to wear one for 4 weeks. I would like to find one that is more comfortable and less bulky that what I have. I took some new pics. Some of how I look in my clothes with my compression garment. My swelling without my drains. I am feeling pretty good. I wear out easily and still need a lot of help with household things. Overall I feel like I am doing really well. its going to be another 4-5 weeks before I can exercise, do much lifting ext. I am able to take my binder of for a little while each day while I rest in my chair. MY belly button is slowly healing. I am supposed to peroxide it and then take a shower right away. i am looking forward to hopefully shaving my legs soon lol, In 3 days I can start scar therapy (I got some scar treatment at the surgeons) and will use coconut oil. This surgery was totally worth it to me. I am so glad  I got this done.




Tuesday, March 26, 2013

diastasis recti

I wanted to talk about the medical condition I had that was repaired during this surgery. I had what is called diastasis recti. According to wikipedia Diastasis recti (also known as abdominal separation) is a disorder defined as a separation of the rectus abdominis muscle into right and left halves. Normally, the two sides of the muscle are joined at the linea alba at the body midline.
So doing abdominal exercises or dropping weigh is not going to fix this, not at the severity I have. I have a 3-4 inch separation. thank you big babies. I have been having a lot of back pain in general and when exercising because my muscle are not functioning the way they are supposed. During my abdominoplasty Dr. Robbin pulled those muscle back to where they should be and sewed them back into place. Now after having them repaired and as soon as my healing period in  have a clean abdominal slate to work with. How awesome. I can now exercise to strengthen my weakened muscle and have it be effective. I can now work my body to be the healthiest and fittest it can be. So if this is a problem you have I think it definitely worth looking into.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

PO day 5 swelling

The area that is bothering me the most is where my drains are at. that area aches and is very tender. I am trying some ice. I am also starting pineapple juice and eating pineapple as I hear it help swith the swelling.I am swollen in that area. my front isn't swollen too much. my belly button loos kinda gross. its scabby. I am sure it will look great once it heals. Ignore the messy mirror in my pictures. I have 3 small children. Over all physically I am feeling pretty well. my muscle repair just feels like really sore muscles. I am counting down the days till Wednesday when I go for my 1 week post op so I can hopefully get my  drains out.




Day 5 PO

Pain is good. No worse than my c-sections. My mood is another story. I am just getting down stuck sitting so much with nothing to do. My kids are wrecking my house and I can't do a darn thing about it. I am tired but cant sleep. My mom and hubby are great but oh my am I bored. I know poor Kati is stuck being bored but boy is it not good on the mood. I just want to be able to get up and do my normal stuff. i want to be able to go couponing or hang out with friends or even put on clothes that aren't stretch pants. Maybe I will get some visitors and calls or something. Anything to lift my mood would be awesome. i hear its normal to have this down time so I just have to wait and let it pass.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Day 4 PO

I have made it 4 days. My pain has been manageable. I am still taking my pain pills and muscle relaxers ever 4-5 hours. I am having some abdominal swelling today which has added to my discomfort. My bad has been hurting me from sitting so much. I am using a heating pad. I am starting to get extremely bored and a little down being stuck in my recliner all helpless. I know it will pass. I seem to be getting up and around a little easier. Most of my pain is from sore muscles and were my drains are at.

The topic that no one wants talk about

So I am going to talk about what no one wants address after surgery. Going #2. It is so important to take stool softeners. I took dulcolax, milk of magnesia and smooth move tea. Trust me you don't want to have to strain to go. You use your abdominal muscles to go and straining is going to be painful. Vicodin and Valium will cause constipation so it is important to not wait till your in pain to start taking something. I started the day before surgery and I still want able to go till today. Now another thing I learned  today is don't overdo it on the stool softeners or you may spend most of your day in the bathroom. So yes this is not the most pc subject but one that people need to address especially during surgery.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Day 3 PO pictures

I was able to shower today. We took off the binder and I about cried when I looked down. It looks better than I could have imagined. I still have stretch marks but I knew he wouldn't be able to get rid of them. MY selling is less than I though but I haven't gotten up a lot over the past 3 day. It felt so good to wash my hair and take a shower. I feel so much more human. It really raised my spirits to see the results. I am still in pain but it is not unbearable and I think this was totally worth it, I can feel how tight my abs are after the muscle repair. So drum roll......here are my before and after pictures.



3 day PO

I actually got a pretty good nights sleep last night. Today I get to take the binder off and shower. My mom is going to come help me. I think we will wash my hair over the sink. I borrowed a  shower stool so I don't have to try to stand up in the shower. I haven't been getting up unless I need to use the bathroom. My drains are putting out 30-35 ccs every 6-8 hours which is really good.I have had a headache since surgery. I  thought I might be dehydrated but I have been really pushing the fluids and it hasn't helped. I have called my doctor and they said it could be from anesthesia. I have never had a headache from anesthesia but every surgery is different.  Iwill be happy when its gets fully out of my system. I Am nervous about taking the binder off. How the heck will I get it back on. its on tight. will it hurt to take it off? What if I see my tummy and hate it.I know I will be swollen and maybe bruised.I guess its the fear of the unknown.But oh do I want my hair washed. I am also getting sick of being stuck in a recliner but the less I am up the better I will heal. its just so hard to have to have someone get every little thing for me.I will post again after my shower.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Binder and drains

WARNING!!! CONTAINS PICTURES

So I thought I would take a picture to show what the binder and drains look like.  the drains are kinda gross.

First night PO

I survived my first day. I developed a killer headache yesterday.Not sure if it is from falling asleep sitting up or a caffeine headache. I decided to attempt to sleep in my bed last night instead of the recliner. I think I slept for 4 straight hours. not too bad. My main thing I am focusing on is staying on top of my pain meds. My pain today so far has been manageable if I take the muscle relaxer and pain pill. I don't like the feeling of being helpless, but I can barely make it to the bathroom. I have great people taking care of me, my husband and mom. Do I think it was worth it, Absolutely.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

PO day 1

Today was surgery day. I had surgery about 745 and went home around 11. Everything went very well. They took 4 lbs off my abdomen and repaired my abdominal muscles. My pain has not been very manageable. I am in quite a bit of pain. Hopefully taking a muscle relaxer and main pill together will help. I don't feel to bad as long as I don't move at all. I didn't realize how much you use your abdominal muscles. Just getting up to use the bathroom is a workout.  Plus I walked hunched over like a little old lady. I have been dozing off and on today. Only staying awake for 30 min at a time. Sleeping in my recliner is not comfortable (it wont stayed reclined) and I am sporting a pretty big headache. I know this first week will be the roughest. I just have to get through it. Dr Robbins said I could shower tomorrow if I want, but if I could wait 48 hours to take off the binder that would be best, so I think I will wait till Friday. I haven't seen what I look like yet. I am excited and nervous at the same time. The drains aren't too bad, more annoying than anything.My awesome husband took off the next few days to help me. The main source of pain is my muscle repair, the muscles are so tight and I keep having muscles spasms. Dr Robbins called a little while ago to check on me. Not many doctors call the patients themselves. I will try to take a picture of my binder and drains tomorrow to give an idea o what it looks like. Hopefully this all makes sense since I am doing this after taking a muscle relaxer and a pain pill.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Tomorrow is the day

So I have less that 24 hours till a new me. I am getting so nervous and anxious. i actually had an anxiety attack this morning. I thought I had those under control. I have to be at the surgeons tomorrow at 720. I hope i am ready.  I have all my prescriptions. An antibiotic, a muscle relaxer and a pain med. I am hoping I don't need to get a nausea medicine. Pain meds in the past haven't made me sick so we will see. I feel like I have everything ready. I have to finish cleaning my house today.I spent the week before cooking food. I have 14 freezer meals and 14 smoothies. I want to eat as healthy as possible to help with healing and just because I have a new tummy doesn't mean I should eat whatever. I really want to get back into working out after my 4 weeks healing time. The doctor recommended yoga so I think I will start with that but I really want to get back into Zumba.
I have been following other tummy tuckers on real-self.com and I have come to realize I am one of the few not getting lipo with my tummy tuck. I worried that my results will suck because of this. I have some love handles and i am chooing not to get them sucked out.I have 2 reason. 1. Hello i am blowing huge money just for the tummy tuck, i am tapped out. 2. my love handles can go bye bye with a little hard work. My loose skin and flab can't be exercise off. The more weight I loose the worse it is actually. I have some pain in jeans when I sit and my abdominal muchles have been spread having my 3 children. big babies. so it will be nice to have those muscles put back where they go and then I can stregthen them.
But first I have to get through the surgery and recovery. I hope I get visitors. 4 weeks home, doing nothing but recovering. What am I going to do with myself. So once again my post is me rambling on. I expect I will get worse at the rambling while I am on pain meds and nothing to do.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

1 week

I week till surgery. I paid off my surgery today. No turning back. I have been working on freezer cooking so my family has 2 weeks worth of dinners. I have my pre op physical with my family doctor tomorrow. Tomorrow is my last day of work for a month. My doctor seems to think I will have a pretty good recovery. He said with my past c-section/hysterectomy history I should bounce back well. I have been following others of a forum called real-self. A lot of them are getting flank lipo too and said I will have bad results without the lipo. i disagree. yeah I have some love handles but I can work out to improve that. I am not expecting to look like a supermodel. Anyway, I am getting so excited. I have been really tired lately. not sure why. just have been. I think its the stress of all the planning and waiting. I can't wait till its over with.


Friday, March 8, 2013

Pre op Spaz

I had my pre op with Dr Robbins yesterday. I have been researching tummy tucks like crazy. The husband will take the laptop from me eventually. So I have been spazzing out in Kati style. Nothing new I am a bit of s spaz.
I am metally preparing myself for it to be a bad recovery s that way if its not too bad hey its will be a bonus. I have been freaking making sure those that help me have it easy as possible. I have a feeling I will end filling my freezer with enough food to feed an army. I guess I have to focus on one thing or my excitement and nerves get the best of me. I mean in a week I will be able to look at the lady bits without holding up my front butt. gross I know, but the reality of bad genetics (thanks  mom), 3 kids, 2 c-sections and a hysterectomy.
Ok I have wondered off from what I was posting about, pre op with Dr Robbins. I took my mom with me. They gave me the pre surgical info (all the bad things that could ever happen). If you have has surgery you have probably read. To those who take your mom with you, pretend you are reading the daily funnies. I am pretty sure she was totally freaked out with some of the stuff.
He really didn't go over much and to be honest after i left I was wandering why I had to drive over and hour with my mom backseat driving to be there 30 min. My surgery is Wed. the 20th at 7 am. i will be in surgery 2 to 2.5 hours with 30 mins in recovery. I think I will be in recovery a little longer unless they plan to wheel me out to the car semi conscious.  The  anesthesiologist will talk to me day of surgery. They will go over the drains day of surgery. I have to have them for 7 days and have my follow up a week after surgery. I need  to eat crackers with the painmeds. Vicodin will be my new best friend. I will have a patch behind my ear to help with nausea. I am pretty sure throwing up after they have moved my abs around could be one of the worse pains ever. Just a guess.
My mom did fins out he has never been sued and chance of infection is super low (told you she sorta freaked out). My plan is for the first week is to be a vicodin coma. hopefully my 3 children will for once leave mommy a lone when she doesn't feel well. I don't like my chances. My mother in law will cart my kids around (I think only because I forced a detailed after school schedule on her). My mom is the main person I am relying on. Not only will she have to look after my whinny butt but she will have to make sure my family doesn't bury my house in laundry and dishes. He made it seem like compared to me emergency c-section/hysterectomy this shouldn't be much worse. I should be feeling pretty good after a week or two. BONUS!!!! I don't even remember much of my recovery from that.
So yeah, this is were I am, 12 days and counting till surgery.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Scar treatment

So I found something that should help my scar flatten and heal faster. Rose Hip oil.Better add this to my  list of things to get.

•  Reduce wrinkles and signs of premature ageing. It will also help counter the drying effects of the sun which are usually first noticed in fine wrinkles or "crows feet" around the eyes and mouth.
•  Attenuate scars (surgical and accidental) and improves the colour of same (i.e., reduces the redness or hyperpigmentation).  It also avoids the formation of the keloid type of scar (lump) which may appear after surgical procedures and helps to make less apparent scars left by acne or chickenpox.

•  Provide excellent results in treatment of skin that has been burnt or exposed to radiotherapy.
•  Prevent photo aging and immediately relieve dry skin and eczema.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Pre op do's and dont's

So it is really starting to sink in. Surgery in 3 weeks. I have a pre op with my surgeon the the 7th and a pre op blood work and physical with my regular doctor on the 14th. Dr Robbins sent me a packet of pre op information. It was a lot of information. There are a lot of do's and don'ts and a few things I need to get.

2 weeks prior to surgery
- No aspirin or ibuprofen
-No herbal medications
- No diet pills
- No smoking
- No Drinking
- only take tylenol
- only take medicine ok'd previously by Dr. Robbins
-Foods to avoid in larger quantities
     - Ginger, Cumin, Licorice, Wine,Vinegar, Cider, Garlic, Onion, Ginko, Vitamin E, Willow Bark and Omega -3 fatty acid.

1 week prior to surgery
- use a germ- inhibiting soap for bathing such as Dial, safeguard or Lever 2000.

So a list of things I need to get.
1. Prescriptions (they will call them in the friday before surgery, which is awesome)
2. Tylonel
3. Motrin
4. Multivitamin
5. germ inhibiting soap
6. Dry skin lotion
7. colace
8. some baggy sweats and t-shirts (stuff thats cheap and I don't care about in case my drains leak)

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