7 days post op update with pics

update from my 7day post op appt. 

Sorry I forgot to post yesterday after my appt. I took pics but was not on computer to do comparison post.

I got sutures and surgical tape removed. 

I did not have my drain removed as I am still putting out to much fluid to it each day. As soon as 

I'm down to 30cc output each day it can come out. Hoping for Monday if I lay low this weekend it should go down. 

I got a new compression garment - like underwear/spanx with a side zipper/hook thingy. Its like wearing the bottom half of a onsie for grownups lol. 

Another dose of the antibiotic since I still have the drain in. 

He is very happy with my progress and so am I. 

So this weekend will be lots of lounging around so I can get this fluid down and heal up on the inside which is what is causing the draining. 

Oh and I slept in my own bed last night. Mike fell asleep watching tv and I snuck up alone to our bed until like 6 when his snoring ass joined me. It was not as comfortable as I have dreamed about over the last week but I know it will be better when I can lay on both sides - with the drain I'm pretty uncomfortable on my right side still.)

1 week ago...

Just 1 VERY short week ago I left my purse and my cell in the waiting room after giving my husband one of the tightest hugs ever and walked to the back of the surgical center at Esthetica Institute.

I got naked; Dr. Delange drew marks with what I think was a black sharpie on my tummy; got my vitals taken by a nurse named Ashley; had an IV inserted into my arm by a very kind and friendly anesthesiologist named Jennifer and then walked myself across the hall into the operating room.

I remember getting on the table and having warm blankets placed over me and feeling the warmth of the heated table under me. I remember someone saying they were going to strap my arms down on each side of me. Then Jennifer put a mask over my mouth loosely and said she was just giving me some fresh air...

3 hours later I'm walking hunched over like an 80 yr old woman across the hall into a recovery room with a very uncomfortable recliner.

I remember being soooooooo soooooo incredibly HOT. I heard them tell Dr. Delange as he passed the room that my temp was fine but I was "sweating profusely". Then I felt the most incredible tightness in my midsection. It was almost unbearable at that point. Ashley got me a cold towel for my forehead and tried to cool me off and "bring me around". I could not keep my eyes open, I just felt sooooo tired. But that gave me the "spins" and I started to feel sooo completely nauseous, like I have never felt before, and I knew I had to throw up but was sooo afraid of hurting my newly tightened stomach muscles. Ashley kept encouraging me to keep my eyes open and focus on something to help with the queasiness but I just couldn't. And then it came - the first round of vomiting - just bile and dry heaving but ever so painful nonetheless. Then I heard them say, "let's get her husband" and then he was there. Mike was sitting beside me rubbing my arm and holding my hand. I still felt nauseous but was able to have a few sips of water. I started to feel better so I drank more water. After about 20 mins of feeling better and thinking we were going to get ready to be discharged, all of a sudden, I felt another huge wave of nausea and ended up throwing up a second time - all that water I had and it was officially the worst experience ever. I felt the wave come and was alone and remember yelling to Mike and Ashley, "I'm going to throw up AGAIN!!!!" It was horrible. Ashley ended up giving me a shot to help with the queasiness AND then I felt soooo much better pretty quickly after that.

Ashley cleaned me up and helped me get dressed and then she had to head back into another surgery and had a second girl who was wearing a black sparkly Esthetica tshirt and black jeans and a pair of the highest healed shoes I've ever seen, took my IV out and helped me get into our van to head home.

Driving on day 6...

Holy shit I feel like I'm 16 again - driving for the first time today since last Thursday. I was terrified and ended up turning around and not getting a pedicure like I had planned but just getting a sandwich from subway and returning an unopened medicine to Walgreens. I was so nervous and overly cautious.

I did pick up both runts from 2 different schools and grabbed them some dinner before heading home. I'm going to run out in a few minutes to pick up Chinese BUT I'm not going to drive myself to my dr appt tomorrow. It's like 30 mins away and I'm afraid if I get my drain out or sutures removed I might be a little "woozy" and not able to drive "all" that way back home alone. So I'm going up rely on my friend Kara to be my last babysitter for the week. This weekend we will be laying low and hanging around home.

I can't believe it's been a week since my surgery. I swear I must be a freak of nature healing as quickly as I have.

I'll post 7 days since surgery comparison pics tomorrow after my appt hopefully in the afternoon before picking up the runts.

Day 5 post op

Had Mike help me adjust my compression garment this am. The swelling has gone down so much more since yesterday and the day before.

I've been off pain meds since midday Monday due to the constipation issue. I really truly haven't needed them. I only have a sharp pull type pain every once in a while at a suture spot. I sneezed for the first time last night and also dropped a wii remote just below my incision where I had a little lipo, both stopped me in my tracks. I could have vomited with the sudden pain. But luckily it passed and no harm was done. Thank goodness all is well in the bathroom again because I think that was what was causing the majority of my swelling and abdominal pain.

Nick is my helper today as there is no school for him (yom kippur?). So far he has filled my water cup with ice, turned off the lights, put a pillow under my feet and get flushable wipes & toilet paper from the upstairs bathroom. He said he is "my friend helper" for today. I could have been home alone but since he has no school it give us a chance to hang out alone some. We don't get time like this usually with Mike and Emma around.

I go back to the dr on fri and hopefully have my drain removed and maybe some stitches too. I'll take more pictures then for a before surgery-3 day-7day comparison and will post on Friday afternoon.

I'm very happy with my results so far. I have not tried on any of my "real" clothes yet - just wearing workout pants & shorts & my hubby's boxer briefs. It'll be so exciting trying on clothes in my closet that have not ever fit yet. I have a bunch of size 10s that were just toooo tight. I'm thinking not anymore. :-)

pics from day 3 post op

Post-op appt update

Few things from my dr's visit:

No eating until I poop.

Stop taking the Percocet pain pills and switch to Tylenol only to help get things flowing right. I can take the muscle relaxers as they don't cause constipation.

Pain ball was removed.

Drain stays in until at least Friday's appt as long as I have less than 30ccs of fluid over 24hr period.

Keep binder on tight until I see him again on Friday @ 12:15.

I can shower as much as I want just no direct hit with the water on stitches.

Doing well and he says all looks good.

Day 3...

I still can't believe I had my surgery just 3 days ago. I feel good overall but I'm pretty tender on my abdomen near my incision.

I still have not had a real BM just a little bit so that is not a good thing. Hoping stool softener will kick in soon so things get moving more easily.

Kids and mike are gone to school and work and my friend Kerri is on her way to hang with me and take me to my first post-op appt.

I think I'm going to shower before we go so the dr can redress a clean body versus going to appt getting redressed and then coming home and ruining it with a shower.

I'll be able to take a quick peak and maybe a picture or two :-) I'm excited to see what's under all this binding.