KarenG.

I hear you on the drains problem. I am 4 weeks out and still draining heavily (75-80) from my remaining drain. Tomorrow is my PS appt so we will see what happens. I am not on antibiotics though - should I ask about that? Also no diuretics for me. Sorry for your troubles. Keep us updated!

Frangi - good to hear from you. Wishing you a quick recovery and a speedy trip home... .and that your house isn't a wreck!

Back to work tomorrow. Not looking forward to that - boy is sitting at a desk rough - any tips out there? Also, final drain is stil at 75 or 80 so I am thinking that my ps might not want to remove it Wednesday. I am more than a little depressed at the idea of yet another (5th) week with it in! Do you vetrans out there think I may be released from my cg? This is 4 wks for me now. I was given permission to sleep without and am enjoying that. If I do get the drains out I may briefly post before and afters. I am really shy about this and not so computer savy but I may do it because I know that i loved to see if before I had my surgery. I am down about 7 or 8 lbs so still waiting to get down the additional 12 that was removed from me - if that will ever happen. It will right? My hips look good but my thighs are really swollen still and my waist is like 2 inches more than it was pre-op. How long will that last? Karey - will be thinking about you on your big day!

Good luck! Butt is much easier than tummy. Keep us posted!

Left early! There was no way I was making the entire day sitting at my desk. Felt much better sitting at home with my legs up. Maybe need to work a few hours from home next week. Oh well..

You look amazing! I am totally puffed and swollen still too. I think we had surgery about the same time. Good stuff.

Shalee - the drains are not scary or painful once you get used to them - just kind of a drag and gross. Don't want to scare you too much uneccessarily.

Back at work - one question. Is this for real? How am I going to make it through the day. Sitting in an office chair is so uncomfortable! (I know complain complain). Also feel so swollen that I am going to bust open. TMI part. Also - drain complaining again - woke up this morning with my remaining drain totally clogged up to a point where the lack of suction made it open and I was COVEREd in grossness and my sheets. After I unclogged I drained 25 ccs within 10 minutes. How GROSS is that. Can you tell I am feeling crappy like I want to go home? :confused:

How long is the longest you have had your drains in? I am almost 3 weeks now and it doesnt look like they are coming out this week. Other than that I feel pretty good so it is annoying. Also starting back to work with them is going to be a pleasure. AND one leaks. UGH.

Only one drain left! I am feeling pretty good today. I think that I am healing really well - you can already barely see the incisions around my belly button! I will possibly if brave enough post some pics next week. Also am relieved from wearing the binder at night since my skin was getting irritated. Life is better with only one drain! Hopefully next week the final drain will be removed. Not looking forward to going back to work (Friday) since I am totally exhausted after going out for 2-3 hours but I suppose my stamina will improve. Also my back hurts since I am still not standing 100% upright. One thing I have noticed is that it really hurts to sit on hard surfaces now since I have no padding left in my butt - an unexpected outcome. Can't post until tomorrow night because of the holiday but I hope all of you are well.

One drain out! Only one left now. I was pleasantly suprised. Yay! in the home stretch now! I feel liberated. Hopefully next week will put an end to my drain complains?

jjsmiles wow ... Ok no more complaining. :wub:

Thanks guys. I hate to complain but I hate the drains. So gross. I know what you are saying is true - where would all that fluid go that is coming out. Thanks for the wise words!

You should not be in pain or nauseas! Of course it is ok to call your doctor - that is what he/she is there for. Nothing wrong with taking painkillers if you have pain.

Hi Guys, Internet has been down so haven't had the chance to check in. I am doing pretty great. 2 drains in still - hopefully Weds I will get them out. I am not so sure about that though because I am still draining pretty heavily - needs to be under 30 cc for a couple of days. My surgeon said she would not be suprised if they stayed in longer for me since I had such a massive amount of tissue removed. I go back to work on Friday so I REALLY want them to be out before then. THe drains don't hurt but they are uncomfortable and generally a pain to deal with and also hard to hide under clothing. Other than the drains I am feeling pretty good. I am basically off the percoset except for every once in a while. The good news is that my weight has been dropping steadily over the past few days and I am now a few pounds below goal! I am not going to update my ticker until I get back to my own apartment (still staying with parents) and the drains are out. I look pretty good very flat and tight! My thighs are still pretty bad though but I am trying not to let that get me down - it is always something isn't it? Somehow I feel like having butt and hips and stomach so nice makes my thighs look worse which is of course insanity. I am still very puffy. Something really weird is seeing birth marks and old scars in differnt places - feels like someone else's stomach. THanks for all the kinds words and support.

THanks KD - I can't imagine swelling and weight won't go down soon. I am 2 weeks out today and dont weigh myself regularly. Hopefully I will have a big, good suprise next week when I weigh again. Also, haven't attempted jeans or any "regular" clothing because the drains are still in. I can SEE my body is really really differnet.

Good luck Karey! am very excited for your fast approaching day. The butt is kind of annoying but probably less painful than the tummy. Maybe get some egg crate foam to put on your chairs - that helps out a lot.

Thanks KD! I may just stick with the spanx. I am hoping that my drains will come out next week and that will end the problem. Did you have swelling issues after 2 weeks? Did you have weight gain right after the surgery? K

Thanks so much - think i will go order one!

Can anyone recommend a stage 2 compression garment? My doctor said I could switch and recommnded just plain old spanx - my only problem is that it is a pain with the drains still in to take them down to go to the bathroom so I am looking in to buying one that I can use for the next week or so until the last 2 drains come out - maybe one with no crotch or the like. I am having some skin irritation from the binder so I definately need to switch asap. PS - when I went to buy the sales lady instantly said I was a SMALL

Hi Shalee - I slept in a bed from the beggining - I got a wedge pillow and use a bolster and pillows under my feet to sleep - head and legs elevated. I had a lower body lift so the recliner was pretty uncomfortable for me for the first week - mostly I stood up or lay down. Now I spend a LOT of time in the recliner but do not sleep in it. Get a lot of pillows in any case and I highly recommend the wedge pillow so you are sleeping at a slight incline. Good luck and keep us posted!

Hi Steph - at almost 2 weeks out I understand you about the swelling AND I still have drains in - I bet it gets worse when they are removed. Does your swelling come and go? WHen did you start losing the post-op Fluid? (if you have yet!) thanks!

good luck Shalee! Let me know if you have any questions - I am going through recovery right now!

Hi Tracy! it is weird that I don't drive isn't it? Actually works out well if you are on percoset! Anyway I am feeling SORE today - have been trying to take fewer pills. Have doc appt tomorrow but am guessing since she will nto take out my two remaining drains because there is lot coming out of them still - which totally sucks. :biggrin: I am sort of over the drains - they are annoying and make showering difficult. Also, hard to conceal under clothing. I am 12 days out today so maybe I am asking too much - the doctor said it may take longer to remove the drains because of the amount of tissue that was removed.

I live in NYC (manhattan) so I don't have a car and havne't asked. I think generally they say you can't drive until you are off the pain pills for a while.