kareyquilts

Shalee: My ps put me on another round of antibiotics and bacitracin ointment and now aquaphor. He said that a moist wound heals better than a dry one. My wound is starting to heal in, which is good. Sorry yours is being so naughty! Hope it turns around soon!

Thought after seeing the de-hiss, it might be helpful to see how the tummy is coming along. The incision line has a few red spots but it's coming along well. I think the scar will lighten up nicely. It's so hard to put these pictures up. But here goes. The first one is before my first tummy tuck and the next one is before the revision and the last pix is after the anchor revision.

Okay, I'm going to post a picture of my de-hiss. I hope I don't gross any of you out. It's looking a lot better now and it was always small (but enough that I had to stay in a recline). Anyway, since some of you thought it would be helpful, I'm putting it out there, in the name of learning:

Thanks for sharing the pixs, I now how hard that is! You're looking fabulous! You won't believe how much better you're going to look in the coming months! It's totally worth the pain. I'm glad youre surgeon is going to fix all the little things, I think it matters and you'll be more pleased when everything is just right! Congratulations!

Shalee: Has your wound gotten any better or just the same. I'm going to post some pictures of mine on Sunday. How's your energy level? Hope you have some good movies to watch! Wishing you the best!

Marjorie: Congratulations that you can now sit! It's wonderful to hit these goal markers and realize that "Hey, I am going to get back to normal, one of these days!" Yeah! Does the fat necrosis on your breast work itself out? Or is it a problem from here on out?

Sue: A "de-hiss" is where the incision comes apart. It can be a big gap or a small gap. Mine is where the two incisions meet at the butt crack (don't know how else to say it). My doc calls this area the "bermuda triangle" as it creates problems for lots of people. Maybe I will take a picture so people can know more about this. Will ask my DH to help me with this tonight.

Wishing you the best Patty! Dr. Schulman: How important is it to massage incisions? How long and how often should it be done? Have you ever heard of putting essential oils, like lavender and frankencise on the incisions to aid in healing? Thanks!

Marjorie: Thanks for the kind words. Hope your feeling better! All I can say is I went to my ps today and got the go ahead to sit up and even drive. Hallelujah! So very happy to be joining the human race again! Still having some incision issues, but doc said that reclining isn't going to change anything. He also said that he will revise any scars that need it and fix the dip in my arm if it doesn't resolve. I'm feeling better and anxious to start moving again (I know I have to take it slowly, uhgg!). I would like to take some after pics, but I don't think I will of my bottom, the de-hiss is quite unattractive. But maybe it would help to see it? I had lipo on my knees and they look a lot better already. I think my stomach looks good, even with the added vertical incision. The arms are coming along. Going to count my blessings!

McGreen: You're doing great. I bet within the week you'll be able to put on the compression garment by yourself, especially when you lose the drains. Sounds like they are almost ready to go. I alternated from bed to recliner too. It's good to give different muscles a rest. Happy healing!

Glad you're back to exercise, it's all up hill from here! Congratulations!

Shalee: Good to hear from you. I guess we should be greatful that we have people in our life that love us and are willing to help us when we need it. Afterall, we would do it for them. Right?! It is hard to stay positive, I'm hoping that when I see the doc tomorrow I get the go ahead to go on with my life. I am able to get up and down by myself now and I''m moving a little better. Everything is going to be better soon. Repeating my mantra: Counting my blessings!

Marjorie: So glad everything went well. Welcome to the flatlands! The compression garments can be a big pain! I have to plan when to get a shower around when my DH can help me get the blasted thing on! I still can't do it myself. All sense of modesty just flies out the window doesn't it? Oh well! It will be worth it! I love my arms and they really haven't been too bad. The only bad part was the first 3 days when I could hardly bend them and had to have help to eat or drink. I was considering doing my inner thighs, but I've decided that enough is enough. I hate to feel helpless as well and mentally I just don't think I can go through this again. That being said, I'm really happy with everything that I've had done. I hope you're feeling better soon!

Amy: I forgot how long the recuperation is too. I'm ready to do something, anything! Wednesday I see the doc and hopefully I get the go ahead to start sitting up and getting back to work. I don't think my de-hiss on my incision has gotten any worse and mentally I need to get moving! Here's to some good movies and resting!

Well an attorney might speed up the process, but not sure if you want to get the doc angry, but then again, maybe he would be extra careful this time around! Have you tried appealing to him directly?

Well, I've been in the recliner too. Sigh! Not much fun, but things are going to get better for both of us! Take it easy, Renewed. Wishing you the best!

Lori: Your looking fantastic! Doesn't it feel like a miracle? Your breasts look great and so does your tummy! YEAH! How are you feeling?

Donna: Life can be great, fat or thin. It's all between the ears. I think being on the path and making the right choices gives us peace of mind and whether we've lost 20 (congratulations) or have met our goal, I've found that I'm happiest when I'm making good choices. Even at goal if I pig out the negative voices come out to let me know how awful I've been. It's all a process. Today, I broke out in hives from the new antibiotic the doc put me on. It's not fun to be itchy when you absolutely can't itch! Benadryl is helping but I needed to get on the LBT with my friends and get distracted! Happy Halloween!

Feeling a little better. I am adjusting to my bed rest and thinking of things I can do while "resting" in bed. I've paid my bills, done some knitting, getting caught up on all the seasons of 24. Calling people who I've needed to reach out to. Working on a newsletter for my church and trying to think about my blessings. Being greatful has really helped me mentally. I feel that I've been tetering on the verge of a major depression and thinking about my blessings has really helped. I've had moments of euphoria while I watch the beautiful fall colors out my window and listen to the peace all around me. I don't know how people do it that have permanent disabilities and need to rely on others all the time. I'm hoping that I don't forget this experience so that I can know how to help others. Banking on the theory that things happen for a reason. Have a great day everyone!

I've got a little necrosis going on to. Bed rest is pretty boring, but I guess we should take advantange of the situation, huh?! Enjoy the new bod, this too shall pass!

Still laying around. Life is just too exciting. Sigh....

Congratulations! I can't wait to see your pictures. This is an exciting time and if it wasn't for all the pain you could really enjoy it, huh?!

Hope you get your date soon!

Went back to the ps today. He removed 3 of the 4 remaining drains, yeah! Unfortunately, I have a little spot on my back that is not healing well, so I was told that I can't sit up for another week! Bother, bother, bother! I also was told that I have to postpone my knee surgery for another month. I was trying to piggyback both recoveries together so that I could get back to exercise sooner. Now, I'm going to have my knee surgery Dec. 10th. UGG! I guess I'm going to learn patience whether I like it or not! Also, my son and his wife with my 1 year old grandson are moving in with us for a while, while my son applies for his medical school residencies and goes to interviews etc. I am so looking forward to their visit and my ps said that I canNOT pick up my grandbaby for 3 more weeks. He's going to think that I don't love him. I am really going to have to think of my blessings and stop thinking about what I can't do! This can get to you mentally if you let it and I feel like I could succumb to depression easily if I don't do something to counteract the negative thoughts. I'm trying to remember to breath and to think about all the good things in my life. I have so many blessings, including being able to have this LAST set of plastic surgery procedures. Well, I've written a book, so I'll quit for now.

Shalee: Sorry you lost your pain pump a little early. It is our friend. I was glad that I woke up with one. Okay it won't help to worry about your incision. You will cope no matter what. Right?! The pain is going to get better every day. That muscle repair is the pits, but that's what is going to help you keep that new flat tummy. By next week you're going to be able to get up and down by yourself, it will be one of the small miracles that is happening for you. I called my tummy tuck, "the painful miracle." I just got back from the docs today, and was told that I have to stay in bed for one more week because of a little spot on my back side and that I have to postpone my knee surgery for a month. So, believe me that I feel your frustraton. We'll just have to get on line together more. I wishing you lots of good healing!