Hi Everyone, Thank you to all of you who have gone before me and shared your expirences. Now I am excited to begin my own journey.

I was approved today from my insurance company for a panniculectomy, mons lift. I am going to pay out of pocket for an upper abdominalplasty. I will be staying 1 night in the hospital.

I was also lucky enough to be able to schedule my surgery as well. So the count down to Friday November 6, 2009 begins. My pre-op will be on October 20, 2009.

So my question to everyone out there is do you think that I will be able to go back to work after 4 weeks? I mainly have a desk job and where can you rent a lift chair?

Hi Shalee, I tried asking why I could not have one and he just said it was something that he doesn't do. They did give a lot of oral pain meds though. They gave me a script of 80. I have never been given that many. I can not wait until it is over. Congrats on your 1 year. Are you planning to have anymore work done? I know I would like my arms, theighs and girls to be done, but I do not see how I can afford it unless I win the lottery. :blushing:

Katie K.

Hi Potatie....

Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you. Not long now!

Christine

Potatie, I am also having a TT in November. Mine is actually Nov 20!!! Im so nervous!! I hope that everything goes well for you and I will be watching this thread to see what all you are going through and maybe you can give some advice. My Surgeon does not give the pain pump either. Im am very concerned about the pain!! His office told me that they give Demerol. I have never took this pain med and I dont know if it is strong or not? Do you know anything about this med or does anyone else?

GOOD LUCK:thumbup:

Hi Christine, Thank you for the kind thoughts. I am getting excited now. :cursing:

Hi Tiffany, I have not had demoral except for a shot of it once in the emergency room. It knocked me out. I am going to have oxycodone. These are the smallest pills I have seen, which people have told me means that they are very strong. They gave me 80 pills. So I am hoping that will be enough. I also asked about the pain. I told the doctor that I had to a left cyst removal and they had to separate the ovary from the bowl. I told him that was painful. He told me that my surgery should not be that bad because they are not scrapping any thing. So I am hoping for the best. I am staying one night in the hospital and I will be hooked up to a pain pump while in the hosptial, but not when I leave. Are you staying overnight in the hosptial?

Katie K.

Potatie, I will also be staying one night in the hospital. My surgeon did not tell me if I will have a pain pump then. I probably need to ask him. Im paying cash for everything so I dont know if it would be included or not. I dont know how many pills he will be giving me either.. I guess I need to right a list of questions for him (My pre-op is the 16th). Does your surgeon provide you with compression garments for after?

I bought a night gown that buttons up from Wal-mart to wear after the surgery (It was $7 so I bought it figuring I would stain it with blood possibly? It is also hideous :cursing:).

What are you going to wear home from the hospital?

Hi Tiffany, I made a list of questions that I asked on my pre-op. I had 2 pages of questions. I was so excited on my consult that I forgot to ask a lot of questions. I thought he was going to be mad but he was more than happy to answer all my questions. My surgeon is giving me a compression garment. He then recommended spanx for the second garment. I found a really soft pants and shirt set from costco.

Katie K.

Hi Katie & Tiffany:

Loose sweat pants with pockets are a good pick for the ride home and for the first week or so because of the drains. The drains have these plastic bubble-shaped things at the ends that collect the draining Fluid. It's easy to put them in your pockets if you have loose sweat pants on.

Best wishes to both of you. It is really amazing what a difference it makes to look down and see a flat tummy.

Sue

Thank you Sue!! I will go out and some before my surgery.

Sue, Did you have much drainage after surgery? meaning did you have any incisions that leaked out over your clothes or chair that you were sitting in? Other people have advised getting some pads to sit on so I do not get the recliner all messy. What are your thoughts?

Katie K.

Katie:

My Sister had some waterproof pads (quilted on one side and plastic-like on the other) to put under where I sleep so I did put them under the mattress pad on my bed. I did get one spot on the mattress pad, so I'm glad that I used the pads. The drains are kind of tricky and there can be little accidents, so better safe than sorry.

Another thing is that you're not going to be totally with-it while you're taking pain meds, so that can lead to clumsiness. I spilled some of the drainage one time when I was trying to measure it.

It's so worth the discomfort. Best wishes to you.

I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Sue

Hi Sue, Thank you for letting me know. I will have my mom pick up some from my aunt. She has a bunch. :Yawn: Thanks for letting me know about not being with it. I forgot about that part. I think I am now getting a little nervous, but I am really excited. Only 1 week to go. :laugh:

My friend is going to take my pre-op pictures on Tuesday. So I will get those posted then. I am hoping to take progress pictures along the way.

Katie K.

So now I am only 3 days away. The nerves are beginning to kick in, but I am also excited. I will all my work wrapped up by the time I leave, so I will not have to worry about that. Thank goodness. I am going to take my pre-op pictures tonight and i will post them tonight. :thumbup: Then I am hoping to take progress pictures along the way. :thumbup: YEAH ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT!!!!!!!!!!

Katie K.

WOW ! Good luck to you ! I am 113 days away from my TT and breast lift. Please let us know how it goes and how you are feeling. I am already nervous !

- Ellen

Pacific, WA

So now I am only 3 days away. The nerves are beginning to kick in, but I am also excited. I will all my work wrapped up by the time I leave, so I will not have to worry about that. Thank goodness. I am going to take my pre-op pictures tonight and i will post them tonight. :thumbup: Then I am hoping to take progress pictures along the way. :eek: YEAH ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT!!!!!!!!!!

Katie K.

Mine is in 17 days and my nerves are already going crazy! Its all I can think about!! I hope everything turns out great (Im sure it will)!!!!!!!!:thumbup:

Let all of us know how everything is going!

Potatie-- so happy for you Katie on your PS this week. I wish you all the best from all of your fellow Shrinking Shamrocks from the March 2008 group.

Kathy

Hi Ellen, It is nice to see another person from WA on here. Where are you getting your surgery done at? I am at Virgina Mason Seattle.

Hi Tiffany, Thank you for your well wishes. I actually went and got a massage yesterday. That helped a lot with the nerves and tension. Now I am excited. Good luck with your procedures as well. :drool:

Hi Special K - Kathy thank you so much for your support. I really appreciate it. I do not know what I would have done with out the support of my fellow Shrinking Shamrocks. You guys sure ROCK!!!