My cosmetic surgery experience
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| Tue, 02-22-2005 - 5:42pm |
So Jen busted me... the "surgery" I've been sidelined from was cosmetic. Jean said she'd like to hear a little about it, so here goes! If you disagree with plastic surgery that is understandable - it's a personal decision and not for everyone.
I had breast augmentation on 2/11. Everyone says you can't sleep the night before, but I slept like a log. I went to the hospital the next day at 5:30 a.m., got settled in my room, took a preggers test, and then the nurse started my IV. I am terrified of needles and spent much time worrying about this, but it really wasn't bad when the time came. Didn't hurt, and they actually don't leave a needle in you (it's a small piece of plastic), so I was fine with that. Then the pain doc came and gave me some sedatives-- this is one part of the process that I truly hated. It made me all antsy and paranoid and I wanted to rip the IV out and run home. Scary. Before I knew it, I was fading in and out, and was in the operating room. Last thing I remember was the pain doc putting little white sensors on me and me asking him if they were like the ones they put on E.T. after he was captured...
...I woke up really disoriented and sore in the recovery room. The doctor came and said hi, and then they wheeled me back to my room where they put me in bed for a while. The next time I woke up, I had to sit up and get dressed with the help of my fiance and the nurse. That really sucked. I was so groggy, it made my head spin and I broke out into a sweat just moving. I didn't have much pain because I was so doped up, but it was a little hard to sit up w/out using my arms. I finally got up and past the nauseous stage, was dressed, and the fiance drove me home. I was in surgery from 7:30 - about noon, I think, and was heading home by about 2 or 3. I'm not sure.
Once I got home, I got settled in my armchair and spent the next 2 days sleeping every time I took a pain pill. I slept the entire night both nights, and the only time I was in a lot of pain was when I had to sit up get out of the chair to go to the bathroom. The pain was really more like muscle soreness from lifting, times about 15, but I didn't complain because I elected the surgery. You ladies could all handle it. It wasn't terrible. My fiance had to do everything for me - lift a glass to my mouth, rip off toilet paper for me (at least I could use it myself), help me ease back into the chair, prepare my food... he was really a good nurse! He loves the new product, btw.
Ever since the surgery I've had to wear a surgical bra, which I can only take off to shower. (I could first shower on the Sunday following the surgery, but my fiance had to do everything for me). After the first 2 days, I started getting more and more independent and can now do pretty much everything by myself except lift my arms over my head and lift more than 5 lbs. I feel fine, I was back at work the following Thurs., --- I have to be patient and wait as my body heals and goes through a lot of changes in the coming weeks and months. No working out for at least another 2 weeks - no lifting for another month. I'll have to start massage to reduce the risk of scar tissue forming (one of the reasons some people have to have a corrective surgery). It's too early for me to be excited about all this, but I'm getting there. It's something I've always wanted to do, but just being happy and not feeling guilty about it is a difficult thing for me, as well as worrying about what other people think. Time will tell, esp. since I'm wickedly irritable right now as a result of not being able to work out. LOL.
I am happy to answer any questions - and I hope no one will judge me!

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Congratulations on your successful surgery!
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