Hey guys....

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Hey guys....
7
Tue, 06-28-2005 - 10:40pm

Just wanted to log on and let you guys know that I'm doing okay. The past 24 hours have been kind of rough, but I'm hanging in there. I came home from the recovery center today, and have been lovingly cared for by DH. I think I've finally gotten the pain under control for the most part, though getting up is still quite difficult and I don't know when I'll be able to brave the stairs.

It's hard to tell what kind of changes there are in my body because of the drains, compression garments and swelling, but my tummy is flat and that is pretty cool :)

Thanks so much for the positive thoughts you all sent. It means a lot to me.

I don't know how much I'll be able to get online because my mobility is less than I anticipated but I will do my best to keep you all posted.

Thanks again! :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2003
In reply to: gymrat76
Tue, 06-28-2005 - 11:25pm

I'm so happy to hear that you made it through okay. I know the pain is horrible, but it will pass...eventually :)

Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
In reply to: gymrat76
Wed, 06-29-2005 - 8:35am
Thanks for checking in!





iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
In reply to: gymrat76
Wed, 06-29-2005 - 8:49am

Not even a single typo.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
In reply to: gymrat76
Wed, 06-29-2005 - 11:41am

Yeah, too coherent!






iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
In reply to: gymrat76
Wed, 06-29-2005 - 2:01pm

The pain is about what I expected. I'm pretty much bent over at a 90 degree angle at this point so I can't really stand up. Poor DH has to lead me back and forth to the bathroom all day. I've kind of figured out when to take my meds so as long as I stay on track with that, I'm relatively comfortable. The hardest part is geting up off the couch and then getting settled back in.

About how I look... It's sort of hard to tell because I'm covered in compression garments and bandages. The garments are supposed to reduce swelling but that doesn't mean I'm not swollen. Seeing as how I can't stand up straight, I have no idea what my backside looks like but my doctor said they took off about 8 lbs all the way around. I can see that my tummy is flat. My legs look smaller, I think but like I said, they're sort of squeezed into a compression garment so my knees look kind of fat.

I haven't actually looked at any of the incisions yet. The doctor very eagerly wanted to show me yesterday but I had no desire to see them. :) Perhaps when I'm feeling a little more recovered, I'll be able to handle seeing myself Humpty=Dumptied.

And about the lack of typos, DH actually typed my message last night but I'm doing all the typing today.

I actually got some sleep last night and that was surprising. I'm a side sleeper usually but I'm pretty much limited to my lying on back and staying there. I think I'm figuring it out. My appetite is very slowly coming back but I'm still not eating much. I don't thik I posted about this but I got food poisoning over the weekend. It was a real challenge to get anything down on Sunday but I knew I had to since I wouldn't be eating for quite a while.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
In reply to: gymrat76
Wed, 06-29-2005 - 4:49pm
Now I remember seeing a show where a guy had a tummy tuck (maybe extreme makeover).





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
In reply to: gymrat76
Wed, 06-29-2005 - 9:32pm

My husband is a pretty fantastic guy. :) He's been so wonderful and amazing since I came home yesterday. I am going to owe him big time when this is all over...

The doc said that everybody's different as far as recovery time. I imagine that I'll be able to straighten up by next week but obviously, I don't want to put to much pressure on the sutures.