June 24, 2016
So today I had my 2nd post-op appointment. As per my last doctor’s appointment, my doctor was a little concerned about the bulge below my breasts. He had mentioned to me that he wasn’t sure if the bulge below my breasts was swelling due to improper placement of the compression binder – or – if I had damaged my muscle repair. Luckily it was just swelling!! My upper abdominal area has finally flattened out!! I was so scared that he was going to find something wrong with how I was wearing my compression garment again. I really didn’t want to be scolded. I don’t know what it is about him, but when your recovery isn’t going according to his plan, he defiantly makes sure you feel his disappointment. I swear I felt like a 5 yr old disappointing my parents. But this time, it was all praises!!! So Yey!!!
Monday Appointment: W/ Upper Tummy Bulge: VS. Friday Appointment: Flat Tummy !!!
On another good note, my doctor decided to remove my right drain (my left drain was removed during my first post-op appointment on Monday). Although I was excited about the removal of my last drain, I was not looking forward to the pain. Getting the drains removed is actually really painful!! First, they cut the stitches holding the drains in place (this wasn’t painful). Then, they tell you to take 3 deep breaths, and on the exhale of breath # 3 they pull the drain as hard and as fast as they can out of your hip. Let me just say that it felt like there was a firey-snake slithering out of my stomach. And boy are those drain tubes long!! I was surprised at how much tubing was inside of me.
However, with all the good things happening, I do have some minor setbacks – or annoyances as my doctor likes to call them.
Annoyance # 1) HEMORRHOIDS, HEMORRHOIDS, HEMORRHOIDS !!!
Apparently, hemorrhoids are pretty common after having your abdominal muscles tightened and being squeezed to death by a tummy binder; it has nothing to do with constipation. Since I wasn’t allowed to shower while my drains were in, I wasn’t allowed to take a sitz bath to get some relief from the hemorrhoid pain. So instead, I tried to shrink my hemorrhoids with ice by sitting on an ice cold, rolled-up wash cloth that I’d shove between my butt cheeks. This at least provided some temporary relief.
<——— The picture my Mom will blackmail me with
This is me sitting on my walker with an ice-cold, rolled-up, wash cloth shoved up my ass cheeks
Annoyance # 2) BLISTERS !!!
The tummy binder has been rubbing so tightly on my hips that I’ve developed a few blisters. And the bra that I’m required to wear after my breast lift / implant has given me another blister on the underside of my breast. This is soooo annoying…. and painful. So far, 3 of my 4 blisters have popped and are oozing. Hopefully the big-ole-blood-blister won’t pop and will heal on its own. So in in the meantime, I have excessive medical padding and 3 layers of cloth on my hip blisters all compressed under my tummy binder.
Annoyance # 3) Breast Massage
Today my doctor taught me how to massage my breasts so that I don’t develop capsular contracture. Capsular contracture is the scar tissue that can form around breast implants which causes the breasts to harden and sometimes look deformed. A lot of times capsular contracture is very painful and can make the breast feel very lumpy and tight. So to massage my breasts, I have to pinch the breast tissue below my nipple, push inward and upward until I see my implant hit my collar bone. Yes, you read that right, I literally am pushing my implant out of my breast and up into my collar bone and upper chest area. Surprisingly, it isn’t as painful as I thought it would be – just a really weird annoying feeling.
I have to say, overall the tummy tuck and boob job was not very painful. I think the best word to describe the entire experience would be uncomfortable. The back pain, the hemorrhoids, the tummy drains, and the blisters have been more painful than anything else. Granted, I say this as I am no longer on pain medication. I stopped my pain medication 4 days post-op and have only used Tylenol and ice ever since.
Well, my next post-op appointment will be on Tuesday and my doctor plans on taking off the surgical tape around my incisions. This will be my first view of my scars.
Also, Sunday will be my last day at Casa-de-Mom. I have been staying at my parents house since the day after surgery. I’m a little afraid to go home. I’ve been so spoiled here and well taken care of. I can honestly say that my recovery has gone so well due to the care I’ve received here. As much as I miss my husband and my children, I know that being away from home is exactly what I needed for the beginning phase of my recovery. Once I go home, I’ll need to be a mommy again; and as selfish as I feel saying this – I have mixed feelings about going home.
It could be swelling. Dr. Soto said that my stomach compression was not as tight as it should have been. In fact, he seemed extremely disappointed as he undid my compression garment saying “you didn’t follow our instructions”. This really brought my spirits down. I could swear I was doing everything correctly. But, if the issue is swelling, then it should be an easy fix.
The other issue I’m having with my stomach is below my belly button. It seems that I now have a vertical skin crease. I know I’m being too picky, but it looks like I’ve got an extra vagina lip on my lower abdomen. Dr. Soto said it should resolve itself as my swelling decreases over the weeks of healing.