Question:
What should I have at home for when I get home after my abdominoplasty?
Hi everybody!! This question goes out to all of those who have had an abdominoplasty done. I am finally having mine done next Tuesday 12/3 and am wondering what should I have at home to be ready. Is there anything special I need?<p>I am renting a recliner and have bought some things like broth, crackers, jello's and such for the first couple of days home. I'm sure I won't have much of an appetite. Will I need to have things like gauze and such or will the hospital supply me with those things? Any input will be appreciated.<p>Peace and love to all on this journey. MUAH! — Liza B. (posted on November 29, 2002)
November 29, 2002
Hi Liza,<p>
I haven't go an answer for your question, but I am having my
abdominoplasty/mammoplasty done on monday and I am also going to rent a
recliner, and would like to find out what I will need to have at home for
afterwards, I know the nurse and doctor will let me know what I need, and
will send some stuff home, but if you find out anything e-mail me okay?are
you staying overnight in the hospital?, the doctor told me I will be in at
least 1 to 2 days for sure. valita
— bikerchic
November 29, 2002
Your surgeon should have ordered compression garments for you to wear for
several weeks. If not, www.marenagroup.com has some wonderfully
comfortable garments, a little pricey, but worth it. Also, be sure to have
all you perscriptions filled ahead of time...pain pills, antibiotics, etc.
A great tip given to me was to have pen & paper next to your bed (or
recliner) to write down whenever you take your meds, because you WILL
forget. Some people like to have a walker (like seniors use) because you
won't be able to stand up straight for a week or 2, but I didn't and
managed. As for broth and stuff like that, this isn't WLS, I got my
appetite back just fine the next day, and I had my abdominoplasty as an
outpatient (no problem). Just be sure you don't wait until the pain gets
bad to take your pills. I'm not one for narcotics normally, but I learned
pretty quickly to take that percocet religiously! LOL Today is my 10th
day post-op, and I went shopping, went out to dinner and am doing fine. I
still can't stand up totally straight, but nobody that doesn't know can
really tell. Oh, and I'm loving' the new bod! Good luck, and I'm sure
you'll love yours, too!
— Leslie F.
November 29, 2002
Oh, I almost forgot...yes, gauze is always good to have in the house, even
maxi-pads may come in handy in the beginning. If you have a nice nurse,
sometimes they will give you a package of gauze pads (the 4 x 4's), but
it'd be a good idea to have some at home anyway. Good luck again! :))
— Leslie F.
November 29, 2002
I was starving after I woke up from surgery
YOU will need the binder if the Doc doesn't provide it or a long line
girdle
some thin Maxi pads work best place them along the incision line to catch
any drainage
also Keep those drains safe
Gaurd them with your life
if they fall out
You will be in a world of hurt
'not exactly physically
but the liquid must find a way out
mine pushed its way thru 5 places on my incision line
and got infectd
so baby those lines
no pulling on them
I pulled mine when turning over in bed
My Doc did not have us in a Binder
big big mistake
the bulbs would have stayed in place with a Binder
keep the area clean
drink plenty of fluids
You should be able to sleep in bed
just have some pillows to elevate your body
you do not want to be laying flat
no pulling on those tight muscles
and it will be the drain holes that you hate the worst and give you the
most pain
the incision isnt bad
I could not understand why I was hurting so much around my belly button
area
my doc explained it like this
pertend this from incision up to ribs is like a chicken breast..and you
place your hands in and seperate the skin from the meat this is what the
Plastic Surgeon does and then whip stitches all the way down
Now that hummer is hard to get use to
but now after 6 months i love the tight feeling
this will slow down your amount of food intake for a while
because if you eat too much and your tummy buldges it is such a miserable
feeling so tight
take you pain med
I asked for Lortab
it goes right into the body and to me is so much better then vicoden pills
I hate the pills
and do not to any lifting or picking up
baby your tummy
this operation cost a fortune and you can't aford a redo
good luck
you will be so happy with out that hanging skin
Kathy
— Kathleen M.
November 29, 2002
Haven't had a tt but a friend has and the one tip she offered was to pick
up a couple of cheapy outfits you can toss away when you're healed. The
oozing stains clothing (even underthings) horribly! She lived in a moomoo
type outfit for the first few weeks and then tossed them out. The stains
were yellowish and just wouldn't wash out!
— [Deactivated Member]
November 29, 2002
I had my tt on 11/4 - doing great - just wasn't prepared for the numbness.
My plastic surgeon said that the feeling will come back but it takes some
time as they have to cut through all those nerve endings. I didn't have a
problem with food right after the surgery - wasn't too hungry but not like
the WLS a couple of years ago, you can eat right away. I slept in my
recliner for three weeks - until I had the last drain taken out. The one
was removed after two weeks but the second one stayed in for an additional
week as it was still draining. You don't want to rush to have them taken
out - the fluid has to find a way out and better it go in the drain than
have to find an opening or make one in the incision. Love the new look -
just can't wait to get rid of the numbness. Good luck.
— mary ann M.
December 2, 2002
It's a good idea to get your prescriptions filled BEFORE you even go into
the hospital so you have them IMMEDIATELY!! That was probably the smartest
thing I did. Other then that, I really didn't need anything special. This
surgery wasn't 1/4 as rough as the Lap RNY. I ate regular foods and had no
problems.
— Patty H.
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