NOLA in September?

My first surgery in NOLA was my stage II, and Dr. D had to open up about 14" of my ab incision to clean out the mess my first surgeon refused to.  Then last year, he re-did the entire thing and extended the incision around my hips a bit because I'd lost some weight and felt that the skin around the incision was too loose.  I have had that sensation of having a rope tied around my hips for four years.  My chiropractor is more of a functional movement specialist and he is doing myofascial release for me, but I think it's going to be more of a process for me.  I've had ab lipo more than once, and I have quite a bit of scar tissue along the left side of my linea alba--all the way up to my ribs.  It's softening up (I've had three sessions), but I think it will take some time, especially since I'm starting almost a year after the last surgery.   I work on my scars at least once a day too---I rub the incision in circles around on my hip bones until I feel a burn, so I know the scar tissue is tearing a bit.  It's harder for me to work on the scar higher up, but he is finding ways, like pushing a ball into my abdomen while I'm on my back and I slowly breathe out as he pushes further inward.  When I get into bed at night, I stretch out as hard as I can in all directions, which feels really good.

Betsy, I agree with you.  Healing from the abdominal incision the second two times was nothing like the first time.

I'm sitting in the lounge at the center wearing comfy, flannel, footy pyjamas and I feel GREAT! I had my second stage DIEP surgery yesterday. All I've seen so far is one breast and it looks so wonderful that it makes me cry. What a wonderful place this is. I feel like Christmas has come early for me. I can't wait to take off my girdle and have a peak at my new body!



Brandy



If anyone else is here from the community pm me and we can meet in the lounge for some coffee and a chat!

Merry Christmas, Brandy!  🎅   Glad to hear you're up and feeling so wonderful after yesterday's surgery.  The Center is amazing, isn't it?  Enjoy your stay and continue to heal.

I just showered and saw my body for the first time and it looks really good. VERY minimal bruising and some swolleness, but besides that I am very pleased ( I had lipo on inner outer and back thighs, my stomach and love handles. Look out bikini, here I come!)

Way to go Brandy! That is awesome!

I am also huge post stage 1 and will likely get a reduction next month. There is not a size difference of double but my right breast has always been larger than the left. Harder, more swollen, bigger. The nipple is a little different too. I wanted to ask which surgeon did which side but thought that might be rude! If it worries you though, call, especially since the weekend is approaching.

Brandy... I did come by yesterday after my appt, and they called up to your room to see if you were out of surgery and/if you wanted visitors, but no answer... so I tried, but you may have still been in surgery (it was around 2:30)... Glad to know you are feeling well.

BradyB--  Good for you - glad you are done and healing!

Kbodie - I always request all my hospital records (surgical report, path reports, anesthesia, everything in the records).  At SCSH  you just contact medical records and they will send you a release to sign ( you are releasing the information to yourself) and then they mail you all the records.  For me it has been very helpful to have a copy of all my medical records.  It helps me understand what has gone on.  I can also make sure the records are accurate and if they are not accurate I can have the errors corrected.  The most important thing for me is that if  a new physician requests information or reports I just pull the information from my files.  It makes things easy.

Kbodie - I didn't think about asking for my records until after I returned home.  You are way more organized than I am.  (If the information is not in the operative report I am not sure you will find it any place else in the records.)

Brandy... It going well.... I am super bruised even though I have been taking the Arnica.. I didn't shower yesterday as I was flying out early, so today it was exhausting, gathering all my pads, swabs etc... showering, cleaning compression  garments blah blah... and I still have 3 drains. But I hope to lose those tomorrow or Monday. They are outputting next to nothing.

How are you?

Its true, the bruising could be worse without the Arnica... hard to say...

Rosemary, Michelle and Joasta are up next!!! Nothing between now and Thanksgiving?? I know the docs are working... they offered me a date this coming week initially.

Joasta -   Whenever you have your surgery - you will be great!

Betsy and Brandy - have a restful and healing rest of your weekend!

Amy... I was getting ready for bed last night and taking a very close look at my right breast (the one that had ab skin) and this is going to sound crazy, but I think there is about an inch and a half of ab skin still there, but the scar is so invisble, that even I couldn't see it. And I can't say with 100% surety what I am looking at. It looks gone, but the nurse and doctor both said that some ab skin was still there.. I thought they meant like 1/8 inch, but no... That is how good Dr D is... skin color is the same, scar is invisable... amazing. I was wondering how he had removed 2.5 inches of skin, and now I realize he didn't... I wanted to clairfy to you since you had specifically asked.

Thanks Nordy & Kaitsmom - My Stage 2 will be on Dec. 2nd.  I am already happier with my Stage 1 breasts than with the concaved calcifying expander implants that I had prior to surgery.  I have faith in the Doctors that they will work their magic to make me look as normal as possible even though I have the tightest hardest five-month pregnant looking stomach I have ever seen.  I have also done exercise with no results but these surgeries are harder to go through than any exercise I have done.  So you are right Kaitsmom!  These surgeries are not for wimps - which none of us are!  Have a great holiday!