Life after boob day...

Hey girls 7 weeks til my op!! EEEEEK!! So excited, nervous etc!! Anyway was just curious as to how long people generally start to get back to normal after their op. The only reason I ask is because I'm a single Mummy and both my boys go to school now so wondered how long it took most people to get back to driving and just doing normal jobs etc, luckily my Dad is going to look after Benjamin and Finley while I'm in hosp as my mum is coming with me, my surgeon said I could be in for 4 days which is worrying me too!! I know I won't be able to drive etc when I first get back from the hospital but that means my poor Dad will have to take Benj and Fin to school and pick them up and basically become a surrogate parent until I'm back to doing normal stuff and I feel terrible about it!! Sorry if this sounds a bit perfetic but I feel bad lumbering all this on my family, I'm not used to having to ask for help!! lol x

I drove after 4 or 5 days and it was fine pain-wise, but I still didn't feel 100% about it cos of the antibiotics and painkillers I was taking. I had overs though it must be harder if you have unders. xx

i had unders and i drove on day 4 and felt fine. just used both hands to shift into reverse. i don't have power steering, so just fed the wheel through my hands a bit more. i wasn't on any medication at the time. people are told different things on when they can start driving again. i know you aren't supposed to use machinery, etc within 48 hours of a GA.
everyone is different, and we all heal at different rates. i had a very easy recovery - so i was lucky. i listened to my body. i wouldn't have done anything i felt i couldn't do.
all the very best x x

Thanks girls, feel a bit better about that now, I know it sounds silly but couldn't bare being useless for ages afterwards. I know I'll have to rest and take things easy but still need to be able to get on with day to day things, actually I told my surgeon that and thats maybe why she is going to force me to stay in hospital for 4 days, seems a long time when I've read a lot of people are out like the day afterwards! I'm having unders so have been worrying about how much I'll be able to manage afterwards but I suppose I'll just have to wait and see what my body tells me. And I don't generally use machinary other than the washing machine, dryer, dishwasher and hoover so should be ok...actually maybe the meds could be my excuse not to use them for a while!!! lol. Thanks again girlies xx

I haven't even had my appointment with consultant yet let alone BA, so probably won't be much help but have you asked why you need to stay in 4 days and are they charging you for that or is it a fixed price?

I would ask if you could come out quicker - I have read reviews on here on where people stay in over night then get on a plane and fly home - so surely if your parents are around to help you could come home sooner!

Natalie84 wrote: And I don't generally use machinary other than the washing machine, dryer, dishwasher and hoover so should be ok...actually maybe the meds could be my excuse not to use them for a while!!! lol.

lol, when i read the bit about machinery in the notes from the hospital, i assumed it meant a drill, or a chainsaw or something. but yeah, a good excuse to not do the washing for a while.

x x x

Hey Jellytot1,
I'm having my ba on the NHS due to extreme circumstances, I'm not sure why I have to stay in for 4 days but I think she basically said 4 days so that I wouldnt wake up and be thinking oooh time to go home, I think its just to air on the side of caution. I'll be having drains too so it all depends on when they are taken out. My mum keeps saying "just see it as a chance to have a lie in and a rest" but I know I'll be worrying about my boys as they will be 2 hours away from the hospital at home :( but i suppose if it's 4 days thats nothing to complain about and it will all be worth it when I'm fully recovered x

Haha Mellie I'm totally going to milk the no using machinery bit!! lol x

hiya, sorry to come alone and put a downer on things just want to be hoest.
i had unders and the pain was horrendeous. i was in overnight and home next dat. i was given exercises to do and so glas i did cause it got me moving again. it was about a week post op when i started doing stuff for my 3 girls again. however i did have a chest infection to. i then got really depressed to. i had read so many stories of people being pain free and i was so down that i wasnt and was relying on my husband to do everything cause i was so sore.

the only advice i can give is dont worry or panick abut it because everyone is sifferent. just be prepared for a speedy recovery but also for a slow one. and keep moving after the op. xx

I think if you're prepared for a slow recovery, then anything better will be a bonus and you won't get so down about not being able to do stuff. There's a good thread about what to expect after surgery [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thank you so much girls, I'm going to expect the worst and then anything other than that will be a bonus! Cheers girlies you have perked me up! x

Hey Natalie

I'm pre op so don't have any knowledge! But part of my plan is to do things to make life easier post-op:
Clean sheets on all the beds the day before the op
All my washing done
Get some cartoon DVDs from the library to keep my daughter entertained.
Ready meals in the freezer.

DSonlt know if anyone else has any tips?

dont try and lift large cartons of milk or dilauting juice, it hurts xxx

Ok *adds to list*
Buy lots of small bottles of milk and individual cartons of juice