Did you need someone with you first day post op?

Hi,

My BA is fast approaching..eeek...but have just found out my OH now has to go into university on my BA day and the following day for really important lectures as he is in his final year of his nursing degree and its important he doesnt miss them. I'm staying in over night and he will be back by 4pm both days to visit/look after me lol but im wondering...luckily the clinic is only 20 mins from my house so will be able to get a fairly cheap taxi home but do you think i will need to have someone around the house or do you reckon it'll be ok to be by myself? I know it sounds like a silly question but im not sure how well ill be able to manage after being crippled with unders lol. Any Advice would be great, or any preparations i should make for the fact ill be by myself? xx

I think they rec you have someone with you for the first 48 hours in case of complications. Not to mention the GA will make you feel very sleepy and groggy. You probably won't have the strength the flush the loo or hold a full glass of water, or even get yourself off the bed/sofa, so I can't imagine beng on your own for seven hours will be a good idea.

Is there anyone else you could ask to look after you, even for a few hours during the day to fluff your pillows, make you tea etc?

Hey hun, I agree with RoxyChick, Im 3 days post op and my sisters staying with me till tomorrow night. Today is the first day ive been able to flush the toilet by myself and actually turn the tap on! I think you will definately need someone there, especially the day after your op cos your meds will make you feel unwell and drowsy and you don't want to strain the incision or muscles from over doing it. You'll be very surprised by how many everyday things you will find very hard or uncomfortable to do xxx

Thanks Roxy - Well I suppose the problem is that I've only told a few people about it: My boyfriend (Important lectures to pass his degree), Bestfriend (First day as a staff nurse in A&E) and one person from work so they understand why i cant be called in to do physical restraints (rare but part of my job unfortunatly and don't want to damage the new editions). I'm sure if i told some other friends one of them wouldn't mind atall i just cant pinpoint anyone else i'd want with me when im feeling rough - i tend to hate people around me when im poorly and turn into a complete grumpy cow lol My OH obviously wants to be with me and is going to try and see what he can do to get time off but its unlikely he will get much time off if any. If I don't find someone (mid week, most are working) any advice on things i should consider getting ready for when i get home? Duvet on the sofa with V Pillow type thing? Its all becoming so real now..scary stuff!xx

Thanks Stokesy88, you've deffinately made me think - Looks like i'll have to try and get someone to come over in the day. I live with my OH so will atleast have him overnight and after 4pm. Wow 3 days post op!How did it go?How are you feeling now?Did they give you strong meds to take at home aswell or just in hospital?xx

Yeah especially the first day or 2 after you'll need someone! My sister laughed this morning as I was able to shower myself, but couldnt get the towel round my back after!



My op went really well thank you, I havent had any real pain, just a bit strange having the weight on my chest and the tightness on day1 post op! I was given strong codeine by the hospital but it makes me really nauseous and I havent done a poo for 4days now!! So i stopped taking it yesterday! My boyfriend is coming to stay on friday, he's going to think im pregnant!! What size implants are you hoping to have? You excited? xxx

So it really is even lots of silly little things that you just can't do then, oh dear lol! I haven't decided 100% yet, i have a pre-op with my surgeon 5 days before to decide on sizes although he said he'd take a couple in to surgery to see what utlimately looks best. I'm thinking 350cc 'rice boobs' look good but then i've read some saying that when they put them under the muscle you ?lose? some of the ccs, but i dont really understand. So somewhere between 350cc and 400cc but dont really want to go aboove 400cc as i have quite small ribs!I was also told that my breast tissue sits in a natural dip thats developed in my ribcage so i'd need a bigger implant/higher projection to get a good projection in proportion with my figure. Don't know if anyone's ever had/heard of that before? But heyho, he showed me and seemed to know his stuff and afterall he is the expert so i'll just go with what he says. I am excited but also extremely nervous and scared :/ xx

I hope your going to write a diary laura, im also having unders so would be very interested in your story.
I hope you find someone to care for you and good luck x

Hmm... the way I see it, I had a relatively easy time of it. I had overs and to be honest I wasn't in any real pain at all. I didn't need any painkillers, but there was still loads I couldn't do for myself because even little movements 'would' cause me pain if I tried too hard to do something... turning taps on and off, flushing the toilet, holding a glass of juice, even pulling trousers up. Also getting up from lying position is really not easy without using your arms to push yourself up! You need to develop a kind of 'bum shuffle' to avoid hurting yourself!

So I guess what I'm saying is - I had a very easy time with minimal pain, but I still needed hubby to help me do the simplest things! Don't go it alone hun - It's too much to spend and to put yourself through to mess it all up over just asking a friend to pop round and stay with you.

Of course there are some things you can do before your op to make your life a little easier tho - have a think about all the items in your house you might need over the following days and make sure they're all kept somewhere at waist height so you don't need to stretch to reach anything. V-pillow was a huge comfort to me for a while - I was very glad of mine.

Hope it all goes well for you hun.
Mx

Even if you have someone on call to help you to the loo (even getting underwear on and off can be a problem) and get you lunch, I really wouldn't advise being on your own at all.

You may need to also check your paperwork as if the clinic specifically states you need someone with you for the first 24-48 hours you can run into problems with aftercare.

It's not worth popping a stitch or causing problems just because you can't think of anyone to help you, those of us who have been through it know what days 2-4 are like! Ouch!

Peggysue - I am spectacularly rubbish at remembering to write in diarys and if i did before hand it would just be ramblings of all my irrational thoughts of how scared i am lol so i probably wont do a diary but I'll do a 'Surgery Story' soon after when i feel up to it and if there's any other questions about how everything goes with my unders feel free to pm me (once im not a newbie) and ill answer as honestly as i can with what happens with me as i know how helpful it has been for me reading other girls stories :) How long until your op? x

Minxie & Roxy- Thankyou for sharing how things were for you, i think im very quickly getting a good understanding from all the helpful ladies on here that i will need someone with me for a few days and will start to arranging things. I'll be in hospital for the first 24 hrs as im supposed to be first on the list on the day but you're 100% right i definitely don't want things to go wrong because i try and to things myself too soon! I've ordered a V-pillow with a velour/fleecey cover so im hoping that'll be comforting to snuggle into when im feeling a bit rough. Will also make sure everything is a waist height. Thankyou both again, this forum is so helpful xx

You're welcome lovely! It's such a great experience, which probably sounds a little strage, but time flies so quickly. Before you know it you'll be 3 months post op and starting to get a feel for what your new boobs will look like!

I miss those days! Haha!

I can't wait :). Thankyou, you're helping me be a bit more excited..just the actual op and days 2-4 to get through first!

i reckon you'll just about make it on your own but it wont be easy so if you can, get someone round. You'll be so exhausted you wont care who is lifting your glass and chatting to you, once someone is. i felt like a giant baby on day one of my recovery. If you get your boy to help you sit up before he leaves in the morning, gives you your meds, puts plenty of drinks and snacks next to you, opens all the doors you need and fluffs up a million pillows and teddy bears around you, you might be ok. My OH went to the supermarket for 2 hrs and i was INTENSELY lonely (I'm usually Ms Independant lol)...

I cant stress how important regular snacks and fluids are - especially first 3 days so be careful. Also ask him to call you every hour or so (I know it sounds a bit much) or at least text....

Good luck my dear. Its so so exciting and worth it :-)

Starsfade - He should be good at that stuff given that he is about to qualify as a
nurse!lol (albeit a mental health nurse) he normally is very good at
being caring when im poorly so im sure ill be fine..going to try and get
other people to pop in for a few hours over the first couple of
days..mission as i live in the middle of nowhere but thats what friends
are for hey!Silly question -Is the thing about snacks and fluid a medical thing? if so why (apart from obviously not getting dehydrated) or just because ill be more hungry and thirsty than usual? Thankyou..I am starting to get quite excited now !Hopefully it'll last and not turn back to nervous/terrified over the next few hours x