Pre-surgery nerves!!

I'm sure this is normal, but ohmygosh I'm now doubting myself massively!  My surgery is on Friday, pre-op appointment tomorrow and I'm suddenly really, really nervous!

I know I want this.  I've always wanted it.  I have absolute faith in my surgeon and the hospital so why am I so frightened?  I guess I'm worried that I'm putting myself through what is essentially unnecessary and vain surgery and might well end up with wonky boobs or something.  Or not big enough.

I'm an A/B cup now and I'm having moderate profile overs (300CC I think he said, 12-odd cm in diameter if that means anything to anyone).  Basically what I wanted is to have them reinflated to what they stretched to when I was breastfeeding (34DD :D !!  ) because they're like deflated water balloons now.

So I guess I'm now worrying that my surgeon's 'one or two cup sizes bigger' won't be big enough and I'll end up with slightly larger saggy boobs.

HELP!!!

Also, this might sound hugely naive, but how long does recovery typically take?

My surgeon said I would be back to work in 2 weeks (my job involves sitting all day so I'm not overly worried about this), and running within 6 weeks - is this about right?

The only surgery I've ever had was a c section and the recovery from that was horrific, so I guess I'm getting PTSD-style flashbacks when thinking about how this new surgery will go.  

I'm hoping that the fact that my boobs are pre-stretched will cut down on a lot of the post-op pain, but do you have any advice on when I can realistically expect to do things like washing my hair, driving, picking my (young) children up, doing low- and high-impact phys etc?

And how long until you're allowed to shower?!

Can you tell I'm panicking slightly?  

Completely normal hun! Mine's tomorrow & my head's all over the place. Keep flipping from excitement to absolute terror & everything inbetween. Xx

I had mine on Thursday and if I didn't have a broken foot I reckon I could drive now and I even feel up to being able to go to work tomorrow. I'm not, but I feel I could. I'm tired today but that's it.
I've washed my hair myself this morning over the bath and haven't taken painkillers since Friday.
I do think I've been really lucky. The bruising has started coming out today so I am bit green and tender down my sides but it's not pain, it's just bruising..
My youngest is 2, 3 this month and I've shown him the dressings and said mummy has sore cuts so be careful and gentle. He wanted me to pick him up earlier but I said I couldn't cos of the poorly cuts and he was fine. I'm definitely nowhere near ready to be able to lift him but he's been cuddling me gently and that's been fine.
I was also told 6 weeks before exercise...no rush for me on that front though!!
Showering wise I was told a week but not seeing him til 18th for a wound check so I'm going to avoid it until then to be safe. I've been having a good wash at the sink with a flannel every day and washed my hair over the bath today and that was fine.
My husband has been on rugby tour all weekend, he went on Friday morning and my parents brought my toddler home on Friday evening and I've looked after him by myself all weekend with no issue. I am tired though like I say so I'm looking forward to snoozing all day tomorrow.
I'm off work til 27th but unless the weather is amazing I'm going to go back on the 18th to save my hols as I definitely don't need that long off.
I am sure I've been really really lucky as I know a lot of the girls have struggled so it shows how individual it is. But don't worry, it is the best thing!! Xx

Totally normal! I've not had a c section but lots of close friends have but honestly think this recovery will be a lot easier. I had overs and was back to work after 2 weeks, showering and washing/drying hair after 3 days, out for lunch but mainly resting after 3/4 days and feeling mostly fine so long as I wasn't using arm/chest muscles after a week. Drove after 1 week but wasn't comfortavle so didn't drive again until 2 weeks. Restarted Pilates at 5 weeks (but couldn't do everything) and circuits at about 8-10 weeks.

We're all different but if you can cope with the pain and limitations of having abdominal surgery you'll be fine!!

Any siZe doubts just call secretary and maybe they can order size up and down for you/surgeon to try.

It would be more worrying if you weren't nervous....

I do realise that obviously a c section is abdominal surgery and so affects more, and during labour, which seems to make recovery harder (anecdotal evidence but still).  But bloody hell it was awful.  I was really traumatised by that, and the recovery, and I guess as I have nothing else to compare it to I'm starting to get really panicky.

I'm also worrying about the size.  I've emailed my surgeon's secretary.  It sounds silly saying "I think I want them bigger", but he's predicted me "a couple of cup sizes larger" but I KNOW my skin is more stretched than that.  I went from an A cup to a DD cup overnight when my milk came in after my eldest was born.  When my second was born it was the same, and I've gradually come back down to an A cup, though they're a completely different shape.

So 'a couple of sizes' will give me a C cup, D cup at most, and I don't want to shell out £5,250 for a once-in-a-lifetime operation (because we will never be able to afford to do this again) only to find they're still deflated-looking, only a bit bigger, you know?

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (sorry, I don't know how to tag people!) - EEEEK!  Good luck tomorrow, I really hope they are exactly what you're hoping for.  And, hopefully without sounding creepy - your stomach is amazing!!  I'm trying really hard at the moment to lose weight and, after eating my bodyweight on holiday, you've just reminded me why I'm trying so hard!  Sorry if that's a bit creepy, it was meant nicely :)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] - thanks lovely.  I think we're in fairly similar situations regarding babies etc etc so it's reassured me that I might not be in too much pain!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] - thank you love.  That's really reassuring - I hate the thought of not showering (I couldn't wash my hair for 10 days after my section as I couldn't reach up at all and I felt vile and grimy!!!).  Driving is kind of essential!  The husband has booked Monday off work for the school run in case I'm still in agony then but fingers crossed he won't need it eh?

I swing wildly between really, really frightened, and daring to be excited about my longest-standing dream.  I've self-prescribed wine ;) 

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] thank you! I don't think i've been properly excited today, just lots of bervous energy! haha, not creepy at all! From what people have said it's going to disappear rapidly in the next few days with the looking pregnant bloatedness that you get after a GA. I'm just planning on getting back onto good food as quickly as possible especially as I'm not going to be able to gym for sp long! X

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] - yes, no more gorging myself at mealtimes for me.  We went on holiday last week and I managed to put on 3.5kg in 5 days - I'm pretty impressed with that, actually 

It was totally worth it, but now I'm back to thrashing myself and eating sensibly.

Best of luck for tomorrow, I'll check for updates!! xxx

Aww this feeling is completely normal as the ladies have said above..!

I was allowed to shower immediately because I had waterproof dressings. Every surgeon is different so may need to wait a week or 2.

I have a desk job and was back to work on the 6th day.. although everyone at work knew and I did stay more still (I normally dance around the office a bit), not lift a thing and probably did look a little 'fragile'.

I was back running 6 weeks exactly and I've ran 3 times a week since.. I've even ran 2 park runs and I'm pretty much back to normal in the running side of things! 

Listen to YOUR body, if it says no, take note and stay off it another few days.
You will be absolutely fine and you are going to feel so confident and happy about your body... its worth every minute of the 'taking it easy' - I promise you xx

Im still pre op but what you are feeling now is very normal so please dont think otherwise!
Everytime i have had surgery.. ive always been scared but its over before you know it and then you think 'i was being so silly for nothing'!!

As you say, youve wanted this for so long so its obvs something you feel you need and want. Just remind yourself of that when your feeling anxious. We are all here for you, for support so anytime you feel worried or anything im sure us ladies can cheer you up :-) xxxx

Well I had my pre-op today and the nurse spent a full hour allaying all my fears about surgery and everything.

My surgeon rang me this morning (I emailed his secretary last night in a flap) and he's basically said "yeah I can put bigger in if you want but I think what I've recommended will give you a nice natural look, and at some point you have to just trust that I know what I'm doing" lol.  I DO trust him, and I'm happy that I made it clear to him what I want, so, while I'm still nervous that the fullness might not be quite there, he's done thousands so I've got to just hope that he's doign what I want