3 weeks Post-Op!!

[Dream Weaver]

Hey ladies, so I've waited to post my BA story for a bit... so here it goes... i can be long winded sometimes, so hold on to your hats!!!

I went for my BA on 8.19.08 - a date I will never forget. My PS office told me to be there at 6:30, so I woke up at 5am to get my 15 mo son up and feed him. He usually sleeps until 6 - 7 so he was a bit tired and not so hungry. I knew it would be a while until I could take him in and out of the crib and into his high chair so it was really important to me to have that time with him. Then I let my hubby take over so I could shower and take some deep breaths...

I had been so excited about my BA and strangely enough not at all nervous. Thankfully this feeling continued throughout the process! The PS office told me to take a pill, the muscle relaxant, don't remember what it's called, the night before to make sure I slept well. This was a good idea b/c I was WIDE awake still at 10pm. I guess the idea is that it helps you sleep AND is still with you the next morning so as to keep you relaxed, which I was.

Well, there was a hurricane brushing by us so the thing I was most concerned about was my hubby and son getting back home after taking me to the appt. AND that my surgery wouldn't be canceled. I think I would have cried if that had happened. We were there an hour earlier than we needed to be, so I could send them back home before the rains came. They drove off just as the rain started pouring down. Hubby called me when he got home to assure me they'd made it home safely. Whew...

When I got to the waiting room there was a young man there waiting for his gf to get out of her BA. We immediately started talking and were non-stop until I was called in later. It was so great, we talked about their decision to get the BA and everything that went into it. This was really valuable to me since my hubby was not supportive of me doing getting a BA. (He says he's not a booby man, which being w/me, I would assume not... ha ha... and was really nervous that i was going 'too big' aiming for a C... whatever, anyway, needless to say he really had reservations about me getting it done). So me and young man had a great convo that kept me laughing and feeling very happy that the young lady in before me had such great support from her bf. Put a smile on my face to know that exists. Great way to go to my BA.

So they call me in and I continue to be happy and excited. I change clothes, put on my surgery stockings, take my prego test and I'm ready to go. The nurse brings me to sit in this room where they have a tv showing the pending doom of the hurricane. Again, all I cared about was that my son and hubby were safe at home and that my BA hadn't been canceled, so I was good!! The anesthesiologist walked in and asked me all the usual questions... you know: whether i ate anything, drank, had a cold, or any other things concerning. All to which I replied 'no.' To be quite honest, he seemed very serious and a bit stressed, but I didn't let that impact me b/c the rest of the crew was really supportive. There was a curtain between me and the next 'space,' where they had brought in the previous patient to recover. She was out of it and I heard her saying she was really cold. I heard the nurse bring her blankets and it sounded like she was being really well cared for, which was good.

Next, Dr. Spence came in with a warm hello. He asked of my understanding of what was to come. I told him round, mentor, silicone unders... hopefully 375-400... whatever he thought would look best. He drew on me and said he'd be back. At this point I sat back thinking that I was so glad I went with my gut in choosing a PS. I had seen 2 others before him and wasn't scheduled to see Dr. Spence for consult until a week later. I called the PS office, spoke to the surgery coordinator, Kitty, who is absolutely lovely by the way, and begged her to fit me in earlier. I told her I just had a feeling about him and wanted to see him asap so I could make my final decision. (I was in a REAL hurry to get this done... you see once I make a decision to do something, and this was a LONG time coming, I am so impatient and just want to get it done)!! Anyway, it was great to sit there having total confidence in my surgeon and his understanding for what i wanted and confidence in his vision, experience and bed side manner... I didn't have to worry about that at all. Which meant to me that I really didn't have anything to worry about.

The nurse came back in and she took me to the room where all the magic happens. She gets the IV in and asks me if I'm comfy. I ask her for a pillow to put under my knees and she's off to get me one.... the anesthesiologist comes in and says he's putting happy drugs in for me... I asked him what he was giving me and I don't remember his answer... LIGHTS OUT.

I woke up a few hours later feeling totally drowsy. I had expected to feel like a ton of bricks on my chest, but that wasn't it at all. I just felt like I could not open my eyes at all or lift any part of my body. I felt totally helpless, although not in pain at all and knew I was in good hands so it was fine. What seemed like a few minutes later, my hubby and son came in to say hi. I couldn't even focus on them at all, but tried to smile, feeling like I had no control over anything physical. I had no idea how I was going to get up, get dressed and get into the car.

I have no idea how much later the nurse helped me up to the dressing room to get my clothes on. A few people walked me to the car, put my seat belt on with the top part around my back and off I went. I cuddled up with my pillow and before I knew it I was home. Hubby helped me in and up the stairs to our bedroom where I had my pillow, pills and water all set up and ready to go. We'd even moved a tv, dvd player and rented another dvr box so I would be good and entertained. I had books on the night stand and snacks to pick at, which I really wasn't interested in when I got home, but came in handy later.

That afternoon/evening was just fine. I popped the pills at the times I was supposed to... the alarm on my cell had been set up that morning so I didn't have to think at all about it. My hubby was busy with my son and I just dozed in and out of sleep for the rest of the afternoon/evening. My hubby's a lite sleeper, so he slept in the guest bedroom for the next few nights so I wouldn't wake him when I woke up to go to the bathroom and take my pills. He had his celly right next to him so if I needed his help he would be there. Luckily, I was not in pain so I handled it pretty well on my own. It was best for him to be well rested to have the energy to care for our toddler and for me the next few days.

Recovery was great, with little pain and it actually wasn't too bad sleeping in an upright position. I'm a side sleeper so I thought this would be difficult. Within in a few days I was tapering off the pain meds to kind of 'test' my pain and I really didn't feel any. I had the bandages taken off a few days later and was told I didn't have to wear the band across the top of my breast anymore... yippie! When I saw my NEW BOOBIES without the bandages and band, I was so excited! they looked awesome! I did my massages, put on the neosporin and shea butter and was good to go. I felt so good that it was really difficult for me to stay in bed and 'rest.' I wanted to help around the house and with my son, but tried to resist doing too much. Luckily my son had just begun walking in the weeks before so he really wasn't wanting me to pick him up... I thought this would be really difficult if he had wanted 'up,' but he really didn't.

I took pictures almost every day for the first week and a half, to see how they changed. Of course I obsessed with the daily photo. I could see the change over the course of days and certainly from the before pics, but the day to day was really not as dramatic as I thought it would be. I think it's b/c didn't have much swelling (i'd been taking the arnica and bromelain religiously)... and NO bruising at all, which I was amazed about. The stitches felt a little sore b/c of the surgical bra, but that's it.

I have to wear the bra 24/7 for 6 wks, but I've gotten used to the idea. In the morning I shower, put the neosporin on and put a bandaid across the incisions so it doesn't get irritated by the bra rubbing up against them. I think the bra helps keep the incision (crease) healing nice and flat, so I'm fine with that. The bra doesn't allow me to wear those cute summer tops I'd been wearing, but hey, it's a small price to pay when I look at my boobies every morning! So what I have to wear T shirts for a while. I'm a little hot when I go outside, but at least I have boobies!!

It's funny b/c being so flat chested all my life, and particularly flat after breast feeding my son, it was a little weird at first to catch someone (men and women) glimpsing at my chest! It's a bit startling. It's like, 'who.... me??' Just a strange feeling... but now I don't pay attention. I really did this for me. I think you must present yourself differently when you have boobies, even if they're not big, which mine aren't. Still I feel a guzillion times better about myself so it must show in the way I walk or something.

I have to say, this was the best thing I've ever done for myself and not nearly as difficult as I was prepared for it to be. I do my massages everyday, put stuff on the incisions, wear my bra like my PS says... the most difficult thing has been not being able to pick up my son to put him to bed or put him in the high chair... put I've learned to live with it. Only 3 more weeks to go!!! Can't wait to go bra shopping and buy some new tops!! It's only going to get better and better and it's already excellent. I'm so excited!!

For those of you haven't yet scheduled your BA: if you've found your PS, schedule it. Don't wait. For those who have scheduled and are anxious, please just remember all the reasons you're doing this for yourself and take a before picture that you look at every day so you propel yourself forward through the process. If you've carefully and intuitively picked the right PS for YOU, you will sail through with all the confidence you need to get through any discomfort and you will be so happy you did this for yourself!! All of us wonderful ladies are here for you through the process if you need any support. Just ask...

Thanks for listening, wishing you all the best,

xoxoxo Dream

[lilyes767]

Great story!

Glad your feeling so well. Wish you the best in your continued recovery. Hopefully you get all you wanted.

Keep us posted

[LittleBunny]

Congratulations!

[desirae]

congrats on your boobs they already look great!

[Charliece]

Great story, thanks for sharing it, especially with all the details!

[Suz]

What a fabulous story! Thanks for being so thorough. I bet your hubby will become a boob guy now.

[Mare_Ami]

yay what a great story

[1hotmama]

GREAT STORY!!! I hope my recover is as smooth as yours!

What does dh thinkn of the new girls? Did he get on board with the idea of them and become a "boob man"?

[tattoogrl4ever]

Congrats o n your ba. Your new girls you look awesome.

[Island_Girl]

Oh dream! It's about time you share your story! lol. You and I are very close in our BA. I got mines 2 days after yours.

Yeah, so I'd like to know. Is hubby a boob man now?

[Dream Weaver]

well, he's coming around... it's been 3 weeks and for the first 1-2 he was resistant to liking them - i think he was being stubborn and sticking to his story that he didn't want me to get it done. plus we were both being 'careful' with them since i had just had surgery. this past week i got my period, so it's not been the most romantic time. we'll see what happens in the coming days. i'll put on an outfit that'll make his legs buckle under and help him see the incredible benefits of my boobies and my renewed confidence!! ha ha!!

[bebby]

Dream"Congratulations"
OMG I just love the long stories and yours was just great!
I am so happy for you and your boobies -
and thanks for sharing your great story with us...

[hellokitty10808]

Wow, your Post Op experience is really making me excited!!! Mine BA is scheduled for 10/08/08.. I still have not decided on size or which types of implants. All though. Now, I am leaning more toward cohesive gel silicones. Possibly 375 to 400 cc's I am a full 32 A now and want med to full C's. I am glad to hear that recovery is going well for you and I bet you look fantastic!! I hope that everything will turn out great!!!! Keep me posted and I will do the same...