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Visitors' Stories -- Lauren's Story (High Volume Liposuction):
Hello, everyone I had promised to post my story, so here goes. I had my
stuff done 2 weeks ago to the day, hips, butt, abs, thighs, and arms. Here are my takeaway
lessons:
If you have trouble taking pain meds (i.e., become nauseous), lipo could
be a very big deal for you. I cannot take pain meds at all. I just throw up and throw up
and I even faint. I had thought that I was going to be OK because I brought with me a very
strong anti-emetic (anti-nausea) drug called Zofran that I had used with a previous
surgery and it really helped. But the hospital wouldn't let me take it and they wouldn't
prescribe it for me (it's so expensive they usually only use it for chemo patients), and I
didn't want to take it on my own without their permission in case it interacted with
something so, sure enough, I puked my guts out and passed out at least three times. (I
even threw up on my garment, which you can imagine was just awful. The poor nurses had to
mop me up every 2 minutes.) In fact this led to me staying in the hospital 2 nights.
I was just not in good shape at all. Couldn’t eat, green, etc. Plus, I was in a fair
amount of pain since I couldn't take any narcotic pain meds. I was on over-the-counter
Tylenol only 12 hours post-surgery (and he took 6,500 CCs!!) so I was a fairly hurting
unit. I did not take even one pain pill or sleeping pill that I had waiting for me at
home...I hate to say it, but if you don't know if you can take pain meds (never had
surgery and never taken them), you could be in for a nasty surprise. My anesthesiologist
told me 20% of people are sensitive to them, though I would have think I am worse than
most.
High-volume gals, drains are your friend! I knew that I would wake up
with surgical drains, but I had no idea that they would be such a big deal. I had 10
drains pinned to the front of my garment. These are big suckers. They look like clear
plastic torpedoes, maybe about 3 inches by 5 inches, and I had 10!! They're pretty gory,
too, but easy enough to dump out. What I never understood was that I would not be able to
go out in public until these came out since I literally looked like I was 9 months
pregnant with a very bumpy baby. My poor son (6 year-old)! He touched them on the outside
and said in an incredulous voice, "Is that your BODY??" I had some terribly lame
excuse. Get your story in order in advance!! I think I really scared him and that was too
bad.
Drains are your absolute best friends because they suck out all the
garbage that would make you swell and otherwise run out all over your bed and clothes. As
gross as they were, I believe they kept me much less swollen and bruised. I couldn't wait
to get them out but I was happy I had them for 4 days. (After day 3, one started pressing
on a nerve in my leg, horrible burning pain...I was more than happy to see it go...)
Three words: Padded toilet seat!! If you are having anything done on
your thighs and butt, GET A PADDED TOILET SEAT. You simply CANNOT imagine the pain of
sitting down on a normal toilet seat, even to this day. When I first came home (no padded
seat) I sort of folded up a towel to go and it was messy and did not work well. For
peeing, I sort of squatted over the bowl without sitting down; it had to be a lovely
sight!
Thank God for LipoSite!! I have found it immensely helpful, especially now
on Day 15 that I am swollen like Puff Mommy. I have done very well with the swelling so
far, was down at least 1 size immediately post-surgery and almost cried from happiness
when I saw my (never before) flat tummy when the bandages came off. Now I am 80% swollen
but doing well most days (except today). I find the swelling can really play mind games on
you and it helps to have support here. Last night before I realized how swollen I was I
started trying on clothes (had had good luck prior to this) and NOTHING FIT. Not even
pre-op clothes!! Oh, hello, I am swollen, DUH. It's just hard not to panic, as I think all
the vets know. Anyway, it's been a very interesting 2 weeks. I certainly don't regret it
and don't expect to. Thanks for the support!!
  
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