@ a89dlp
The experience as a whole was extremely liberating and it feels like a massive weight has been lifted already. It has only been 4 days since the op but I am very pleased with the results so far. I just cannot wait to get through the first 4-6 weeks so that I can lose the compression vest and have a proper look at my new shape. Very exciting stuff, but I think patience is the key moving forward. The pain has been mild and manageable and I didn't have to take the pain killers after the first 24 hrs which was good as they can clog up the old back door if you take them for a longer period. Instead of pain, I'd say I was just uncomfortable, but with the odd mild shooting pain, for the first few days, mainly due to the compression vest, which is tight as hell! Moving around is a struggle at first, not just because of how tight the vest is, but because of how tight and sensitive your chest will feel. You'll definitely need to wear open fronted shirts / hoodies as you won't be able to lift your arms up over your head, and you will also need someone to help you get your compression vest / tops on & off at first. I am only just starting to get a little more free movement back now but still need help getting my tops on. Sleeping is limited to laying slightly elevated on your back, which might be a problem if you don't normally sleep like that. I've been surprisingly ok in that area, which is a relief as sleep is vital.
In terms of waiting times between arriving and going into theatre, I'd say it was around 1-1.5 hours. I arrived a little before 8:30am and went down to theatre a little after 9:45am. The anaesthetic was fine and I didn't feel sick afterwards, which was a relief. Essentially, you lay on the bed, they put a cannula in your arm within a few minutes, the anaesthetist comes in and talks to you about the anaesthetic for a few more mins, then you lay back, they tell you that they are injecting something that will make you feel at little drunk at first and then next thing you know, you are waking up in recovery. I woke up in recovery around 11:15am ish I believe. Within 30 mins, they had taken me back up to my room.
I wasn't in any pain afterwards and I had the ice packs on my chest so I couldn't see my chest at first. The nurses were absolutely lovely and the food was fantastic! I had a club sandwich which I'd have been pleased with in any pub! That's the beauty of paying for private hospitals I guess. I was discharged around 4pm, left the hospital on my own with my compression vest under my hoodie, and got an Uber back home. I was fine in the cab, but I did start to feel a little dizzy / sick at one point, although this might have been down to the fact that the driver decided to use the back roads, which must have included hurtling over 50 speed bumps en-route! Not what you need after gyne surgery! Anyway, all-in-all I'm feeling really positive right now and hopefully things will keep getting better & better over the coming days / weeks. Taking the plunge already feels like one of the best decisions I have ever made. It's such a relief to finally be approaching the next chapter of my life gyne free! Amazing! Compression vest pics attached.
@ Fastjohnrs
One piece of advice I was given on here prior to my consultation, and something that
Dr. Karidis confirmed at my consultation, is that for the best results, you should aim to be as close to your optimal body weight as possible before undergoing surgery. They advise within 10% of your optimal weight.
Dr. Karidis also said that being slimmer and in better shape helps with achieving good results. I think you would be wise to diet and hit the gym for 2-3 months beforehand and be as disciplined as possible throughout that time. That way, you would have done everything you can to give yourself the best chances of achieving good results. Good luck!