Well I made it guys. Here we go!
I'll try my best to be brief. I will also post a single picture that was taken the morning after my op.
Smoked 3 packets of cigarettes the day before my op. Stressed as a *********! Went to bed at about 3:30am that morning, but didn't manage to get to sleep until 5:30 or 6. Woke up at 9:30, the realisation hit me, then went back to bed until 10:30. Woke up, packed my overnight gear - pyjamas, slippers, magazine, toothbrush and toothpaste, then finalized everything. Got a lift to the hospital and arrived a little late, probably at about 12:15.
After filling in all the required forms and confirming all the scary stuff life emergency contacts and next-of-kin, I took the lift up to the third floor, where the nurses showed me my room. Here's a photo of my bed:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/oddmuscles2005/detail?.dir=/fc16&.dnm=7a0escd.jpg&.src=phand out the window:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/oddmuscles2005/detail?.dir=/fc16&.dnm=99efscd.jpg&.src=phAnyway. So it was about 12:30pm, and I was absoloutely Sh!tting myself. Got into the bed, and had a nurse, accompanied by a trainee nurse, come and check who I was, why I was there, and ask me about all my medical history and all that stuff. As I am generally a really confident person, I laughed at most things, but I'm sure it showed that I was really not quite as confident as I could have been. Anyway, after plenty of pre-op checks they told me that I was scheduled to go into theatre at about 2:30, so I should get into my operation clothes a bit earlier. I had about an hour of nervously watching TV and learning to call the nurse. Ha!
Then I went into the bathroom, had a realisation of self and almost skipped town, but decided that it was best to just get into my Gown (open at the back, sexy!) complete with shower cap and see through single-use underwear. Anyway, that was at 1:50. At 2:06 a nurse came in, and he told me it was time to go into theatre. He basically locked me into the bed, and wheeled me backwards through the 3rd floor to the lift. We went up the lift, and went up the the 4th floor. We stopped next to a desk, where he covered me with a pre-heated blanket. Surgeons were running around everywhere, and assistants etc. were helping people out. He then wheeled me into a room where I could sort of see through the doors, to part of the surgical equipment. After doing patient checks, and having someone else do them too, a couple of light jokes, he left me lying there. I read pretty much every sign in the room, and looked at all the connections for surgical gasses, all the equipment etc.
At about 2:45, the surgeon came in, and drew on me. Told me a couple of vital things, and said it shouldn't be too long til the procedure. I was surprised how calm I managed to make myself. At about 5 to 3, they said "it's time!". The nurse wheeled me in, where there was the anaethetist, the surgeon, and another supporting nurse and a supervisor. Then everything went nuts. Everyone started rushing around preparing me. Hooking me up to machines, and they told me to get onto the operating table. I was Looking around, then the anasthetic needle went into my veins. Being a bit of a bodybuilder, I could feel the needle scraping along the sides of the huge vein in the top of my arm. I said "just put me to sleep already!" and everything still was going nuts. People were just rushing around fixing me into place and wheeling surgical equipment around. After the needle had been taped down I asked how long it would be until I was asleep, and the Anaethetist said to me "you tell me" with a dry smile. I said "it reminds me of this time when my dog was going under and after 2 hours he still wouldn't go down for an operation.
Then I woke up, in my bed, drugged up as all hell. No pain whatsoever. A huge bandage around my chest that made it look like I had implants!!! Apparently I was awake at 4:45 however I didn't really realise it until 5:45. Dinner came at 6, and it was the best meal ever. I ate every last bit. I felt normal then, but recalling it, I realise that I was still completely drugged up as anything.
Friends came to visit at about 6:30, and various people came to visit me, until about 9. To be honest I don't really remember it really well. Sent the most random text message on earth to one of my mates, she said it was the strangest thing she'd ever read. But that's ok, because I don't remember a thing!
Painkillers came every 4 hours during the night, because after about 11pm I started to really feel it. To go to the bathroom right next to me, I had to pick up the drains attached to me, and carry my IV in with me.
(Warning-Not for squeamish people):
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/oddmuscles2005/detail?.dir=/fc16&.dnm=ba14scd.jpg&.src=phI drank a lot of water through the night. And not a wink of sleep, because the pain kept getting worse and worse!!
Anyway. After a horrible night with unbelievable pain, and not a wink of sleep, at 6am the surgeon came in an unwrapped me to take out my drains and put my compression vest on. Here is the first thing I saw, to make it all worth it. (Comparison photo is the 1st) - and this is all only 12 hours after my op!:
Before:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/oddmuscles2005/detail?.dir=af6c&.dnm=c2bc.jpg&.src=phhttp://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/oddmuscles2005/detail?.dir=/fc16&.dnm=4b7bscd.jpg&.src=ph(With drain still in)
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/oddmuscles2005/detail?.dir=/fc16&.dnm=e237scd.jpg&.src=ph(With compression vest on, and shirt over it)
Anyway, I'm going to cut it short cos the rest is history. Had a sh!tty breakfast, still no sleep. Caught a taxi home at 10, went to bed at 10:30, woke up at 12:30pm. Went into town, Can barely move but tried to live a semi-normal life... Taking massive painkillers, went to bed at 8:30pm last night, and just woke up now (4am - Writing this now!) after my first good sleep. I actually feel ok now. Haven't taken painkillers but. Did smoke a bit yesterday.
Add some comments because I'm way too tired to keep typing. Take care everyone! And good luck with your experiences. I'll post once every couple of days but everyone should comment on it. To be honest I feel unbelievable, because despite the feeling my chest will rip open all the time, and the horrible sleeps, I realise that for the 1st time in 12 years I have a flat chest. Didn't get any lyposuction for those interested, he just pulled away ALL gland. A huge amount too, sort of the size of an average person's clasped hands from each side. Post your feedback if you want everyone, I'm going to get some water. And a ciggie.
Oddmuscles
Topic: Oddmuscles surgery experience - Comments please!! (Read 6212 times)
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