In June 2022 I had a mommy makeover that induced a tummy tuck and breast lift. I tried to research as much as a could prior to my surgery. I wanted to know how I would feel, and what I would need. There were several blog posts from other women that had gone through their own version of a mommy makeover. I also researched tummy tucks. I was far more concerned with my tummy tuck than my breast lift. Trying to predict foreseeable issues, I tried to prepare as best I could with the information I had. Unfortunately, there were a few mistakes that made recovery a bit more difficult.
Mistake 1: Thinking I was going to stay on our couch.
We have a sectional in our living room. Prior to my surgery I read a lot about needing to use a recliner to sit and sleep in while recovering. We do have recliners, but I thought the corner of our sectional would be a better place for me. The morning of my surgery I left myself some pillows and blankets on the couch.
The surgeon recommends maintaining a beach chair position while recovering. What I did not realize is that I would be unable to hold my legs in that position. Sitting on the couch, trying to hold my legs in a beach chair position was excruciating. I couldn’t get comfortable, and didn’t have the ability to hold my legs in the proper position. If you can imagine, I was trying to hold my legs with my stomach muscles, but I was not able to. However the little I could muster, only made the pain that much worse.
Mistake 2: Thinking as long as I stayed on top of pain medication, that I would be fine.
I was not worried about pain after my surgery. I knew that I would stick to a schedule of taking my medicine. Unfortunately, those first three days after surgery are painful. I felt like my medicine was just scratching the surface of pain relief. The majority of the pain was in my abdomen. After reaching out to the doctors office, they made a dosage recommendation that helped me manage the pain a lot better.
Mistake 3: Thinking that household chores would be manageable.
My husband and I typically take care of different chores within our home. He usually gives the kids baths, I usually do the laundry, etc. We knew that after my surgery he was going to have to take on all of the chores, on top of working almost 12 hours a day. One problem, there was not enough time in the day. It was unreal to expect my husband to work, take care of the kids, and take care of the home at 100% capacity. He did the best he could. Laundry, toys, etc started to become more and more piled up.
One day the same load of laundry was being washed for the fourth time and I had a total breakdown. I couldn’t stand how messy the house was becoming, and we were so behind on laundry. My grandmother started coming over on Saturdays to help me with laundry and cleaning. She came for 4 Saturdays before I was able to do it completely on my own.
Mistake 4: Not meal prepping.
I considered meal prepping prior to my surgery. Deciding not to meal prep, I figured we could eat take out for a week or two, and then I could get back to cooking. My assumptions were very wrong. Not only was I unable to cook, but even something as simple as fixing myself a sandwich was exhausting. Standing unsupported took so much effort and quickly would become painful.
Mistake 5: Ordering a compression garment prior to my surgery.
I wanted to have everything I would need prior to my mommy makeover. Again I looked at blogs and instagram to find information to help my prepare. I knew that the binder that I came home in would be used temporarily and I didn’t want to have to worry about waiting on one to come in the mail. What I did not realize is, at my post of surgery I was given a new compression garment to replace the one I had. Not that all doctor’s offices do this, but if you are having a similar surgery, check and see so you can save yourself some money.
Mistake 6: Not marking my binder.
You’re probably confused, let me explain. I came home from surgery with a binder around my waist. Once I was able to take a shower I was allowed to take off the binder, but had to put it back on immediately after my shower. I was so unsure of how tight it should be. Worried it was too tight or too loose, I was constantly adjusting it. If I would have marked where it was, I would have been able to put it back on at the same compression.
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