[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by Linus

Congrats, AZ! Glad to hear things are going well. It's interesting that Dr. V has said that I won't need drains because of the way he's doing the surgery (this has me puzzled as I've always heard that double incision requires drains.. Theo? Koop?)

Anyways, I do have a question: for those that got a recliner, what kind (manufacturer/make?) did you get? I tend to sleep on my side and a recliner might be a good way to avoid that -- plus I've always wanted one.

When I asked Dr. V about drains ... he said it had been quite awhile since he had to use them .. that there was an outside chance but if there was a fair amount of fluid that he preferred to take it out by a syringe. He feels that with drains there is an opening and with an opening that there is a better chance of infection.

The nurses that I know made an inference that if you have a good surgeon they shouldn't be needed and also that there would be less risk of infection. These are nurses that would be more familiar with general mastecomies versus those for ftms.

I took arnica prior to my surgery I don't know if that helped or didn't but I do know that on the front of my chest there was very little swelling or bruising. Any swelling or bruising was on the sides and was due to the lypo. That is where a majority of the pain was also

As far as recliners go ... i looked at them all and I wouldn't get anything but a lazyboy. I thought a lazyboy would be too expensive but found the opposite that it was cheaper then a lot of the others out there and much better made. Quite a variety also. I love my lazyboy and it was the best investment i've ever had. (I got it prior to my last neck surgery) I would sit in it during the day but at night lie on my back... i do recommend getting some memory foam ... that made lying on my back all the time more bearable and I was able to transfer to my sides a bit earlier then I would have otherwise

Originally Posted by T D

I'm curious about how much help you've needed post surgery. Are you able to take care of your needs alone, or have you had someone come in or around to help you out? This is always a question for me when considering any surgery.

Hope things are going well for you, Drew!

I think this all depends on the person and really upon whether or not you have drains. If you don't have drains there isn't as much do do. I had to change bandages I think but I figured out a system to do it on my own.

It also depends on your experience with surgeries. I have had 5 spinal surgeries and really know how to move and not move.

I also made sure to put anything I thought I would need at a reachable height ... i determined this by locking my arms next to my side and just reaching from the elbow. Also made sure i bought things in small packages.

I have a roommate and neighbors so I did make sure there were people around a lot of the time but I can't really think of anything I needed instantly. I could wait til they were around.

I know some people have said they had trouble wiping after going to the bathroom, I had no trouble here. I had bought some moist wipes in case but still didn't use them.

I had all my food planned out for about two weeks after surgery so I could just pop it in the microwave or grab it out of the fridge. again any packaged items i put on the table or counter instead of in the cabinets so I could get it easily. Also bought paper plates and bowls and just placed them on the table where I could reach them easily.

For keeping clean I bought some of the bath/shower wipes they sell that you heat in the microwave. Some hospitals use them after surgeries and they eliminate excess water getting on your bandages and I think they work pretty well. I know rite aid has their brand which is a bit cheaper then a nonstore brand.