top surgery

[Goofy]

Originally Posted by Plato

Koop is home from surgery and all went well.
No drains, but he says he was hit by a Mac truck.
.. or that's how it feels, anyway! ...

CONGRATULATIONS KOOP!

Glad to hear he's doing well! That mac truck will get smaller in a couple of days!

Congrats Koopster!

[Sam]

Congrats, great to hear things went well!

[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by Goofy

Glad to hear he's doing well! That mac truck will get smaller in a couple of days!

Congrats Koopster!

Thanks for all the well wishes

Your right it's more like a pick up truck today!

I'm home and everthing seemed to go great!

Very little swelling and bruising and no tubes, if anyone is ever interested in pics pm me your email and i'm happy to share. Just took pics today.

The funniest thing that happened in all this was at the hotel this morning. My ride slept in and I was hungry so I went down to get breakfast myself. I was moving so slow that everytime I left the table they tried to clear it and I'd have to yellow across the room. The guests were laughing after awhile.

Like Goofy I'm finding that the recliner is the most comfortable. I recommend if someone has to stay at a hotel that they try to find a room that has a recliner or a nice big oversized easy chair. I did not sleep well at all on my back .. and was most comfortable when sitting propted up in the bed.

The dr. didn't believe in the arnica yet said that whatever I did to get ready worked because there's so little swelling and bruising most of it is on my right side ... and the sides in general where he did some lyposuction.

I don't drink much soda but had brought some zevia soda as a treat. Luckily I had because i had a lot of air in my stomach from the anistesia and the carbonation helped a lot.

My only other real challenge was learning how to move because it is so different then for back surgery.

I recommend people do a lot of situps before surgery because the easiest way to lie down and get back up is to do a situp without using any arms to push up. Unfortunately I haven't done sit ups for awhile, otherwise if I do have to push up its easiest to push from the elbows.

Also make sure to have some type of bland food along, like crackers or bread. They recommend a liquid diet the day of surgery but something solid is needed for some of the medicines.

I go back in 12 days to get the stitches out.

[Logicaly]

Koop, did i miss it when you said who your doctor was? Curious where you had your surgery done at.

[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by Logicaly

Koop, did i miss it when you said who your doctor was? Curious where you had your surgery done at.

I went to the same one as theo, Voloshin in NewPort Beach. I don't think we was any cheaper then others but just was more convenient, the staff was great, and I was really happy to not have to have drains.

[SuperFemme]

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

[theoddz]

Originally Posted by The Oopster

Thanks for all the well wishes

Your right it's more like a pick up truck today!

I'm home and everthing seemed to go great!

Very little swelling and bruising and no tubes, if anyone is ever interested in pics pm me your email and i'm happy to share. Just took pics today.

The funniest thing that happened in all this was at the hotel this morning. My ride slept in and I was hungry so I went down to get breakfast myself. I was moving so slow that everytime I left the table they tried to clear it and I'd have to yellow across the room. The guests were laughing after awhile.

Like Goofy I'm finding that the recliner is the most comfortable. I recommend if someone has to stay at a hotel that they try to find a room that has a recliner or a nice big oversized easy chair. I did not sleep well at all on my back .. and was most comfortable when sitting propted up in the bed.

The dr. didn't believe in the arnica yet said that whatever I did to get ready worked because there's so little swelling and bruising most of it is on my right side ... and the sides in general where he did some lyposuction.

I don't drink much soda but had brought some zevia soda as a treat. Luckily I had because i had a lot of air in my stomach from the anistesia and the carbonation helped a lot.

My only other real challenge was learning how to move because it is so different then for back surgery.

I recommend people do a lot of situps before surgery because the easiest way to lie down and get back up is to do a situp without using any arms to push up. Unfortunately I haven't done sit ups for awhile, otherwise if I do have to push up its easiest to push from the elbows.

Also make sure to have some type of bland food along, like crackers or bread. They recommend a liquid diet the day of surgery but something solid is needed for some of the medicines.

I go back in 12 days to get the stitches out.

Great to hear that you're doing so well, Koop, and that the whole ordeal has been relatively smooth for you!!!

Everything will get easier now, day by day. You're really lucky that you didn't have those drains. I was "double barreled" for 2 days!!!

Keep up the good work and let us know how things are going.

~Theo~

[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by theoddz

Great to hear that you're doing so well, Koop, and that the whole ordeal has been relatively smooth for you!!!

Everything will get easier now, day by day. You're really lucky that you didn't have those drains. I was "double barreled" for 2 days!!!

Keep up the good work and let us know how things are going.

~Theo~

Thanks Theo!

Yesterday was rough, but the sheet the dr gave me said the swelling and bruising would probably be the worse 2 or 3 days out. Also was fighting a fever but it so far is gone today. Once I started taking tylenol every 3 hours it seemed to get under my control, for some reason waiting that 4th hour would allow it to take off. I've actually been able to get the shirt on and off myself but if somebody has help I'd take it.

Finally gettin the hang of how to move around in bed and in and out of my chair.

Things I have found helpful have been paper plates and bowls and i bought some of those bath wipes that you heat up in the microwave. They make cleaning up easy.

Also if you have some tight shirts my doctor says those can be used instead of a binder. I"m still using the binder but do have a tight under shirt under it, to help keep the binder clean longer and because the binder is a little bit itchy.

When were people able to start sleeping on their side? That is the part that is killing me the most.

Did anyone using any cold packs at all? I've been putting them on occassionally on the bruising that is under my arms and goes towards the back. Nothing on the front side. Just on the bruising and swelling that is away from the graphs and incisions.

When did you clean up around the incision area? So far I've stayed away from cleaning that area. I know the paperwork says I can get those strips wet but i know they'll stay on longer the longer I stay away from that area.



Dang had a brain fart! I thought of something else but it's gone now

[The Oopster]

Gosh I really can't wait till I get to lie on my side ... sleep is getting harder and harder!

One of the more interesting things I have found myself doing is standing on my tip toes. I'm fortunate that i'm fairly tall to begin with and often i just need an extra inch or two to avoid having to reach up, and this is accomplished by standing on my tip toes.

[Leigh]

I bet it feels great having had the surgery done bro, I'm happy for you congrats

[theoddz]

Koop, how's things going?? How's the healing coming along??

I had to contact Dr. V's office here, lately, and ask for a *notorized* copy of my surgical letter, so I can have the State of Florida change my gender marker. I thought they would do it without a notarization, but as it turns out, they do need a notarized letter.

Speaking of backwards, it's only been since last year that the State of Florida would even change a name on a birth certificate with a court order from outside of the state of Florida.

Anyway, Dr. V's office has cheerfully agreed to provide a notarized letter. Talk about great customer service, even waaay after the sale. Dr. V. and his office are truly a caring and helpful team. I can't say enough about this great, compassionate doctor and his staff. There's no way I could have ever chosen a better doctor.

I was able to go outside shirtless today, to grab the garbage that blew into my front yard with the high winds we've had lately. It's nearly 75 degrees here today, and the warm breeze felt great blowing through my chest and tummy hair against my skin.

So Koop, how is your chest turning out?? Are you pleased with your results?? I certainly hope you are and will continue to be as pleased as I am and have been.

~Theo~