Update to my surgery :(

[DBackFan]

For those of you that knew I had a breast lift and implants after losing some weight. My incisions were not healing well partly because I smoke. Well even though this may be TMI I had a horrific thing happen today and just had emergency surgery. I was at work and my left one was hurting BAD, by afternoon I was in tears and headed home so I could take off the bandage to see what was going on. As part of the lift they actually replace the nipple and my left one actually broke away and slid to the left! :eek: Talk about excuciating pain. Had to go to Dr tonight after hours and right there he injected me 5 times and actually PULLED it back in place and restitched. OUCH. I HAVE to at least cut down on the smoking or he says I could actually LOSE the nipple. :( I can do it. I have too.

[MsLynn]

OMG i feel for you so much, please cut down on the smoking... I can't imagine how much that much hurt

you're in my prayers

[msmom79]

oh my goodness i so hope you are feeling better{{{{{prayers to you}}}}}ann

[Whitequeen39]

Om my, I can imagine how painful that must be. Oh do try to cut back and I hope you feel better soon and heal.

[DAVESBABYDOLL]

OMG! I hope everything is ok Tami.I can only imagine the pain you were in.Are you sleeping on your back still?

Hope everything heals up soon and your at 100%

{{{HUGS}}}

[DBackFan]

Thanks everyone, you are awesome. I have to go to bed, these drugs are getting to me. Oh and DBD, I had JUST started being able to sleep on my side...not for awile again..lol

[SouthOSane]

I HAVE to at least cut down on the smoking or he says I could actually LOSE the nipple. :( I can do it. I have too.

ouch..

You can do it..that's one reason why I quit, my plastic surgeon (actually all three I saw) told me to quit..now I just have to wait till April for my reduction :o

I feel for ya, hope you heal well & fast

[Night Wolf]

I feel for you. Hope you have a fast recovery and good luck quiting, you can do it! (((hugs)))

[Shann]

sending you some {{{{hugs}}}} i can't begin to imagine what you are going through and would be quite happy if I never had too.

[YankeeMary]

First I am not disagreeing about the smoking issue, not for nor against it, but I have to ask are you wearing a bra? If so maybe thats why? If not is it possible that the bandages cause it. I am sitting here cringing you poor thing...ouch doesn't even touch it. Bless your heart. Take care of you Tami and I sure hope you are now on the road to a speedy recovery...HUGS!!! gentle ones of course.

[evrita]

OMG ouch wow I hope you feel better

[Eyore]

Hope you feel better, sounds very painful. But I have a question.
What does smoking have to do with plastic surgery, implants etc? How does that effect things?
Just curious I know nothing about it.

[YankeeMary]

Hope you feel better, sounds very painful. But I have a question.
What does smoking have to do with plastic surgery, implants etc? How does that effect things?
Just curious I know nothing about it.


Eyore, there might? be a difference but smoking slows down circulation and good blood flow is a huge key to healing. Maybe different with plastic surgery or implants. But I know that I have smoked for years and have had several surgeries and I have always healed excellent, I might just be a lucky one. Also I have never had any surgery in that area so I am thinking along with the smoking but maybe also movement, bless her heart, think about how much we use our upper body are arms are constantly working. Hugs Tami.

[Angel Lips]

((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) hope you feel better soon

[MamaFairal]

First off...congrats on the weight loss and the implants!...go girl!

Sorry your having trouble tho

[Tasha405]

Ouch! Bless your heart! ((((Hugs))))

[kelly12569]

OMG Tami I just saw this. I am sooo sorry you are hurting and things arent going so well. Man, I hope you feel better soon. BIG BIG hugs hun. :(

[DBackFan]

First I am not disagreeing about the smoking issue, not for nor against it, but I have to ask are you wearing a bra? If so maybe thats why? If not is it possible that the bandages cause it. I am sitting here cringing you poor thing...ouch doesn't even touch it. Bless your heart. Take care of you Tami and I sure hope you are now on the road to a speedy recovery...HUGS!!! gentle ones of course.

First off, thanks everyone. No bra I have only had on bandages. Its been 3 weeks today and I still have stitches! He said I am healing very slow beacause of the smoking. I dont know but I needed to at least cut back anyway and I have so far. Hurts like the dickens this morning and I HAVE to go to work, Wish me luck.

[YankeeMary]

I hope that you are able to kick the habit or at least slow down. I know thatwillbe tough but you can do it..YOU ARE WOMAN!!! Hugs.

[Eyore]

Never knew smoking would keep you from healing correctly. I just learned something new. I stopped smoking about 15 years ago and I know it is tough. My husband still smokes and has tried to stop but hasn't managed to stop yet. Hopefully someday he will. Good luck on cutting back it will be hard but you can do it.
Give it a day or so and maybe the pain will ease up.

[kimp67]

OUCH OUCH OUCH!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:
Hope you heal FAST!!!

[queenangie]

Here are 2 informative links:

http://www.plasticsurgery.org/news_room/press_releases/Smoking-and-Elective-Plastic-Surgery.cfm

http://www.drajburns.com/smoking.htm

Ouch! Sorry that things aren't healing quite yet.

I'm fearful that you'll be losing your nipples
with continued smoking.

You've done great w/ the weight loss
and should be very proud.

Could you chew gum,
lick on lollipops,
eat ice,
or something similar?

I formerly worked as a staff nurse on the plastics unit -
no smoking was allowed at all or chewing tobacco either.

The docs wanted the best possible outcome for major surgeries.

Hugs,
Angie

[hazeleyedgal]

I didn't know about your surgery and I hope you feel better soon. I know it's hard to just quit smoking I have been trying for awhile. But I know you can do it or at least cut down. Take care and great job on the weight loss.

[Donnagg123]

Hope you feel better, sounds very painful. But I have a question.
What does smoking have to do with plastic surgery, implants etc? How does that effect things?
Just curious I know nothing about it..

Smoking thins the blood therefore people who smoke do not heal as well as those who don't.

[Eyore]

YankeeMary, Donnagg123 and queenangie thanks for answering my question. Those links you posted queenangie were informative. Thanks to all.

DBackFan feel better, try doing what queenangie suggested or maybe you can get the doctor to give you something to help with the cravings. I know there are things out there to help with stopping to smoke.

[DBackFan]

Dang queenangie, that scares the crap outta me! I cut way back today. Dr offered me a patch but I turned it down right now because if I am not commmitted to give them up completely right now then its actually worse.

He said it looked like it was healing well today. Right side is fine now. Using a ScarGuard stuff on it already although I still have some stitches.

I will try. Thanks.

[buglebe]

Yes it is the smoking and I don't know why. But when I worked on a med-surg floor we had lots of smokers. Yes all surgery candidates are given the advice to stop smoking and of course some do and some don't. But for some reason the breast reduction, implant , or whatever surgery related to the breast did poorly in smokers. I did see women lose their nipple. They would then have to have nipples made from the dark skin from the fold of the leg and they were very poor substitutes. But the doctors would refuse to do this on smokers. And eventually refused to do any kind of breast surgery on smokers. Don't just cut back on your smoking. This is an excellent time to quit.

[YankeeMary]

Yes it is the smoking and I don't know why. But when I worked on a med-surg floor we had lots of smokers. Yes all surgery candidates are given the advice to stop smoking and of course some do and some don't. But for some reason the breast reduction, implant , or whatever surgery related to the breast did poorly in smokers. I did see women lose their nipple. They would then have to have nipples made from the dark skin from the fold of the leg and they were very poor substitutes. But the doctors would refuse to do this on smokers. And eventually refused to do any kind of breast surgery on smokers. Don't just cut back on your smoking. This is an excellent time to quit.


Wow thanks for sharing that info I had no idea it was worse in that area...is it because of them being so far off the body? I love knowledge...Poor Tami...heal fast babe...praying for you.

[DBackFan]

Well I am quite a bit better today. They look like they are healing already. I cut my smoking in half for now and will consider quitting if it does not continue to heal this time. I did a lot of soul searching yesterday and never realized just HOW addicted I am to these nasty things, but I am. When I am ready it will happen. :)

[queenangie]

Dbackfan, Sorry that I scared you.

I have seen personally, surgical plastic patients that looked 'perfect' when they left the hospital, only to go home and against the doctor's orders, smoked.
Not pretty.

You have done just sooooo well! We are all proud of you
and want the best possible outcome postop!

Hugs,
Angie

[queenangie]

How are things healing?

Hope everything is going well for you!

[DBackFan]

Didn't quit but healing better I think. Get some stitches out tomorrow. I just hate having to be on muscle relaxers all the time. :(

[menanamama]

why exactly does smoking have such a detrimental effect? seriously. i never heard that i would cause such drastic problems. did know it slows the healing process.

[menanamama]

and glad to hear you are feeling better by the way

[Damnifiknw]

Ma'am, Your surgeon didn't recommend you wear a sports bra? I've had breast surgery twice, my surgeon both times told me to wear a sports bra over the bandages. Do not wear a bra for several weeks. Avoid bras with underwire in them once you begin wearing them again. (I didn't have the same type surgery as you. I have a mastectomy & reconstructive surgery.)

Are you taking Vitamin C tablets? It helps with the healing process...Your surgeon should have recommened you take them since you do smoke.

One lady stated a surgeon refused to perform surgery on smokers..i've never heard such a thing..Yes, smoking will slow the healing process. It doesn't cause you not to heal, you just heal a lil' slower.

[Eyore]

why exactly does smoking have such a detrimental effect? seriously. i never heard that i would cause such drastic problems. did know it slows the healing process.

Go to page and 2 and look for queenangies post with the links. I had asked the same thing. I never heard of smoking not being good with plastic surgery.
But the links will explain better than I can.

[menanamama]

going to do that now...thanks eyore.

[Eyore]

Your welcome.

[queenangie]

Surgeons can 'connect arteries and veins' surgically.
Capillaries, the tiniest of vessels, have to grow on their own
after surgeries for blood supplies.
The entire body has capillaries.

Carbon Monoxide, from smoking, extremely cuts down
on the oxygen in the blood supplies in the body.

The only way for new capillaries to grow is with
enough oxygen.

I cared for a patient w/ the 5th ear reattachment in the USA.
Even had to apply leaches to promote circulation for this to heal
while in the hospital. Had to check circulation every 15 minutes
on the ear.
It came out really well.
Patient could not smoke after he was d/c because not all the capillary vessels
had grown.

He was very lucky that the ear took so well being reattached.

[queenangie]

P.S. Forgot to add that our plastic docs have patients go home w/ 2 cotton sports bras that have velcro at the shoulders and velcro between the breasts. They are worn 24/7.

[DBackFan]

Weird, my sirgeon told me I could wear nothing but bandages. I was not sent home in a sports bra but have been wearing nothing. Will ask him today and update again.

[latestdish]

I am sorry you are in so much pain. It's hard to give up smoking for a little while, but I know you can do it. I am proud of you for your wait loss. I have to agree with the advise that was given here. Try to chew on some breath mints or gum, or something else for a little while, instead of ciggies. You can do it! -Joy

[DBackFan]

OK Dr said I am doing good now. Took a few stitches out but still have some. He says NO sports bras or bras of any kind until the implants drop. Thats why I have to stay on muscle relaxers. I am having less pain and am on the road to recovery and a nice set I hope. ;)

[kelly12569]

(((((((((( Tami ))))))))))

[laughsalot]

Big hugs to you DBackfan! I hope you heal quickly!

[bsg_06]

I am not one to EVER wish pain and suffering on ANYONE, but there are two elements associated with this story that I have never understood the reasons for:
**smoking
**cosmetic surgery for non-essential reasons

And I am 30A, so spare me tales of the emotional toil that lack of boobage takes on your psyche.

[DBackFan]

I am not one to EVER wish pain and suffering on ANYONE, but there are two elements associated with this story that I have never understood the reasons for:
**smoking
**cosmetic surgery for non-essential reasons

And I am 30A, so spare me tales of the emotional toil that lack of boobage takes on your psyche.

Plastic surgery is a very personal choice and I respect YOUR choice for NOT having it done. This is a place I could come and share the difficulties I have had NOT on WHETHER it should be done. Geesh.

I am doing lots better for those who really do care. (((hugs to you all))))

[YankeeMary]

Tami...I am so glad to hear you are doing better. If I were an A cup and couldn't afford the surgery, I would be so jealous of you. I am so thankful that you are recovering and I pray it is at God speed. I hope they are just what you wanted, just don't post pics..hehe..Hugs to you.

[MelanieAnn]

I'm glad you're doing a little better. :)

What is up with your job? Are you still going into work, or have you taken sick days? How have they been treating you? Hope everything is okay with that.

(((HUGS)))

[DivineMsDi]

I hope you are healing quickly...:) Every day it will get a little easier...!!!

[roseanntx]

You will get better...it just takes time.
I understand the smoking aspect, because I am hopelessly addicted to nicotine myself.
I could just SCREAM when I read posts that don't get it or wonder why you just don't STOP?
Every time I try to quit, I SWEAR I get sick (or someone is going DOWN)! It's a mental addiction but also a physical addiction for some of us.
Seriously, I really hope you get back to 100% or better soon. You've gone through alot. GOOD LUCK to you!


Oh if it will make you feel any better...I'm right there with you on the BUSH/CHANEY thing!

[reneep45]

hope you are feeling better & healing good ! luv & huggs to ya !! :)

[bsg_06]

This is a "vent and whine" forum. I don't have much positive venting and whining to do.
I do express my opinions. Sometimes, you may not agree with my opinions.

[bsg_06]

I have wonderfully educated opinions. :rolleyes:
You are all lucky that I choose to share them with you. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: