Surgery in a few days, freaking out reading about the pain!!!!

I have my surgery in a few days, I have anxiety anyway so I’ve been trying not to think about things too much but I think the realisation of surgery has just kicked in and I am starting to freak out a little!

Doesn’t help that I keep looking on the forum and seeing people saying they are in unbearable pain! I think not being able to breathe properly is the thing thats freaking me out because that’s the kind of thing that would make me feel anxious and bring on a panic attack. I am praying my pain isn’t too bad!!

I got sick about a week ago which is so annoying I am just starting to feel a little better but feel a little heavy on the chest as it is with being ill!

I’m having 350 and 375cc high profile partials.

I have wanted this for years and years but now I feel like “ahhhhhhh what am I doing” haha!!

x

Hey hun, sorry if the posts have been scary. If it’s any consolation I had under muscle which is more painful. It also depends on the individual. Some people have said they were fine and it was bearable whereas others (including myself) have found it hard. I’m 2dpo and can say it’s no walk in the park but it is getting better. I was tape up after and have a band on top which is uncomfortable. Sleeping is tough and don’t think that gets better you just get used to it. Expect the worst and who knows you may be pleasantly surprised that it’s not that bad. I had no expectation but did think it was going to be a lot less painful. I’ve had 3 kids all natural births so thought it would be a breeze. You’ll be fine and it will all be worth it hun. Xxx

Hi Hun, I have my op yesterday and I had unders and honestly the pain is no where near as bad as I thought! The pain killers they give you really help!! Don’t worry, I know it’s hard and you do start to panic when it gets closer but it’ll all be worth it! If I could explain it in anyway, it would just be that they’re tight and it kinda feels like a bad chest infection because you’re not used to the weight! If you want to talk or ask any questions your more than welcome xx

Keeping on top on pain relief is key. Find the night the worst but can say it definitely is getting easier. They say day 2 and 3 are the worst. Hope it’s a quick recovery for you both x

Hi Hun! Sorry if my post scared you! I have a very crappy pain threshold which is the reason I was in so much pain, my pain is manageable now with lots of ice and pain killers and I can no sit myself up get myself out of bed etc. My barely have any pain I my left at all and I can use my left arm although my rotht still very sore! Breathing is fine just very heavy and a little painful when you take deep breaths!

Don’t be too worried you will have lots of pain killers to help you xxx

I had unders and an uplift and felt discomfort rather than pain. I came off the hardcore painkillers after day 2 cos they made me really sick and managed on just paracetamol as my pain killer!

Plan ur meals make sure they’re fresh veg fruit and lots of protein as it helps with healing. Stay away from salty things ans drink plenty of water.

Everyone is different bur it helps if u follow the advice for smoking and also not eating from the night before too. If I have food in ur system it can react badly with anesthetia just check ur notes. Try not to worry either!

HI try not to even think of the pain – it is painful for some, it was for me, but it is amazing how each day you feel so much better than the day before. I had no problem with breathing or hand movements, I went back to work on day three and managed ok. You honestly will recover so quckly. If id of read of peoples pain id never have had done, i had no idea it wd be painful lol .. but it is bareable so dont worry to much.

Aww thank you @icegems33 ! Ah no don’t apologise, everyone here wants to say what they are going through and it’s amazing that everyone can chat and put their minds at ease about things! I just freaked myself out all of a sudden after seeing so many topics about the pain. I am hoping mines not too bad, at least I am having partials as you said fully under like you had will of course be much worse on the pain scale.
I’ll have strapping as my surgeon uses it which probably won’t be too fun!! I’m kind of expecting the worst like you said haha. I will definitely keep on top of my pain relief, I am staying in the first night so at least I’ll have nurses around if I start panicking about anything! I pretty scared about the journey home the next day though as the hospital is a couple of hours away from my home!

Oh and as i was sick for 24hrs i had no pain killers at all at least u will have them. When i coujld have i had ibuprofen n paracetal n these did control the pain. Best just to sleep, eat and walk for the first two days x

Thank you so much for your reply @meganhxx you’ve put my mind at ease a little, I am glad your pain wasn’t too bad. I’ve added you as a friend I hope you don’t mind 🙂 xx

Aww no @shaunieh95 don’t apologise !! I just started reading loads of different posts about pain and started freaking out a little haha. My pain threshold is probably pretty rubbish, I should be fine as long as I don’t let it make me feel anxious as I don’t want to be having panic attacks feeling like I can’t breathe on top of the pressure from the surgery! Thank you lovely xxx

Thank you lovely @fran32 I am going to be eating very healthily when I am home to help promote healing like you said 🙂 I don’t smoke or drink so that helps a little. I didn’t know that food can affect the anesthetia, I was going to set an alarm early to eat something small 6 hours before my admission time but now I am not sure? Is there any specific foods that are ok to eat before do you think or is it best not to eat early morning at all? xxxxx

Thank you @aaaangell I know it’s probably really silly of me to even read posts about pain and freaking myself out! I will try to think more positively and not think about the pain too much! I am hoping my recovery is quick. It’s amazing you were back to work by day three!!! xxx

Hi Hun hope your surgery goes well, sorry if my posts have put you off personally I have been struggling with the pain I don’t think I was prepared. It is easing up now all I can say is make sure you have a good network of support around you and plenty of pillows and zip up tops I find sleeping upright is hard but a must as I struggle breathing with the pressure as its very tight. It will all be worth it good luck 🙂 xxx

Hey hun ur welcome I can’t remember all of the timings exactly but just make sure it’s something small and basic nothing stodgy as grease/fat/oil/ alcohol all have weird effect with anesthetia. Some people react to it badly anyway but those things can set it off and make you throw up a lot!!! Before I had my op a lot of girls were really poorly straight after and I just got put off eating on the day due to it.

If I was going to eat it would have been like toast or a biscuit and some juice. In the end I had my last meal about 9pm the night before. I woke at 5, admission was 7 so I just had a tiny sip of water and brushed my teeth. I was so shattered from nerves I didn’t wana wake up early just to eat. It’s worth finding out ur admission time asap then u can plan it. As I was having such an early one I knew I’d be down first.

When I woke up I was laughing and asking about breakfast a bit of pain but I got two shots of morphine in my canula and I was feeling great. If ur staying overnight the food there is wicked.

I’d suggest u pack some mint sweets/lozenges to suck after the op because sometimes they stick a tube down ur throat and u can wake up with a sore throat. I took some meal replacement shakes (strawberry complan) and had one straight after my op as they wouldn’t bring me solids for a bit. I had one in the morning too before my breakfast. I was absolutely starving loool.

Well done for planning ur food ahead and being a non smoker helps so much also! The day will whizz by honestly and the staff are amazing! Fxx good luck hun

Aww no don’t worry @racey I am so silly for even reading anything about pain especially with anxiety! I really hope things get better quickly for you! My mum will be with me 24/7 and I have my v pillow and some other nice pillows ready, I also have a travel neck pillow thing I’ve heard can help. I am starting to feel pretty anxious now as I only have a couple of days left until my surgery but I am going to try to distract myself by watching something I think. I’ve got my list of everything I need to take so I am trying to be really organised. I am staying overnight in the hospital so at least if I panic about anything the nurses can reassure me! I think the main thing I am anxious about is travelling back home the day after as I am scared about the pain with travelling, I will definitely just want to get back home quickly !!
I really hope you feel better soon! xxx

Also if I could describe how they felt first few days it was like having two large bread loaves made from tuna tins stuck on my chest lol.

Start practising your breathing from when u come round. Small breathes then slightly deeper as the days go by. It will be ok just make sure u have zip front tops or those with buttons if u feel bit tight. I have asthma so if I felt bit worried I would take my inhaler but the heaviness wasn’t bad for me.

Take baby steps for everything there really isn’t a rush and just breathe try not to panic. It’s gets easier by day 5 for sure fxx

@fran32 Thank you lovely, ye I was going to maybe have toast or some fruit maybe with some water or juice… but then again I also don’t know if I want to set an alarm early to eat because I’ll probably not get a good nights sleep anyway being anxious!
My admission time is about 11 am so I would have to set an alarm around 4 really to be safe to eat a little, I will see how I feel the night before. The only thing that worries me is if I don’t have my op hours after my admission time as I have heard that can happen and I will be starving if I have ages to wait lol!

Haha two shots of morphine sounds amazing !! I hope I wake up laughing lol!

I was going to take some protein bars, but some sort of protein shakes sound like a better option actually.
I have got some throat lozenges ready to pack in case I have a sore throat.

Thank you so much and thank you for your replies they have been so helpful ! xxxx

You’re welcome hun! I totally agree about your time it is a bit of a hit ans miss. I’d say set the alarm just in case as u can always catch up on sleep once ur there esp if u have a bit of a wait for your op.

Lack of food and having to wake in the early hours will tire you out totally. From going down to sleep to waking up its like an instant and if u have some little snacks in ur room u will be able to snack on them once u feel ok to afterwards fxx

my nurse told me to make my last drink a luzoade still sport .. i did and was great I also drank post op and found it helped x

@fran32 ye I guess I can always try to catch up on sleep once I’m there if I have to wait! 🙂 I’ll definitely get snacks for after in case I’m really hungry 🙂 xxx

@aaaangell thank you lovely I will go to get some lucozade still sport 🙂 x

I have my op in a few days too and also staring to worry but all normal I’m sure. I have sent you a friend request.

I’m only 18, my pain thresh hold it does exist. I cry at needles, bruises ect.
Like you I read far too much about how painful it is because quite honestly more girls post about the pain than when they haven’t had any. At no point did I have any pain whatsoever, yes I was sore and felt a bit helpless at first as I couldn’t us my arms for the first week but at no point did I cry once.
I promise you what will be will be, everyones body is different, I thought 100% that it was going to be the worst pain ever and I still went through with it because I wanted it so badly.
I had the best experience with next to no pain, your body is you body. The pain you go through is really just down to lucky with how your body reacts, it must be with my experience.
Don’t let it put you off because no matter how painful it is for you it will be 100% worth it, have the courage to jump at the opportunity and don’t look back as I did, it will be over before you know it x

Hi hun, I think the pain is relative to you and your personal pain threshold! I always thought I had a poor pain threshold but have since discovered I do not! I was off painkillers by day 2 and aside from the strapping being a royal pain in the ass I was fine. Keep on top of your pain relief, there is no need to be in pain. Codeine and paracetamol is the one! Good luck xoxo

Hi @kpirt aww I hope everything goes well for you! Good luck with your surgery! I have accepted your friends request 🙂 x

Thank you so much @christiedowle you’re so lucky to have had no pain! I really hope I am lucky in that sense too! I’m rubbish with needles too lol. I am determined to try to stay as calm as possible and I am just really hoping I don’t have too bad a time with pain 🙂 ! I have wanted this for so long and I know I will be happy when I am fully healed so I just have to look at that end goal 🙂

Hi @lauraw88 thank you so much, that’s amazing you were off painkillers by day 2!! Ye the strapping does sound like a pain, I’m not looking forward to that lol! I will definitely keep on top of my painkillers 🙂 I have heard Codeine and paracetamol is great for the pain. Thank you again 🙂 xxxx

Thank you so much everyone, it is so amazing to have such support from people I’ve never met.
I think this forum is amazing and shows how many lovely people are out there willing to share their stories and support each other through their surgery process.
Thank you all again, wishing you all the best of luck with your surgery if you haven’t had it yet and wishing those who have a speedy recovery xxx

When is your op Eevie? Xx

Hi @ eevie

Honestly don’t let others put you off babe! I was exactly the same & like my surgeon used to say to me. If your not nervous & scared then you ain’t normal 🙂 i found it wasn’t half as bad as I really expected tbh, first couple of days was the hardest but it’s totally manageable if you keep on top of your meds & use lots of ice packs which was a god send for me with the swelling! I’m now 3wpo & don’t have any pain what so ever, haven’t really had any from 2wpo apart from the odd striking pain but all settled now babe! Everyone is different & it’s totally worth it, I’d do it all over again tomorrow! Maybe stay off the forum now till after surgery which I found helped me instead of reading negatives all the time but honestly you’ll be fine

GO & GET YOUR BOOBIES GIRL!!!!! X

Hi @eevie
I had my surgery 1 week ago and I honestly can’t believe how easy the recovery has been. For the first few days I took some paracetamol and ibuprofen every now and again but I haven’t needed any pain relief at all for the past few days, I have been driving and doing all of my usual daily things! Good luck with your op xx

Thank you so much @lisalou84 I will definitely keep on top of pain relief. I think I probably will stay off the forum until my surgery now!
Thank you again lovely 🙂 xxxxx

@sacha1234 thank you so much it’s good that you had litttle pain 🙂 I hope I’m the same !
Xx

I also suffer really bad with panic attacks & anxiety! Your welcome hunni 🙂 honestly you’ll be fine! Good luck babe x

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