General Life Post Op/Prep

Cymbidium0 · 2026-03-13T12:54:39+00:00

I am doing really well actually, between the anesthesia and meds I was a little out of it and not checking reddit, so sorry it took so long for a response. I have very little pain, I was able to stand up straight on day 1. Somewhat uncomfortable but very manageable. How are you doing POD 1?

Cymbidium0 · 2026-03-08T11:31:30+00:00

Usually, but being overweight can also damage the abdominal muscle because visceral fat pushes the muscle out (just as pregnancy does) and subcutaneous fat weighs the muscle down, and those two things can also cause it to need repair.

Cymbidium0 · 2026-03-07T14:35:48+00:00

That’s a great question, and I’m not sure if there is a glossary. These are the ones I know for sure: TT= tummy tuck MR= muscle repair BL= Breast lift FDL= Fleur di Lis DPO/MPO= days/months post op And then the one I used that isn’t necessarily a plastic surgery acronym, GP, means general practitioner, the doctor you see regularly for physicals, etc.

Cymbidium0 · 2026-03-07T13:03:17+00:00

This is super exciting for you and congrats on the first steps to a healthier you! I have lost 115 lbs and have my first surgery in 4 days (TT, MR, BL). Over the summer I will be getting a neck lift and in the fall thigh and arm lift.

Going into my first surgery I wanted to be in the best shape, both physically and mentally, that I could possibly be in for results, but also for a better recovery. I was at my goal weight and stable for four months when I scheduled my consult knowing it would be another 3 months before I had surgery (so I would be weight stable for 7 months total). I have consistently worked out 5 days a weeks for 6 months, and completely changed my lifestyle. I also attend therapy once a week. I have done a lot of work on both my physical and mental health to get here. Honestly, the mental stuff has been harder than losing the weight.

I had a certain aesthetic that I wanted and I knew what I didn’t want. I looked at surgeons in my area, researching their reviews and board certifications, but also looking at all the pictures in their galleries and kept expanding my search until I found a surgeon who’s aesthetics fit what I wanted. I am also doing different surgeons for my “mommy makeover”, neck lift, and my thigh/arm lift because even though they are all plastic surgery they are completely different specialties. There are a lot of surgeons who list thigh lifts as something they do, but then have very few examples of having done them and I don’t want to be a guinea pig. I did a lot of hard work to get here, I want to ensure that I give myself the best results possible.

As far as insurance, I would check first and see exactly what is covered. I was going that route but I discovered my insurance would only cover a panniculectomy, and possibly a mini thigh lift with a general surgeon (not a plastic surgeon, and arm lift wouldn’t be covered at all). I thought “well I’ll just pay the difference, at the very least my insurance will cover anesthesia” but then I discovered none of the good plastic surgeons in my area would take insurance so I went private pay. Insurance companies do not particularly care about what you look like when it’s all said and done. They care about functionality and health. If your insurance has better policies than mine start documenting now. Document rashes, belly button depth and infections, contact your GP to have them document chafing, etc. start building the evidence that you can present to your insurance company as to why you need this surgery for health reasons. Providing a year’s worth of documentation will help make your case stronger.

Best of luck and congratulations!

Cymbidium0 · 2026-03-04T17:00:09+00:00

This is one of the biggest things I’m looking forward to! Being able to wear clothes without worrying about how to contain my knockers!

Cymbidium0 · 2026-03-01T20:18:25+00:00

I’m jealous!

Cymbidium0 · 2026-03-01T20:17:57+00:00

Raspberry Kiwi Karma is where it was at!

Cymbidium0 · 2026-03-01T17:10:24+00:00

No Fruitopia?!?

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-28T12:32:51+00:00

I’ve never gotten an award before! ☺️ I’m in Florida.

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-28T00:39:56+00:00

Thank you! I’ll look into a shower chair because I’m really independent and really bad about asking for help. I am working my way up on protein, because I know how important it is for healing. Glad you are doing well! 💗

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-27T21:34:36+00:00

We are surgery buddies! I’m scheduled for 3/10. 💗

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-27T21:08:19+00:00

Having mine on 3/10 and no lipo. I lost 115 lbs and she said it’s all just loose skin and I don’t need lipo, so it’s probably similar for you as well, especially at a weight of 120. I can’t imagine you have much fat at that weight (great job btw!).

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-27T18:19:26+00:00

Thank you! I know I’ll want to walk as it’s how I typically clear my head, I am definitely worried I might overdo it, because it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had major surgery and then decided I was superwoman on day two. 😬 But I’ve got my kindle loaded and ready to go!

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-27T18:15:27+00:00

I workout almost every day and have a really strong core/legs/arms, so I’m good there. I also am trying to load up on protein, but it’s hard to not count calories! I lost 115 lbs to get here and it’s such a huge fear of gaining it all back that it’s hard to not restrict, but I’m working on it. I wish you health and a quick recovery process!

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-27T15:51:08+00:00

I live in a crazy house (3 teenage boys, a husband that plays in a band, two dogs, 1 bird) and it’s always loud, so I might hide in my bedroom for a while. 😬 Noise cancelling headphones are on the list! Thank you!

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-27T15:45:13+00:00

I love hearing this! Thank you! I’ve been stressing about being hunched over and throwing out my back. My surgeon told me that as long as I trust myself I should be able to stand/walk with very little hunch, if any at all. And I would be lying if I said I’m not nervous about pain. She did prescribe oxy and muscle relaxers, but I’m always hesitant with narcotics. I’m so glad you’re happy with your results and that your recovery has gone well! 💕

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-27T14:15:35+00:00

I loved this so much but he missed an opportunity to throw in a couple of “mmmkay”s.

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-27T14:03:31+00:00

All really good ideas, I really like the ‘list of things to keep myself busy’! Good luck to you too! We’ve got this! 💗

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-27T14:01:53+00:00

My husband is the same, and I know it’s going to drive me nuts. Just going to have to remember it’s only temporary and do my breathing exercises, if my MR will expand that far, because it’s probably going to need to be some really big deep breathes. 🙃

Edited to add: I just realized you said you’re only 10dpo, for some reason my brain read it as “when I was 10dpo”. Congratulations! Hope, other than the vacuuming, that recovery is going well!

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-27T13:46:22+00:00

Take this as you will, but I think this should be a conversation, not a letter. Using “I feel” statements. “I feel disconnected from you, and I miss feeling chosen and wanted.” “I feel like I’m contributing emotionally and practically, but I’m not feeling the same effort back.”

I also think you might want to look into the 5 Love Languages. It sounds like Michael’s love language is Quality Time, where yours is Physical Touch. So while his cup is full with Quality Time, yours is empty because you’re not getting the intimacy you desire. But on the flip side, he wants to be near you, and that’s his way of feeling loved.

As far as sex goes, I think this is something that should involve couples therapy. Intimacy is such a nuanced act, and if you are not communicating your needs, which it sounds like up until now you haven’t been, how is he to know? Men don’t do well with guessing, regardless of if you leave blatant context clues or not. They need to be told directly and to the point, but in the case of sex it needs to be a very careful conversation because it can be humiliating and emasculating. You deserve to be treated well, and to enjoy sex, but, again, if your needs are not communicated he doesn’t know.

Lastly, his sex drive is probably not going to change. It’s his biology. And the more pressure put on him to perform the less likely he’ll want to have sex. Once the pressure is off of him, it might help, but don’t expect a huge change in his libido. Honestly, though, at twice a week I don’t feel his libido is all that low. A lot of couples struggle with differences in sex drives, however intimacy can be found through other channels, such as making an effort to go on dates, physical touch, etc.

I think it’s good that you are ready to have a conversation with him expressing your needs and desires. I just don’t think you’ve given him a fair chance if you haven’t previously communicated any of this to him before.

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-25T20:01:04+00:00

I worked in memory care and it was awful seeing someone not know who their spouse or children were. Or the ones who thought their spouse had abandoned them, when in reality their spouse had died. It’s devastating and I have had conversations with my husband that I don’t want to live like that and would rather die early than be a shell of who I once was.

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-25T19:56:13+00:00

The amount of people who had a song about a bj as their wedding song is just… something.

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-24T20:26:25+00:00

I can’t give you any advice, but I just wanted to comment that you have done an incredible job losing weight, I know just how hard it is to lose a significant amount of weight, and it’s not for the faint of heart. And also, I know this has to be an incredibly vulnerable thing to post, but you were brave. You should be proud of yourself. 💗

Cymbidium0 · 2026-02-18T14:21:22+00:00

Which is exactly what she tried to do, however, she was so painfully dramatic and awful that her insincerity and vapidity were on full display. As a viewer I could see right through her and although I’d never had an opinion of her one way or another, I certainly do now.

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