Post Surgery Depression - Raw & Real
Raw & Real
Part 1: 4WPO - The She Hulk is gone! Thank goodness for that. Now I’m back to a more sane version of myself 🤪😂 The last post was originally so long that it took me 4 days to edit it. The better I felt the shorter it got. I was tempted not to post but felt if I’m going to share my full journey, it had to be done. I still don’t like it there & couldn’t wait to post again💆🏻
I’m not overly surprised I found the last few days extra hard. It was about this time with my breast reduction/lift that I started to struggle only I didn’t have the added hormones until a bit further along. I seem to have a time limit on how long I can last sleeping on my back, wear the support garment 24/7 before my skin says it’s had enough, wanting or needing to wear normal clothes but either too sensitive &/or swollen to fit properly or be comfortable & the expectation that life goes back to normal even though my body is far from being healed & normal is tough, physically & mentally. It is at this point of healing, well it is for me, that the external changes are more subtle. Which mentally makes it feel like you’ve come to a bit of a stand still even though my body is working over time to heal internally. I have to continually remind myself that there are between 200-300 stitches for my TT alone.
I didn’t know there was such a thing as post surgery depression until I had it after my breast reduction/lift. It is so horrible & confusing to feel so happy that you’ve finally had this life changing surgery that you’ve been planning & waiting for, for so long but then also feeling depressed. It is really tough to go through & I’m having trouble finding the words to describe how it feels, especially because I’m still in it & finding this hard to write. Post surgery depression can be caused from reactions to the anesthesia, pain medications, the physical & emotional stress of the surgery, concerns about your speed of recovery, anxiety over possible complications or results, feelings of guilt about depending on others, stress related to recovery, financial costs, and so on. (To be continued Part 2 post)
I didn’t know there was such a thing as post surgery depression until I had it after my breast reduction/lift. It is so horrible & confusing to feel so happy that you’ve finally had this life changing surgery that you’ve been planning & waiting for, for so long but then also feeling depressed. It is really tough to go through & I’m having trouble finding the words to describe how it feels, especially because I’m still in it & finding this hard to write. Post surgery depression can be caused from reactions to the anesthesia, pain medications, the physical & emotional stress of the surgery, concerns about your speed of recovery, anxiety over possible complications or results, feelings of guilt about depending on others, stress related to recovery, financial costs, and so on. (To be continued Part 2 post)
Raw & Real - Part 2
Even though I did all the things you’re supposed to do after my BR/L, like going for walks, spending some time in the sun, eat ridiculously healthy, drinking water & having realistic expectations of recovery, it snuck up on me.
After last time I thought I could make some changes & have some things in place so it wouldn’t happen this time. As I was seeming to be coping well even with the Covid-19 stresses, I actually forgot about it & once again it gradually snuck up on me again - damn it! You know what, I don’t think it would have actually made much of a difference as I think it’s just how my body reacts to the medications & stress of such a big surgery. It’s just another reminder of why I split my surgeries in the first place. This is a lot for my body to process & there’s no wonder I come a little undone.
After last time I thought I could make some changes & have some things in place so it wouldn’t happen this time. As I was seeming to be coping well even with the Covid-19 stresses, I actually forgot about it & once again it gradually snuck up on me again - damn it! You know what, I don’t think it would have actually made much of a difference as I think it’s just how my body reacts to the medications & stress of such a big surgery. It’s just another reminder of why I split my surgeries in the first place. This is a lot for my body to process & there’s no wonder I come a little undone.
On a positive note, I have experienced this type of depression before when I was extremely sick & had no sign of ever being well again, so I have been able to recognise it early & start to pull myself back out before it gets a deep hold. Last surgery it took until the 12 week mark for my body to have detoxed the medications, for the swelling to be gone, for my mind to really absorb that the old breasts are gone & that these are now actually mine to keep forever & be comfortable for the first time since puberty. I really felt like a new person from then. I really can’t wait to be on the other side of recovery but until then, I will patiently take one day at a time. Looking through all my photo’s of the journey I’ve been though has been helpful too.
I started this post 5 days ago & I am already starting to feel the heavy fog lift & each day feels better than the day before. Having this surgery is totally worth it all! 😘
Our client wishes to remain anonymous. 💕
Breast lift & reduction - September 2019
Plastic Surgeon - Dr Michael Miroshnik, Sydney.
Tummy tuck, muscle repair, waist tightening, mons lift & hernia repair - March 2020
She is 34 years old, is 161cms tall and at the time of her pre op appointment weighed 59kg and at the time of surgery was 55kg.
1 comment
Thank you for sharing. I am having a 360 lipoabdominoplasty and fat transfer to breasts in September so it’s good to be aware of some of the things I may experience during my post op recovery. Something I will try to be aware of and remind my support network to help me get through it too.