Things I Never Expected After Top Surgery (As Someone Who Has Never Had Surgery)

becomingmaxwell:

When I went in to have top surgery, I had never had any surgeries whatsoever, never even broken a bone. I wasn’t scared and I thought I knew everything, but there were things I never expected or thought about so I thought I’d compile them. 

• My calves were SO sore: To prevent blood clots, compression socks were put on my legs and sleeves that would tighten and loosen very much like a blood pressure cuff. For the next few days they were pretty sore, like if I had finished strenuous leg exercise. 
• I was out before they even wheeled me into the operating room: I was sedated through my IV, I assumed I was going to have a mask on and breathe in like I had seen so many times on TV. A few seconds after it was administered, I can’t remember a thing. 
• Waking up was very disorienting: Because of being sedated, I felt like I just took a long nap. The best way I can describe it was waking up from a nap in slow motion. 
• The drains are in at least 6 inches deep: I was so scared every time I moved or accidentally tugged on one that I accidentally pulled it out. Mine were also stitched in place. They weren’t going anywhere. 
• You are probably not going to be able to immediately go out wearing just a t shirt: For the first couple weeks after drains come out, you’ll most likely still have to wear some kind of compression. I have to wear a compression wrap for 2 weeks and then tight under armor but I know some people who had to wear one for 6-8 weeks, it depends on the surgeon. This is to reduce swelling and keep the skin tight. 
• Your chest will still bounce: After wearing a binder for 3+ years, I’d forgotten what it was like to ride in a bumpy car and have your chest jolted around, it would be as drastic but there’s still tissue in there and it can move.
• Your scars are going to be lumpy and bumpy for a while: Looking down I can see my skin puckering on top of my scar, that won’t settle for a few months but massaging it will help.
• In addition to soreness and numbness, there will be a pins and needles feeling in your chest: The first time I felt a sharp stinging pain in my chest, I was caught off-guard but it’s basically the nerves reconnecting/waking up
• Scars feel tight on your chest: I had double incision and the two long scars across my chest kind of create a tight feeling as if I was wearing something around the sides of my chest