Writing this down as I remember it for my future self. I had 3000 cc removed from my thighs, and it was so hard.
4/7 (Fri) Day of surgery, surgery started at 11:30 I was moved to the recovery room around 15:00, and I opened my eyes and came to my senses around 19:00. They said that while I was recovering, my face/lips briefly turned pale. I felt dizzy and like I was going to faint, so I kept repeating lying down-sitting-standing. It was already past the end of clinic hours, so the director who performed my surgery was outside cleaning. Still, I was his patient, and I was a bit disappointed that he did not even look in on me. The nurse kept taking care of me. She said it might be because I had been fasting since the fasting period, so she fed me a Choco Pie and apple juice. I barely got into a taxi and arrived home at 21:00. During the 30 m from the apartment entrance to the elevator at home, I collapsed to a squat twice. In the end, I called my mom, got support from her, and went up. Since I had to take antibiotics, I ate, but nausea came up and I vomited. After that, I vomited whenever anything went in, whether water or medicine. I vomited even when I got up after lying down. I’m guessing it was a combo of low blood pressure + indigestion from the Choco Pie.. Fortunately, it got better around dawn the next day.
4/8 (Sat) Surgery day 1 The vomiting and dizziness went away around dawn, and I had white porridge + dried pollack soup (broth only) for breakfast. Once carbohydrates and electrolytes went in, I felt a bit more clear-headed. The thigh pain that had been masked by yesterday’s dizziness finally started rushing in. It hurt whether I sat, stood, or lay down. Even for me, someone who does 60 kg leg presses, it was intense pain.. I went to a local clinic and got an IV with painkillers and medication to relieve dizziness, and after even getting nutrients, I felt like I could live. Back to the hospital for disinfection + putting on the compression garment.. I thought that at least today I would be able to hear from the director about how the surgery went, but I was an absolute idiot for expecting that.. Since it was the weekend, even my assigned consultant wasn’t there, so another consultant disinfected me and helped me put on the compression garment.. Once I put on the compression garment, it held my body firmly, snap! and it was much better!
4/9 (Sun) Surgery day 2 The Chanel line area, groin, and back of the thighs hurt so, so, so much.. I’m newly realizing that the thighs are precious muscles used for even the tiniest movements! Even trying to move just a little makes my thighs tense up, so it hurts so much. It hurts like someone is stabbing the wounded areas with a knife, and it hurts like someone is pressing down haaaard on bruised wounds continuously. They say I can shower starting today, but I don’t have the confidence to wash.. It’s awful even thinking about anything touching this sensitive skin, awful to put the compression garment back on, and awful just thinking about moving..
Conclusion so far! After surgery, get painkillers + nutrients at a local internal medicine clinic.