5 months post-op

Facts about Diana's Surgery

Procedures: Tummy Tuck with Liposuction on Upper Abdomen.

Diana’s Journey: My Surgery Experience with Destination Beauty

"This is all advice I’d give to myself.  Some of it might not be suitable for your own individual circumstances, and it might not work for you either, so take it all with a grain of salt.  But hopefully there is something that might help you too.  Good luck!

I’ll write my thoughts about each step, including learnt lessons/ things I wish I had/ things I didn’t need, etc.  At the end, I’ll summarise with my key learnings, and include a packing list for things I found helpful, or things I wish that I had.  

Quote and booking

I first heard about DB a few years ago, when a friend had the same surgery that I was hoping to have.  I had started up a savings account and I continued to save.  When I began nearing close to the approximate goal, I contacted DB for a quote, which was easy and straightforward.  It took me another 8 months to book - timing, money, nerves, etc.  Once I was booked in, if I had any queries (when can I have a sauna again/ how long do I need to wear compression gear for, etc), I would send my rep an email, and she would promptly reply.  

I wanted Dr Angkana as my surgeon, because she was the surgeon that my friend had used, and spoke very highly of her.  I also wanted the surgery done as close to mid year as possible, so I wouldn’t need to be in compression gear over summer during the day.  Late August was the earliest that I could book in, so I went with that date. 

Leading up to the surgery date I tried to stay physically active with yoga and jogging.  My knee and hip had compensated for years for a lack of core muscles due to my diastasis recti, so I’ve had to opt for low impact exercises now, but I was still able to keep flexible and fairly healthy, which came into use post surgery when moving became a bit of a challenge.

Leaving home/ travelling to Bangkok

It was my first time travelling solo internationally for a decade, and that was just a long weekend to Sydney!  I left NZ time Saturday night.  So I was quite nervous, but excited.  The trip there was fairly straightforward.  I went via Singapore.  I had a 5 hour stop over on my way over, and I walked for hours exploring the airport - it was an amazing place to explore.  I also knew it would be one of the last times I would be able to walk for a while, so I made the most of being able to move about.

Bangkok - pre surgery

When I arrived in Bangkok, the airport was easy to navigate with signs in both English and Thai.  I had printed off the instructions for the pick up from DB, so I just kept following that.  Eventually I found my way to the pick up space and found the driver.  We were waiting for another arrival, so I found a close-by chair and had a wee nap until the next person arrived.  Then it was into the air conditioned van, with chilled water bottles and snacks.  

I arrived at the hotel late Sunday afternoon Bangkok time, which was Sunday night back home.  I’d only slept for an hour on the plane, so I was quite tired, but I wanted to try to go to sleep at night time to help readjust to the time difference.  I was able to use ‘Grab’ to get some food.  Back home, I live in a town that doesn’t have UberEats, so it was quite exciting to get food delivered to the door of the hotel.  I went for a wander up the street, but not too far.  The hotel was lovely, and the room was nice and functional.  I had to be up for a 8am departure from the hotel for pre-op tests, so I finally went to sleep.  No eating until after my pre-surgery tests, so no breaky in the morning.  I wasn’t overly hungry though.

Pre-surgery tests

As I mentioned, no breaky today, so I just went down to the lobby and waited until the van came and picked a few of us up. Use the buzzer

I met this amazing woman from NZ, on the van to the hospital.  She was post surgery.  She told me ‘use the buzzer’.  For me, back in NZ, you only use the buzzer if it’s a serious emergency.  But she said that there, they don’t do regular check ups (except for vitals) and keep you on minimum pain relief, and if you need more, they’ll give it.  And I definitely found that this was the case.  I was so nervous to press that buzzer the first time, but a nurse turned up happy to be there, and helped me out.  

Pain relief

The advice I was given was ‘stay ahead of the pain’.  So I didn’t let myself feel sore.  If I felt a small niggle coming on, I’d use my handy-dandy buzzer and ask for more pain relief.  This was a huge adjustment for me - if I take one panadol normally, everyone in my home knows that I’m super sick.  But it was also my first time with a 40cm cut, so there’s a time and a place for medication for pain relief, and this was definitely that time and place.

Hopsital

At the hospital I went to the DB offices.  I had my blood pressure, blood, EGC, oxygen levels taken there.  I had mentioned that I had mild asthma on the information form, so I needed to get an x-ray in the hospital.  Once this was done, I had to meet with a doctor to get the sign off.  But I was able to go and get some food in between, so I went to the cafe just across the driveway from the DB office and got some lunch there.  

Whilst waiting for the doctor, a nurse came and showed me her phone.  It was Google translate.  It said ‘do you take any medication for your asthma’.  I said no.  I liked that we could use technology to communicate if need be.  During my hospital stay, I used this strategy a couple of times with the nurses if we were having trouble communicating together.  

I went to meet with the doc, and I told him it was mild and seasonal.  He listened to my chest, and looked at the x-ray.  He was happy for me to have surgery, but if the surgery took more than 4 hours or showed any breathing signs, then I would have to spend a night in the ICU.  I had to pay about $100 NZ for this additional x-ray and chat with the doc.  I felt confident going into surgery that my breathing and chest was okay though.  

Afternoon pre-surgery

We waited for a few more people to have their checks, and then it was back in the van and back to the hotel.  I arrived there about 1pm and didn’t feel like venturing out.  I went and sat by the pool for a while.  I was still a bit jet-lagged and also feeling quite vulnerable pre-surgery.  I went and got a massage at Indra massage, the first one to the left, on the same side as the hotel.

I spent the rest of the avo doing a bit of work, and then watching some Netflix.  By 6pm I packed up again, and I was back to the reception for a 6:30pm pick up, for an evening admission to the hospital for surgery the next morning.

Hospital pre-surgery

I was admitted and taken to my room.  It was a huge two bedroom apartment; probably the fanciest place that I have ever stayed in.  From what I could tell from my walks around later on, there are two of the larger apartments on the floor (each window corner).  Whilst the room was very fancy, I think I would’ve found the smaller rooms more practical; less distance to walk every time I wanted a cup of herbal tea.  Which wouldn’t have been a drama normally, but when it is a struggle to walk a few steps to begin with, the kitchen in the other room was just too far most of the time.  So either way, no matter which room you get - they all have good features to enjoy.

I had my IV line put in the night before.  It made sleeping just a bit tricker that night.  But once that was in, it was like - ah well, can’t do too much else, so I went to sleep.

The day of surgery

Dr Angkana was coming to meet me at about 7am, so the nurses said they’d be in for pre-op checks at 6:30am.  I set the alarm for 5:30am, but I was up a bit earlier than that; nerves and still adjusting to the time difference.  

The nurse arrived and did the checks, and then Dr Angkana arrived.  She was so efficient and professional.  I felt calm and assured with her.  She answered any questions that I had, and gave me information that was useful, and helped me to be informed (the two sides of the stomach might not completely align, etc).  Once she was finished, she left, and I stayed in the room for a while, until someone turned up to take me to surgery.  I stayed on the bed, and they wheeled me to surgery.  

Surgery

I was taken into a waiting room where I stayed for a while.  At about 8:30am I was taken into theatre.  I met the anaesthetist.  I wasn’t waiting for long before he told me that he was going to inject me and put the breathing mask on, and I was to start counting, and I would fall asleep.  That all happened next as told, and thankfully I do not remember anything until much later that day. 

Post-surgery

I woke up in another room (possibly the same waiting room from earlier).  There were two people sitting by the end of the bed.  I said that I was cold.  I don’t know how coherent I was.  I was shivering and I couldn’t breathe that well.  Someone got me a heater and they put it under the blankets, by my feet.  It was amazing.  I warmed up and drifted back to sleep.  

I woke up, and I was back in my room on the ward.  It was about 4:30pm.  The nurse asked if I was hungry (I was), and I was able to order something off the cafe menu.  I got some pumpkin soup.  The nurse gave me my phone, and I was able to tell my family back home that I was awake.  I was still napping on and off.  I had a catheter in.  I drank a lot of water.  My throat was sore from surgery.  I had a bit of phlegm too, and coughing that up was so hard, as it hurt a lot to cough.  I was told to hold a pillow against my stomach when I coughed, so I did this, and it helped.  

I was hooked up to an IV and they put regular morphine into that.  When I felt the slightest pain coming on, I used the buzzer and asked for pain relief.  As I mentioned earlier, no nurse was ever frustrated when I used the buzzer.  For me, apart from routine checks and essential activities (assistance with showers on the first two mornings post surgery and getting out of bed for the first time) and essential drugs (antibiotics, some pain relief), in my experience, nurses didn’t otherwise just pop in.  One nurse offered to make me a cup of tea on the night after my surgery, but that was the only time.  

I was told not to try to walk that night, but someone would help me stand up in the morning.  I was dozing on and off for the evening.  Eventually I fell asleep. During the night, nurses would do their checks, and I am fairly sure I asked for pain relief as well.

Hospital stay

Post surgery, day one, I was pretty emotional.  I was taken for my first shower; a very quick one.  My hair wasn’t washed, but I was just grateful that I was able to get up and move around very, very slowly.  I didn’t walk much at all.  I dozed on and off for a lot of the day.  The catheter was removed today, thankfully.  Dr Angkana checked in on me - I really appreciated that.  

Every day I had the area around my drains (that were just below the pubic line) cleaned and the dressings (of my wound and the dressings around the drains) changed.  The drains freaked me out a bit to start, but they were okay.  They had a job to do, and I was grateful.

Day two, I started walking around the ward.  It took so much from me.  It was quite overwhelming.  I was by myself, and I would’ve loved to not have travelled alone.  I was grateful for those friendly souls that I met on these walks.  I'm still friends with some of them.  I watched a bit of netflix on my phone.  Meals were great.  It was so nice not having to organise anything.  The people dropping meals off were so lovely.  It’s amazing what a smile can do when you’re feeling low. 

Day three, I got up and gave myself my first shower without help.  I washed my hair for the first time, quickly, but still washed.  That felt amazing.  I got into a button-up dress - the first non-hospital gown since arriving.  That felt nice too.  I was taken to the nurses station where I was fitted for compression gear.  I was meant to get a binder first, but it wouldn’t go over my butt, so I got a body compression gear piece that went to the knees, and under the bust.  The stomach felt supported.  The drip was removed, and I could move a bit easier.  The drains needed to stay in, but I had expected that.  I was given a cute bag to take with me for my drain containers.  I was told how to clean and change my wounds, and how to check the drains, to see when they were ready to come out.  I should’ve written this all down at the time though, as my memory wasn’t that great.  But I was able to remember the important things, and bumble my way through the next few days.  

Back to the hotel

In the van back to the hotel, I met another woman (who turned into a friend) who shared some great tips.  She suggested asking the hotel for a topper for my mattress, and to also ask for a couple of extra pillows.  I didn’t realise how much I would need these extra pillows for my pillow fort - pillows under legs, on the sides, behind me to help me sit up.  I asked my cleaner to please leave my pillow fort, and not re-make my bed.  

My new friend from the van showed me some great food places to buy from, from the Grab app.  I used ‘Tops daily’ for supermarket goods, including kiwifruit and kiwifruit juice, water, and chocolates as gifts.  Some of the restaurants that I ordered from were ‘Huge grains’ ‘Tropical summer bowl’ and ‘Acai story’.  Living rurally, this was such a novel thing!  Ordering food, and then it was dropped off at the hotel door, and the wonderful hotel staff would bring it up.  I always tried to have a tip ready - even 100 bht - just as a small way to say thankyou for bringing my food to me.  I was so grateful.  

Taking of food apps, I was grateful that I’d had a go at using apps to order food before the surgery.  (For some reason I couldn’t work ‘Food Panda’ - it said it wouldn’t accept my NZ credit card.  But Grab worked, so I used that, so once I got back to the hotel after surgery, it was a fairly straightforward process).  

I had bought a few button up dresses back home before I left, which I was so grateful for - especially with still having the drains in.  I had also bought a button up pajama nighty thing.  It hasn’t been worn since, but I was so happy with it. 

Everything took so long… going to the bathroom took ages.  I had to take off my dress, then undo my compression gear, hang my drain bag on the shower door, and the repeat to get re-dressed.  

Re-dressing around the drains and my wound took a while too, but I set up a changing station on the desk and kept everything super sterile and clean, going slowly.  Thankfully I had google translate and I could take a photo of some of the items and have that translate for me, as I couldn’t figure out how to open the iodine.

Pharmacy

There is a pharmacy where I was able to get scar cream and gel (it’s on the DB maps, and the hotel staff can tell you where it is).  She isn’t open on Sundays and doesn’t open up till about 11am.  But she was very helpful.  I just wished that I’d bought more tape.  I was able to find good gel back in NZ, but I haven’t found any good scar tape here.  

Eating out

I enjoyed a few meals out at some of the restaurants down the same street as the hotel.  Everyone was always very welcoming and warm.  

Temples tour

The day before I flew home, I organised with Opal (he is downstairs at the hotel, at the desk before the restaurant for breakfast) to go on a tour around some of the Temples.  I absolutely loved this, but I did walk too much.  I was with a few other lovely ladies.  It was great having a tour guide who provided us with water and interesting information, getting to skip lines, getting dropped off as close as possible to the Temples, and having an air conditioned van.  I wish I had let my group do some of the exploring around the Temple grounds without me, and I had stayed still and rested until they got back to me.  Afterwards I was very sore and swollen, which didn’t help the trip home the following day.  But such is hindsight.  I don’t regret going at all - it was amazing!  And I did not expect to get to see anything beyond the hotel and hospital, but I just wished that I had not walked around as much.  

Massages

I got a few massages post-surgery, and this was amazing.  I told the person in charge at the massage that I’d had surgery, and they were able to let the masseuse know, so I didn’t get turned or twisted around, and the surgery area wasn’t touched.  It was amazing.  I miss the massages so much.  

Final check up

The morning before my Temples tour, I had my final hospital check up.  I got a new compression gear - the legs were like togs with clips, so it was much easier and quicker to go to the bathroom.  Dr Angkana was happy with my healing, and I was given a clearance letter to fly.  Back at the hotel I put this with my passport and travel information - luckily, as I was asked for it when I was in Singapore.  I’d read a lot of comments that they had not been asked for this clearance letter, but I was, and I was relieved that I had it with me.  Maybe because I looked so worse for wear by the time I got there haha.

Travelling home

I asked for assistance travelling home, and I do not regret this decision at all.  I couldn’t walk far, and some of those distances were quite long in the airports.  I took a backpack, thinking I could have it on my back and it would be okay, but I regretted this decision.  It was too heavy.  I put it on my lap when I was in a wheelchair, but there were a couple of times when I didn’t have a wheelchair and I had to ask for help with my backpack.  In hindsight, I’d wish I’d taken a ‘mini carry on’ with roll-on wheels.  I’d seen another woman using it, and it would’ve been perfect.  Small enough to fit under the seat, so I’m not having to ask someone to get my bag down everytime I needed something, but it had wheels so I didn’t need to lift.  

When I got to the security, if I wasn’t with airport staff already, I asked for help from the security person to put it up onto the conveyor belt.

I flew economy, but Air NZ, and coming home I did a Oneup bid to fly premium economy. I did my max amount for $500 and it was accepted.  It was great!  But if it wasn’t accepted, economy would’ve been all good too.  I took my own blanket to act as a pillow for if I needed to cough (to hold against my stomach), and if I got cold in the airport.  I loved wrapping up like a burrito on the plane.  Noise cancelling earphones, a sleep pill (never taken them before in my life) and eye mask, and I got 5 hours straight sleep!  The most I’ve ever had on a plane.  

Back home

My recovery was very slow.  I thought I’d be moving much quicker than I was, but I was hunched over and it was hard.  I had my teenagers and they were able to take care of a lot of the household jobs, but my husband wasn’t around due to work, and I wish I had someone around just for those first few days at home.  I realised that I was sinking into a wee depression, so I asked a good friend to come and pick me up and take me out for morning tea.  That was such a turning point; getting out, going to one of my favourite cafes with a good friend.  I realised that I needed to ask for help more, and make my life a bit easier too.  So I began using taxis so I could do a few things (watch my daughter’s kapa haka performance, go to her end of term assembly, get my eyebrows done, go to my etc).  Living rurally, it was expensive ($20 for a 5 min trip) but it became an important cost so that I could get out.  I also accepted help when offered, such as getting picked up for things.  

3 weeks after surgery I had my first day in my home office.  I’m finishing writing my PhD and I work from home, so I thought I’d be okay.  I did a seven hour stint and was listening to my body and thought I was okay, but that evening I was extremely swollen, I was in a lot of painm, and I could not move.  Being in a seated position for so long did not work for my body.  I moved a reclining chair  into my office with the pop out leg thing, which made working much easier, as I could stretch my legs out.  

I began walking around 4 weeks post surgery, and could not manage far at all.  I walked 200 metres on my usual walk, and had to have a break and then turn around and go back. I was initially disappointed and got down again, as I was hitting the milestones slower than the average.   But I accepted that I was still experiencing progress and healing, and I just needed to listen to my own body.

I had a few questions for my surgeon once I got home, and I emailed helpdesk@destinationbeauty.com and got fast replies.  That was reassuring.  

I’m now 4.5 months post surgery and back to running daily, often 5-6km.  I do daily yoga, my scar is healing nicely. 

Going solo

I travelled solo.  It was hard, but I got through.  And I even enjoyed having some time alone.  The first few days post surgery were tricky, especially showering, but I just took my time and talked myself through it. 

I even had some pretty liberating moments of ‘wow, I did this’.  I loved waking early and standing on my balcony and listening to the frogs collectively croak, before the city woke up.  

Wheat pack

I’d read somewhere to take one, and I’m so glad I did.  It was my back that hurt the most.  And when I looked at the before photos, and realised how much skin and fat they had taken away, and the internal muscles that they had repaired (after 20 years of being separated) it made sense that my lower back was taking the brunt of this.  The Wheat pack was amazing.  Both heated up, and also left in the freezer for a cold pack too.  It was especially lovely in the evenings when I felt swollen to use the wheat pack as an cold pack, to help cool me down a bit too.  I used the wheat pack back home as well.  

Entertainment 

I loved having a bit of alone time in the hotel.

I took a couple of books.

I went and read one poolside, which felt quite relaxing.  

Before I went, I’d written a list of netflix shows I’d wanted to watch, which was useful when I wondered ‘what shall I do now’.  

I also enjoyed quieter versions of busy activities I usually do. For example, I love ‘yoga with Adriene’, but instead of doing yoga, I’d watch my vlogs or do meditation.

Tipping 

Coming from NZ, and not being a regular international traveller, I’d not thought of tipping, until I saw a post just before I left, so I made sure to get out some cash for arrival.  Everyone is different - some people tip, some don’t, but I tipped for most things - when the hotel staff helped with my gear, eating out (you can also tip via Grab app), getting a massage.  I also got some boxes of chocolate (from Grab app) for the reception, concierge, van drivers, and surgeon.  

A few of my thoughts around things to pack:

For my travel bag:

Headphones - noise cancelling ones preferably.  

Travel pillow - I love my adjustable new pillow.  

Powerboard/ extension cord/ travel adapter 

I didn’t have long charger cables (for laptop/ phone, etc), so I took an extension cord, power board, and travel adapter.

Toiletries (although they have toothbrushes etc)

Regular medications - I have mild asthma and I don’t usually need ventolin, but I wish I’d got one for when I got out or surgery, as I found breathing pretty hard.  (I found out that I was able to buy one at the pharmacy there without a script, so I got one for the rest of the trip).

Laxatives (they do have laxatives at the hospital, but I had to wait two nights of asking before I got some).  When I got back to the hotel, I ordered prunes, prune juice and Kiwifruit from the Grab app.  Like panadol, I don’t typically use laxatives, but I really didn’t want to have to deal with that on top of everything else I was recovering from. 

Hotel:

Button front PJ or long shirts.

Key learnings:

• Recovery is different for everyone.  Average recovery times are just that; averages.  You might be reaching milestones earlier - or later - than everyone else, and that is okay.
• Ask for help at each stage as you need.  
• Healing is a journey, but you’ll get through.

I am so happy with my decision.  My pelvic floor is tight, which is amazing.  I can go for long runs and my knees and hips don’t get sore like they used to, due to a weak core.  I am so pleased with my decision to get this surgery done with Dr Angkana." - Diana

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