Top surgery in a week--few very specific questions! Thanks!

[Quicksand]

I'm getting surgery with Dr. Garramone in about a week and wanted to ask a few questions that I haven't found the answers for...

1.) I know they shave your chest beforehand but I am very prone to ingrown hairs and razorburn.  If I were to run a pair of clippers over my chest so that there was just a light stubble, do you think that would be fine?  I just don't look forward to healing when my chest is also itching like none other...

2.) As far as recovery goes, can I sit with a laptop on my lap and click with my fingers?  The accounts I've read mostly talk about watching movies but I would love to be able to read some ebooks and download movies on my laptop.

3.) What did you eat the first week after surgery?  What should my grocery list be?

4.) How long before you started drinking again?

5.) I'm due back at college exactly two weeks after my surgery date.  In your general opinion, will I be good to go?  Also, I sleep in a loft bed (which you have to climb into) so...I'll have to sleep on my couch for a while, right?  If you had to estimate, how long before I can get into my loft bed again?  And are backpacks okay or am I going to need to get a messenger bag?

6.) For scarring...would you suggest binding the scars with ace bandages/silicone scar sheets, or using scar healing creams?  Or some sort of combination?  Is it best to bind the scars for the first few weeks and then switch over to creams?

7.) Also, any last minute tips from your own experiences?   These would be super appreciated, since you never really know what you're missing until you've missed it 
Thanks so much everyone.  Just want to make sure I cover all my bases!

[myles]

1) Not sure as I have/had  very little chest hair. I did get ingrown hairs on my scars after.
2)I was back on the computer the next day.
3)I was still in my eat everything in sight phase from the T. I did eat a lot of sandwiches and store bought salads as they were easy. If you are going to be preparing the food for yourself pick stuff that is easy to prepare and doesn"t require that you stand by a stove all day. I was in SF (Brownstien) and in a hotel so I went to the deli and did the sandwich thing. They were easy to eat and fit in my small room refrigerator.
4)I was drinking within the week. Heck I was in the city on vacation after all!!
5)I think you will be ok with school, the hardest part will be carrying your books to class and opening doors to the classrooms if needed.  As far as the loft bed if you have to pull yourself up, like a ladder, give yourself a month or so. Trying to do it too early may cause problems.
6) For scaring I used the silicone sheets, bought the big one and cut it down to strips, and they have definitely helped with scaring.
7) Tale lots of over sized button up shirts. If you are having DI you will need something big enough to cover the drains while you are out. Also you will not be able to pull things over your head so button ups are a must. People heal at different rates and respond to anesthesia differently , just take your time coming back.
Good Luck and Congratulations
Myles
DI with Brownstien over a year ago.

[Dennis]

I have a loft bed too and I think it was 5 or 6 weeks before I could get up on it. What I did was buy a foam camping mattress and set it out on the floor to sleep. My cat was delighted to have me within reach. I was less delighted and spent a good deal of time flinging the cat off me.

Same as Myles - I was in SF too and got sandwiches and beer from the deli. It's probably not the best thing to do, having a beer right after surgery, but like Myles, I was on vacation!

Dennis

[noxdraconis]

1.  Should be fine.  I think they just want it out of the way enough so that they can work on your chest without having the hair get stuck in your incisions and stuff.

2. You can.  That was my biggest fear too, being incapable of doing anything whatsoever.  I was on the laptop as soon as I woke up from my nap after the surgery.

3. I stuck with my regular diet throughout.  Cereal, meat, pizza, meat, protein shakes, and did I mention meat? 
What I would suggest though, is food that is not drippy and messy.  Changing your shirt will suck, and if you opt not to wear one, then you get stuck with a sauce-splattered compression vest for the duration that you have to wear it.

4.  I was back to drinking as soon as my antibiotics were done (within the week).

5.  Whether or not you are good to go depends on your classes and activities.  2 weeks post-op is fine if you have all desk classes and clubs that do not do much in terms of physical exertion,  but if you have lab classes or activities where you have to do a lot of decorating or sports, two weeks will not cut it.  As for the loft bed, I was back to doing pullups by 6 weeks post-op, so you should be fine to climb into it by 6 weeks.  And for book-carrying, the important thing is to keep it rather light, regardless of which you choose to use.  From personal experience of hauling a duffle bag to the beach right after surgery, I would go with the messenger bag.

6. I am not sure what is best since everybody's body chemistry is different (and I am only 6 months post-op so my experience is limited), but I have been using mederma for the first 3 months post-op and I think it is working well as far as I can tell.  My avi is 5 months post-op if you want a visual of how the cream has been working for me so far. 

7.  Tip:  If you are not naturally a back sleeper, try to train yourself to tolerate sleeping on your back ahead of time and to find out how to make it as comfortable as possible.  It is going to be at least 6 weeks of back sleeping post-op.  I had a hell of a time going from my bed, to the couch, to a beach lounger, to the floor, and then alternating between the lounger and the couch, until I finally settled for the lounger during the day and the couch at nights. 

[Quicksand]

Thanks so much guys!  Got surgery yesterday and it went great, I've had absolutely no pain whatsoever and no nausesa.  Feeling like a million bucks, and I've got Susan's to thank for pointing me in Dr. Garramone's direction!

[xAndrewx]

Congrats on the top surgery man! 

[Logan1986]

3. drink lots of water and try to eat on the healthy side. if you dont have anyone there to make you food, make sure you leave it at about waist level so you can reach it! reaching up into cubboards isn't going to happen.
4. i waited a 7-10 days i think....the night the binder came off was cause for celebration!
5. two weeks should be fine. i would consider a messenger bag just because it will be easier to get on and off and you can pull stuff out of it without having to take it off. you'll definitely be on the couch for a while. after two weeks im sure you'll be able to climb up again, as long as you use your legs for power and arms just to prevent you from falling.
6. my doc said that scar creams dont really work. my physical therapist said that by rubbing the scar in a quick up and down motion it will help break up the scar tissue. currently there is only one part of my scar about an inch long that still feels bumpy. the rest is so smooth i cant find it without looking at it. of course you'll need to wait to start massaging the scar until it is healed and not painful to touch.
7. i found wearing big baggy basketball shorts made going to the bathroom easier because they were much easier to get off that anything tight/with buttons or a zipper.
best of luck!