1st day in Bangkok Thailand. Wednesday, October 29th, 2014 - 11:10am (arrival):
I finally landed in Thailand approximately at 11:10am. Went through cutoms and passport control and grabbed my baggage. I kinda had a difficult time finding the driver that was supposed to pick me up but Ms. Som communicated with me thoroughly and we were just in the wrong area but eventually we spotted each other and I seen the sign with my name on it lol.
As he was driving me to the Bangkok Rama Hotel, he passed me an envelope which had an introduction and welcome letter along within the next few days of my consultation, booking at the hotel and what I am instructed to do before surgery, everything was in the welcome letter. My first day in Thailand and throughout the flights and layovers, I was so exhausted and slept all day from the time I got to the hotel till morning and ate nothing all day except when I was on the flight which I haven't eaten anything at all.
2nd day in Bangkok, Thailand. Thursday, October 30th, 2014- 6:00am (Consultation day):
I woke up at 6am. Had nothing to eat as I started my soup diet yesterday once I landed. I am leaving at 9am to see Dr Chettawut and his team to decide my breast size, redo my 3 blood test and paying my remaining small balance and if needed, my skin graft if dr chettawut requires it.
2nd day in Bangkok, Thailand. Thursday, October 30th, 2014 - 11:50am (after consultation):
I had really small veins for my blood test so after consultation with Dr Chettawut, I have to follow a staff memeber to a hospital to get my blood test drawn.
I have paid off my remaining balance as well as for my blood test that I had to redo for CBC, FBS, and Platelet. Once I sat down with Dr Chettawut, he examined my chest as well as my groin. He asked what size cups I want for my breast and showed me the sizes, there were the standard B+ size, CC size, then the one bigger than the small sized CC, then the maximum size cup. I chose the cup size above the B+ Standard Size and he recommended it, considering my body anatomy fits perfectly with that size. I'm only 5'6" 131lbs.
As for the examination on my groin, he said it's mandatory that I had to get a skin graft since I had less skin down there. Once all that was done, he explained verbally and on paper what I needed to do starting today (Oct 30th) till my surgery day on Nov. 1st which I will be going in at 10:00am in the morning.
Once I finished my consultation and was dropped off to my hotel after the hospital and blood test, I spoke with an acquaintance/friend (Donna) who have undergone the same surgery I am going through now and also stayed in the same hotel. She told me to stock up and make sure I get enough food for the room because I need to avoid doing anything tomorrow on "Laxative day" and after surgery which I will need to still be on liquid diets until I am told it is safe to move to solid foods.
Went to the ATM and took out some money with my bank card and converted it to Baht which led me to the stores nearby to buy noodle soups (clear soups), water, and juice (with no pulp).
As for the laxatives, Dr Chettawut gave me instructions on what to take today which was the 2 laxative pills I have to take at 5pm and also the U-Enema that is like a douche that I had to squirt up my butthole and wait till I felt like going to the toilet to cleanse my bowels.
3rd day in Bangkok, Thailand. Friday, October 31st, 2014 - (Relaxation, Laxative, and Toilet day):
Woke up early in the morning and dressed up to go to the bank and take out more cash from the atm that could convert USD to Baht and limit to withdraw was $300 (10,000THB) per day. I entered the bank also to request to convert my remaining USD to Baht but they said they couldn't make the conversion in the bank and that I would have to go to a money exchange business to convert my cash to baht.
Well I eventually gave up looking for a money exchange place and just walked back to my hotel which was a block away and it was so hot, I was sweating like a a pig being roasted over a fire.
Once I arrived at the hotel, at 9am, I took another laxative that was with the package Dr Chettawut have given me on consultation day which was called, "Swiff". I poured 45c in a small cup which was half of the bottle and omg Dr Chettawut was right about the taste, it was awful! I thought I was able to handle drinking it alone without anything to mix it with but I just couldn't. I grabbed a soda that was in the refrigerator and mixed it with the swiff and drank it till the cup was empty. Lol.
Dr Chettawut also recommended to mix 1 of the 5 packets of Oral-Saline Electrolyte Beverage that was also in the laxatives bag he gave with water to give me energy and keep me hydrated with nutrients I need after taking swiff since i will be discarding a lot of water and nutrients when in the bathroom to go poopoo so I did throughout the whole day.
At the end of the night, my bowel felt so empty and my hunger for solid food increased drastically but I did my best to follow instructions. *Note: Make sure to have enough toilet paper cause you'll be needing a lot haha.
Once 12am hit, I completely stopped all liquid and food intake. Just headed straight to bed to avoid feeling thirsty and hungry.
4th day in Bangkok, Thailand. Saturday, November 1st, 2014 - (Surgery Day)
I woke up early. Packed away all my things and will be leaving my unimportant things to the hotel lobby for them to hold since I will be coming back and in a different room after surgery. I had to check out as Dr Chettawut said it would save me money but it's up to me. I chose to save money so i checked out at 9:30am and waited for the driver to show up at 10am. The only things I brought with me is my laptop bag and my purse. My luggage stayed back.
Once we arrived at Dr Chettawuts hospital, his team took great care of me and I had to change into my surgery clothing. The nurse requested that I laid on the bed while she shaved around my groin. Once that was done, we headed to the other room where the surgery was gonna take place as they told me to lie on the surgery bed. They injected anestheia into my arm and not even 4 seconds, I was completely knocked out.
Well Im about to go into surgery, I will be updating later when I feel awake and in good condition to type after surgery and intensive care.
4th day in Bangkok, Thailand. Saturday, November 1st - 4th, 2014 - (After Surgery)
6 hours and I could faintly hear my voice being called and voices telling me, "the surgery was a success and everything is done."
I was extremely dizzy, nauseated, in and out of conciousness. I could barely speak or open my eyes and everything was just spinning.
Within the 4 days recovering at the hospital, I was cared for by nurses, given medication, and they cleaned my body with a washcloth and emptied out my cathether. I had bandages around my chest as well as my groin. I wasn't really feeling as much pain like people mentioned it would feel like once after surgery..
My diet for the time i was recovering in the hospital was cocoa and clear juice on the first day out of surgery then eventually a choice of miso, chicken, mushroom, and corn soup with cocoa or juice. Always had water next to me and always had meds...lots of meds to take. Threw up a few times felt dizzy and in and out of sleep.
Then on the 3rd day, they transferred me to my private room downstairs which I was accompanied by 3 nurses to walk down the stairs carefully. The room was more spacious.
On the fourth day, they took out bandages around my chest and groin. Dr Cehttawut checked the wound and I was getting prepared to go back to my hotel. I was worried a few times while in reovery at the hospital but all I have to say is that it was all normal.
Recovery at the hotel, November 5th, 2014:
Just the same as the recovery at the hospital with daily visit from a nurse, less bandages, more alone time, and taking meds as instructed to do so. I have had my first full breakfast on the second day back at the hotel and will be getting breakfast every morning at 8:00am sent to me by the hotel staffs.
As for the pains. I don't feel much pain now. My breast are still a bit tight but that is why I was instructed to masage them daily to get them nice and soft. I haven't dilated yet because the packing haven't yet been removed as well as my catheter. But once they are removed, just read the instructions on pay attention to the first time the nurse tells me how to dilate. At that point, the nurse will also inform Dr Cehttawut what my actual depth is and it will be my responsibility to dilate for the rest of my life to maintain that depth.
My Conclusion
Well I have 2 more weeks at the Bangkok Rama Hotel and so far all that's been going on here is just following Dr Cehttawuts instructions on paper, taking my meds, and keeping myself not bored. Internet was a bit inconvenient so I have the opportunity to go out and walk around next week when I am allowed to and also find other girls who have done their surgery.
While I was recovering, the nurse told me that there were 5 other girls in the hospital who just had their srs done and is in recovery but I was not sure if they were staying at the same hotel or the Dusit.
For the rest of my remaining days, I'm planning on ordering room service for snacks, such as chips and french fries and maybe chicken. Exercise a bit more by walking around next week and also when I am allowed, go out to the atm and pull out some money. Hopefully the internet works better so I can skype with friends and family but I got unlimited international calling so Im not worried.
Other than that, I will be updating this post as I go. But if there's any questions, feel free to ask and I will answer when I can.
I want to also thank all the support I got from this website. Thank you everyone, you made my experience so much more comforting. And it's true, Dr Chettawuts team and nurses are all very caring and just wonderful people all around. They are always there while in recovery to help you with your needs.
