The following is my BA experience...hope it helps someone else wondering what to expect, just like I was when I came across this incredible forum I will apologise upfront that this will be extremely long...
I was due at the Hurstville Surgery Centre at 8.30am on Friday, 10th January. I live on the central coast and had decided to get the train down (thanks for the idea Merlin) so I could just chill listening to music and then my husband could come to collect me leaving our two little ones with a friend. Did I get to bed early to get a good night's sleep? No! I was still packing my bag at 11pm lol Then once I got into bed I set my alarm for 5.30am and then promptly woke my sleeping husband for one last hoorah...well who knows how long I'd have to wait afterwards right!? So, got to sleep around midnight and woke at 5am.
Felt so calm and happy during the train trip. Arrived at the hospital and it was a ghost town. Just me and the male receptionist. Lucky if I waited 5mins before a lovely nurse came to collect me. Went through my forms, took my temp and BP and got my ID tags for wrist and ankle. Then she led me to my waiting room on the ward where I changed into the sexy gown, booties and cap (just left knickers on). Idled away the time texting my husband, close friends and family. Suddenly it was time to get wheeled into the room just outside the operating theatre. Dr Rastogi was still finishing up with his first patient. Turns out the hospital had only reopened the day before and it was just Dr Rastogi in that day with 3 BA's to do. I was the middle one. Because it was so quiet the nurse told me that my husband could come in with me as soon as I was awake.
Next I met Andrew, the anaesthetist, who was lovely. He explained what he would do and what post-op meds I would take followed by a bit of general chit chat. I started to get a little bit nervous in the next 5-10mins and then Dr Rastogi walked through the theatre doors with his warm gentle smile and I immediately felt calm again. I asked him some more questions and he really does make you feel like he has all the time in the world for you. He took some pre-op photos and remeasured my BWD. We had chosen 400cc XHP in my consult, but also ordered 360cc XHP as a backup. After remeasuring me he said he was going to use the 360's as I didn't have much leeway widthways and the implants tend to expand a little once they settle. This may not be an issue for some people, but as I have very little natural breast tissue and was concerned about implant detection on the sides (particularly as I was getting brazilians), he opted for the narrower of the two implants. FYI - my BWD is 12.9 and the implants were 12.3 and 12.8cm respectively. I told him I trusted him and, as the sizes are quite similar, I just wanted whichever one would be best for me.
Andrew came back out and injected into my left arm (elbow crease) and then directed me to walk in to theatre. I think there were 5 or 6 people. I hopped on the bed under a warm inflatable blanket thing. There were two bright lights up above, but they were multiple colours (they reminded me of a rainbow) and a good song was playing. Everyone seemed happy and I remember feeling like I was smiling like a Cheshire Cat, but I couldn't get the smile off my face (I tried!). Then Andrew helped me take my left arm out of my gown so he could get a line in and Dr Rastogi helped me take my right arm out of my gown. I was unsure where I was supposed to lay that arm...he grabbed my hand in both of his and said this hand is for me. He smiled at me and I smiled back and then I started waking up in recovery. I hadn't even realised the anaesthetist had obviously already given me something!!
I have no idea what I was saying to the two nurses...think I was asking if I'd been snoring and then talking about my favourite breakfast haha I was struggling to stay awake, but felt fine besides that. They moved me to a reclining chair and then my husband came in. I thought it was around 1.30pm. They mentioned getting me a sandwich and I told them I'm GF (they'd forgotten to check my dietary requirements). I then asked where the bathroom was and walked off to go pee. All of the nurses were so lovely and one of them raided her own locker to find something I could eat I had some cheese on a couple of corn thins, a piece of chicken out of a sandwich and an apple juice.
Dr Rastogi then came to check on me and said they would go through lots of changes and softening up over the next three months, but said they should look pretty decent in a couple of weeks. He then asked if he could take a look and said actually they look pretty good now lol My husband quickly concurred with that statement after he left Then I got dressed and we left. It was already at least 3pm somehow. I used a pillow for the drive home (thank you Libby) and we were back on the coast before I knew it.
I have had no pain besides a bit of a sore back on Saturday. I haven't taken any of the panadeine forte prescribed. I have an antibiotic twice daily, an anti inflammatory, Valium before bed (which doesn't seem to do anything?) and panadol 2-3 times per day. I took my tape off my incisions in the shower on Sunday morning and this morning (Tuesday) is the first time that it feels a little tender (on LHS - maybe some numbness is starting to subside?). I have some swelling and a bloated tummy, but haven't had any bruising yet. My incisions look a little red and feel a bit bumpy in parts. I am allowed to reach arms above head, wash my hair etc. I can only wear a singlet/bandeau for the first three weeks, then softcup bras. I am comfortable on my back (I am a tummy sleeper), but is not easy to fall asleep in that position. Bit of pressure on my chest when I wake up in the morning. Only negative thing (besides that boobs are numb and warm, so feel weird) is I get a bit lightheaded and weak every now and then - eat some Vegemite toast and lie down and all good.
Well that's all I can think of (thank god you say if you're still with me!). I am prone to anxiety and quite an indecisive person (what if this, what if that), but I can honestly say that I felt excited about my decision the whole morning and right before I went into theatre I thought "Let's do this!!". So my advice is do your research and make sure this is what you really want and you won't look back. Thank you to everyone that has helped me during this journey (particularly M10972). There are many on here that I have never communicated directly with, but have been kind enough to provide their stories, issues, concerns on here for others to read. This forum has helped me so much and I wish everyone who takes the plunge in the future a positive experience like I've had so far and a speedy recovery xox
