Have only just managed to get chance to read from day 4 ish, i love the way you put things Mike LOL.
Although can i make a point to anyone thinking of having a TT, everyone copes differently, and heals differently, Mike had a few problems which has held up his recovery, the bugger drains being one of them, i also dont think the worry of the Cdif has done him any favours.
Heres a quick version of my recovery
Various ops 6 weeks prior to TT (16th sept 05)
TT on the monday (30th oct) was up and out of bed the same night due to cant wee in bedpan LOL , very sick, even with 2 different anti sickness drugs
Poorly after TT, drains had a lot in them, had to have a blood transfusion on tuesday, let out on wed, but didnt want to go the long haul from London to North Notts so stayed in hotel till friday, when i had to visit clinic for drains out.
Travelled home friday, then went back to London on day 9 they said they wanted me to be drained for fluid, i checkened out, but i soon rang them back over the weekend, so had another trip at day 11, had 530mls of fluid drained off, went back a week later 400mls drained off, was back driving at around day 12 as hubby was back to work and i had kids to pick up from school ect, so basically i was back to normal pretty quickly.
I went back for a third draining sometime soon after the 2nd, which was bloody painful as they had to stick the needle further up the stomach to find the fluid pocket, i was really poorly with the painkiller i had, making me sick, so stopped them at day 3 when we realised what the problem was.
Sadly i wasnt happy with my TT, and the surgeon wasnt happy with my scar, so i had scar revision in july 06 along with correction to nose and eylid from first lot of surgery.
Still not happy, should have had revisions jan, didnt get them, then may, didnt get them, am now told it should be july, i have a feeling i wont be called for, i still have a lot of fat under the tummy, and am supposed to be having lipo.
So please anyone who wants one, go to the many forums and get different healing progresses, i know people who have gone back to work at 2 weeks, and people who have got hole, infections ect and struggled for months.
PS Mike you may have swelling for a few months yet, or could be lucky for it to go within weeks.
Michelle
this is a rushed reply, hope i havnt missed anything