Pre-op/Post-op

As always with my blog, these are my personal beliefs and experiences. I am in no way diagnosing, prescribing, or treating. Please refer to my disclaimer and I recommend getting medical advice before doing anything new.

My goal in this post is to inform you on what I'm doing to prepare to be breast implant free and what I'm doing after to assist in healing! The weeks leading up to surgery, for me, are all about opening up my detox pathways in preparation for surgery and my post-op recovery and detox.

Note regarding my detox I will do after explant. I discuss a lot about the use of silica for detox and collagen boosting purposes in my detox protocol I created. I know you're probably thinking, but I want silicone removed from my body, not put in. Silcon AKA silica, is different than silicone. Silica is a naturally occurring element that most of us are deficient in now due to farming practices and soil quality. Silicone, which is found in breast implants is synthetically made and laden with toxic materials, including heavy metals-which should never be in our body, in any amount.

It's important we don't heavily detox prior to our surgery because we don't want our breast implants leaching into our tissues any more than they already are so this means:

• No hot tubs

• No saunas, including infrared saunas

• Try to limit extreme body temperature rises

• No heavy metal detoxing or any other chelating that will dislodge metals from the tissues.

Pre-op

My surgeon said I needed to stop supplements 1 week prior to surgery. I know some say 2 weeks, so please follow their guidelines.

Leading up to my 1 week prior:

• I took all of my normal supplements I take during winter months. You can read about those here. So important to keep our immune stst strong.

• Oatstraw infusions. Oatstaw has high sources of magnesium, silicon, and calcium. As mentioned above, silicon aka silica is a natural occurring substance whereas silicone is man made. You can read more about the amazing detox and beauty benefits of silica and how I am detoxing with it after my surgery. When infused it tastes lightly sweetened-it's super mild and doesn't have a harsh green taste like nettles (which have high magnesium also). To create an infusion, I take a mason jar, and fill it with dry oatstraw quarter of the way and then fill the jar to the top with boiling water. I tightly cap the top and allow it to sit 4-8 hours, then strain and drink. Its very nourishing and tasty.

• Milk thistle is a great way to open our detox pathways in preparation for anesthesia and surgery. I will continue taking this upon post-op to help rid my body of the medications and keep pathways open while detoxing.

• CBD oil has been my saving grace. I am prepping a house to sell, prepping for surgery, and prepping for a coast to coast move. I also suffer from anxiety. I bought the CBD oil for post-op recovery from inflammation and pain. Luckily I started taking it prior to surgery and have noticed a huge decrease in anxiety and it's made my monthly PMS and migraines manageable! This CBD oil has been a life-changer. P.S. This link give you 10% off!

• Liquid probiotics which assist in gut health and immunity. This is very much needed as antibiotics are given during surgery and sometimes post-op.

• Detox baths. I've been taking these a few times a week in preparation for my detox and to boost my magnesium levels--good thing I have because I found out my magnesium levels have been depleted due to underlying copper toxicity. Here's a link to show you my favorite detox bath recipe.

• Magnesium. We are all deficient in magnesium and it's such a vital mineral. So, if you don't want to drink magnesium or do detox baths, at least use this spray!

• Coffee enemas. I know these aren't discussed very often but there are huge benefits, one being they support liver function and open up detox pathways. I need to write a blog on this. Until then, here's a little information.

1 week prior:

• I stopped taking all of the above except (Due to Coronavirus and flu season, my surgeon gave me permission to continue these):

• Liquid probiotics and fermented foods

• CBD oil He agreed this will help with my anxiety (this brand has been a life changer) and to take some right after surgery for pain and inflammation.

• Colloidal Silver Kills viruses and bacteria on contact. Taking orally and in nebulizer. Read more here.

• Vitamin D Activates the immune system.

• Vitamin C. Here's more information on how I take vitamin c and the benefits.

• I continued detox baths as well.

The night before:

I’m currently lying here in a hotel, wide awake smelling like dial soap. I hate the smell of this soap and my breasts feel like they have a tingly burning to them. They don’t like the soap. I have my yoga pants and zip up sweater laid out to wear to surgery and I have my alarm set to wake yo at midnight to eat a snack so I’m not staring tomorrow as my surgery isn’t until 12:30. I bought a pair of cheap slippers off amazon and plan on wearing them to the surgery center and throwing them away after. I’m also wearing socks so I can slip off my slippers yet still keep my feet warm. I get to keep my yoga pants on. My surgery is supposed to be about 2 hours and I’m only getting an explant- no lift, no fat transfer. I don’t have enough fat on me even if I wanted a day transfer. The CBD has helped me so much through this entire process. I‘m so grateful my anxiety levels are low because having three small kids and traveling 4 hours to have a surgery is a lot. I‘m just hopeful the nausea medicine the CRNA gives me tomorrow keeps my motion sicknesses down all the way home because I’m loading up in the car right after surgery and we are driving straight home.

The day of surgery:

At 11:30 pm, I woke up and forced myself to eat a bagel with salmon (like tuna salad). It was hard to eat at a time I normally don't eat. I actually got quite a bit of sleep considering surgery and my littlest doesn't sleep well outside of his bedroom. I woke up calmer than I felt I should have. I washed with the nasty soap one more time and put my hair in pigtail braids. I have super long hair and knew I wouldn't be able to brush it or wash it easily for awhile. I also knew it would be put in one of the blue hair nets. The nurses actually thanked me for putting my hair in braids. I played with my kids until it was time to head to the doctor. I became a little more on edge with each passing hour, but I think that was more because it's flu season and coronavirus in the area and my husband isn't as keen on keeping the kids germ free as I am. Once he dropped me off at the hospital, I was elated, however I could feel my heart rate rising a bit. Totally normal! I waited, signed paperwork, was marked up by the doctor and then prepped for surgery. The team was so sweet minus the head nurse. I'm so happy it was in a surgery center and not a hospital. I was the only patient in the building. They said my implants came out easily and the capsules were thin. Read more here on my experience and breast implant illness.

Post-op

(this is my plan, as I haven't had surgery yet) Per my surgeon: Pink, I can take right after surgery. Purple, I can take 2 days post-op.

• CBD oil. My goal is to not take any prescription pain pills. I've successfully done this with past surgeries. CBD will help with inflammation, pain, and healing.

• Probiotics and fermented foods to introduce good bacteria in the gut and help recover from antibiotics.

• Vitamin C. 1,000mg three times per day. Vitamin C assist is healing, prevents infection, and increases collagen production.

• Arnica per label, for pain and swelling.

• Milk thistle. per label to help removed medications and anesthesia.

• NAC, a precursor to the production of glutathione. Glutathione is an amazing antioxidant our body makes.

• Oil of oregano. per label. This is not an essential oil. I like this brand so I can use it on my kids as well, but they are have capsules. I will use this as an antibacterial/anti-fungal.

• Garlic Cloves

• My detox program 2 weeks post-op-blog post coming soon.

A few things I bought to help with recovery

(I'm only getting an explant, no lift, no fat transfer)

• Reclining chair to help with sleeping the first few nights.

• 2 of these Ice packs to help with swelling and pain or this freeze sleeve

• Wedge for comfort and ease of getting in and out of bed

• Binder so it's easier for me to use than the ace bandages.

• Drain holders in case I have drains-he wasn't sure

• I may purchase the silicone patches from surgeon. I used them with my implants and my scars are barely visible. I know some people don't want any silicone touching their body ever again after explanting.

• Egyptian Magic and Vitamin E to help with scars. I might also try this brand.