3 months post-op

Well time sure does fly regardless of what you deal with! I feel good, my scar is finally starting to fade some. It is a good scar, not thick, not bumped up (or keloidal or whatnot) but it's red which I really hope fades! I had tried Mederma, but I only bought one tube. Honestly I didn't use it the recommended 3 times a day because I'd keep forgetting, but I did eventually use it all and figured it doesn't make a big difference. You will scar how you're going to scar. I hear some PS's recommend just plain old cocoa butter lotion, so I went out & bought a think of Palmer's cocoa butter with vitamin E and started using that today.

Also my belly button has looked oddly small to hubby and myself. So going through the message boards at www.makemeheal.com I found posts about stretching. My belly button didn't look like it'd accommodate a marble (which is what lots of ladies do I guess), so I'm going with what another poster had done. Luckily I didn't need to start as small as her with gauze (tampons are cheaper HA). OB tampons and good and applicator free. There are regular, heavy and like super (my guess is they're thicker). So I bought a pack of the regular. To get it in & cut in half length-wise, lube it up with Bag Balm (I'm sure any ointment will do, we have an abundance of this) and twist it in. Luckily the regular is the right size for my belly button right now, I'm hoping it will stretch out the scar some. I get it in there & use paper tape to make sure it stays. Since that area is numb it doesn't feel weird. I remember before surgery anything IN the belly button felt very very odd! So that's a tip for trying to stretch it out.

I finally decided to put on my big girl panties and try some ab work and I can do some which makes me happy. It's very limited though, crunches, side crunches, EASY lower ab stuff, NOTHING combined or that just is no bueno on the muscle repair. So for now I will be happy that I can do some ab work & try to relearn how to use them and be careful. I don't want to hurt anything OR myself!

One full day with the rebounder

This is seriously INSANE! Do you see this? There is almost no swelling! I changed nothing, not what I ate, not how much water I drank. All I did was follow the guidelines of doing the "health bounce" but I did 4 minutes every hour (which really is nothing when you just sit around the house all day, well besides the normal house chores & my workout, but ya know) and this is what it did! Now I'm still slightly swollen, but it's not uncomfortable. I'll take it! And that is only one day! I hear if you do it for a little while your swelling goes totally away. I'm not so positive on that beings how I'm officially in the "swell hell" months, but if I can avoid the worst of it I am GREAT! I'm a happy girl!

On a side note, with the new boobs I've never had without being fat I found you really can't beat UnderArmour Endure and Stability bras, they are freaking WONDERFULLY amazing!

J is happy =)

Swell hell!

I have definitely came into the phase so commonly referred to as "swell hell" on the tummy tuck forums. It's apparently 3-6 months post-op (or longer). I can tell you what, I start the day with a tiny tiny flat belly, by noon I'm already consciously holding it in. By the evening I look 4 months pregnant. I wouldn't take my skin back for it though! BTW this is with eating low sodium, drinking over 1.5 gallons of water a day, and so on.

I've read & researched & have heard many people raving about rebounding and its beneficial effects on the lymphatic system, they also have great health benefits as well. Now I wanted to get a cheap one, but on a thread on the TT boards at makemeheal.com ladies have bought, used, and returned those as they are "hard bounce" and are jarring for tummy-tuckers. So I shelled out the money for a better quality one (I bought a Needak) and am hoping it really does help these upcoming months. It's supposed to be delivered tomorrow. I will update after! I know I'll like doing it anyway because as a kid I LOVED trampolines, this is just more of an excuse to bounce & bounce & bounce haha, call me Tigger! =)

Still here

I've been slowly getting better at workouts. Today was Couch to 5K run 2 miles day which was easy! So SOON, very soon I'll be back in the game. I found an awesome sports bra. I figured with the new chest I need good support, I thought the bra I had been using was good, well this one blew it out of the water! It's UnderArmour Stability (high impact, moisture wicking, nylon mesh vented areas, fabulous). Feels like I don't have anything on, I didn't even notice bounce when I was running, it's so well worth the money! I will not run in anything else from now on :)

TT scar is still really red, not sure when that'll fade, not really caring. A regular bikini covers it so I am good! I'm down 5 lbs since what I weighed morning of surgery, so slowly I am getting there. I'm not happy with butt & thighs currently, but they will shrink (probably more so now that I'm better at running). I'm fighting some cold junk my daughters got, but I'm doing well! I LOVE my results!

Hahahaha

So monthly started this morning, exactly 48 hours after taking stats, so I know I can't trust those stats, phew! Lemme tell ya, the first couple monthlies after getting a TT royally suck all around, but they aren't as bad now, more like before.

Kelly I think I'll need revs at the ends of my incisions, around my sides. There's a dog ear & there's skin pleating/wrinkling, whatever you want to call it. Will see if it stays that way as I get to me happy body fat % though. See DD#2 was transverse. She was literally sideways in me & wrapped around my sides until I was in real labor with her! So that skin is stretched out too & I doubt he took care of that. Now I know there's fat there right now too, I just need to shrink & see if it'll end up needing revs or not. I really don't want to, really, but if it's needed then... yeah...

Hmmm

This past week I've done well on eating good. Workouts have progressed & I'm even doing pull-downs now & some light chest work (feels really REALLY weird to use them now though). Hubby says I'm due for monthly soon (I'm not very regular when they come), so I dunno... I'm down another 0.4 lbs & some shrinkage here and there, mostly my new waistline. I'm at the 3 week point now where I am building up momentum, but also want things to go faster! I really really want to drop more lbs and yeah I'm getting impatient... Wait I've BEEN impatient, it's hard!

This morning (rest day) I got on the tready & ran a whole mile. I knew I could do it, it has been a long time, I just had it in my head that I needed to do it. Probably because the couch to 5K program has you run & walk & that gets annoying lol. So I did that, without the binder & it was good. I could probably do more, but I don't want to hurt ANYTHING, not my foot, leg, butt, muscle repair and so on. So I will try my hardest to keep following the couch to 5k and slowly build up mileage.

Healing wise the BA look good. The TT is good, but I think I might need scar revisions later on depending on how things look as fat shrinks (as it's looking now he will need to do something), I really really don't want to be healing again, but I know it's nothing like the full TT, at least the worst of THAT is over.

So anyway, I'm dying to shrink my butt, thighs, love handles & back fat, meh. Someday, someday...

Progress!

So last week after taking things up some notches I reaped the benefits a lot! I lost 2.8 lbs in ONE week! I didn't think that would happen, I was hoping for ONE pound. I'll take it, but I won't keep hopes up to keep up that fast loss. Most of my inch shrinkage was from waist & love handle/back fat area, so that's good. The butt & thighs did shrink measurably, so I'll take it. It just stinks that they are always slower, stubborn butt!

Anyway, I think I'm doing well with everything. I've considered trying some light chest work, but I'm still nervous, I might do a little this week & yea I'm talking like 5 lb presses to start lol. My muscle repair bugs me a little from time to time, but it's not bad. Eventually the needed scar tissue will be there & things will be normal feeling. I can lay on my stomach now, but it's not comfortable with the boobs though. So I can bend backwards some, yay!

I've been REALLY really bored with my hair lately & DYING to change it up. I just can't settle on it, ever, I don't know why that's just how I am. So I'm going to start getting lighter & Tuesday will be a major highlighting session, like 2.5 hours she said, oy! I never thought of actually going there because it's an old gas station that a woman bought & made a hair shop, but a girl I see around regularly had her hair all done anew (highlights, new cut, looked good) so I asked her where & she told me she went there. So I went in there & she suggested starting with lots of highlights (to lighten it all over, it's too dark to just do whatever). I think when it gets light enough I'll go back to RED, I'm thinking bright red for the heck of it (but that's a ways away probably).

Other thoughts... My self-confidence has been going nuts lately I've noticed. I feel so GREAT because of the boobs! I really didn't think they'd make me feel so different, but really they do! Then you have the whole fact that I can (non-grudgingly) have naked sex now because there's no kangaroo pouch of skin. I look in the mirror, naked, a lot and like it :) It's NICE! Now I just need to get to my former lean self & hubby watch out haha!

Doing good

This morning I finished the first week of the Couch to 5K program. Today I added on 10 extra minutes of the intervals (so 4 extra jogging minutes), then I walked fast for 20 minutes & did a full hour (counting warm up & cool down) on the treadmill. I'm starting to be reminded what it feels like to be breathing harder & the heart racing and all. I am glad this program slowly steps it up. Mentally I don't feel really ready to work as hard as possible, I'm guessing that I just haven't built up that kind of momentum yet. I will get it back though!

Tomorrow I think I'll do P90X shoulders & arms in the morning, and probably some elliptical (again) around noon, then Friday I get to rest & have a cheat meal again. I don't think I will be blogging daily about workouts here, maybe weekly with stat updates or progress updates in general. I won't even THINK about doing anything that engages the abs much until I ask Doc in September (4 months post-op then) if I can. I don't want pain from tearing anything internal! When I get the go ahead with that I'll start trying push-ups and stuff again, for now I don't want to use the chest muscles lol.

8 weeks post-op today

Okay so today I did P90X legs & back. I didn't even feel like trying pull-ups or pull-downs, instead I grabbed 10 lb weights & did a few different variations of bent-over rows. It all felt VERY good, I'll probably be really sore from it. I only grabbed 5 lb weights when we did calf-raises squats & the calf sequence, everything else was body weight. On the 3 way lunges I didn't even think of picking up a leg after a lunge for a kick (don't need to engage the abs more).

With the binder weaning I go about 6 hours with it off, put it on for a couple hours (helps swelling), then have it off the rest of the day & night. I'm not wearing it much, I probably wouldn't wear it if I wasn't working out, but I need to work out to get my fitness back & to drop some fat. I can't magically maintain a hot figure, I'm not lucky like that. Eating clean is now routine & pretty easy, but I am fighting bad food urges here & there. Hopefully I will see progress with scale &/or measurements on Friday when I check it all again.

Time is really flying now! I can't believe it's been 8 weeks already!

Better :)

Okay so even though I stayed up past my bedtime to watch a weekly show, it didn't affect my workout. My vow is to get better every time, so I decided to add on to the first week Couch to 5K guide. I did 5 min walk warm-up, the 25 minutes (instead of 20) of run 60 seconds walk 90 seconds, and my walk was faster too. Then I added on a full mile walk @ 4.0 mph and did a 5 minute cooldown, VERY nice! Jogging felt better, I can stretch my torso more so my form is better. I also had on a different sports bra that's a cup size too small & the girls did not bounce, so I like it. My only discomforts were a sore hammie and my back (but that's probably because my back isn't used to it yet, it'll be fine). I sooo can not wait to get back to what I used to do, but totally love this program since it's sooo perfect at easing into it when I just can not go balls out.

As for weaning off the binder, I'm pretty much only wearing it at workout time & maybe a little later on if swelling goes up or someone makes me tug at the muscle repair for some reason or other. The numb area on the belly is weird, but a minor trade-off for the skin removed.

I have Mederma (if you go to their website there is a coupon you can print out that's good until 2012) and am using that on the TT scar a couple times a day if I remember. I'd LOVE for the scar to start fading, but it's no biggie. I've noticed I can pull up the sides of undies & cover it totally so next year I'll find a bikini that can do that. What I don't like is my love-handles (but I'm blaming that on the extra fat I'm carrying) and an area above the incision that puffs out compared to below. I think I might have heard this referred to as the "shelf" on makemeheal.com. I'm not sure if it's swelling &/or fat but I really want it gone. So I have to be in my happy weight range before September, that way at my next appointment I can address any issues & see if he can do any necessary revisions.

I love my BA, but I'm thinking I should have listened to Doc & got a lift too. It doesn't bother me anyway, I'm loving having boobs without being pregnant or fat :)

Stepping it up

I woke up early & was thinking I could TRY some P90X lifting. I figured the ones I could mostly do are Shoulders & Arms and the Legs & Back videos. I decided on trying the shoulders & arms this morning using 10's for most of it (5's for a couple harder exercises). I did 45 minutes of it & will be repeating, now it wasn't 45 mins right, the last set series of moves I'm not very fond of (not the bonus, the ones before that), so I did the in & out straight arm shoulder flys, Congdon curls, & laying down triceps extensions. I felt a little discomfort in the muscle repair, but I just slightly changed how I was doing things & it was good. So now I will be working the muscles harder.

The legs & back video I figure I will TRY throwing a resistance band over my pull up bar & doing pull downs instead of pull ups. If that incorporates the abs too much, then I will just do bent over rows or skip the back portion all together, but that's a couple days away anyway.

So, anyway, that felt great & I think I'll try to get in some elliptical time later on today if possible. Oh and my boobs are huge! That's all I got lol.

Run like your butt is on fire!

LOL well maybe not, but I did jog some. I was sooo giddy to be able to jog!!! But it wasn't the form I could do before, I had to take smaller steps because I can't bend my torso like I used to. I'm hoping it stretches out as I run more. GOSH I want to be running 3 miles easily again, but I'll be smart and work my way up there slooooowly *sigh* So this morning was Couch to 5K week 1 day 1 which is a 5 minute walking warm-up then jog 60 seconds, walk 90 seconds repeat for 20 minutes (so you jog for 8 minutes total). Well, I did that and added on a 10 minute 4 mph walk, then a 5 minute cool down. My runs were 6 mph & walks were 3.4 - 3.6mph. It's supposed to be the same intervals each running day this week, which is good to get used to the motions again. I know my cardiovascular system can handle it, but my muscle repair? Probably not yet. Anyway I'm ready to lose this lower body JUNK & stop looking pear-shaped [though it's way less pear-shaped before I got boobs & my waistline is awesome].

Anyway, another day down, moving on!

Yay!

For the first time since the day of surgery I got on the scale. I decided to weigh myself yesterday after I tried on some pre-op jeans & I could get my butt in them ha. Soooo.... I'm not saying the # but it's the same weight as the day of surgery! I'd put $$$ on the amount of skin removed not weighing as much as the implants, so somehow I've done alright (I'm thinking the post-op elevated metabolism saved me there). Now 10 lbs to go to get back in my happy weight range, which I can do easily I think, in say about 10 weeks. I'm not in a rush now that I can fit some old normal pants. My butt doesn't fit into my fave old bikini, so when it does (probably in 10 lbs ha) I'll take pics in that even if the scar is hanging out. No need to buy a new bikini this year.

So today I'm taking a rest day & dinner will be my cheat meal, yay :) Then tomorrow I start jogging!

Binder weaning

Yesterday I had it off for like 5 hrs total ~ 1 hr post workout, 1 hr later on, then a 3 hour block. Then I had it on for ~ 2.5 hrs & took it off until morning. I think it made me swell some (below belly button) and it seemed I woke up with some swelling too, so I don't think I'll have it off for longer than that a day for a while. Today I'll probably have it off for a 4 hr chunk of time instead of it being broke up, will see.

This morning's workout 15 minutes elliptical then 3 x 12 (all 7.5 lbs): 1 arm shoulder presses, bicep curls, 2 arm tricep kickbacks. 2 sets of - 5 lb in & out straight arm shoulder flys, 7.5 lb hammer curls, 7.5 lb overhead tricep extensions. I wanted to do a 3rd set of that last bit, but my back started protesting (I do it all standing). Then I did another 15 minutes elliptical. I'm guessing my shoulders & tris will feel that some, but my bis probably won't, working my way back up slowly.

So I did it finally! I made it a whole 6 days of working out & today will be followed with eating clean, then tomorrow I can cheat some. I figure I will get up at usual pre-workout time, check my weight & measurements, and if they're above a certain # I've set, then I will do a walk (not even a fast one) to burn a little bit but not cause any lower body tiredness. I WILL eat clean until my cheat meal (which will be pizza, with a sundae after, mmm hmmm). I'm not exactly looking forward to seeing my stats, but they're somewhat a starting point & I'm sure MUCH better then they were at the beginning of this week. So, yep.

Yayz finally :)

Last night I slept without the binder & honestly it felt good to go to sleep without it. I did wake up at times with some random soreness, but nothing bad enough for me to throw it on. I haven't been wearing it tight for real compression since days after I got the 2nd drain out, just fyi, I've been tightening it when I have MR soreness &/or swelling. Of course after every workout I have it off for 30 mins to an hour, so yea. I think it won't be so hard to get used to not wearing it, the weirdness is in clothes [more specifically PANTS] being on the belly above the incision without the binder. So I'll have to get used to that. Oh and Kelly mine usually creases too between the top & middle panels, it's sorta at the natural waistline, a wee bit annoying.

Anyhow, I have absolutely NO lower body soreness from yesterday's workout. Sometime either yesterday or the day before I figured I'd try to add a mile @ 4 mph to the 2 I did the other day. I figured if my body protests I'll stop earlier, no biggie. Well I did it. So I did 3 miles in 45 minutes of walking [4.0 mph 2% incline] + the 10 minutes of warm-up & cool down which added on over another half mile. So yep, I definitely feel ready to start jogging now! Couch to 5K will be starting on Saturday :)

I got past a hump in # days eating clean yesterday, so I am finally feeling like I can do this more again. I added in a 6th meal yesterday (though it was hard & I was forgetting to eat). I think I got more calories, at least a little bit anyway. One more workout for the week and I've finally made it a solid week, yay!

Binder, how I love thee

I was thinking I never took a pic in it, so I figured I would before today's workout. I was going to sleep without it last night, but DD #2 kept getting out of her bed & knocking on our door. I was passing out tired, so I just crawled in her bed with her & to be safe I put my security blanket around my belly. So there went the initial weaning haha. I wash it often, so I do go without it & it doesn't feel odd at all (but I can't imagine trying to wear jeans, haven't tried yet). Soon, soon lol.

This morning I did 10 mins elliptical then 3x15 [all body weight only] wide stance squats & feet parallel calf raises. Then 3 sets of: 15 lunges (each leg), 15 toes out calf raises, then 15 toes in calf raises then another 10 mins elliptical. That elliptical sure gets the heart racing, shew! The lower body work all felt pretty easy, so will change it again next time. Before the workout I felt like any bloat from bad foods is all gone (so felt nice & smaller) so hopefully that'll help me in staying on track. I do know right now I'm not eating enough & it's hard to try to eat more, so I will try!

Got it!

Finally got to a 4 mph walk @ 2% incline for 30 mins (plus the 5 minute warm-up and cool down). It felt just a hair below jogging actually. At first I thought it'd be too fast, but I hung in there for the 2 miles and boy did I sweat! Core swelling does happen during workouts, but it's not huge & a lot like I look pregnant or anything after, I can deal with it. I'm sure there are times when it'll be worse than now anyway. Even though I'm going to start cutting down on my binder wearing I will keep it on during the workouts for quite a while, I'm sure it helps the swelling.

I'm fighting some sort of cold brought on by the weather I think (or allergies, whatever). It sucks! The congestion is icky not to mention coughing hurting the abs. I'm trying to not cough as much as possible, so I'm drinking more water (drink whenever I have to cough). I hope it's gone by next week when I start trying to jog and such.

Anyhow, my upper abs are sore but I'm not sure what it's from - elliptical yesterday, just doing upper body weights in general, or the coughing, or some combo of it all. It's not too much soreness, so I know I'm okay to keep working out (good that I'm baby-stepping it). I also don't know what I weigh or any measurements (besides my current boob measurement lol), so I'm thinking after a week of eating clean I'll check some measurements & depending on those I'll see if I want to see the scale weight or not. It won't do any good to see something that might upset me & make me want to sit on my chubby butt & eat sugar ha, so we shall see =)

Workouts...

Okay so again last week I had a few good days in & I petered off. I think my issue is in not working HARD like I'm used to, I'm trying to get past that.

Yesterday I did the treadmill - 5 mins 3 mph warm-up, 30 mins 3.8 mph, 5 mins 3 mph cool down. It was pretty good. After my walk yesterday I decided I would try the elliptical on weight days [starting this week] & I also decided that I'll start the Couch to 5K running program next week. It's 9 weeks long of 3 days a week jogging/walking intervals to get you up to a 5K. I figured that I can probably start working on that & it's starting slow enough to where I won't accidentally overdo things because I decided to run too long or whatnot. So in between the jogging days I'll be doing elliptical & weights.

Today I got on the elliptical for the first time since before surgery. It feels just as easy as walking (movement wise), I didn't go as fast as I used to. But boy WOW did it feel great! It got my heart pumping & the sweat flowing so fast compared to walking! So I did 15 mins elliptical then weights, then 15 more mins elliptical. Lifting was as follows [5 lb dumbbells again]: 3 sets of - in & out straight arm shoulder flys [16 reps], in & out bicep curls. 3 sets [15 reps] of a 4 count movement like a combination bent-over row & triceps kickback, as in - row, kickback, down, down repeat. It was good. I will need to up weight soon though.

I think with being able to do the elliptical & such it'll be easier for me to stay on track because the workout felt like an accomplishment again, finally!

So, the appointment

It went well, Doc says the hair follicle is no biggie & to just call if it gets worse. He said to start weaning off the abdominal binder thingy now (which I'm scared to do cuz I'm so used to it), but I will somehow. AND I don't need an appointment until September which will be when they take after pics I guess (unless something comes up before then, but still), so... Guess I'm doing good finally, shew. Just wish I had more movement & felt like I could workout hard. I need to get my eating in check but it's so hard! Anyway, YAY at things being good :)

You know, I was never told about implant massage & never thought of asking. Well, I did think of asking, I just forgot every time I was at the office. Anyway I found this link from makemeheal.com's message boards & figured I need to make myself do this, ugh. It seems like it'll be helpful, but it says this should've been started a LONG time ago, crap. Boobie massage

Another day :)

So I'm totally happy with my results, I figured I'd put up a side by side of before & 6 weeks for the TT. I've been looking at the pics more & looking at ME more and totally LOVING it! One of the HUGE things I noticed yesterday was that my waistline never has gone in totally with my lower ribs, so I have some seriously awesome curves now. And the boobs, although they feel huge & I'm not used to them yet, they look great & we did pick the right size for me.

Anyway, my one problematic area the front of the TT incision along the line [had been a small hole with a hair coming out], well it grew [under the skin where I could feel a bump like a big zit or ingrown] & I squeezed ickiness out. So yesterday I called a nurse & she said it sounds like I have an infected hair follicle, so tomorrow morning I'm going to see Doc to make sure it's nothing more than that. I'm not so worried because I've been taking care of it as much as I can & it's just not closing up & healing on its own since I've been watching it. Since I'm going to see him I'm not so worried. Then I already have another appointment set up on the 21st, so I'll follow whatever instructions he gives me & see him 1.5 weeks later.

Today's walk I added 10 mins for a warmup and cooldown, and the 30 mins @ 3.6 mph. It didn't seem too fast this time or hard to do so tomorrow will be faster :) I'm not breathing hard on these workouts, just sweating. I'm not ready to push that hard, but I'm glad to be doing something!

6 weeks post-op today

Well I went through all sorts of emotions yesterday, not going into all of that. Anyway I did take pics this morning & put them up at that private album. Seeing the pics was what I needed to feel good! I am healing great & can't wait =) My 30's will be the best, I'm so glad I did this!

Walk was 30 mins @ 3.6 mph (2% incline) and that felt fast & hard to maintain, so I think I'll stay at this speed for another day before moving up. Then I did [5 lb weights] 3 sets 15 reps each of: upright rows, regular bicep curls, & tricep kickbacks [using my bench for a knee & one hand]. I hope muscle memory kicks in fast! It felt good and I am definitely not upping weight for a while. My lowerbody is a little sore from yesterday but not much thankfully. With everything going on I can't be too sore since I have to take care of everyone.

Feeling good!

Where I've been...

Thunderstorms last Tuesday night/Wednesday morning rendered the satellite internet useless. I waited 2 days before calling the company (to see if persisting weather conditions were causing it to not work) but I couldn't take it anymore. So they wanted to CHARGE US $125 to send someone out to fix our satellite with it being messed up because of WEATHER, something you can't control. ANYWAY, it's finally working now and Hubby is talking to them to not make us pay, it's ridiculous. We've contacted the cable company that people one mile away have & they will come out within 2 weeks to see if they can get it to us (yay for rural areas, pfft), so we're hoping for that because I'm tired as all HECK of satellite!

Hubby's surgery I let the stress of that stop my workout attempts, but I got back on the horse on Saturday & have been getting a little better every day. I'm up to 3.4 mph @ 2.0% incline for the 30 mins, won't be changing the incline for a long while. Also, Doc said I could do light weights, so today after walking I did 3 sets of [all body weight only]: 15 squats, 20 walking lunges (10 per leg), 15 calf raises. It really got the sweat rolling & dang did it feel GOOD to use muscles even if it's just for a little bit. Oh we used the warranty again & got the elliptical fixed up, so that'll be waiting. I'm not going to get on that until I'm up to an hour on the tready. I don't want to overdo it, I want to take it baby steps for a while since I've just dealt with so much.

I noticed when my swelling is up I hunch, and when it's down I'm pretty much straight, not totally like I used to be though, will get there eventually. My implants have dropped quite a bit, overall I'm happy with how I'm looking.

There are some bumps of concern along the incision in the pube area LOL, since the hair goes all the way up to the incision (since it is so low there). Well the hairs at the top are pulled at odd angles now so I'm getting ingrown hairs (I think that's what's happening) and I'm dealing with that. I'm tired of bandaging crap up but there are little holes & I'm paranoid of infection or anything, so yeah. Overall things are good!

Lalalala....

I might take new pics next Tuesday morning, not sure. I'm expecting TOM anytime so you all know how much that affects everything.

Hubby is having surgery on his toe tomorrow. No comment.

This morning I added 5 mins at the same pace, so 25 mins, 1.25 miles. I'm trying not to get frustrated. I know I'm not ready to do anything hard but it stinks starting so slow! I'll try to stay positive & keep going though. I have some "ab" (or muscle rep[air) soreness here & there, but I can guarantee it's not from walking. It's pretty much the same things here & there, I'm healing it'll take some time to feel normal, dang it. My arse has grown & I want to work it off HARD but I must go sloooow *sigh*! One day, one day I'll be back to the ol me, but better. I'm SO GLAD I do not have that skin anymore that I can deal with this!

Here I go

Alright, so I have been allowed to start exercise, so I'm starting with walking. I'm almost totally straight now. I figured until I can stand straight enough to have the lower back natural curve back, then all I'll do is walk, no jogging or weights until then (my own call).

Compared to how fast I used to walk & run it's sad, but I have to start somewhere and this is it. I started with 20 mins at 3.0 mph at a 1% incline. Tomorrow I'll add 5 mins and the same the next day. After I hit 30 mins then I'll start upping the speed a bit until I get to 4 mph. Then I'll go back to adding time to add distance etc. for now. Yeah I'm DYING to workout good and hard again, but I'm not ready, I can feel that & I will not hurt myself. It felt GREAT to work up a little sweat (even if it sounds sad to be able to sweat walking "slow" compared to how I used to), I got a few endorphins & I felt so much better.

I did the walk with my binder on (which is probably why it's easier to work up a sweat, that thing is hot) and I didn't notice extra swelling afterward so things seem good so far. I'll update as I progress in that area. Once I can get to 3 or 4 miles I'll be a happy camper.

So...

This is crazy! Just when I finally start feeling a little better, Hubby has to go out & HURT himself! I know it was an accident, but crap!

He cut his left big toe with the chainsaw. He had went to cut up old logs on our property (that we don't know how old they are). I guess the pile shifted and his foot slid & he started falling back some. The chainsaw hit his safety boot & he stopped it. Of course they're steel toe boots. Anyway, so yea now he can't walk & he's on antibiotics & vicodin. On Tuesday he needs to contact an orthopedic surgeon to see if he'd want to reopen it & do stuff, or what. So now, of course, since I've been slammed with doing everything taking care of a big baby & my 2 girls my abs have been hurting more (aka sore again) but I'm dealing with it.

I must say though that showers without drains are very nice! My implants are dropping more, but I don't think you'd see it in pics. I can tell the extra skin at the bottom of them has decreased. I'm not sure if I'll be able to start fast-ish walking tomorrow, but I'll try.

Yay finally!

I am drain free! ADIOS KYLE!



So I had another weekly appointment today & my right drain came out. That was a BIOTCH! The stitch was quite tight & I sucked it up but dang getting the stitch out hurt! The drain itself being pulled out burned in the hole area & I actually felt it inside. The burning was only for a little bit though, and feeling it move inside was just strange (nothing bad about it though). I can deal with stinging & burning to get rid of it! So they made my binder tighter than usual (said to keep it that way for today), put extra padding around the lower ab area for extra pressure to get any liquid out today I guess. It should seal up today & that is that! FINALLY at 27 days post-op!

So that area in the previous blog with the circled area on the abs I put up. Well, that's a concern of mine. I've noticed it limits my standing straight (aka stops me from standing straight) and when it's being pulled/stretched in the center it feels like a raised area. So I asked Doc about that today & he thinks that could've been the area I injured that 2nd night post-op when I was trying to lay in bed & tensed my muscles. So I'm thinking it'll just be slower to heal & is why I'm taking longer to stand straight. Hopefully it won't stay a raised area months down the road.

My next appointment is in 4 weeks *YAY* and next week I can start doing light workouts!! THANK GOODNESS! Lawd knows my arse is getting softer than I like it (aka growing from lack of usage haha), so yay!

OH! I forgot. I asked Doc about recommended scar stuff & he said Mederma (since it's the only stuff that has been tested) you can get that at any pharmacy, over the counter. I even got a small sample & coupon. Of course I'm not starting any cream yet though, not until there are no more scabs. I might try the sample on my BA scars though [next week] since those are totally healed, to make sure I don't have a reaction.

Straightening out

Okay so I am pretty much dying to stand straight at this point. I know that others can be totally straight by now, and I've had my complications, but dang it I'm tired of it! Hubby says I'm straighter than I have been, but I'm seriously so tired of having the upper back hunched (even if it's slightly) and I want, very very badly, to be able to stand with my normal lower back curvature, but I'm nowhere near being able to do that yet.

So I've been attempting to straighten out/stretch when laying down. I'm not sure how else to really try it without hurting something or making myself sore. I lay down with one pillow & straighten out my legs (thanks Kelly for the idea). At first I wasn't so sure what I felt was trying to stretch, but I know it's definitely not just the skin. I guess it has to be the muscle repair along the top. They stitch the fascia (that is over the muscles) and pull that together, so what I am feeling, I guess, is that pulling when I try to stretch. In that picture (totally not me LOL) the circled area is where I can feel the tugging & when I lie down and am trying to stretch it's like a raised area in the center line of the upper abs. So I guess that must be the muscle repair? I guess I need to ask Doc about that Monday.

Random stuff...

The first couple weeks after a tummy tuck ANYTHING engaging the abs is the worst pain imaginable. One of the best things I learned on the message boards at makemeheal.com was how to stop sneezes. You put some pressure, press down, whatever, just below your nose. It has stopped every single sneeze in its tracks since my TT. I can be thankful for that.

Coughing is a whole different issue. It is horrible! So I must say that you have to drink as carefully as possible, that has been the only times I've coughed & it is VERY difficult [but still possible] to will yourself to stop coughing when you swallow water wrong. Honestly, if I had been getting a cold that had coughing before my surgery I would've probably tried my best to post-pone. Well no, I really couldn't change the timing with all the coordinating, but if it happens to anyone reading & you have the opportunity to schedule it for a week later or whatever, please do! You don't need that pain!

I got lucky & was only mildly nauseous when I woke after surgery, but I can't even imagine actually throwing up. That would've been painful beyond belief. I'm just sayin'! If you wake up & are nauseous tell them & they will give you things to help that!

So how I'm doing... FABULOUS! I have hope finally! My drain output has gone down dramatically. Sunday & Monday it was 150 mls a day (the thick dark red old blood), Tuesday it was thick but a lighter color & 100 mls. Wednesday even lighter, maybe pinkish, & 70 mls. Thursday it was orangeish & 45 mls. Today is mostly yellow & the output is way less (I can't put a number to it yet since it hasn't been 24 hours, however I didn't even have enough to justify emptying it this morning which is a huge change). My left implant has also started dropping, so things are getting there.

I might just be able to lose Kyle on Monday =)

I believe

I think I finally may be over the hump of the junk that has been going on, finally! Yesterday I finally had no fever & my drainage has turned more of a red Kool-Aid color instead of the same ol super dark red thick ickiness. It has also started slowing down, thank goodness.

So I believe my fever really WAS related to blood pile-up in my belly, now that it is pretty much gone my fever has went. I started those antibiotics last Wednesday so if they really were fighting some infection my fever would've been gone before the weekend was over. So that is my theory, I'm sure Doc will be glad to hear.

So, finally, I am starting to feel a bit better. Now here's to getting my drain out SOON!

20 days post-op

Well, my drainage is not slowing down yet, but my fever IS getting better. The past 2 nights I haven't needed to take anything in the middle of the night to keep my temp down & now during the day I only need 3 or 4 doses of Tylenol, so it is getting better. I have yet another appointment next Monday, we are a bit tired of driving there so often. It's kinda sad when the valet parking people start recognizing you, just sayin!

I figured my drain was getting upset, so I've named him Kyle. The stitch that had been securing that drain to me disappeared, so Doc gave me another one today & I can hardly contain my enthusiasm at having it secured to me yet again, that lovely stitch that tugs on my skin oh how I love thee. Doc doesn't seem concerned about my drainage, better out than in for sure. He has no explanation, just says that he has seen it before with some people. My specialness has to do with the fever combo I guess.

I took new pics this morning & I am really liking how things are looking. My right implant is dropping, Hubby says the left one is too, just slower. My left pec is definitely stronger & tighter than my right, but it'll get there. Doc also took off the steri-strips that had been on all incisions today, so time for more healing there. There are only a couple scabs, things look good.

Sheesh!!!

Okay so this morning at 8:30 Doc calls & wants me to do another CBC (blood test) before heading up. So we do that & head up in the freakin rain & thunderstorms the whole way, and right when we get there they get the fax with my test results. I get in a room and the nurse asks if we packed a bag implying I'm staying somewhere since we're an hour away. So of course we start freaking out because she had said I'd need a blood transfusion or something, saying that Doc was very worried etc. etc. I'm thinking about the kids & having to be alone up there because we no longer have extra help (the In-laws went home). Hubby was a weeee bit pissed at the nurse for that.

Luckily we didn't need to freak out for long because Doc comes in saying "Good news" & that was big right there. My white blood cell count is back to normal (but I'm to continue on the antibiotics anyway he says) and I'm not getting more anemic anymore. Apparently last time I was more anemic than the first time, I didn't realize that, he didn't tell me the #s. So now I'm to be popping iron pills, yay me. But things should be getting better soon.

Anyone reading this being worried and/or nervous this is how special my case is: my Doc with 15+ years experience in plastic surgery alone has not had a case like this before & had to talk to others to get more opinions, yea haha.

On a good note I got my right drain out *happy dance* That was the most annoying one! Now I do still have an appt on Monday but the output on my left is too much to get any hopes up. I'm just happy as heck to get one out! I did not feel a THING getting that baby out either, it was just sheer relief!

Now onto more healing...

Another day, more fun...

On the tummy tuck healing side I'm doing well (I think). I've started to feel little twinges along the incision area. Now having been an electrician before & knowing exactly what it feels like to get shocked, I can say they do not feel like that haha, however it's sorta similar. It's not movement related, it happens when I'm sitting perfectly still. I do believe this is what I've heard as nerves healing/regenerating and whatnot. I can almost stand atraight if I stretch out; however, I'm limited by the muscle repair. The center upper ab portion of it hurts dully if I straighten out too much, so I choose to stay hunched. I'd take back pain over front pain right now anyway, I have enough issues I'm trying to cope with. My implants are still like right at my collarbones, but eventually they'll look good.

I'm concerned about my drains, well not both, just the left one. My right one isn't putting out hardly anything now, but the left one has turned a lighter red color (not cool because it's still thick & not clear at all, more like a closer to blood color) and it is putting out way more than it had been before. I'm not drinking more water than I had been either. It was putting out 60 ml's a day which crept up & up over the past few days & is now over 100 a day with the lighter dark blood color. I also still have the fever.

We called the Doc, Hubby convinced him to call in antibiotics for me. Doc says there might have been some reason I bled internally after (either from pulling the stitches along the muscle repair &/or maybe hitting a bleeder with the little bit of lipo he had done) which could have turned into a clot which could be breaking down down (that could be the explanation of more volume of the drain output & the slightly lighter color), but he wants me in his office tomorrow morning so we're going, again and I will update again tomorrow.

At the end of my rope!

And trying my hardest to hang on, but it's getting rough. Today is 13 days post-op, fyi.

So I knew my drains were staying in, they are putting out too much & it is still the "old blood" color, craziness, but the nurse said it does happen sometimes. Maybe it's part because I am a bleeder, maybe I did cause some internal bleeding that night 1 or 2 days post-op when I tried the bed & pulled on stitches along the muscle repair [that was the worst pain I've ever experienced], maybe it's normal for me, who knows.

I'm still running a fever, it makes recovery that much more better. I've had the fever over a week now. Doc says he didn't feel a hematoma & that everything is looking good (my bruising is all getting better), but did order a CBC to see if we can get an idea of what's going on, this fever is not cool. However, he's still saying it could be the whole "excess blood in parts of body where it's not used to" could be the cause of it. I don't care, I'm just tired of it and I want to heal! I don't want the fever, I don't want the drains (which I'm stuck with for at least another week now), I want to stand straight, I want the BA to drop (but still they don't bother me, I'm just sayin'). I want to feel more normal again!

So at the current moment I'm waiting to hear back from the Doc's office on the CBC results. He had us do it at our local hospital & have them fax the results to him, so no clue how long that will take. I'm thinking of calling him soon.

I'll hang in there, I'm just sayin' the rope is hanging in a freaking hurricane...

Updates...

Okay so the fever definitely seems viral because it doesn't have a big flare up until afternoon (viruses do that), but I do run one pretty much constantly & I'm taking Tylenol & Motrin. I can't tell for sure, but I think it's getting a little better. The blood cultures they said 3-5 days & if I don't hear from them then that would be good.

I have another post-op visit on Monday but I really don't see the point because I know I won't be losing my drains. They are still putting out really dark red. I dunno, I mean of course I'll go but still, sheesh! Actually I'm hoping they aren't a cause of concern. I don't know what's going on with them.

The BA is doing good, my pecs are softening up so they will probably start going down a little bit here soon. I have minimal pain from the TT. None of my incisions bother me, mostly the pains are from the muscle repair. I can move around a little better each day, one day I'll be free from being hunched & the drains etc., just wish that was soon. The first part of healing seems to be taking a long time!

Fun! Or not..

My fever picked up again yesterday (probably because I was being more lax with the Tylenol & Motrin), so we called the Plastic Surgeon & he wound up telling us to go to the ER to get a myriad of tests. Since he's so far away there was no point in driving way up there. So after my being scared as heck & doing a 3 hour (pretty quick IMO) ER visit which included urinalysis, blood labs & cultures [need to grow for days], and chest x-rays we got... I'm okay. We think, it could be a virus *rolls eyes*. Bah! Slightly elevated white blood cell count, slightly anemic (I'm attributing that to still draining in my abdomen). So I have a fever that has gotten worse apparently (because I can not sleep well anymore probably) and we have no clue why. Boo!

Recovering from surgery wise everything is good (obviously no signs of infection since Docs have checked), minimal pain etc. I'm just tired of feeling poopie! I want the fever gone dang it, my body is busy enough healing other stuff than to deal with that too!

Turning point

I am getting more energy. I'm not sure if I'm fighting off the fever or if I'm just taking Tylenol & Motrin often enough [to keep any pains at bay] that the fever doesn't have time to really show up. Showers do not make me want to go to sleep right after now, so more energy for sure. Not much progress on the drains, but it is what it is. It even looks like the bruises are getting less colorful & going away some.

The huge difference was I told Hubby to go to Walmart yesterday & get me a cane. I can now walk for more than 1 minute before my back starts knotting all up. Of course DD#2 is asking why I'm old now, after she first asked why there aren't balls on the bottom of it (like on the movie Up). So anyway, if you have any back problems, GET ONE! It was $23 at Walmart. It even helps me stand more straight, so it is a huge improvement! I feel a lot better, even if I'm walking with a cane haha.

Fighting

It's a fight, there's no other way to put it. I'm fighting that low temp, & I don't know what it is. Last night I had the melt down from the post-op blues that people say you get so easily. If I had just had my boobs done that would be one thing, but the TT makes it way more difficult! With my appointment & not getting at least one drain out, walking hunched to where my back is spasming up like crazy (thank you scoliosis), then just needing naps every 4 hours, lack of human cuddling, being all bruised to hell now, not being able to go outside & play (due to BUG swarm season & not wanting to spray myself now), yeah... it's hard...

Then I had heard that when DD#2 was outside yesterday she kept making wishes. All she wished for was that Mommy didn't have anymore boo-boos. That was the straw on the camel's back & I broke down. No I can't cuddle as much, but I need to suck up the pain (back spasms) and do more NOW I can handle that, and I did that last night - almost our usual bedtime routine without Hubby, and promptly heating-padded my back right after.

Soon things will make a turn for the better! If I could walk with my back straight & didn't have drains it'd be so different! I did take pictures this morning, and even though I'm really bruised I'm liking it. Soon, soon...

First post-op visit

At 5:30 am I woke up with a temp of 101F! I have NO idea where that came from because there are no signs of infection & I'm not feeling sick. So took Tylenol, talked to the night Doc that was on call, showered & passed back out. I feel REALLY good and happy when I'm not fighting a headache or feeling like I had a fever for no reason.

Anyway, so went to the visit, everything looks great. They snipped off the ends of the sutures (all incisions they brought a knot out at the end) so that they can dissolve, or whatever. My TT drains are not ready to come out, not even one of them, dang it. They haven't lightened in color yet and are putting out the borderline limit. Well, I guess they have a purpose so fine, BAH! They have been really bugging me lately - they are held on by a stitch that is quite annoying when it pulls on my skin, not to mention the fact that they are just plain icky lol!

The nurse was very impressed with how I was moving around saying that I move like I haven't even had surgery (hahaha I'm sure that was exaggerating it, but it was nice), guess I can thank working out for that one. We found out we've been having the binder up too high, whoops. I also found out that the reason my sides are really bruised is that the Doc did lipo to smooth things out there! So I'm even more happy knowing he did that.

Oh I also started noticing that my swelling is going down, so yay =)

Bowel movements

I know this is a gross subject (but heck it's a bodily function and the body goes through a lot of stuff during & after surgery), but I want this to be as helpful as possible for anyone thinking about elective surgery. I have read horror stories about BMs post-op; especially the first one after a tummy tuck.

My thoughts before surgery were along the lines of - well if you really can't use your abs at all [which you can NOT] then you'll be needing some serious help! I bought Dulcolax stool softeners (narcotics like the Vicodin I was given really stop you up, and I guess sedation does too) I also bought a bottle of Magnesium Citrate (that's all at any pharmacy around the fiber, laxatives, etc. section).

The first day after surgery I started taking 3 stool softeners a day (mind you I drink a minimum of a gallon of water a day) and I was eating enough food (fibrous veggies & adding powder form of fiber to my protein shakes etc. to help) to be producing stuff, but nothing was coming out or even feeling like it was anywhere near wanting to make its way out. I decided I did not want to wait a week, get seriously uncomfortable from being stopped up. So yesterday morning I sucked it up and chugged half the bottle of Magnesium Citrate. Now, yea it tastes gross, but you also need to drink water to get things moving so just chase it with a bunch of water and the taste is gone and done. Within 3 hours of that it worked and the great relief came! Let me tell you I am so glad I did not wait any longer before doing that. I think that was part of the reason why I had such a hard time eating at all (because I was all filled up and nothing was moving out).

Anyway I figure that will hopefully be the only time that was really needed since my big plan is to not be taking anymore Vicodin. Sorry if it's gross, but I know it can be helpful!

Day 4 [I think]

I'm glad my plastic surgeon didn't limit showers or I'd be a stinky funky nastiness by now! At this point they really take a lot of energy out of you though. I could take my first shower 2 days post-op (which I did). My shower is perfect for it. If you're going into this surgery (tummy tuck) you NEED to buy a chair for a shower, mine already has seats in it. You also need one of those detachable shower heads. I sit down & Hubby stands in there, I do my hair & he hand washes everything else. I bought Dial hand soap (squirt bottle) because everything else carries more bacteria & I don't want to risk infection. So, now that I said that on to today =)

I only took Vicodin twice today and that was when I coughed. I didn't cough because I was getting sick, I apparently just can't always drink water right. Well OMFG that hurts so bad since the abs are stitched together! Bruises are developing all along my TT incision and they are annoying as crap. My belly is getting bruised too but that doesn't really hurt. Pain killers don't take away bruise pain! SO yes, I only took 2 vicodin today & I probably could have taken none if I hadn't coughed! My chest is hardly sore, I could get away with extra strength Tylenol & icing the girls & be just fine. This surgery recovery is way easier than I anticipated.

Drainage - ugh it's so gross & annoying! Last night I told Hubby that I wanted to not drain them for 24 hours to see what happened & they have slowed down considerably! Doc says a drain must put out 25 mls (or less) in 24 hrs to come out. Well on Monday I have an appointment and my right drain will be coming out! It was right at 25 today. My left one will take more time, but that will be one less to deal with.

The binder thingy that is around my whole abdomen is annoying me. But it's not too bad, just itchy at times. My boobs are so friggin HUGE! Since it's my monthly though, they have grown anyway, and since my body fat is not where I want it to be at they are bigger. So I'm hoping once I can workout & get back to my goal they will be the size I want. I'm happy with them! I just want them to drop :)

I was really tired today and am not really sure. I think I can blame it on the fact that I hadn't cuddled with Hubby to sleep since Monday night & I did that this afternoon & ever since then I couldn't wake up until now when I am supposed to be dead tired haha.

Fabulousness!

Seriously I feel so awesome! I woke up with a headache that was just escalating, which was really sucking majorly. But we called the PS & they said I could take Excedrin so I did. then my wonderful lovely TOM started! So it's all TOM's fault, that bugger!

Besides that my surgery pains are VERY minimal so I am cutting back on the pain meds, from 2 Vicodins every 5 - 6 hours to 1 every 4, and I'm probably going to start spacing out them even more so tomorrow (if Hubby will let me that is, he's very protective and not wanting me to be in any pain). I was right when I had said in a previous blog that the first night (after the locals wore off) and the 2nd day in general were the worst pain wise. Everything is very easy to tolerate right now. I can stand straighter, nap less, have more energy and everything.

I can be out around the ids more & DD#2 has learned to be more careful, we've had some cuddle time so everything is just LOADS better! I am so happy words can not express!!

Each day gets better

I know this is a long process and I'll try my best to keep remembering that. Today has been tons better than yesterday! I had my first shower & saw how I look and things look GREAT even though I am very swollen and my BA is still very high. My TT incision is very low which is what I had hoped, and I hope it stays nice and low like it is now. I didn't inspect it much because I was hurting some and wanted to hurry into my shower. I did take pictures, so if you're interested in seeing them message me (here, FB or whatever) and I'll send you a link. They are a little graphic though.

I have more energy, I am napping less. I think things are going really well. I have an odd oval lump above my belly button along where the muscle repair is, but the nurses said that is normal. My first post-op visit is Monday, May 3rd, so we'll see. I don't really have an appetite, but I HAVE to eat something when I take the vicodin, so since I have to eat in the middle of the night during the days I'm eating:

Omelet & banana
protein shake + fiber
chicken enchilada soup
protein shake + fiber
chicken veggie soup

In the night I'll have a greek yogurt or Ezekiel toast when I take the pain meds.

The worst part so far is staying away from my youngest when I hear her crying her brains out for me. She has pushed on my belly a couple times & I just can't let that happen again! Coughing & laughing are the worse pains imaginable! I have to say I am very grateful that I'm having no problems keeping food down.

I'm keeping up the regimen of Emergen Cs, lemon juice, post-op vitamins, etc. etc. to help me heal the best. I'm resting, napping, not doing anything I don't feel like. My only annoyance is when I'm trying to nap and DH goes outside and starts cutting down trees (which wakes me up). Oh and I'm getting really tired of my bedroom, but that's about it. I'm really happy with how I look and that I am getting better every day. I can stay patient, for now ;)

The day after

Okay this was definitely the hardest day. Sleeping that first night was the hardest, even with all the meds. The pain was worse because all the locals had worn off, but I made myself get up to use the bathroom hourly (because I'm pounding water like I always do). I made myself go out to the other room to get on the computer just to move around a little more every couple hours. Mom-in-law used to be a nurse & was saying how impressed she was with how well I'm doing & moving around. It was the worse pain day, but I made it. The majority of the pain is the tummy tuck! Not the incision itself but along the center of the abs where the diastasis (from pregnancies) was repaired. The Doc said it was quite sizable ,but didn't say how big of a gap it had been, he also didn't mention how much skin was removed. That would be nice to know but I don't mind. Hubby says my belly looks awesome and you can't see almost any of the old stretch marks (I'll get a peek at my first shower today).

My drains were putting out a LOT of fluid which had us & the nurses concerned, but it finally slowed down in the afternoon. Apparently they used lipo fluid to separate the fat from the fascia layers in the belly, well they had used 1000 mls of that so of course I was going to drain a ton (they just didn't tell us that until we had called being concerned about the amount of drainage). So the drainage is slowing down very nicely and starting to lighten in color. I have a little more energy and can move better. I am hunched, but not as bad as I had been (I hunch more later on during the day when I can really feel it pulling).

The staff is seriously wonderful! The Doc called me the first night to check in & we had called him back later which he didn't mind. The nurses kept checking in the day after until we said things were definitely getting better. I honestly feel GREAT! No depression is coming, I seriously feel awesome! No I can't move around much before I get light-headed/dizzy because my body is in overdrive from healing, no I'm not trying to do any housework because I don't have to. I'm eating great (actually I don't want to eat so I'm forcing myself), but overall this is better than I really had thought it'd be. I'm SO happy to find out all my worries.nerves/etc. were unnecessary =)

I'm going to shower this morning (2nd day) & will get my first look with bandages off & everything, so I will be updating sometime later than that.

Surgery day

I had a hard time sleeping the night before, so we were up at 3:30. I cuddled some, took some before pics, showered & packed up what we needed. The In-laws showed up early at 5:00! DD#2 had a really bad dream though and we had to calm her down (probably because she was scared for Mommy), but we were able to get in the car by 5:30.

We got there at 6:30 (they had awesome valet parking), I signed my consent forms did the pregnancy test & waited. That 20+ minute wait to get called back felt like forever! Hubby couldn't come back with me at first. I did a health questionnaire, got changed into a gown & footies & locked my stuff up. Once in my room I got a shot of a blood thinner to help prevent clots forming, and I got my IV (which happened to be the BEST IV ever cuz she gave me a local for it). The nerves were really hitting!

The anesthesiologist came in, explained everything, added some "happy juice" to my IV then I kissed Hubby & got wheeled into the OR (thankfully for the "happy juice" my nerves didn't escalate, they went down). They put calf compression sleeves on, hooked up EKGs, BP cuff & heart rate & O2 monitor. The anesthesiologist came around & asked "Do you have a good dream pick out?" I said "no." Then he said "well, now would be the time." Then he walked behind me, I blinked and was in my recovery room feeling good! Hubby came in ASAP which made me even happier, I didn't want to wait for him. I wanted to keep sleeping, it was hard to wake up, but I was happy right away! Doc came in & said things went great, they went with the size implants I had picked out (375ccs silicone unders), Doc & the nurse were commenting on how great my attitude was since I was feeling so good & happy. I did have some nausea, but the nurse put something in my IV to help with that and it didn't come back afterwards. I ate a slice of toast (too buttery for my taste, but whatever), had a dose of valium & vicodin before I left.

They wheeled me out the back entrance & had the car waiting. The hardest part was getting in, the drive home was easy (and the sun being out made me happier). I felt great seriously! The amount of pain was almost nothing, until the local that was in my tummy wore off. But it's still tolerable. I move around as much as I can. I REALLY hate my bed now though, it's about impossible to lay down (even on lots of pillows) without tugging at the muscle repair, I can not get into it & out by myself. So my awesome glider (that locks in the recliner position & has an ottoman) is the preferred place for a while.

Pain is tolerable as long as I stay ahead of it with the vicodin & the valium. Basically it feels like I did a million crunches & a thousand push-ups. My boobs feel like they'll explode & I move like a 90 year old woman, but it's alllll good!

I had a glimpse at the belly & it looked really good! He extended the TT because I had extra skin on the love-handle area (DD#2 was transverse until birth so she was all over there). The BA is still too high & swollen to have an idea. I wasn't expecting night sweats & hot flashes, it's pretty bad, but Hubby cools me off well. But I'm doing really good! I feel great & no depression in sight =)

One day & a sleep to go!

Today was a little rough being so busy, but it went pretty well! DD #2 remembered the In-laws instantly (thank goodness) so I know she'll be just fine on Tuesday. I stayed so busy I didn't really have time to think too much into anything & I'm really hoping I'll be tired enough to sleep well (even self-medicated with Benadryl or Tylenol PM, hey now I was told I could!).

Liquid diet day 1 wasn't so fun LOL! I want to avoid sugar & bad foods as much as possible though, so it was my own doing I suppose. Lots of protein shakes doesn't make one want to keep drinking them! I missed one of my shakes & had to make my last one bigger just so that I'd be close to a minimum # of calories. I got really cold too with my body forcing me to drink so much water (I think it was to satisfy any hunger, I don't know, it just kept telling me to drink a lot).

Tomorrow I'm really not looking forward to the sodium in the chicken broth, really that is what I look the least forward to and I found the lowest sodium one available, WAY lower then the "reduced sodium" others. I'll easily be able to get in a minimum # of calories though drinking juice, ah well. That's all I can do! I don't feel like Jell-O so yep yep, fun fun.

I really don't have anything else to do besides do last minute sanitizing in the master bathroom (will do tomorrow morning I think) & getting my box o stuff out of the closet & set out & ready to go. I really like that I'm not staying overnight in a hospital, that way I can just start healing at home. I figure I'll probably be so out of it still that the one hour drive home won't really be remembered. I won't bring much, just some water to drink on the way home probably. Hubby will be the one bored & stressing for hours while I'm sleeping.

As far as how I'm feeling, I'm trying to be as mellow as possible. Not feeling excited or really nervous or anything, I'm just trying to stay as calm and positive as possible.

I'm the morning I'll probably be singing "Twenty twenty twenty twenty-four hours to goooooo, I wanna be sedated!" Hahaha!

5 days left!

I am feeling great! I prepped italian style meatloaf (made 3) and tossed them in the freezer for easy thawing & baking as needed post-op. I also got everything to do a big ol turkey dinner the day before surgery. Now, I won't be eating it since I'll be drinking clear liquids that day, but it puts my mind at ease about what the in-laws, kids & Hubby will be eating on surgery day & probably the day after that too. The bird is a 12 lber so it should last a couple days at least. Of course now I'm trying to think about what they will all be eating Sunday night (that's the day the In-laws will be here for the first full day), but I have more than enough food around to figure it out, I'm easy I'll be liquid diet.

I'm not so happy about the spice restrictions 2 weeks before surgery, it's making me eat lots and lots of eggs lol (what with no garlic, no cayenne etc.). But that's okay, they are yummy, it just means I'm eating a ton of them.

It's about time to get going on last minute preps around here. I can't wait for Hubby to be off of work! He'll be off starting Friday for his vacation, then we'll definately have everything ready to go. We're doing my youngest's b-day a couple weeks early (before surgery) so it can be more fun for me at least, so we need to get that all done too (not really elaborating on that, trying to keep this blog mostly surgery related ).

I feel like I got past the worst of the nerves/stress/anxiety (a couple days ago) because I really do feel great, ready, happy & lucky to be getting this done!

Emotions before

What I'm feeling is hard to describe, it's a big jumbled mess lol. I've wanted it for so long that I can't really fully believe I'm about to get it done! Sure I deserve it, sure I have a company to thank for the money that I worked my butt off to win that paid for it, but still... Part of me feels lucky to be able to be doing this, but there are so many different feelings I really can't concentrate on one for long. I've went through periods where I even doubted if I deserve it and got pretty upset. See it feels a little selfish; Hubby will be doing so much while I recover and the girls won't have their usual mom for a while and it feels a little much to be doing that unnecessarily. Hubby insists that I do deserve it, he wants me to feel better about myself & be happier and this will make me happier about the things I can not change on my own.

When I'm leaner I have no boobs at all, literally. I have sad deflated skin, seriously sad. That makes me not want to stay lean in all honesty. After this though that won't be an issue. I'm getting the biggest they'd recommend for my frame (I didn't want to go through it and end up too small, and that I'm borderline needing a lift too I was thinking bigger would help fill out the skin also) which was 375ccs, am going with silicone unders. Maybe I'll actually feel hot or sexy by my 30th birthday for the first time in forever.

Nervous! Everything about this is the unknown for me from going under general anesthesia to recovering from major surgery etc. I know people of all ages go under all the time and are fine, my parents have and so has Hubby's parents, but still. The only major recoveries I've had is from childbirth & there weren't any c-sections there (lasik eye surgery doesn't really count much). The surgeon has over 15 years experience in plastic surgery, his before & afters were great, the whole staff there seemed very nice, but I don't have the personal experience of his work. I'm prone to falling into depression and I'm scared that I will after surgery (since it's so common) I'll try my best not to, but you can't control it!

Excited! There are so many reasons to be excited I can't even list them all. The tummy tuck is easy ~ showing my belly in public and not being upset, not constantly tugging at my shirts, not having to tuck & pull in pics, and so on. The chest is pretty easy too ~ give me a greatly balanced hourglass, finally balanced top & bottom and when my body fat is lower I won't lose them completely which will be very nice!

Throw in some anxiety and hope and you pretty much have it. Hubby says I'm stressing, um how would you expect me not to? He wants me to relax, but that is hard. Yes plastic surgery is pretty common now. I'm young, fit, and healthy so I should have as good a recovery as possible, but still there are those scared/nervous/anxiety back that nagging at the good thoughts. I won't think of complications or even let myself read them on those message boards. At least soon I'll be on the recovering side of all this and hopefully it'll be things I can deal with, right now it's pretty hard to sort it all out.

7 days! No more caffeine starting today. In-laws will be here very soon! I'm thinking a liquid diet 2 days before will be perfect because I'm not sure if I'll really want to eat anyway lol.

Preps

I had the consult 8-9 weeks before surgery was scheduled, so I had more than enough time to prepare. I'm sure I've done more than necessary, but I'd rather be over prepared for this than under! Everyone in my house is used to my doing just about everything around here for them, so it'll be interesting having Hubby run things for a while.

Anyway, I found this thread to be very helpful for making a list of supplies to get: http://messageboards.makemeheal.com/tummy-tuck/tummy-tuck-recovery-guide-tips-supply-list-t55868.html

I bought multivitamins without Vitamin E (blood thinner, must avoid), started taking Iron 2 weeks before as well. A naturopath (mom of my Bestie on the Westie) told me some things to help my recovery be the best it can, so I'm going to follow that as much as possible. No starches post-op (well I'll listen to that except for the carrots I put in my chicken soup), drink apple cider vinegar and lemon juice daily (UGH, but not so bad when you put it in an Emergen C - oh and Emergen C instead of Airborne because Airborne has Vitamin E in it), lactobacillus can find by pharmacy (active cultures that replace what antibiotics kill off in your intestines), a green drink (she recommended Green Magma so I bought that), 4000-6000 mg Vitamin C a day which I'll get by 3 doses of Emergen C & one or two Vitamin C pills all spread throughout. Also said no caffeine before or after so I've cut back to 1/4 of what I've been taking in before & will cut it out completely tomorrow (one week before surgery). Seems I've avoided headaches by cutting it back instead of going cold turkey.

I made chicken veggie soup (8 servings), chicken enchilada soup (8 servings) and turkey sloppy joes (5 servings), homemade is the way to go to avoid processing & excessive sodium. I did that so I have lunches & dinners for a week and a half post-op. I figure hopefully Hubby can successfully cook me egg whites with ff cheese & toast for breakfast. The bread I have is low sodium Ezekiel (naturopath approved to eat post-op) so keeping my carbs mostly to that bread & fruits & veggies. Snacks will be greek yogurt, almonds, protein shakes & fruit. I'm not sayin' I won't cheat at all, I just want to minimize it & try to stay strong. It's always a battle for me to eat clean so my reward will be a weekly cheat meal ~ food reward, what I always say NOT to do, but I really won't be up to shopping or anything for a while so that's the plan for the first month at least.

I won't be allowed to workout for 6 weeks besides walking, so it'll be food nazi time (well, for the most part). I also figure I won't want to eat much so my planned foods are geared toward that with eggs taking so little space, shakes & yogurt & soups, yep yep. After my prepped foods are gone hopefully I'll be able to cook a little. If not In-laws can or Hubby can operate the grill for some chicken, it'll work out.

I've also been super cleaning my house too & more than keeping up with the regular stuff so that when Hubby is in charge & the standards slip I [hopefully] won't mind too much. I've also prepped a couple family meals & will stock the fridge up with perishables right before surgery so that they won't have to eat mac n cheese & pizzas for very long LOL!

2 days prior to surgery I'll be doing a liquid diet at the suggestion of the surgeon. The first day of that will be protein shakes & meal replacements, the 2nd day clear liquids, so it'll be no salt added chicken broth, juices & water. I even have my post-op prescriptions filled & in my closet with my other stuff, I'm ready!

Timing

I've wanted this for so long and my younger daughter is about to turn 4. Why did I wait so long? Well, before doing a tummy tuck I had to be 110% sure I was done having kids, youngest had to be mobile & not too dependent and able to voice basic needs (that was what I thought would be best so I deemed it necessary). Both of my pregnancies had complications, the more recent being gestational diabetes. Once having that it's pretty much guaranteed that you'll have it in following pregnancies and your chances for developing type II diabetes later on in life goes up. Well I'll tell ya it's no fun monitoring blood sugars! I don't even want to think about insulin shots for another pregnancy or even the rest of my life. No thank you! Then with the girls being how they are (aka handfuls) we decided we're done. We had wanted a boy, but that didn't happen but we're okay with that. Hubby had a vasectomy almost 2 years ago but I still didn't feel completely sure about no more kids at that time (ssshhh haha), but now I am definitely sure. I don't want to put my body through more pregnancies, my body wasn't made to have lots of babies!

Now my youngest is very big & I've been missing babies & small toddlers a bit, feeling the itch for a baby grow. I figure getting the surgeries done now would help a stop to that, a closure to that part in life with having things fixed as good as can be. My 30th birthday will be about 3 months post-op so it's a good present there being that far along in healing by then & feeling better. Start a new decade better than ever!

Hubby started his job here almost 2 years ago. He had to save up vacation time to be able to take care of me (which he's taking over 3 weeks off after my surgery!!!). In-laws will be travelling from out of state & they won't come in the winter, so spring time it was! We figure the older girl being in school would be easier as well. The in-laws will be a great source of distraction & entertainment for the youngest so that Hubby can give me all the attention/care I need for the first while. They will also take care of her on surgery day.

Surgery day it's scheduled April 27th at 8:00 am EST. We have to be there by 7:00 am with an hour drive, so we plan on leaving at 5:30 (hopefully) to make sure we're early. I was told surgery should be about 4.5 hours, then roughly 2 hours in a recovery room & I'll be released to go home. That will probably be the kids' hardest day, but they'll live :)

I have 2 more blogs ready to go, just trying to limit to 2 a day for now. They will REALLY slow down later!

A lil intro

Hello bloggers/readers! I decided to do a blog about my mommy makeover journey. See I've wanted a tummy tuck since I had my first daughter but it wasn't so bad until I had my second. Also the fact that when I'm really lean I have NO boobs at all, so I figured we'd do a breast augmentation while I'm under the knife. We know we are done having children so it's time for this, finally!

The thing is I love my girls, I love my husband and being a mom. My tummy skin constantly bothers me! I'm constantly tugging at shirts to make sure it's covered, I can't wear tight shirts even because the extra skin is obvious there too, I can't stand the skin being exposed for anyone to see and so on. It's rough. I know other people don't notice it so much and I know hubby doesn't mind so much, but it bothers me day in and day out. I've researched this for years and I know it's for me. I'm pretty sure not all my stretch marks will be removed but they don't really bother me like the skin does in general anyway and I can accept a scar in place of the skin. I can't wait for the time when I don't have to worry about my shirt scooting up a tiny bit or what I wear working out or in public or in bed etc. Heck, I'd love to be able to jog outside in a sports bra & shorts!

From what I'm seeing it's a long emotional journey this long healing process of the tummy tuck. You swell off & on for a year at least. Later months (once the surgery swelling is done) you swell from being active, so it'll be a battle but I will have before pictures to look at and remember how the skin made me feel. I'd rather deal with healing & swelling for a year than this skin for the rest of my life!

I'm not at my leanest by any means right now, the justification is that I'm now sure how much I'll be able to eat, want to eat, or even be able to keep down after surgery. So in my thinking, it wouldn't be so horrible to have a little comfort layer that my body can use to pull reserves from during the healing process. My eating will be kept in check and I will not gain fat after surgery.

I'm VERY excited and a wee bit nervous. The BA I'm really excited for because they will really perfectly balance out my larger hips and I'll get back what my girls took from me. The TT, well that's pretty easy to see why I'm excited to get rid of that skin.

9 days until surgery! I will post more later with preparations I've done/will do. I want to mention that www.makemeheal.com is amazing! Especially the message boards there, you can read about so many people's different experiences, it is where I've learned the most and everyone there is so supportive. It has already helped me immensely and I'm sure it will continue to do so.