Almost 8 weeks

Leaving today to pick up my husband tomorrow and spend some time out of town getting reacquainted.  Hope he likes the new me!

6(7) weeks post-op

Went back for my 6-week check today (6 weeks and 5 days to be exact).  The nurse took "after" pictures with the paper panties.  I neglected to get a copy on my way out so will ask for them at my 3-month picture appointment on December 22nd.  The surgeon looked me over and determined that I was fine and ready to resume normal activities, as tolerated.  No ab work for three months (I assume three months from surgery, not from today), and she said it might be a slow start even then.  I suspect that will be the case since I've already had a little soreness from my first night back to bowling.  That was at 6-weeks to the day, so maybe pushing it a little but that's how I roll!  I have been slow-jogging several times and have no problem with my abs.  It's really weird to run without my stomach jumping all over the place.  Now my T & A bounce around so much that I have adjusted my jogging to minimize the jiggle.


I'm standing up straight enough for now.  Still working on that.  Keeping my stomach moisturized and making a conscious effort to stretch it a little.  I still tighten up after sitting for long periods and take a few minutes to fully straighten when I stand.  I would like to be able to do a back bend some day.  Just leaning back for a good stretch would feel great.


My navel has not healed as quickly as I expected, and not nearly as well as my big incision.  It's still red, a little sore, and peels a lot.  The doc said it looked okay, not to put anything on it.


I'm using my silicone strip daily and for as long as possible.  I don't wear it while I exercise (sweating in it can cause irritation), and I didn't wear it today because I had two medical appointments involving that area and didn't want to put it on and take it off twice without washing it in between.  Then I exercised this evening.  So, off this morning and back on tonight after my shower and all will be fine.  I did some more research to find out what about the silicone strip makes it heal scars - all my little brain can comprehend of what I read is that the silicone prevents some kind of chemical reaction that can cause scaring.  Something like that.  Whatever the case, it seems to be doing a good job.  The dermaroller also seems to be doing a good job on my stretch marks.  They're far from gone, but slightly improved after only two treatments (the first doesn't really count since I was afraid to push too hard and probably didn't even break the skin).  The manufacturer says it could take up to 10 months to see full results.  Worth a try, especially since I read while researching that this method has 20 years of trials supporting its effectiveness.


It is amazing to me how differently I look at things now.  After the tummy tuck, I was acutely aware of how fatty my upper thighs and arms were and how much upper back fat I need to get rid of.  Now, I'm still aware of the remaining problems, but I'm ECSTATIC with where I'm at in my journey.  Another big deal is how I look at clothing.  When shopping before the tummy tuck, everything revolved around covering up my stomach, my muffin, my rolls, handles, the Flapper Large Marge!  Now my concerns are my upper arm flags, my upper thigh flags, and my once-proportionate-now-abnormally-large boobs.  Since we're moving into the winter season where pants and long sleeves rule, my shopping has taken on a whole new life.  I'm not as small as I wanted to be at this point, but I feel SO good.  I've been on a panty-buying spree.  Hubby will be home in one week and we've both been buying lingerie left and right, online together, separately, and me in the stores.  He is amazed at the things I say YES to, which is 99.999% of what he suggests (as opposed to the 0.0005% of his pre-tummy tuck suggestions).  It has been fun, but it has to stop!  I need real clothes!  I have been buying those, too, but in much smaller quantities compared to the underthings.  I've bought a few things from the consignment shop, dug some more "skinny clothes" out of my closet, and purchased a few new items.  I have enough to get by with for now - always keeping my eyes open for a bargain, though!


Going to take some pictures with a real camera in the next week or so and will post them for comparison.  I probably said that before, but I mean it this time.  :)

26 days post-op and vajayjay bonus

Got a needle in the tummy today.  No big deal, actually, but I was a little apprehensive about it.  Nothing came out so I guess the little puffiness is not fluid accumulation.


The day started with lymphatic drainage at 1030.  I left there feeling outstanding.  Haven't had that kind of reaction to the therapy before.  Nice!  I felt slim and limber when I was done (I did have a huge bladder download right afterward which I'm sure contributed to the slim feeling).  I had a big lunch and then returned to see the cosmetic surgeon for a checkup.  The lymphatic therapist suggested that the surgeon might have to do some drainage today, but maybe not depending on how well the lymphatic therapy went.  Apparently, it went well because the surgeon couldn't tell for sure if there was fluid or not. She went in with a needle (which I did not feel at all) and nothing came out.  I guess that's good.  :)


She told me to start putting bacitracin on my navel again as it was looking a little irritated.  It was spitting stitches, those dissolvable stitches that are supposed to disappear on their own, which her assistant easily removed with tweezers.  This happened with my gallbladder surgery last year, too, so not a surprise today.


The assistant also removed the paper tape strip that was on my incision.  It looks suprisingly good to me.  The doc said I could go ahead and start using the silicone strip that I bought for scar healing.  I ordered it online and it shipped yesterday, so I should have it no later than Friday.  http://www.rejuveness.com/Tummy-Tuck-Scar-Treatment-p106.html


I also ordered a kit for removing other scars, like stretch marks.  http://www.rejuveness.com/c140/Derma-Rollers-p148.html


The two holes where the drains were inserted look kind of ugly to me, but the surgeon, as well as her assistant and the lymphatic therapist all said they look really good.  Apparently, some women end up with some pretty nasty looking, infected holes to deal with.  These things look like two eyes staring out from just below my bikini line.  I have been washing gently in the shower with regular cleanser, then following the surgical areas with Hibiclense (sp?) every day.  Maybe that's helping.  Maybe all the fresh food is helping everything heal from the inside, too.


I missed my daily walk for three straight days last week.  I was trying to increase by one minute each day, partly to keep myself from pushing it too hard.  Well, so much for that.  I've been walking for 60-90 minutes a day since the weekend.  LOVE it and will continue to  walk at this pace until I'm at 6 weeks, then I will start some slow jogging to see how that goes.  I am going to add some 2.5# ankle weights and wrist weights in the next couple days.  Don't want to lose the muscle I've worked so hard to gain, and I can already feel that happening.


I'm not standing up completely straight yet and that's kind of frustrating at times.  If I sit too long, especially if I'm leaning forward, I have to stand up really slow and stretch out slowly as I walk.  Very tight tummy tuck!  I will be happy when the healing is complete and I can do some bending and twisting and backward stretching.  :)


Have to wear the binder until I'm at 6 weeks, then it's optional.  I suspect I will continue with some kind of supportive under garments - always glad to get the binder off for showers, and always glad to get it back on.


The therapist and I were talking today about the little bonuses to getting a tummy tuck, like the mini front thigh lift and the vajayjay lift.  The surgeon mentioned the effect on the front of the thighs during my initial consultation, but no one mentioned the effect on the vajayjay until today.  It didn't even cross my mind until recently when I was finally able to shower.  I'm glad she brought it up today because it is very noticeable to me, and not in a bad way.  It's not so much a cosmetic issue, although it is clearly improved in that regard.  I guess the only way to describe it is to say it's not limp and saggy anymore.  It's not like it was a problem before, certainly not something I noticed, not something my husband ever mentioned.  Now that it's pulled up, though, I can definitely appreciate the improvement.  I'm not saying it's a huge difference, just an unexpected bonus, kind of like  vajayjay botox but without the pig botulism toxin injections.  :P  

19 days, drains OUT!

There are no words to express the happiness and relief I feel tonight now that the drains are gone.  It's like being freed from a ball and chain that seemed like it would never go away.  The removal was not nearly as bad as I expected thanks to the confident and skilled nursing staff at my surgeon's office, two of which teamed up to get both drains out at once so I wouldn't have to suffer twice.  The feeling on the inside when they were being pulled out was more of a sensation rather than a pain.  The drain sites burned a little, but even that only lasted about 30 seconds.  I feel nothing now but relief.  The doc said the holes where the drains went in will close on their own.  Hard to believe that, but she's the expert so i'm gonna roll with it.  Can't wait for that shower tomorrow!


Got on a pair of my new silky panties (just for you, Honey) that I picked up the other day for a little pick-me-up in anticipation of getting the drains out.  Size L right off the shelf at Target and they fit!  Better than buying an XL or XXL and never knowing for sure if I would even be able to pull them up all the way.  Going to hit the old jeans in the closet in the morning and see what I can get into anew.  If I'm not down a size yet, I'm almost there and have the patience to keep on reducing.  Need to lose some back fat and get that low-back curve going again, and need some thigh and upper arm work.  Heading out for my walk now!


I am posting the "before" pictures from the doctor's office, along with a few cell pics I took when I got home.  They are absolutely unbelievable to me.  These are pictures taken a month before surgery and 60 pounds less than my heaviest weight.  It's unimaginable to me that I was so huge, but here it is in black and white.

Two Weeks

Two weeks out and I'm still happy.  :)  I measured again this morning - want to get rid of 9 inches off my waist and 7 off my hips.  I know that a very small portion of that will go away as I straighten completely and the swelling continues to decrease (although I don't think there's much swelling left).  The rest will have to come off with continued good eating habits and regular exercise.  For once in almost 20 years I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Very bright and exciting light.  :)


Still leaking on the left drain.  My right suction bulb cap kept coming off today, so probably not much fluid today.  Overdid it a little this morning, but sat around the house the rest of the day and then went for my 19 minute walk this evening.  Easiest walk so far.  Progress.  


Had a good long sponge bath this morning, washed my hair, moisturized my tummy, and put on my new compression garment.  It's cleaner and softer than the first one, but that's the only improvement.  It's shifty so I have to readjust it throughout the day.  I'm thinking maybe it's just not tall enough for me.  The other garment had three adjustable straps, too, which was nice.  It was good to get that one off, though, as it needs a good washing.


Almost have all the feeling back in my right leg.  It was itching some while walking tonight.  Hopefully, the numbness was coming from my back and my posture improvement is helping. Not standing fully upright yet, but closer.  Very stiff after sitting for a period of time, but I do eventually straighten out after I move around a bit.


I wore a pair of pants yesterday that fit before my tummy tuck.  Someone commented that they looked like clown pants.  I guess that's a compliment.  They were quite large on me, with plenty of room for my drain apparatus.


Had a much overdue pedicure and manicure yesterday.  I was hypersensitive and uncomfortable much of the time.  Every little thing hurt.  I usually relish my time with my "foot care specialist".  Don't know what was going on - probably just a coincidence.  Hope next time is more enjoyable.

12 days, part deux

Lotion on the tummy felt awesome!  Seventeen minute walk tonight was much easier.  Could have been the dog stroller I had to lean on.  Whatever the reason, it has turned out to be a pretty good day in spite of still having these drains.

12 days post-op

Back to the doc a day early this week for the leaking drain.  She said it was fine, not ideal for the fluid to be coming out that way, but it's coming out and that's the goal.  She offered a suggestion to help the inconvenience of the leaking - use a maxipad over the drains instead of the dressings.  I'm going to stick with two 8-ply dressings over the left side and one on the right.  Just have to watch it a little better than I did yesterday, when it leaked through several layers of clothes.  Fortunately, I was wearing black jeans and it wasn't noticeable.  I can start wearing the new binder today, but might wait until I get the drains out.  I'll have to look at it and see how easy it will be to pin up the drain bulbs.


I asked the doc about putting lotion or oil on my stomach and she said it was fine as long as it didn't get around my stitch line.  No problem!  Hopefully, the lotion will help ease the stretching a little bit.


The nurse took the tape strip off the sutures so the doctor could examine everything.  All good.  She put a clean strip of tape over it before I got dressed and said it will come off for good next week.  Yay!  I have an appointment on Tuesday, another week, to get the drains out.  They have to come out by three weeks regardless of output, and that will be Thursday next week.  I think they'll be fine to come out Tuesday, if not sooner.  If the output continues declining at the current rate, I'll probably be able to call the office in a couple days and ask to get in their next appointment.  I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THESE DRAINS OUT!  :)


Had an unusually good night sleep last night and it really made a big difference how I felt when I woke this morning.  I love my new bed!  I have had more energy today and feel less melancholy than I have been the past several days.  I bought some face wash cloths with soap already in them - don't remember what they're called - and they really make sponge bathing quicker and easier.  I just wet a cloth, wash my upper body, wet another cloth and do my legs and "other areas", then sat on the side of the tub and used a regular wash cloth wet and wrung out to wipe off the soap all over.  Have to rinse the cloth several times to get all the soap off, but it's easier than it sounds and really makes me feel a whole lot better.  I then stood in the shower with the hose attachment and hung my head upside down for a good head washing.  My feet got washed in the process.  :)  Almost as good as a full-blown shower.  Followed with some good quality lotion and I was ready for anything.