January 2013 Tummy Tuckers Check In Here...

By Kimmers25 on 23 Nov 2012

Ready for a new year and beautiful new body ladies! Let's do it!

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Wildberrytoo
17 Jun 2013

I have decided that later this week I'm going to post an side by side am pic/pm pic in the same outfit, something form fitting. I am curious about the difference. I'm telling you all so that I follow through. I'm hoping it will help those of you still swelling to know you're not alone.

dragonfly88
17 Jun 2013

It's already helping hearing it! But we will hold you to it!

Geneticjinx15
17 Jun 2013

Wildberry, that would be great! You are much braver than I am. I truly wish none of us was going through the swell hell this far along, but it does help to know it's "normal".

pandapam
18 Jun 2013

Oh that's a great idea, Wildberry!

pandapam
18 Jun 2013

Ok girl - I decided I was going to do this with you. Took pictures before I left for work and I'll figure out how to take them when swell hell begins between 2 and 4.

Wildberrytoo
18 Jun 2013

Tx panda, nice to know I'm not gonna be out on that limb by myself!

Texmommy
18 Jun 2013

Thanks Wildberry! That's a great idea! I'm really getting bummed about this swelling issue. Especially because mine is right at my incision line. It looks horrible.

pandapam
18 Jun 2013

Let's hope the limb doesn't break! :)

Wildberrytoo
18 Jun 2013

Don't worry, there is strength in numbers. ;)

pandapam
18 Jun 2013

Pictures taken and I just have no words at this point. Shock is too mild of a word for me right now. I'll wait for Wildberry to post hers first before I post mine since this was her idea.

dragonfly88
17 Jun 2013

Tried Pilates today, I think I will do it again! I really liked it. It helped that there were only 4 other women in the class, so an eye was kept on me pretty well! My gym only has it two days a week, but I will be there for those two days! Tomorrow I'm going to try running the trails at a local forest preserve.

Geneticjinx15
17 Jun 2013

I used to take Pilates twice a week before TT. I loved it. My PS says no ab work until 6 mos PO. I will get back to it as soon as I am cleared. It makes you feel so strong. A small group or private instruction is key to make sure you are doing the moves correctly for the biggest benefit.

Bdancer22
18 Jun 2013

Amen to the private instruction, Genetic jinx15. I've been doing pilates since maybe 3 1/2 months. started with very basic work, and am finally getting closer to where I was pre-surgery. Good luck dragonfly!

Geneticjinx15
17 Jun 2013

Hello Wonderful Women! I see many of us are frustrated at this point in recovery. Is anyone still wearing compression? I absolutely cannot go without it and I'm wondering if that is normal. I wear waist cinchers (like a corset) during the day, my binder when I work out, and a compression cami to sleep. I am literally in compression 24/7. I am almost 5 months PO so this seems extreme. Also, are you all still putting something on your scar? Does anyone have a scar from the drain? You may recall, I had that stupid drain for over 5 weeks. I have a really ugly, purple scar from it. I still use scar treatment twice a day but I don't know if I should keep doing that.

pandapam
17 Jun 2013

I'm still wearing my waist cincher but not 24/7 and not when I work out. Its been really humid here and all of that compression just makes me feel yucky. I'm still putting stuff on my scar every night and will continue to until it disappears. Hubby says I should have bought stock in it! I don't even remember where my drains were - they were taken out 5 days post op.

scritty
17 Jun 2013

HI Geneticjinx15, I am trying to cut down on the compression. I definately wear it when I work out and I was only wearing it during the day and not at night. I am swelling a little more today too without it. I am putting my coco butter on every day and I am waiting for some other scar treatment gel that I ordered last week and should be here soon. I have drain scars too. I have not been too worried about them because they are pretty low. They will be there forever I think (at least on me). I plan on doing scar treatment until I am happy with them.

B.B.
17 Jun 2013

Geneticjix15... free yourself from that compression garment! You will feel SO much better! I gave mine up 2 months ago and while I had some more than usual swelling for a few days or a week or so afterward it now has seemed to settle itself out. My drain scars are so low I really don't worry about them, now the TT scar itself, everyday I use just whatever scar cream I can find locally (like Mederma). I was lucky enough to have my drains removed after 1 week so I didn't have to deal with them nearly as long as you did. What does your PS advise?

dragonfly88
17 Jun 2013

I've been out of compression since about 8 weeks. There was a lot of sensitivity at first and it was weird, but now I'm so used to it, I couldn't imagine being in it. The sensitivity is almost all gone. I think part of the reason I'm swelling more now is the weather. I swell more when it's hot, period. I'm using scar gel once a day and I will continue until I feel that I don't need it anymore or the ps tells me I don't need to. As far as the scar from the drain, my ps put it in my pubic hair, so I don't know if I have a scar.

pandapam
17 Jun 2013

Ok so DUH - I'm ditzing here!! I have 2 scars that look like reverse stretch marks - those are my drain scars, aren't they?

Texmommy
17 Jun 2013

Genetic, I concur with the ladies, ditch the compression! Exception- while working out. I think you'll feel better and you're lymphatic system will have a chance to function normally. I put scar treatment on morning and night time. It's BioCornium and I'm using it until the bottle is gone and determine if I should purchase another bottle. I'm also using Scar Away silicone sheets on my scar. My BB still has a very noticeable pink ring around it. I can still see my drain scars, frankly I don't put scar gel on them because I just don't really notice them very much.

2013ANewMe
17 Jun 2013

I had two scars from my drains that responded well to me massaging them twice a day.. they pretty much have disappeared at about 8 (I think) weeks. I'm using Biocorneum which I also used on the drain scars and Scar Away long silicone strips. I just ordered the scar gel from Medica that one of you kind ladies recommended too. I'm almost 5 months out...

Wildberrytoo
17 Jun 2013

I'm forced to not wear compression (bb piercing) and not liking it at all. I'm hoping that in a week I'll be like b.b. and it will all work itself out. Like I posted yesterday, I have been constantly feeling like a beached whale, then it hit me, must be because I quit compression cold turkey. I at least hope that's the reason. I can still see my drain scars, at first I used scar gel on them, but I stopped because they don't bother me. I'm really wondering if the swelling will ever end. Isn't it funny that all of us 5 monthers all seem to go through the same swelling cycles?

Geneticjinx15
17 Jun 2013

You Ladies are the best! Thanks for responding so quickly. My PS is kind of worthless about these things. He told me I didn't need compression after 6 weeks and that I only needed to use the scar gel until the first tube was gone. I am almost finished with tube #3. When I showed him how much I was swelling, he refused to say it was from the surgery. He told me I should go see a gastroenterologist if I continued to swell. Ridiculous. Part of the reason I had the surgery in January was because I wanted to look good for my nephew's wedding at the end of June. Instead, my swelling is about as bad as it has ever been. I'm feeling pretty down & frustrated.