14 Days & Counting to my TT and Nervous! (with video) - Albany, NY

I have wanted a tummy tuck for about 4 years now and after 3 years of research & meeting with different plastic surgeons I decided to do it! My story ~ I have 3 kids (2 boys ages 9 & 8 and 1 girl age 5), all 3 were delivered via c-section (my oldest was 10lbs 4oz at birth, my second was 8lbs 11oz 3 weeks early and my third was 8lbs 1oz also 3 weeks early). In December 2006 I decided I wanted to lose 30lbs, by August 2007 I had achieved that goal. Since then I have worked on keeping my body in a healthy shape but always on the front of my mind was my pooch! I have never felt good about myself & the changes I have made to my body due to my stretched out stomach. I even have a nice 6 pack under this flab!!! The beginning of 2010 I achieved my goal & dream of becoming a certified personal trainer but still felt like I was being held back by my stomach. So I knew it was time! I met my Plastic Surgeon back in 2008 when I had found a melanoma spot on my face & it required a PS to fully remove the area. I really liked this PS, his staff & the office. But I knew I needed to expand and see other PS' as well! The 2 others I met with were nice but I just did not get that immediate opinion. My TT is scheduled for October 14th - 2 weeks from today & my pre-op appointment on October 6th. OMG! I have been on an emotional roller coaster since 30 days out. I'm not second guessing my decision, it is just a major decision! I feel confident with my research (heck I could probably perform the surgery after all the research I have done). I have been getting the prep work done for my house - I needed to get someone here to get my kids off the school bus (not sure what time I will be home that day), am starting to make meals & freeze them (have to make it easy for my husband - god knows he cannot multi-task like me) and most importantly who is taking me there & bringing me home. My husband will be bringing me to the appointment but then I told him to go to work (no sense him taking a vacation day to sit around all day) and then my mom (who is a nurse & has been for 40+ years) will be coming over before I come out of surgery and then stay with me till it is time to come home. I know it is all in my surgeon's hands and God right now. I trust in my decision and just look for that final peace with it all. Updated on Oct 6, 2010: Had my pre-op appointment this morning! Went GREAT & there is no turning back now. The PS came in, started right in with how the day of my surgery will go, what I am to expect, how long, what I will feel like, and some important tips! I didn't even have to ask any of my questions I had written down (gosh he is good)!!!! He also said the waiting to your surgery date is the hardest part -- boy was he right! I'm going in with a nice strong & positive outlook and know that all will be great & the benefit from this is not to look 5 months pregnant anymore :-) I am staying busy with my "nesting" - I really feel like I'm 9 months pregnant just waiting to deliver and trying to keep busy with things. I spent the whole day on Monday cooking meals & freezing them, getting things caught up & taken care of so I can take 2 weeks off from not having to worry about what I didn't do! My list of things to make sure that are done for the day before surgery though is getting quite long, so I know it will keep me busy all day & not enough time to get nervous or anxious! I will do another vlog on Wednesday, the day before, so I can share my emotions, feelings & other tidbits! I am so grateful to be doing this and cannot wait for all the healing to be done for the after affect!!! Carpe Diem Updated on Oct 14, 2010: Here it is, my surgery date! It is 4:40am & I have tossed & turned most of the night, finally decided to get up at 4am. I have to be at the surgery center for 6:30, with my scheduled time at 7:30. I'm excited & ready for this to happen! On the other hand, I cannot believe it is here already! Seems like just yesterday I met with the PS for the first time! I bid a found farewell to my excess tummy last night & said thank god :-) In about 12 hours I'm hoping to be back home, seeing my kids & starting the recovery process! I'll be in touch

Post Op Day 1

Today is day 1 post op. The surgery went well yesterday; got in about 7:40am by the time surgery started & I got wheeled out it was 10:30 - 10:40. I woke up in recovery around 11, passed out again and back up around 11:45. At that time they moved me to the recliner chair & then I was able to get up and use the bathroom. My PS came in to see me and said everything went well and it was actually a blessing that I had this surgery done, as my rectus abdominis (your 6 pack ab muscles) were so stretched out I was developing a hernia.

Was able to get dressed & ready to go home. My mom took the day with me (she is a nurse so I wanted her with me), got me home & situated in my recliner chair. Despite trying to nap, I could not fall asleep!

I proceeded to eat dinner, get up & walk around and keep my legs moving.

My 2 older kids caught a glimpse of my drain tubes and got scared -- I felt so bad!

I finally fell asleep about 10 -- which I totally needed!

Today I have been uncomfortable not a whole lot of pain ~ that is until my 10 year old wrote me a note at school saying he was worried about me. The tears started flowing - which of course HURTS!

I'm experiencing more pain in my throat from the breathing tube during the surgery. So I'm trying to get lots of fluids & soft foods and do minimal coughing.

Cannot wait to shower on Day 2 & I certainly cannot wait until I can stand up straight & sleep in my own bed!

Post op Day 3: so far feeling much better!

Let's recap on Day 2 - my mom helped me shower for the first time & can I say Wow it felt great to take the garment belt off! She proceeded to take off the gauze bandages and we stood there & examined my stomach - WOW! It was flat, that was about all I could get from it as I was still wobbly on my feet & could not really examine it. So the shower felt GREAT! Then it was time to get the belt back on - HOLY cow that was bothersome trying to make it tight without hurting my incision, etc. It was a long process getting undressed, bathed, dried off, re-dressed, etc - I was tired! But that shower was worth it!
I was definitely more tired on Day 2 and feeling more wiped out. All I wanted to do was sleep. I was also dealing with needing to cough - that was tough to do but I managed to get it done!
I ended up sleeping really good on Day 2.

So now here it is Day 3 & I feel better! I feel like I have more energy, and more alert & awake.

I'm noticing most of my "complaints" are not related to the surgery but to other things - my lower back aching from being hunched over, my throat scratchy from the breathing tube, etc.

I'm taking a shower again this morning & will take a picture - will post that after.