“7 week po pics”

I am a 29y/o mother of a beautiful 10y/o daughter.Pre-pregnancy weight 105lbs.Gained 105lbs to weigh in at 210lbs!!She was born by c-section.Only lost about 20lbs and stayed at 180lbs for a couple years.

I have been anywhere from 130lbs to 170lbs over these past 10 years and my stomache is a hot mess. I go the gym, eat healthy and can't get rid of this flapjack belly no matter how hard I try.

Been wanting a TT for about 7 years and now I have scheduled it for July. I'm so excited. I have one question for you guys. As you can see in my pictures I have some love handles. Will a TT slim these down a little or should I also have lipo done?

Please give me some advise for this dilema I am having. Anything would be helpful at this time. Thanks!!

Updated on 29 Apr 2011:
Wow! These pictures look horrible. I don't feel that big..haha! I don't know why I have waited so long to do this. I am even doubting they will be able to fix this mess I have. I am only 5'2 and currently have been at a steady 155lbs. I have been working my butt off at the gym,avoiding the junk food and it is so discouraging that I can't see the results. I would just like to sit down without my belly sitting on my laps all the time. I have to dress like I'm 50 years older than I am. I have to buy at least 1-2 pant sizes bigger than I am to accomadate this "pooch" and make sure I don't get it caught in the zipper.It sucks! I have been so depressed with my body. My fiancee has never even seen me get dressed in front of him, that's how self conscious I am and I have had enough!! It's time to have my body back. I know I will never be 105lbs again nor would I want to be.When your a "teen mom" you loose your teen years, your twenties too,lol! Well I have done so much for myself and my daughter that I am very proud of. From raising her on my own with no help, living check to check on $5/hr to pay for a roof over our head to putting myself through nursing school and becoming a RN. Now I can give my daughter what I never had. Now it's time for me! I am gonna get rid of this BELLY cuz it's a constant reminder of years of struggle and pain. Be gone belly blues..you are no longer needed =o)

Updated on 1 May 2011:
Two and a half months to go and I wish it was sooner. I'm getting so anxious to just have it done already. I've been dieting and exercising hard core. I want to try and loose at least 10 more lbs by then. But this wait is KILLING ME!!! On another note I am in the middle of a disengagement. Took the ring off this morning =( We have been engaged for 4 years and already called off our wedding last year. Besides he makes me feel like I'm worthless and constantly throws in my face that my daughter is not "his kid". What an ass!! So even more encouragement to get this done I guess. Maybe once I loose this belly, I'll loose him too..

Updated on 4 May 2011:
It seems like the days are passing by so slow. But I know it will be here before I know it. Today I was feeling good. I got on the scale and I have lost 5lbs. So me and my daughter go have lunch and this older lady that was our waitress asks me if I'm having a boy or a girl?! WTF!!! Anyways...that kinda sucked but she just gave me more motivation to work harder and not chicken out on having this done =)

Updated on 8 May 2011:
Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful mother's out there!!

Updated on 3 Jun 2011:
5 weeks until the big day! I also quit smoking about 2 months ago..YAY ME!! Time seems to be flying now and I am getting a little nervous. My biggest fears are the surgery itself and going through all this and coming out with the same results. I have been looking at before and after pics more than usual and trying to stay positive that there is hope for me too to have wonderful results post-op even though I am not going to get lipo. But I just can't picture myself with a flat tummy. I haven't seen that since I was a teenager. I'm sure I will be pleased with the results because it can't get any worse than what it is now. Anxiety is kickin in due to the upcoming surgery and just the anticipation i guess.

Updated on 23 Jun 2011:
Just found out my time off request from work was approved!! Gonna take off about 5 weeks. My pre-op is on Monday and I'm kind of FREAKING OUT! Time is just flying and I've started to have dreams of myself post-op. I can only hope I look and feel as good as I do in my dreams. Trying to get everything I will need in place. I ordered a 12" wedge pillow and TED hose. Got me some supplies for bed baths,wound care,bed pads in case the drains leak and comfortable clothes. I think all I need is my prescriptions which I will recieve on Monday. I have a list of meds I think I will need. I now understand why nurses are the worst patients =^)

Updated on 27 Jun 2011:
Pre-op appointment this morning. Signed my consents, they took before pictures(that was not fun at all!!)made final payment and got my presciptions. I have to be at the surgical center at 6am. 14 more days...YIKES!!!

Updated on 30 Jun 2011:
12 more days. Now that it is getting so close I am really starting to get really anxious. I'm excited but so nervous. Every time I start thinking about it I get myself nauseated. Did anyone feel like this? How did you deal with these feelings? I think three months is too much time to wait for something like this. If I'm this nervous now...how am I gonna get through the day before or the day of...AWWWWWW!!!!!

Updated on 7 Jul 2011:
5 days left! I am so ready for the waiting to be done with. It has been a very unique experience for me. I had 3 long months to think this over and I think I have experienced every emotion possible. I am now so close and have finally got passed the major anxiety. I'm still anxious but I am just thinking of all the positive that will come of this. I can't even imagine how it's going to feel to get dressed without having to tuck and adjust everything everytime I move..always worrying if my bulge is showing. I can't picture myself without the belly. It is so hard to picture myself without it. You all were awesome and thanks for all the comments. I will update the day before and then try and do post-op pics as soon as I can.

Updated on 8 Jul 2011:
4 more days!! I know I said I wasn't gonna post until the day before but I can't help it, lol! Well all the dieting and working out didn't work. I'm weighing between 150-155, same as what I started with =(. I have been telling myself these past couple of days "ok this is my last big meal." But nope! I just don't want to go into surgery all bloated and then post-op be vomitting..not a good picture. So I have made a plan, soups and protein shakes from here on out. Sunday I will give myself an enema to make sure my bowels are clear and Monday nothing but fluids and electrolytes. Then I should be alright. Tomorrow is my last day at work and then it will be time to clean and get everything ready. So excited,anxious,nervous and scared but it will all be worth it in the end. I know it's gonna be painful and I'm just gonna expect that so I'm not suprised. Well enough rambling =)....

Updated on 10 Jul 2011:
1 more day!!! I have been waiting for this for a long time and now I am at the point of no return and kinda scared. I know I will be fine and just got to keep all the POSITIVE thoughts in mind. Came close to loosing my father yesterday. He has end stage MS and we had a close call but he is doing ok now. I feel so selfish still going through this with him in the hospital but I know we will both get better. This will be my last entry and I will post as soon as I can. Wish me luck!!

Updated on 15 Jul 2011:
3 days post op and things are getting a little better.
Day 1 was tolerable but day 2 had to have been the
Worse day by far. I was in pain and nauseated vomiting.
That was the worst. The MR was the most intense and i was so sore it was hard for me to breathe. I will post pics as soon as I can. Haven't seen my belly yet but it is flat I can tell there's gonna be a big difference. BTW..They took off 5lbs of skin!

Updated on 16 Jul 2011:
Today is PO day 5. I feel a little bit better. The worst parts of the day are when I wake up or when I go to bed. I am hoping once I have a BM everything will feel better. Been a little nauseated from time to time, which is the worst for me. I can handle everything else just not the nausea, ugh! Gonna try and wean myself off the pain meeds today. I am having a little burning around my belly button and drain sites. Is that normal? More than likely will post pics after my PO appt on Monday..ttyl

Updated on 17 Jul 2011:
Today started off with a little nausea. I also have had a bad sore throat the last couple days. I think it is irritated from the intubation. Has anyone had this before? How do you treat it? Besides my binder and these darn drains nothing's changed. Have my first PO appt tomorrow and I'm excited but nervous to see or peek at my new tummy! I hope everything is where it's suppose to be =)

Updated on 19 Jul 2011:
1 week PO. Nausea is pretty much gone. Sore throat is getting better everyday. Had my PO appt yesterday. Still have too much drainage to remove drains which kinda sucks but I know I need them in. Saw my belly for the first time yesterday. It looks good. My bb is nice and small and not frowning anymore. Side view I'm nice and flat. Front view I'm flat but very swollen on the back sides...especially the right side. I know the swelling will go down eventually and at this point I'm just happy to be done with the worst part. That first week is a doozy but so worth it. My Dr. said everything looks good and I can start taking off my binder now. I can't seem to put the binder down, it's like a comfort blanket. Took some pics and I will upload them soon. Ttyl =)

Updated on 19 Jul 2011:
Here are my 1 week pictures!

Updated on 19 Jul 2011:
I would just like to add that I am so lucky I have my fiancee, mom and daughter here with me. I would not been able to do it without them. My love is so supportive, helpful and patient with me. He sleeps on a huge bean bag chair right next to the couch where I sleep in case I need him. Poor thing...I have never seen him so tired in all the years we've been together. I love them all very much =)

Updated on 20 Jul 2011:
Day 8..Have been very emotional today. My tummy under my bb is so numb..freaky. I hope I get some feeling back. Thoughts of regret cuz I am so swollen and numb thinking WHY did I do this to myself? Read others stories and they're already progressing with drains out going to lunch and I haven't even showered in more than a week. I guess the depression stage has set in;( Hope this is just a phase....

Updated on 22 Jul 2011:
Day 10...Today I feel better. I must say, I didn't expect all this. All I was thinking about was I'll have a flat tummy. I wasn't thinking about everything else..like the recovery part. I totally underestimated this recovery process. By now I thought I'd be flat and curvy wearing cute clothes and showing off my new belly. That has not been the case. I am swollen still have my drains in, both of them and I feel so helpless. My PS said I could start taking off the binder and I can't stand to have it off more than 15 minutes. It feels like my incision is gonna pop open and I can't stand touching my belly cuz it's so numb it freaks me out. My PS also said I could start picking at the steri strips over my incision. I have loosened a couple and a few came off but I am a big chicken and I don't want to yank something off and have an open wound. I'm just thinking they will come off easier in the shower but I can't shower yet...ugh!! I just feel like I'm not progressing as fast as I wanted to and it's so frustrating. But everything has gotten better day by day. I am getting more feeling back in my belly. My bb is looking very natural and it's so cute! Swelling on the right is now about even with the left. I do still have some muscle tightness and am not walking completely upright yet but pretty close. Pain is still an issue from time to time. Mostly from the drains and I do still have some burning pains in abdomen and around drains. I think once my drains are removed, can shower and my scar is better healed, I will feel so much better. This is truely gonna be a long recovery and I accept that now. I am sure I won't regret doing this and I don't. Just need to be patient and strong. This dang heat hasn't helped either. It's been at least 95 degrees every single day. That and not allowed to shower is not a good combination. Well hope to have drains out by Monday, fingers crossed. Til next time =)

Updated on 23 Jul 2011:
Day 11..So I woke up cranky from lack of sleep and heat. Had myself a pity party this morning. I was mostly frustrated with these damn drains. My left one was pissing me off all night. The stitch kept pulling on my skin when I would move a certain way. So after I pissed and moaned all morning, I remembered...oh ya..I'm a nurse, ha! So I did some critical thinking and thought what are the reasons why I might still be draining over 20cc/day? And by-golly it came me. Maybe I need to take in more protein. It is very important for the healing process and I know I haven't been taking in what I need. So I drank one of my protein shakes for breakfast. I swear by the end of the day today my drainage has decreased significantly, so much that neither drain went over 20cc today...Amazing what a little thinking clearly can do. I'm praying that tomorrow will not prove me wrong...then I can get these drains out Monday..yay!!

Updated on 24 Jul 2011:
Day 12...Note to self..keep up with the stool softeners. OMG!!!! What a big mistake to stop taking those regularly. My daughter said it sounded like I was giving birth. I told her I did....just no baby,lol! It's funny now but at the time I thought I was gonna die!! Never again will I underestimate the power of the colace! Otherwise everything about the same. Drainage still below 20cc so I will be calling them tomorrow and hopefully they can come out. Kinda nervous...hope it doesn't hurt that bad. I think after these drains are gone, I will have reached a big milestone in my recovery and things will start to progress faster. Can't wait to move forward =)

Updated on 25 Jul 2011:
Day 13...My drains are OUT! I feel so much better! It was not painful at all just felt a little weird. Feel 100% better and it can only get better from here. Drove myself to Walgreens. I bought some Bio-oil for scar therapy. What would you recommend? Well everyone have a good day..happy healing!

Updated on 26 Jul 2011:
2 weeks...Kinda down today...trying to recover and fighting with your fiancee don't go well together..ugggh! Well I took my first shower this morning and that was awesome! Oh the joy of soap and water! My incision is looking good. Still has some scabs but is healing very well and thin! My only question is sometimes when I touch my belly especially below my bb I have this area above and below the incision that feels as hard as a rock! Has anyone one else had this and what have you done for it? It's kinda freaking me out! Other than that been ok. Just wish I could recover without the drama in my life. I really don't need this right now;-(

Updated on 29 Jul 2011:
16 days PO....Getting better everyday. Emotionally...I'm still up and down not due to anything in particular just in general. But I have had some personal drama at home that has still not resolved. So that is making all of this 100x worse than what it should be. Incision still healing well. Still have that hard as a rock feeling but I've just been trying to massage it as much as I can. I really hope that gets better fast, I hate that feeling. I'm walking a little straighter but when I overdue it I start to walk hunched over. Well everybody have a great day...

Updated on 30 Aug 2011:
I am exactly 7 weeks post op today and love my results. I am slowly seeing my figure come together. I do still have swelling especially at night. Those hard lumps come and go. Otherwise everything has returned back to normal. This is my second week back at work and the 12 hours on my feet are killing me but it's tolerable. Well just a quick update. I'll try to post some pics as soon as i get a chance =)

Updated on 4 Sep 2011:
Here are my latest pics at almost 8 weeks po. Still swollen along my incision towards the evening. But i now love getting dressed in the morning =)

Updated on 4 Sep 2011:
Here are my latest pics at 7 weeks. Still have swelling in the evenings along the incision. But I now love getting dressed in the morning =)