Tummy Tuck: Stories

Hi gals...I am a 37 mother of 3 via c-section. My boys were both over 9 lbs and my little girl was a "tiny" 8 lbs 4 oz. I have the "c-section shelf" and loose skin. I have worked out for years...run, pilates, yoga, strength train and nothing rids me of my pooch. I also discovered I have the infamous rectus diastasis, where my muscles are considerably separated. I am estatic that I finally will have the stomach I aim for, but I have to admit, I am super nervous!

So although I'm apprehensive to post pictures, I am going to. If only to have something to look back at after the surgery and hopefully see a drastic change. I am 3 weeks out and pretty ready! I am nervous about the down time and my daily life. My youngest child is only 16 months and still needs/wants her mommy quite a bit. I am hoping that between my mom and mother in law, I will be okay...I have "coverage" for two weeks following the surgery and then I'm on my own. My 8 year old son is on board to help with his baby sister too. Crossing my fingers it all works out!

3 days out and the pain is manageable. I do, however, have the worst nausea and have a hard time keeping anything down. Not fun with a sore stomach!

So I'm now on day PO...things get a little better everyday. My nausea is gone and the pain is getting better. I'm trying to only use the prescription pain pills at night and just use Tylenol during the day. I have some pretty painful constipation and I believe its because the pain pills. I got my pain pump out Monday and saw my stomach for the first time. WOW! Although I am very swollen and brusied, I was estatic with the results. I can't really believe that its my stomach! Plus, the skin is so tight (and still pretty numb). I go again to the doctor on Friday (day 9 PO) and hopefully get the drain out. I accidentally let it fall in the shower this morning and it pulled pretty significantly, so I will be glad when that is no longer a worry! Walking around pretty well, just tired and really enjoy sleeping :) I'll post pictures soon.

So I am 3 weeks post op today. Feeling a little better everyday. I did have a scare over the weekend and thought I had popped a stitch. Actually, I didn't even feel it, but my husband noticed blood on the side of my shirt after we got home from dinner on Saturday night. I put a bandaid over it and was fine until the next morning when I took the bandaid off to shower and dark (rust colored) blood came oozing out again. We went to the emergency room, but luckily my surgeon's nurse called while we were waiting and told us to leave the ER. (I later found out that quite often, ER doctors may open up your incision again. Better to be safe than sorry I guess, but my PS said it wouldn't be necessary).

Long story short, I went into my PS office on Monday morning and it wasn't an open stitch, but a seroma. Honestly, it doesn't hurt a bit. My PS drained it in the office on Monday using a cathedar and then bandaged me up. By later that day, nothing was draining anymore. I went back today for a follow up and he drained some more. It may be from doing too much. I have three kids, including an 18 month old, that obviously need constant care. My husband works a lot and travels, so I am on my own for at least 12 hours a day. I also attempted to get back to the gym...which I am now forbidden to do until at least next week.

Still, I can't complain. Like I said, I'm really not in pain. Definitely swollen by the end of the day and ready to lay down, but nothing unmanageable. I am encouraged by my results so far and know things will only get better!