36, 3 Kids Ready to Have my Body Back! Sarasota, FL

My 2nd post op appt went well.. I had my last 2 drains removed which hurt like HELL again. Thank God that's over and done with. The nurse removed my old steri-strips and applied some new ones. She told me I could shower which was music to my ears. I given a new compression garment. This garment was hard to get on it took both the nurse and I to work it on up an get it zippered. I refer to is as my hell suit. The compression level is to the max! It made it hard to breathe not a very comfortable garment especially when you're swollen.

I went to my 3rd post op visit on Fri Oct.2. This visit went just as well. The nurse removed my steri-strips and she removed some sutures from my incision and bb. My incision has healed I still have a tiny area on my bb that has not so I continue to clean it with the hydrogen peroxide and apply aquaphor. My drain holes are completely healed. I saw Dr. Lacerna she was very pleased with my progress. As always she answered all my questions didn't have very many this time. She told me I was cleared to go to the beach/pool and I could get back to my norm of course not over doing it and making sure to listen to my body. She said I could start scar therapy with the silicone strips to start to flatten the incision. I do have a couple hard areas on my left side from the lipo which she told me to massage them. After seeing the Dr. the nurse took some after pics which they emailed to me. Dr. wants to see me back in a month.

So my surgery went well and I made it safe and sound to the flat side. The day of surgery started off like everyother day for me. I woke my kids up and got them ready for school then hubby took me to the office. Once I got there they made me take a pregnancy test which was neg. Then took me to the room to get undressed and into my surgical attire. That's when the nerves set in. The OR nurse was very nice she went over some paperwork with me and had me sign a few. Dr. Lacerna came in as she always is nice and pleasant and reassured me everything would be fine and I will look great after :-). She then drew on me and I saw how low my incision would be and I was pleased because it is super low. The CRNA came in she was nice and funny..She asked me a couple questions and then told me she is going to give me some "happy juice". I was then escorted to the OR I remember sitting on the table then I laid down and that was all she wrote..I woke up in recovery a lil after 11 and they told me all went well..

The first night was was a lil tough..I felt so tight and really sore. Hubby is taking such great care of me making sure I take all of my pills on time. My catheter was taken out at home on Wed that was a breeze..I was able to use the bathroom with no issues..My poop however was stubborn but made it's grand entrance on Thursday after I had my first post-op appt. My appt was fine..I had a pain pump which the nurse had to remove LORD knows I was not ready for that..It hurt like HELL as she was pulling it out. Then she took the bandages off of my insicion and belly button..Cleaned it up a bit and told me to clean my BB with hydrogen peroxide and apply some aquaphor daily.. Told me everything was healing well..I still have my 2 drains those will be removed on Tues. My pain level is about a 1 during the day and a 2 which is usually at the end of the night since I have to walk hunched over my lower back has been aching but at this point it's manageable. I am able to walk unassisted to and from my bathroom. I can get in/out of bed with minimal assistance. Everyday it gets a lil better. ????

So I had my pre-op appt on Fri (9/4)..There were a lot of forms to read and sign. After doing so, I met with the nurse whose name is Keisha..She is super nice, funny and easy to talk to..She took me to the room and hooked me up to the EKG machine and also drew my blood for the necessary bloodwork. My EKG was normal the bloodwork takes a few days to get the results.. After that was said and done she sat down and discussed in further detail all the forms I had signed.. I was told all the do's and don'ts, what to expect on the day of surgery and what I will be going home with after surgery (catheter, pain pump, leg device to prevent blood clots, etc).. After inquiring about where the surgery would be done she asked if I would like to see the OR and I said "sure". It was the typical OR with all the machines not as big and unfriendly but rather nice and quaint. They use a CRNA who the nurse said is extremely nice and gentle.. So after discussing the all the paperwork Dr. Lacerna came in.. She is such a nice and caring Dr and sooooo easy to talk to as well.. She asked me if I had any other questions/concerns which at first I said "No" but then all of a sudden questions were just spilling out of my mouth..lol..She listened to all my concerns without interrupting or rushing me and then answered all my questions in detail without making me feel like I was taking up her time.. The nurse took a pre-op pic of me which Dr. Lacerna reviewed and drew on the pic where my incision and drains would be.. My incision is very low it will easily be covered by my undies.. I asked her how the belly button will look and she drew the 2 most common types and asked me which one I preferred..I said the most natural looking one which appears to be the one that had the "hooded look" then the nurse drew it on my pic and I agreed.. After that was done I saw Sarah to make my payment.. I added the Vitamedica vitamins pack per the first recommendation of another real selfer as well as the nurse and Sarah herself..The payment process was easy and quick.. The entire office staff is so professional, welcoming and really nice! This is a no pressure office..Now the countdown begins!