“9 month po tummy tuck. Going to have a consultation for a bilateral dermolipectomy.”

I am a mom of 2 boys ages 14 and 10. When I was 17 I gave birth to my first child. I gained 80 pounds that pregnancy.I lost the weight and pretty much maintained that till my second pregnancy. After that my body was ruined. I had my second son when I was 21 and gained 90 pounds that time. I ended up losing 100 pounds and have been able to maintain pretty much around that.

I am 31 now and am so ready to have a flat stomach again. Can't even remember what it was like anymore. I really wanted to get my breasts done too but that will have to be sometime in the future. Way too much money for me. I am supposed to get my surgery on August 24th.

I have an ear infection at the moment and am on an antibiotic, so I am hoping it's cleared up by then. I am a little nervous about getting the surgery and the recovery but so many have done it so I think I will be ok. I will post some before pictures soon to show you my yucky stomach lol.

Updated on 16 Aug 2011:
Today is my pre op appt. Can't believe I only have less than 8 days till my surgery. I am getting nervous.

Updated on 24 Aug 2011:
Just got home and I'm in pain. I think I will survive. I have to keep my garment on for 2 days so will post pics when I can.

Updated on 24 Aug 2011:
Posting a couple pics. Can't see anything yet. And the drains are digusting! But will just deal with it lol.

Updated on 25 Aug 2011:
Well my first night was bad. I kept having to go pee and I had to wake my hubby up so many times to help me get up. Was so hard to get up and down.

Updated on 25 Aug 2011:
My garment is driving me nuts. It is so tight up on my ribs. And really hard to fasten the bottom after going to the bathroom.

Updated on 26 Aug 2011:
Is it normal for your garment to be soo tight everywhere.? It feels like its cutting off my circulation and it is digging into my ribs. I don't think I can continue wearing this one.

Updated on 27 Aug 2011:
Adding a picture. 3 days post op

Updated on 28 Aug 2011:
Well I did something so Stupid less than an hour ago. I tried to get out of bed without waking my hubby up. I feel like I ripped all my stitches out of my middle in my stomach. I hurt so bad now. I'm hoping I am fine. Just really gonna try not to have to get up for awhile. Yesterday I took a second dose of Milk of Mag because I haven't went to the bathroom yet. I wish I hadn't because I am going non stop and just that is killing my stomach. I know...too much info...

Updated on 28 Aug 2011:
I am hurting really bad today. Haven't needed to take my pain medicine much until today. Ever since I tried to get up by my self out of bed, the middle of my stomach where my belly button is feels 100 times more swollen and it hurts so bad when I walk. Yesterday I was feeling better. I am not very happy today. I guess maybe I am starting to go through some sort of depression. I hope it starts to ease up soon. I really feel like my stomach is going to explode. Mainly in the middle are around my BB. I don't like this one bit. :-(

Updated on 29 Aug 2011:
Well so far today I am feeling much better than the night before. My husband bought this pillow that looks like the back of a recliner and has arm rests. I sat up in bed while I slept. I wasn't sleeping sitting up enough before. I think that is why I was so swollen. The swelling was 24 hours. Didn't go down at all. If anything was just getting worse every hour. My swelling is less than last night. I am hoping that today will continue to be better than yesterday. I may try to take another pic or to today.

Updated on 29 Aug 2011:
Can anyone who has already been through the recovery tell me if swelling was a huge issue? And how much swelling? I am so swollen that it feels like its up into my ribs and feels like my BB will burst. This is awful. I know swelling is one of the things you go through I just don't know if maybe I am swelling more than is normal.

Updated on 30 Aug 2011:
Well I called my ps and I go in tomorrow instead of Thursday. The swelling is so bad it is killing my belly button and it's oozing through my garment. And my skin is so sore in gross around my drains. So he's calling me in an antibiotic because he thinks I might have a skin infection. I am so emotional and I can not stop crying! I rather have my old stomach than to go through this swelling and pain! I am wondering why I did his to myself!!!

Updated on 31 Aug 2011:
Went to my ps today. He says my swelling is normal...I guess you guys can handle it better than I can lol. I have a little skin infection around my BB and drain site but started an antibiotic yesterday. He says he wants to see me Friday probably to check on my infection. If it's worse I have to start another antibiotic also. He took my stitches out of my BB and one of my drains. I did not like the drain coming out. What an odd, gross feeling it was.He also might take my other drain depending on the output.He took this tape off of my incision and says it looks good. Put an ointment on it and put gauze on it before I put my compression garment back on. I wasn't sure before about my stitches on my incision but it was internal. so thats good. I might try and take some pictures tomorrow to post.

Updated on 2 Sep 2011:
I'm 9 days po today. Went to my ps and he said my infection is getting better so he doesn't think I need the other antibiotic. My belly button has nasty stuff coming out of it. Especially if I push on my stomach around it. He said its just the fatty tissue and fluids coming out. I want to take pictures but I am waiting until my BB looks better. It is gross right now. He took my other drain out today. Didn't hurt at all and was out in a second. I am just hoping that I don't develope any fluid that will need drained. They gave me my stage 2 compression garment and omg it was so hard to get into. My thighs are so swollen and big right now, it was a struggle to get it on. Its really tight. I guess it's a good thing. Just wish it was easier to get into. Question...I am due for my period in a week and I have no idea what to do. I wear pads usually. I guess maybe I will have to wear tampons, however I probably shouldn't because I just had a LEEP done 4 weeks ago. I need to find out if I can Use them yet. I don't know... I went out to eat with my dad after my appt. It was nice getting out for awhile. It has been a good day so far. Also have been walking more upright today and feeling much stronger. I even was able to shave my legs for the first time in 9 days.

Updated on 2 Sep 2011:
Adding a couple pics (9 days po) with clothes. night time swelling...isn't too bad tonight

Updated on 4 Sep 2011:
11 days po today. Feeling pretty good. Still really swollen but this compression garment seems to be keeping it under control. The only complaint I have is the fact that I can't take it off by myself. The surgeon says I can take it off a few times a day for short periods of time but it is impossible. I cab't even look forward to showering. And can only shower if my husband is home to help peel this damn thing off lol. Pain hasn't been too bad. Still take a percocet a couple times a day but Thinking of just starting to take tylenol when I need it.

Updated on 5 Sep 2011:
Day 12. Adding some pics. Still really swollen and not pretty to look at. My BB is so swollen and still healing from the infection I had.

Updated on 9 Sep 2011:
16 days po and feeling a bit depressed. I just want my swelling to go down some. I feel like my stomach is going to be this way forever...not liking my BB right now. I think its too small and almost an outie. It is still really swollen so maybe once that goes down my BB will look better. At least I hope so... I am hoping for a better day soon

Updated on 13 Sep 2011:
Adding some pictures. Day 20.

Updated on 15 Sep 2011:
Can anyone that wore a girdle like compression garment such as the marena stage 2 tell me what they did while on your period? I absolutely can not wear a pad with it on and I can't use tampons. I am trying wrapping an ace bandage on my stomach and wearing a firm fitting undershirt thingy that I bought at walmart. It seems to be working but the ace bandage is uncomfortable.

Updated on 16 Sep 2011:
Day 23. Had my 3 week appointment. Everything seems to be going good right now. Supposed to wear my stage 2 garment for another 3 weeks but it really is getting looser on me so not sure if I will use that anymore. Will just use other forms of compression for now on I think. He was looking at my lower stomach and was saying maybe I would need a revision in 6 months. Hard to tell because of the swelling. I am guessing a mini tummy tuck. He says maybe they could remove a little more skin. I am hoping that isn't the case because I do not want anymore surgery. However I will if I need it because I want my stomach to be the best it can be. He had to pull out a few stitches from my incision and my BB because they didn't dissolve. I am not supposed to go back for 3 weeks so hopefully won't have a reason to go before then. I added 1 picture from this morning. It's more of a close up pic.

Updated on 20 Sep 2011:
Took a few pictures this morning. Day 27.

Updated on 20 Sep 2011:
I am posting a picture from the first week when I was having massive swelling. I have a couple more that are worse but I am not wearing clothes in those pics so not going to upload.

Updated on 22 Sep 2011:
adding 1 pic.day 29

Updated on 27 Sep 2011:
I took a picture of what I am using for compression right now. One day shy of being 5 weeks.

Updated on 28 Sep 2011:
adding a picture. 5 weeks po.

Updated on 4 Oct 2011:
Adding a couple pictures. 41 days po.

Updated on 7 Oct 2011:
So I had my 6 week appt. today. I woke up this morning and noticed a bump forming in or on my belly button. It actually got bigger in the matter of just a couple hours. It turned out to be an abscess. So he had to drain it. Then he cauterized it. I hope it doesn't come back again. He said it probably was a stitch that didn't dissolve and became infected. So going on another antibiotic. This is my 4th antibiotic since the middle of August. He also had to pull another stitch out of one of the ends of my incision. I don't have to wear a compression garment anymore unless I feel the need to. I am back to doing normal housework things and exercise,which I have been easing into the last week and a half anyways. Also could start doing ab work in another couple weeks.

Updated on 8 Oct 2011:
I am really bummed the last couple days. The abscess I had drained yesterday is now just a hole that is still oozing. Kind of paranoid about it. I hope it doesn't get worse. Everything was healing great and now this. Really depresses me. My stomach is more swollen than usual and I don't want to wear anything really tight on my stomach because of the abscess..I am just having a big pity party!

Updated on 18 Oct 2011:
Tomorrow I will be 8 weeks po. I finished my antibiotic and the abscess is gone. It's just a small scab. I go back to my ps in 2 days to make sure everything is going ok. I may have more of a stitch on the end of my incision that needs cut again. I think I have a small dog ear that will need removed but I am hoping that it will smooth out because I don't want to need a revision. Only time will tell. I am posting a few pictures from today. Probably not much of a difference from my others but still posting.

Updated on 26 Oct 2011:
9 weeks po video

Updated on 26 Oct 2011:
well tried to post video, don't think it is working

Updated on 26 Oct 2011:
nevermind, figured it out i think lol

Updated on 9 Nov 2011:
I am 11 weeks po today. I am swollen all the time now. I wake up swollen and it never goes down. I am miserable. :-( I feel so discouraged at this moment. I am trying to stay positive but I can't help but feel negative at this point. I will post a pic of the swelling soon. I think I will take a picture of it in a few minutes so you can see what I mean. It is still morning so will get even worse as the day goes by.

Updated on 15 Nov 2011:
Going into the surgeons office today because I found another abscess right next to where the other one was. Ruins my mood for the day. On a good note my swelling is down. The last couple weeks or so I looked pregnant. Was so discouraging.

Updated on 8 Dec 2011:
Well lets see. About a week and a half ago I went to ps because of my abscess. He found the source of my problem. He pulled out maybe 5 or 6 stitches. I don't know how he could of missed them while he removed the stitches in the first place. I am hoping he got all of them out. I do not want another infection. I have been on antibiotics 6 times in 3 months. I have been struggling with my weight lately. Thanksgiving screwed me up. I feel fat. I have been watching what I eat and exercising alot more this past week so I am hoping to feel better about myself soon. I am still struggling with swelling. It is worse later in the day. I still don't feel good without something a little snug on my tummy. It gets really tight and swollen after a few hours of not wearing any compression. So majority of the day I wear a camisole but at night I don't wear one. I am posting a couple pictures from 2 days ago.

Updated on 3 Mar 2012:
Well it's been a while since I have done an update. I have had a lot of things going on with me and have been a bit depressed and stressed out. I feel fat. I am up 5 pounds from surgery but to me it looks like a lot. My arms and thighs look huge. I want to lose a few pounds before posting more pictures. Back in December I ended up getting c-diff from all the antibiotics I was on for my abscess and 2 ear infections. In January I went to my obgyn and he noticed my thyroid is enlarged. I had to get some tests done and there are 2 nodules that look like they could be cancerous! I hope to God they aren't. I have to get surgery for this on March 28 and they will do a frozen section to see if it is or not.I am supposed to get a left thyroid lobectomy but if the frozen section says its cancer then they will have to take my whole thyroid which will suck. I need a revision for my tummy tuck done. I could have gotten it this month but now I have to wait and see what is going on with me. I need to get out of this funk I am in...

Updated on 24 Mar 2012:
It just never seems to end. I now have a new abscess on my BB. Different area than before. At first I thought maybe my scar was starting to thicken up but it just keeps getting bigger and is pink. So I am going to call my ps on Monday, which is 2 days before I have my thyroid surgery. I can't believe I have another one after 7 months...

Updated on 18 May 2012:
It's been awhile since I have posted. I want to post pics soon but I need to lose some weight that I gained. In March I had a left thyroid lobectomy. My biopsy came back benign so was very glad about that. I am now on thyroid medication and it is a struggle to lose weight at the moment. The last time I posted I thought I had an abscess on my BB again. I went to my surgeons and he thought it was a keloid but a few weeks later it got worse and went back. It turned out to be another stitch that didn't dissolve. I really hope I am done with all of that. I went to my surgeons office for a follow up from when I had my stitch removed. We discussed my revision. I thought it was just going to be minor with local anesthesia but he thinks I should get a bilateral dermolipectomy. So now I have to come up with 450 dollars to pay for anesthesia. I have to have another consultation about this on June 6th. This surgery won't be happening until probably late June or in August because my husband will be getting surgery and I will have to help take care of him. I have been trying to google about this procedure but having trouble finding what I am looking for. All they are doing is extending my scar and removing some extra skin and fat. I wonder what this recovery will be like. and how much pain involved. I know it won't be too bad. Can not be as bad as the actual tummy tuck, thats for sure.