23dayPO-Bra pic added!

23 day PO...yesterday I had my second post op appointment (it was 3 weeks plus one day since my surgery). My husband went with me and I had taken a pain pill about 20 minutes prior just in case. I was taken back to the exam room promptly. Undressed to undies with hospital gown on, nurse came in and I showed her the spot on my right breast cresent incision that had given me problems with opening and bleeding. The spot had a nice scab finally and I hadn't had any more problems with the incision. The nurse told me the doctor will want the scab off. I immediately got defensive and difficult. I did not want her to pick my scab off! My husband was looking at me like I was an alien. I did not want her to pick my scab! It took a long time for it to scab and stop bleeding and I kept picturing it dripping blood down my boob if she pried it off. I kept asking her why does the dr want the scab off? Nurse said that the incision will heal better and cleaner with less scaring. I argued with her telling her it is healthier to have a closed wound. She obviously saw that I was not going to cooperate and put her little tweezers down on the gauze and told me that she would just have the doctor look at it. As soon as she left, my husband tried to be the voice of reason and convince me to follow doctors orders. Aren't we all taught from a small age NOT to pick scabs? Well, to make my hubby happy, I carefully checked out the scab and gently scratched the edge of it and it came off in a nice soft flake. I proudly put the scab on the gauze so I could show the doctor...(what is wrong with me? must be the stupid pain pill, right?) So, anyhoo...as possible punishment we were left waiting for about 20 minutes or so before the PS finally came in. I told him about the scab and that I had picked it off. He didn't say much. I was looking for a gold star good patient award, I guess. PS had me stand up in front of him and he checked out all my incisions. He clipped some stitches on the tt area and probably picked scabs but at this point I was not looking and strangely got hot and woozy again like last time I had my appointment (drains out). When he got to the belly button stitches I told him I needed to sit down, he called his nurse to bring me a water bottle. He continued to clip stitches and clean gunk out of my bb. Nothing hurt by the way...just me being over reactive. Some questions and answers....keep massaging breasts. my right breast nipple is "off" to me, but the PS said it is too early to worry. I can buy any bra now. (currently, I prefer a soft cami with built in bra), i am allowed to put my arms above my head, i have to wear the "spanx" undies for one more week then I can go back to just panties, and in one week he said I could go back to exercising with modifications and to listen to my body. he warned me that it would be very uncomfortable at first and to not do any core exercises yet. (as if I would try!), PS told me to use Mederma and when I asked about the silicone strips he said he preferred Mederma. PS said he is very pleased with my healing progress and my husband complimented him on doing a wonderful job (prolly about the boobs!lol) I do not have to go back for 2 months.
I am pretty much 90% and I reserve the 10% because I still need a daily nap or rest, my upper abs feel like they need to stretch more and sometimes after sitting it takes a few minutes for me to be able to stand fully upright (no pain tho), I have been sleeping in bed again, but I'm not able to really roll over on my sides and toss around like i am used to doing. I usually get up around 5 am and take an advil just because sleeping in such a static position makes me stiff and sore, then I sleep again for another 2 hours. I am not lifting anything that I feel might be too heavy, just in case. I occasionally take advil if I get sore after doing some household chores or big shopping trip with lots of walking. Mentally, I am feeling pretty confident and sexy. My boobs overwhelm me a bit. It is going to take some time to get used to them. They are nice, don't get me wrong, but I guess I wasn't expecting them to be this large on me. (hubby has no complaints) I think my tt incision is healing very well. I found that some of my panties cover the scar line and I was surprised because I didn't think my scar was low enough for that. Now that the stitches and gunk is out of my bb, I will have to get used to it. I have to remind myself that I am still healing and changing, but my bb looks funky to me...i'm posting pics. I hope it goes in more. From afar it looks ok, but I don't care for the funny bumpy things inside (does that make sense?) So, all things considered, I am doing great, healing fantastically, and feeling pretty darn sexy! I am very excited to be able to go back to my Jazzercise class even if I do one move out of 20...I miss the energy and music and people from my class.

23day PO..later afternoon....so, I went to VS to get measured. I was nervous because I feel pretty large on the top and I wasn't sure how I would handle the actual size. I was sized at 34DD or 36D. When the saleslady handed me a try on bra, I felt like crying it looked so BIG! The 36D fit well and she showed me where to find some pretty bras. My 15 year old went with me and she helped me pick out some beautiful bras. Suddenly, I was very into picking out bras! I don't have any restrictions on underwire because I only had a crescent lift (no incisions to rub on underwire). I bought several! I have never owned this many bras before! lol....My favorite one is made of lace. I never ever ever could've worn a bra like that before. I got teary eyed in the dressing room looking at myself. Wow..., ok...I like my boobs.

15days post op...feeling good still. Having TOM, so other than that...feeling good. (ive had a few "blue" days, maybe PMS?) I took a 3 hour drive this morning so I could drop off my 17 yr old daughter at a girlfriends house to visit for a week. I'm not taking any pain pills except for advil about every 4 or 6 hours depending on if I remember or if I feel I need it. TOM has made me need it just a bit more these last two days, but nothing extreme. I feel like I could do almost anything so I know that is dangerous. I found myself weeding my little flower garden yesterday and made myself stop...i just pulled one, then another, then I was on my knees...and I thought, "nope, no more! stop already". I don't think it would hurt but I try to follow doctors orders...i certainly don't want any set backs. I slept in my own bed once. It wasn't the greatest sleep. My back got real sweaty and I felt sore from being in one position. The next night I got about half way through the night then went back to the recliner. I will try again after TOM. In my recliner, I am able to kinda scoot around a bit more which helps. I sleep wonderfully. I usually get up to pee once, but that is normal for me. I really drink tons of water throughout the day. (and lets face it, after 5 kids my bladder is doing the best it can!) I can laugh a bit now without it hurting so much. I think the area around the belly button is getting stronger. I still get a bit tired in the afternoon, but that is typical for me with my thyroid disorder (makes me tired a lot). I don't always nap, but I try to rest. I do dishes, I have swept a bit, done some laundry and cooked. Done a few shopping trips. I try real hard not to reach above my shoulders because the doctor told me not to yet...as I said, I TRY. My left breast feels better but I can tell it still needs to drop. I stopped using Mederma and I think that is making a big difference. I still have a few scabs that are healing around my areola. I have been trying to massage my breasts twice per day. My tt scar is not as symetrical as is was right after surgery. I know the skin has to drape back into place and my right side scar is just a bit off. It could even out or it may not. With as many deep thin skinned stretch marks, I am lucky the Dr had anything to stitch together. I do have the one spot right in the middle above my pubic area that has become a bit red. I'm pretty sure there is an internal stitch sticking out just a bit. (no pain or heat so it isn't infected) The tt scar has turned darker and "ropey" but I know this is all part of the healing process and it will thin out and lighten up in the weeks and months to come. I have no pain or discomfort from the incision area at all. My next follow up appointment is next Thursday. I'm attaching two pics taken yesterday..i know pics always helped me when I was researching and following the progress of our MM. Happy Healing Everyone!