“Major set back, HELP Houston, TX”

Hello, i'm 33 years old, i have 4 years old triplets (c-section), before that i had 2 surgeries done for ovarian border-line cancer, i feel like i have a freeway going through my stomach, my belly button is off, the left side of my tummy is higher than the right side. I have never been flat nor skinny but was very comfortable with how i looked and with my weight before all the surgeries and the kids.

I was 155 when i got married 7 years ago, i was 227 the day i gave birth a little over 4 years ago, since then it has been an on going struggle to lose weight, managed to lose some weight on and off, working out was near impossible with the kids, my weight stabilized at around 187, started dieting and working out when i decided to finally get TT done, i needed to commit and look forward to something, every time i lost weight i got more depressed because my stomach would be hanging out there, looking bigger than before (since everywhere else looked more toned), no one could tell i lost any weight, i knew i had to finally make up my mind and go for it.

I have chickened out few times before but this is it. I'm 170 right now and hoping to be around 160 on the day of my surgery on 3-19 (getting a TT and a lipo for the flanks area). I've been trying to do some reading to know what i might need to get prior to my surgery but i'm completely lost, any pointers would be greatly appreciated. My PS said she will be providing the girdle/binder to wear after the surgery, but I've been reading many comments about women buying their own, should i do that? Anything in particular? What else should i buy/get ready before the TT?

I am freaking out because i do have triplets, they are not in school yet and they are very attached to me, they are very affectionate and it kills me to think that i can't carry them and hold them tight for a while, but i do believe it is for the best for us all. Not ready to post my before pictures yet, hopefully i'll feel more comfortable soon. Good luck everyone :)

Updated on 6 Feb 2012:
Update- surgery is now on the 20th not the 19th. They called and asked if they can reschedule me because my doctor was asked to assist in a reconstruction surgery for a cancer patient on the 19th.
My pre-op appointment is on March 7th :) Getting there, just hoping i can lose as much weight as i want by then!

Updated on 11 Feb 2012:
I took some photos yesterday, OMG! I mean i knew that my tummy was big but looking at a mock shot of it is something else. It's so uneven and big, sucks :(

Updated on 5 Mar 2012:
Okay, pre-op is on Wednesday, where did the time go?!!! Like i said before, my surgery is now scheduled for the 20th and not the 19th, i couldn't change it in the calender section of this site for some reason as i still show on the 19th but it is fixed here. I am down to 167 from 189 since January, i wanted to be around 165 for my surgery but secretly i really wanted to be around 158-153, not going to happen seems like.
Okay, i am going to upload few pictures but ladies please be gentle and remember that i've had three surgeries done and carried triplets in this tummy at some point (you'll see the scar's highway i was referring to earlier in the photos). I am so nervous, it would take nothing short of a miracle to get this tummy fixed to me, the scar is much higher than my belly button i don't even know how my PS is going to take care of this.

Updated on 10 Mar 2012:
Had my pre-op appointment couple of days ago, my PS didn't meet with me, i met with the nurse and the OM (they said that's their usual practice), okay so apparently for the first week i wear the garment/binder i leave the hospital with then for my first post-op appointment they'll give me a garment, do you think i should buy a second one to change into when i want to wash it, do you ladies wear the one from the hospital for a whole week?
Also, had my hospital appointment today for all the blood work, got it done and over with, almost there.....10 more days!

Updated on 14 Mar 2012:
Nothing major to update except that i was checking out profile updates and photos of many of the ladies who had their TT done very recently and WOW, i know that you guys are probably in pain now, and feel like you are in swell hell but honestly, all of you ladies look GREAT! Looking forward to mine, my #1 nurse arrives in 2 days (my mom), yay!

Updated on 19 Mar 2012:
In few hours........Pray for me ladies. ♥

Updated on 24 Mar 2012:
Those damn drains!

Updated on 26 Mar 2012:
One week, it's been one week! I still have both drains, hoping one is coming off tomorrow, going to see my doctor tomorrow. In the past week i had few things happening, i had high fever one day (third day post Op), went and saw my doctor about it, still not sure what it was all about although it was high, 102.4 at some point, went away the next day. The pain has been manageable for the most part, just whatever you do, do.not.try.to.cough.....worst pain ever!
Thankfully, i never had any issues with BM, had my first one the very next day after the surgery, i hear that can be a real pain too.
I am in swell hell for sure, i hope that goes down soon, all bruised up still but i am very happy with the outcome so far. Happy healing ladies! ♥

Updated on 27 Mar 2012:
I did too much today, but good news, one of my drains is off yaaaaaaay me, it's still oozing a little, but not too bad. I am posting few photos.

Updated on 29 Mar 2012:
Day 10 PO- Slept in bed last night for the first time, i've been sleeping in a recliner since the surgery, last night wasn't the most comfortable but getting there, i am getting around just fine, sometimes i have to remind myself to slow down, healing, thankfully, has been much much easier than i had thought especially after reading some of the other reviews so ladies, have faith, our bodies are different, we heal different, but at the end we will all get there, i already have no regret what so ever regarding having this done, i feel so thankful to my family for pushing me to do it. ♥

Updated on 16 Apr 2012:
Hello ladies....haven't been able to post in a while, a lot has happened since....i was healing so well, no pain, no discomfort, then all of the sudden my BB started oozing/bleeding, contacted my PS's nurse and sent a photo she said it looks more red than they'd like it to be but nothing to worry about just yet, to go ahead and start using betadine on it couple of times a day and i had an appointment to go see my PS like a week later which was on Friday, well, a major set back for me, some "unhealthy tissues" grew on top of the BB (yellow/white looking stuff) she had to cut them all out and now i have a hole, yes a hole, on top of my BB, anyone going through something similar? I am completely freaking out because i am back to not being able to move, i am not supposed to sweat, i am back to have to put gauze on my BB and worse, i have to stuff the hole with iodoform. Ladies if anyone knows what i am talking about or went through it please please tell me your experience, i am freaking out worried about when it is going to heal, if it is going to heal and how it's going to end up looking.......so depressed.............still in swell hell by the way.....i will put new photo up tomorrow.

Updated on 16 Apr 2012:
I went ahead and updated few photos, you can tell that i am still in swell-hell but would take that any day over what is going on with my BB :(