Excited and Scared - Lakewood, Wa

I its nice to hear you think I am a perfect candidate! I had gained an excessive amount of weight during both my pregnances. I was 125 or so when I got pregnant the first time and I delivered at 225 and with my second I was also at about 225. I had extreme swelling. After I gave birth I went into a doctor appt 2days later and was 180. Tons of water and baby weight she was 9lbs.

Are you having many problems with the pain and moving? I am wondering how I am suppose to sleep I hear its very hard to get comfortable.

I am having a lot of panic attacks because I fear not soming out of surgery living lol.

Congrats on your tummy tuck!!

I understand your fears but just think of all the thousands of people who have surgery every day and everything is fine! This is only the second surgery under general anesthesia that I have experienced and that part is just no big deal. You just go out like a light and it seems like 5 minutes later they are waking you up and you're done!

I slept on my sofa the first 3 days and have been back in my bed since. It's uncomfortable getting up and down but once you are laying down it's ok. You have to sleep on your side or with pillows under your knees because you really can't lay flat for awhile.
Feel free to keep shooting questions my way...I'll be happy to keep the encouragement coming!

I am only one week post-op and my daughter and I went to town and ran errands today. I wore wind pants and a fitted tee and I loved the way my waist and tummy looked!

I thank you so very much for all the support. I try to not think of all the worst cases but according to my husband I am a little bit of a stress seeker. lol. The doctor tells me that general is more safe these days than driving which helps but I still jump to all the negative outcomes.

Thats amazing that you got out of the house and went to run errands only being one week post-op. Its so encouraging to hear that you love the way you look after. Since you went out that must mean your able to stand up. If you can thats just amazing.

Oh goodness, I never thought the sleeping situation would be so uncomfortable....we I will have to find away to make something work since my sofa is small and I wouldnt be able to sleep on it...

Hello Cass,

I am going in for my consultation on the 10th of Feb and like you I have all the same concerns and nervousness about the whole thing.
I have 4 kids, ranging from 8 to 2. I worry about doing things for my 2 year old, he is really a rough and tumble boy.
I agree with Time4Me, I think you are a perfect candidate also and you will have wonderful results. I am nervous about that too for my sake. Will the result be what I want them to be in the end. I don't have unrealistic expectations, but that is another worry for me when my mind starts to roam.
Excited and anxious to go thru this journey and glad I am not alone!
~Julie

I had my consult in Oct and finally was able to schedule my date this month. My pre-op is Feb 8th not sure what to expect... I couldn't imagine trying to do it with a boy. I have seen the little boys in my family and I fear they are going to kill themselves they are so wild!! I am sure your oldest is a great help though with the younger ones. You have a great support person too right?? My daughter is very much a mommy only kind of kid but I start school again soon and this is the only time I will have to get it done for the next few years....

Its nice to hear so many people saying I am a perfect candidate. I do worry about getting dog ears bc I have horrible love handles lol.

I am sure you will be a great candidate for this! I would love to hear what they tell you! As for the worry on your end results, I am very worried that my belly button will be off center, to low, or high, the scar will go higher than I would like, and that I will get dog ears....I can totally agree with you on being worried about the end! If you trust you PS and like his work I am sure you will look great. I trust mine I just worry I will have bad luck.lol. Good luck and Congrats!!

My husband is going to be my only support person for the first week. My kids are going to be sent away, it is going to be their spring break. Or atleast that is how I have planned it. Hopefully the doc has the same schedule! HAHA!!
I am kicking myself for not having it done last summer. Had the perfect opportunity and chickened out. This is really the only other time I can do it. We are planning a move for my husbands job in the next 6 months and the closest PS to the town we are moving to is over 2 hours and that is just not going to work.
Maybe a dumb question, but what do they do at a pre-op appt?

I am in the same boat this is the only time that will work but only because my schooling is going to get crazy...I wish my kids got to leave for a week but my husband doesn't want them gone because he has been gone so much.

I can understand why you didnt do it last summer. I sometimes want to chicken out on my appt just because I panic about it but I am going to go through with it....other wise I will regret it.

Not a dumb question. I talked to my PS office a few days ago to ask this question. From what I can tell the Pre-op appt is when they have you read and sign papers make the rest of your payments, talk over last min questions, give you your prescriptions, and give you information on after care for your support person.

Always a change in plans!! That is what makes me have so much doubt with this surgery.

Just found out the week the kids were going to be out of town my oldest has a baseball tournament. So now my husband doesn't want them sent away. I really don't think that we/he could pull off taking care of me and the 4 kids. My mom is far away and not supportive of the TT at ALL so she is of no hope to come and help. And my husbands mom would be more of a hassle here than help unfortunately. Now I am so confused I don't know what to do. I really don't think husband can do it. AACCKK!! And to add to that I am not sure I want my kids seeing me like that. They are pretty sensitive to that kind of stuff.

What to do? Maybe I should just schedule it for when they are in school so that they are gone all day and on T, TH and Fri the 2 little ones are gone for 4 hours too. He maybe able to manage that. Oh how I wish I had a crystal ball to plan it all out for me!

Thanks for listening...
~Julie

Having four kids would be really hard to handle specially when you are just out of surgery. I only have my two kids and my husband wants them here. We have a few friends who said they could help in the day if we needed them. I think if your husband thinks he can handle it then you should be support him just as he is supporting your decision. I understand you not wanting them yto see you like that. I was going to spend most of my time in my room and tell my girls mommy is sick and has a big cut on her belly so she needs rest. They understand when they dont feel good we let them go to bed and have lots of rest. I was sick the other day and my 6year old was saying mommy is sick so let her rest. lol. I was trying to plan this for when my daughter had the most time off so she could go to grandmas but like I said my husband wanted them to stay so they are. lol.

It will all workout in the end!!! Dont give up you deserve this!!!Work with what your husband is wanting and if it is to much I am sure he will work something out! Good Luck!!!

Thank you, I have been working my butt off the drop all the baby weight! I would still like to drop another 5-10lbs and then gain that in my boobs lol.

I have to say much like you I think I have fabulous abs under all my skin as well! (I do believe I feel a 6 pack under my skin.) lol. I saw your pictures and you did have good abs and an amazing transformation!! If my tummy tuck turns out as good as those I have seen here I will be just thrilled!!

Are the tubes painful or just annoying? I think your PS did an amazing job!! Congrats and thank you for ur encouragement and kind words!

Thanks for being honest about the tubes. Its one of those things I hear are horrible to have with you but you never hear much about them being taken out.

How nice it would be to have full boobs lol. I completely understand the wanting to drop the boob weight because the number on the scale isnt what it should be. I was worried about that too when I was planning a boob job. Its hard to accept the little numbers going up when you have been a little heavy and you work your butt off to get in shape and healthy. I understand. The good news you have nice big beautiful boobs and they are worth the extra 2lbs!! You look amazing and the clothes never lie!!

Thanks :) I do love my boobs and the husband can't seem to keep his hands off them LOL I agree too, they are worth an extra couple of pounds! I can wear things I haven't worn in years, even after losing weight. I have a closet full of fitted sweaters...fitted sweaters...yep I keep saying it because I can hardly believe it LOL I have shirts that I bought while in Florida last year that I stopped wearing because my rolls showed, you can bet I'll be wearing them this year! You are just going to be amazed at how you feel when you put on clothes you had given up on!

I kept thinking it was going to be horrible but really, it was not nearly as bad as I anticipated. Oh sure, the first couple days are the worst because your sore and tired but as each day progresses, you feel better. I stopped taking my pain pills at five days and my muscle relaxers at day six. After one week I went to the store by myself, it was incredibly tiring but it felt good to get out! The second week is much better but you have to be careful, it is easy to push yourself to hard because you feel so much better. I went back to work at week three and it was ok but I was exhausted by the end of the day. Now at 7 weeks out, I feel like I am fully back to normal and can even do some light ab work :) I am running again and just started lifting weights again. I would say for me that was the hardest part, not being able to work out! I am very active so sitting around is hard but you don't have a choice and your body is sure to tell you when it has had enough :)

That must be so nice to fit into all the clothes! I must say I am so excited have it done and over with. Hearing all these wonderful stories and seeing all the amazing results to just thrilling.

My husband wanted me to do my boobs first because he wanted something fun. lol. But for me the tummy is what really bothers me. My boobs will have to wait till October maybe.

I sure hope I am going to be able to function at school by week 5 ok. Everyone says how tired they are and thats not fun to hear. I thought I had given myself good time. I also hate to how long it takes before you can workout again. I love doing my workouts. I try to keep on it at least 4-6days a week but lately I have had a cold and horrible headaches and not so much has happened and I dont like it...and thats only been three days lol

the scrub brushes are to remove any bacteria from the general area for the surgery. They said to scrub the thigh, belly, breast area, sides, and back.
It is an exciting/nerve racking experiance for sure. I am excited to see how your consultation goes! I feel a little overwhelmed with everything not sure where to start when it comes to fully processing everything...it all kind of happened fast. :) Good luck

I am really freaking out to be honest. I find out tomorrow what time I am suppose to go in. Last night when I was giving my 2year old a shower I started to cry lol. I am so worried about all the negative things that can happen and I keep telling myself all these ladies did it and had no major issues so I will be ok. I am happy and excited 99% of the time and the other just horrified I will die. I didnt have any of these fears till I had the date set. I am happy though and ready to be done with it!!! I take my girls to grandmas house tomorrow and that makes me a little sad. I hate leaving them any place. How are you doing??

I understand how you must be feeling...I will be a wreck the week before surgery!!You are going to be 100% ok!!! I think it is the waiting that is the hardest part. Our mind likes to run over the worst case scenarios for some reason!! Just know that you are a young healthy individual and that you will do great in surgery and recovery!
My girls are going to stay here instead of going to grandma's.... my mom is spending the week with us so that will help tremendously. My husband is wonderful but having mom here puts me at ease!!!
This will be over before you know it! Keep us posted and know we are all excited to see your beautiful new tummy!!

Just wanted to check in with you...I see your date is almost here! I am so excited for you! I know that this is the busy/ scary part. I remember those last days before my surgery...ugh! For one, just trying to get all the chores done!
I know you will do great!! Try not to worry and think positive. I personally worried way more than I needed to.
It's sooooo worth it as you have heard from all the ladies here.
My daughter had her tt 3 wks ago and a hysterectomy 6 wks ago. She went back to work today. She's an RN, she made it fine...
Good luck! Can't wait to hear from you when you get done!

So crazy that you say you didn't have any of these fears until the date was set. I am doing the samething right now. Thank God for women like you to ease my fears. Just knowing that I am not alone in my emtional breakdowns make me feel better. I scheduled and paid for my surgery today and all day today all I want to do is cry. I am excited, yet, nervous. Sheesh it is a crazy feeling. I am sending my kids away too and they are going to be gone for an entire week. It will be my daughters birthday during the week and that makes me upset! I wish you the best of luck and keep us posted!

The day before my mom called and was like yournt you just so excited and I told her I am but I am also feeling numb. The day before and the day of I was not at all nervious. I was praying and thinking happy thoughts.
My girls come home today and I am a little worried bc I think I have already been to active today. I am so tired. Yesterday I couldnt stay awake and I am still having a hard time eating. I get really sick feeling.

Great to hear from you!! I am sure it is exhausting recovering from the surgery. I know with kids it is hard not to be active. At least you realize you need to take it easy. Hopefully daddy or your mom can help with your 2 year old as much as possible. That age isn't as easy to understand mommy can't pick you up etc.. But just remember it will get easier on you every day!!!
Awesome that you made it fine through surgery and now you can heal and enjoy your new tummy!!!

Yeah, so glad to hear from you!! Rest up and take it easy and post when you are feeling well enough to do so again. Cant wait to hear from you!
~Julie

I added a new picture tonight so I hope sometime tomorrow everyone can see. Its not the best picture but I think you can see the difference

Cass,
Wow! I saw your after picture and you already look fabulous!!!
I can remember us talking about how scared you were to go "under" several weeks ago, and now you're all done! I'm so happy for you. Sounds like you are doing great and not having alot of pain.

Can't wait to hear about your recovery in the days ahead. It's all uphill from here!
I am 4 weeks post-op now and doing great. I feel good, and am having a great time trying on all my clothes that weren't fitting before...Yay!

I posted a picture of my belly but its kind of hard to see unless you tilt the screen the right way. I will try an get a better one up soon. Thanks everyone I am feeling pretty good!

Thanks! I was really worried that it would be to high and I told him that I have seen some of that seem to high. He told me that he would put it as low as possible. It follows the line which is what he said he would do! I will try to post better pics soon with me standing. lol

Pain and I dont do well at all but my pain level has been hardly anything maybe a 3. I was taking 2 oxycodone every 4hrs but last night I started taking one every 4 hrs. My stomach only hurts when I cough. My back bothers be bc I already have back problems and my hip bothers me bc of hip problems thanks to my 2 pregnancys. However, the tubes are like the worst. They are sore and irritated, pulling on my skin. I am so ready to have the tubes out!!!! I walk and they burn, I sit and they burn....ect..

I think that this is less painful having a baby. I was thinking this was going to be horrible I was expecting the worst and I am happily surprised