“New Belly - Miami, FL”

I'm 34 years old and have 2 beautiful boys. The oldest is 3 and the youngest is 8 months. Got married on my 30th birthday following month got pregnant with my first. I weighed 110 lbs when I got pregnant and the day I delivered him, via c-section I weighed 202 lbs. Yes, I gained 92 lbs. It took me a year to drop to 135. I got pregnant last year in February, gained 57 lbs with this pregnancy. Right now I weigh 140 lbs. Since I had dramatic weight gains during my pregnancy I was left with diastasis recti, an umbilical hernia and saggy skin =( Yikes!

My abdominalplasty and hernia repair with be July 18, 2011. I'm excited, nervous and scared but I'm sure it is normal to have so much emotions before such a big surgery. Look forward to seeing my new belly!!

Updated on 8 Jul 2011:
10 more days and counting. Doing my pre-op on Monday June 11 :)). Still feeling all sorts of mix emotions.

Updated on 11 Jul 2011:
Went for blood work today!! Just scared because my 3 year old is sick and I'm feeling a sore throat, but I will pray that it will go away and I get my surgery!!!!!

Updated on 17 Jul 2011:
Oh wow, thought this day will never get here! It's the day before surgery!! Yayayayayyyyy!! So many emotions running through my body :(( Couldn't sleep last night. I was having some horrible vivid nightmares. The one that scared the day lights out of me was the one where I looked asleep, yet I was really awake. Although my eyes were closed, I could feel everything they were doing to me. I was trying to talk to let the doctor know but I couldnt move my mouth. It was horrible!! Couldn't go back to sleep after that one :((...

I'm praying that all goes well and u can be home soon with my family!! Excited to see what my belly will look like!!

Updated on 18 Jul 2011:
It's over! Now the aftermath of the surgery begins! I don't understand the sudden back pains. Anyone else felt this? Just got home. Burning sensation on my thighs but I didn't hey lipo there, so I don't understand why they burn :(( abs are tight,...really tight. Still waiting for my recliner. They ate so late delivering it, ugh!! Tried to eat a little chicken soup. Slept fOr a little bit. I'm sure tomorrow when the anesthesia wears off I'll be in a whole lot more pain :(( I wish it was a pain free procedure, lol!!

Updated on 19 Jul 2011:
Hi! Day 2 po. Feeling more sore and a little more pain. I just got up with the help of my mom, and pee'd, washed up a little...felt good. Walked around the house once and came back. Felt better after walking. Going to try to have some breakfast now. Were the drains come out by it still burns but not as much as yesterday. I do feel my binder tighter then yesterday, I guess I'm more swollen. I also got the hick ups last night....ouch!! All and all I feel better then yesterday. Been taking my pain meds every 4 hours. Will update late!

Updated on 19 Jul 2011:
Hi! Day 2 po. Feeling more sore and a little more pain. I just got up with the help of my mom, and pee'd, washed up a little...felt good. Walked around the house once and came back. Felt better after walking. Going to try to have some breakfast now. Were the drains come out by it still burns but not as much as yesterday. I do feel my binder tighter then yesterday, I guess I'm more swollen. I also got the hick ups last night....ouch!! All and all I feel better then yesterday. Been taking my pain meds every 4 hours. Will update late! Tomorrow is my first post op visit!

Updated on 20 Jul 2011:
Day 3 post-op: went to my first po appt. Saw my belly. I'm a little discourage because there's swelling. There's a bump over my belly button and some rolls on the right side but PS says it's do to swelling but somehow my mind wants to think it's going to stay that way....which scars me :( so a bit sad.

Updated on 21 Jul 2011:
Hi! This is day 4 po. Woke up feeling good! No pain, thank goodness. My binder is uncomfortable, it rides up and it rubs against my incision, making the drains wholes hurt (like a burning sensation). I wore a tank top underneath so it's a little better with the rubbing bit still it rides up :((. I have actually stood up straight since 2day po. I asked my doctor yesterday if it was ok because it doesn't hurt, and he said you can. Listen to your body. If it let's you stand straight then stand straight. So, I'm good there. Can't wait for the drains to come out. He said next Monday he will take them out and give me a new type of garnet. I just pray that it is better than this binder. That's all for now!!

Updated on 22 Jul 2011:
Day 5 po. ( including Monday my surgery date) I noticed today thaty belly button is not centered. Super bumb about that. Will bring it up on mondays appt. Haven't taken any pain killer since yesterday morning. Just swollen. One of the drains wholes bother me :(, I look at my belly but I don't know if I like it. Yes, I'm flat but I have concerned in a few areas ;((

Updated on 24 Jul 2011:
Hi. Day 6 ( not including surgery day). Been feeling great. Have not taken any pain meds for a couple of days. Although last night out of no where I had a coughing attack. I could not control it. I sucked on 3 cough drops and that calmed it down. A terrible pain immediately followed my first cough right over my belly button. Once I was done with this horrific coughing attack I looked in the mirror and I had a lump over my bb. I took at that point a regular Tylenol extra strength and went back to my recliner. Wow, I couldn't believe that just happened. I hope and pray that I did not pop some stitches or have any permanent damage to my belly :( awww, barely slept thinking about it. I looked this morning and the darn lump was still there. And I was feeling great even walking almost straight again. Has this happened to any of u ladies? What was the outcome?

I have appt tomorrow to remove both drains and to get a different CG, I'll bring it up and see what he says. So down :((

Updated on 25 Jul 2011:
1 week po today! Feeling good. Moving around just fine. standing straight but back still hurts....hum, wonder why. Maybe because I'm still sleeping on the recliner? Miss my bed and my husband, but I think i'll stay on the recliner till friday. And then try out the bed. I have a new compression garment. Which is tight tight tight! Yikes! At this point i prefer my binder. Dr. said everything looks good and he will see me Aug 15! I can shower too!!! Yippy!!!!! =))

Updated on 26 Jul 2011:
I'm doing will today! Feel great! I just need a little help.

Hi Ladies, quick question: where do I go to buy a really good compression garment? I have the one the PS gave me but it is so tight it makes me want to puke. I emailed the office manager at my PS office asking her if I can purchase a bigger size CG and she said not to waste my money, to continue to wear that one that in a few days I will fit comfortably. I don't think I can wear that a few days and let alone to sleep =(. So I'm on a hunt for a good CG that fits correctly and doesn't make me cry because I can't breath. Thank you!!!!

Updated on 26 Jul 2011:
day 8 po. Feel great can't complain!! I just got out of the shower and I was really looking at my belly...I know I look 100% better then I did before. I don't have the pregnant belly anymore. I'm just not quite in love with it. It's awkward looking. I looks some what square and my belly button is shifted to the left. I asked my PS about that he said that's my body. I have scoliosis, which is what's causing me to stand slanted. I couldn't tell it was slanted be cause I had such a bulge. So, that has me really sad. I haven't showed my husband my belly yet. I'm embarrassed. Sorry everyone, I had to vent =(

Updated on 28 Jul 2011:
Day 10 po and feeling pretty good. After buying 5 different compression garment at the end i ended up wearing the one from the PS office. I emailed the office manager today at the PS office with a concern. I have a bulge over my belly button. It looks horrible and it hurts to the touch. I'm thinking that my MR has come undone on the top part of my abs. Which goodnes I hope that's not the case. I did get a call from the office manager and she said I could have popped a stitch. I was researching and I read that yes, MR can come undone =( scary. I've read tons of cases of women that this has happen to. Unfortunately, my PS is on Vacation and won't be back sooner that my next appt which is Aug.17 =(( That's a long time. I guess will see how the bulge develops. I hope and pray that it flattens out!! Thanks for reading.

Updated on 17 Aug 2011:
It's been a while since I updated. I finally went to my appt, after 3 weeks of waiting for my PS to get back from his vacation. He said the lump over my bb could be a few things but he doesn't know by just looking at it. I have to wait a couple of months till my swelling goes down, and if by then i still have a lump or it continues to hurt then he would have to do a sonogram to find out what going on. I ordered my stage 2 compression garment and bought safeguard gel to put on my scar. I'm very swollen after just a few hours of being awake until I go to bed =( i really hope this swelling goes away and all these lumps and bumps disappear or smooth out. I hope you are all well. =)) Gladys