Finally got my Tummy Tuck and Lipo!

It's been almost 2 months since I posted. I'm still spitting stitches but all of my bubbles have flattened out and I started back using my silicone strips. My doc told me I would need a steroid injection because my incision was raised. I immediately started the strips back BUT I tape and cover the strips with 3M micropore to keep in place for a couple of days. This also applies compression to the incision. A win win for me. I've noticed hardly any of the April Tummy Truckers (LOL) are updating. I bet yall are all on vacation showing those sexy bodies.
Im updating new pics from June to now showcasing the last stitches to work their way out. Anyway, my recovery has gone well despite having an abcess for months. I'm back doing my usual up to no good STUFF. I'm not tired or in any pain even when I have to pull stitches out. My tummy is slightly numb from surgery but it tingles at times.

I went today to have my stitch abscess looked at once again by the PS. He said looks like it's healing but wants to see me 1 month instead of weekly. So he goes on to say that i'm allergic to absorbable stitches. FINALLY.....I now have something that i'm allergic too! LOL Since my last post May 18, I've had 2 other areas that opened up. They aren't as painful as when he pulled them out the last time, however, I continue to drain and now i'm itching. I had enough by Saturday May 30 so I took my suture removal kit and gently took the forceps to find and pull out another bothersome stitch. The itching provoked me. Within 1/2 tries I pulled the fishing line type stitch out, the same one my PS cut out but far less painful than when my PS retrieved it. I had already pulled out 4 of the white dissolvable kind over the past couple of weeks. I pulled with the forceps and it came on out without injury. I didn't need the scissors since it broke. I noticed that it was same length as my wound so I'm hoping that i will heal and have no more stitch rejection. I'm posting pics for educational purposes in the hopes that it will enlighten someone else's journey. Honestly, it could be much worse. I can't say that I've had many bad days. I will say that I didn't need regular pain meds after day 4 of TT, I didn't swell much, & I was able to resume most normal activities after less than a week. My experience was pleasant for the most part. Now my seroma was my fault after pulling my own drain out. TeeHee.... My Stitchtuation is another Ball Game. I did require pain meds just to relax me at home and work from the searing pain, swelling, & draining. I didn't let it get me down. My only fear was infection or necrosis. So far I had neither. I'm posting pics of last week, Saturday, and of today. The area around the abscess is a little swollen though. Feel free to ask me anything about my experience. HAPPY HEALING

After weeks of draining pus and stitch rejection I called in for pain meds and antibiotics. I had to wait for next available since no doc will call in pain meds. Today was the day! About 10 days ago my PS had to dig out stitches from my drain site. That area is still swelling and draining. Well last night I pressed down hard and behold a stitch just popped out on its' on. It drained a bit more blood then eventually stopped. Most importantly, i'm no longer itching or swelling in that area so Hopefully it's all out from that place. Today was my surprise appt. Over a week now i've had a bubble on my incision that opened up along with 4 other bubbles. And even my BB opened up with a visible white dissolvable stitch. Imagine the searing pain. The multiple dressing changes and endless draining. I've seen black, yellow, white, and red drain from that site. From my research, it's considered sterile and not infected even though it looks otherwise. I have no fever - just extreme pain. So he injected me several times before he dug out my stitches. He dug and cut about 3 stitches out. Ladies if you have a stitch abscess like mine, then ask for anesthesia. Of course I had none because I just wanted them out PERIOD! Turns out my body just doesn't like the dissolvable or non dissolvable stitches and since I've never had surgery I had no way of knowing this until now. Your body will treat the stitch as a foreign object so it forms boils/abscess's around it until it can get rid of it causing swelling, suppuration, exudate and all sorts of fun stuff that you can squeeze out (as seen on my glamorous pics). There is no way that you'll know that you'll spit stitches so don't let my pics stop you. It;s not that uncommon though. For me, my overall experience was quite pleasant other that the stitch rejection which others would just call it a day! I haven't missed any work or play but I do have to take it easy and change dressings 3/4 times daily. When the suppuration/pus built up then it had to be drained by pressing which was most unpleasant. I'm hoping that we got all the troubled stitches out. If this doesn't resolve then I will have to be put under and re-opened again to remove the stitches. By the way the pain felt like I was sliced opened then seared in a frying pain =0)