“Down in the dumps :-(”

Hello, I am 42 years old, married with four wonderful children. I have wanted a tt for the last 10 years. I have just scheduled my surgery for June of 2012. I interviewed my last PS yesterday and chose him almost immediately following my interview. I have researched this particular PS for about a year along with several others. I have read every blog there is out there. To say the least, I have put a lot of time in researching doctors as well as the pros and cons, techniques and so forth.

There aren't any words to describe my feelings when I decided to act upon my desire. I work out and I have a fairly healthy diet. Upon having my last child a few years ago, I was left with a stomach, I absolutely cannot get rid of. In my previous pregnancies, I have always been able to lose the weight.

I have lost 30 pounds since having My last baby which puts me at about 160lbs. I amp looking to lose at least another 20 pounds before my procedure. Upon discovering RealTalk, and reading so many personal journeys, I decided to also write about my journey. To those of you who have included their journey, I say thank you, what a wealth of knowledge. I am grateful. I can't wait to finally have my tt in June. Talk to you all soon!

Updated on 4 Jan 2012:
I forgot to mention I am also having some lipo on my inner thighs and knees as well. Looking forward to great results.

Updated on 5 Jan 2012:
Trying to upload my before photos but having a bit of trouble. Hopefully I will figure it out :-)

Updated on 9 Feb 2012:
Looks like I am moving my tt to May instead of June! Yay! So happy. Will keep you all posted. I can't wait!

Updated on 6 Mar 2012:
Made the first big payment today, anyone know what products other than my meds that I will need? I'm not nervous yet but I am sure that will come. My pre op is scheduled for April 12th. Time is flying by! Ready to be on the other side! Happy healing all! Any May tt's out there?

Updated on 17 Mar 2012:
Hello fellow tummy Tucker's, I am still trying to find a way to load my photos. We are currently in the moving process and my computer (desktop) has been packed away. All I have is my iPad and iPhone so please bear with me. We will be living in our RV for awhile which will allow us to quickly pay off my surgery fees. The RV is fairly large so I'm not too worried about space. I may just go and purchase one of those smaller laptops so that I can show you all my progress. While in this process of moving, my hubby lost his dad this past week so out of state we go! Puts us a week behind schedule on our move but it has all worked out. Hubby is sad but taking it well so far. You have all been a Godsend on this forum. I am so happy I found it. Oh did I tell you all I had a breast Augmentation about 15 years ago? I think it's time to figure out my boobies again. Not certain if I will get implants again. Don't get me wrong they were great but I am getting older and not certain if bigger breasts are for me any longer. Well today we are moving a bunch of stuff to storage. We leave next Friday to visit my husbands family. We have a long drive on our hands. I go in on Wednesday for an EKG and bloodwork for surgery. Trying to get prepared for this lengthy recovery and hopefully be ready for our vacation in August. Whoop whoop bring on tummy tuck recovery!

Updated on 10 Apr 2012:
Good Morning All, looking foward to my pre op on Thursday. Can't wait to ask all of my questions. I have updated my journey since my last post but somehow the posts are not showing up, oh well, for those of you who would like to see what I look like you are more than welcome to inbox me your number and I will text you my befor photos. I simply can't do it from the iPad. Kiddos go back to school today, they have been out of school for a couple of weeks due to traveling and spring break. I will only have the two littles ones age 2 to contend with :-/, lol! My 9 year old and my 6 year old says mommy don't need surgery, you look fine mommy which made me feel really good. I told them that mommy will be just fine and no need to worry. Well ladies, I have to start my day. Looking forward to a wonderful day. Happy Healing to all!

Updated on 12 Apr 2012:
Hello fellow Tummy Tucker's, just wanted to let you all know that my Pre Op went well. Very happy with my PS choice. Had to try on the dreaded surgical panties. My babies were with me age 2, well one of them is my grand baby. When I took off my clothes to get my photos done the babies said yuck mommy your nakee ( that means naked) I could not help but to just laugh. I felt so gross with my clothing off and someone taking photos of my soon to be gorgeous bod! Lol! I made the dreaded final payment, ugh, that was tough but I am confident it will be all worth it. Hubby is so great to let me spend money that we certainly could use elsewhere. When going over my pre op paperwork today, I thought to myself, the realself blog has totally informed me of what's to come. I am more pleased with this blog more and more each day. What a totally amazing way to go through this journey with so many wonderful women who are super supportive. I am always on pins and needles when one of us realselfers, go I to surgery. I am always looking for them to say, I made it to the other side! Hope I will be able to update quickly for you all. Well time to get dinner on the table here on the East Coast! Have a blessed evening everyone and Happy Healing to all!

Updated on 13 Apr 2012:
Picked up my meds today! Yippee! My happy pills. Enjoy the remainder of your day everyone!

Updated on 17 Apr 2012:
Hello fellow tt's, hope all is well with everyone. Well I have had to push my surgery back a few weeks. I and now penciled for May 22nd and may have to puch it back again. My husband lost his mother a couple of days ago. We are headed back to the Midwest soon and I would not be able to make it back in time for surgery. Thank you all for being such a wonderful support. Have a great day ladies :-)

Updated on 15 May 2012:
Hello fellow tummy Tucker's, well it's been some time since I last updated my journey. I am due to have my tummy tuck on May 22nd and I am really excited. Not nervouse at all at this point but very excited. I am prepping my recovery area here at home. Hubby has one week off so I am hoping I can get around a bit on my own after he returns to work. How is everyone doing out there? Does anyone have any last minute advice? Happy healing to all that have gone before me! Talk to you all soon!

Updated on 17 May 2012:
Well just five more days ladies! I'm ready. Let's do this! Happy healing to all :-)

Updated on 18 May 2012:
Hello fellow tummy Tucker's, well I only have a few more days before its my turn and my children are feeling a little anxiety. I will be taking them out of school the day of my surgery. We do not have any family in this state so it's all on my husband for the next week following my surgery. Im feeling a bit stressed but I know it's just part of the process. Just ready to be on the flat side. Well that's all for now. Happy healing to all of you out there who have gone before me. Be blessed:-)

Updated on 21 May 2012:
Just got the call from my PS and we have a date in the morning! Yay! Nerves are starting to settle in. No turning back now! I have to get photos up somehow. I can email photos if any of you would like to see photos. Other than that I will have to wait to get a laptop in order to upload the photos. Sorry ladies :-( I want you all to see my progress. Well let's toast to the flatside! Cheers!!! Happy healing all!

Updated on 22 May 2012:
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Updated on 23 May 2012:
Hello ladies, well it's 3am and I made it to the other side. I keep dozing off. I am feeling fairly well pain level about a. 2 or 3 so far and the pain meds Re doing their job. Write more later. Until then, happy Healing to all! :-)

Updated on 25 May 2012:
I am dong ok ladies. Not too much pain at all. I am not draining mug at all. Not certain. When he will take them out but they are not a bother at the moment. My doctor awesome! Oh by the way he took off almost 13 pounds of fat! Yikes! I will post again after the appt until then happy healing all! Be blessed :-)

Updated on 26 May 2012:
Post op day 3 feeling so much. Able to get out of bed on my own.
am sleeping much better as each day goes by. Not any kind of pain at all.iy only hurts when I get up each time I go to he bathroom. had to drain my bulbs. That was quick and easy. I get tired. Very quickly to say the least. I hq e been eating but able to ear small meals to eat must rest now. Will chat more
Later. Happy Healing!

Updated on 28 May 2012:
Finally showered today, felt strong enough to do so. My drains only bother me sometimes. Just had a cough fit and it was not fun at all. But I think I made it through it. Whew! Time for a nap! Happy healing to all of you out there!

Updated on 29 May 2012:
Post op day 7

Well it's been a tough couple of days but somehow I turned the corner this morning. I was able to drink a few sips of decade fat free coffee. I must say that the most painful portion of this journey has been the lipo of the inner thighs. Not in so much pain anymore just a tightness and some tenderness. I have been massaging my thighs on my own so hopefully that will do the trick for the next few weeks. I have on drain that is still putting out alot and the other hardly anything at all. . Saw my PS this past Friday and he said that everything looked great. I will call my PS tomorrow let them know what's going on with my drains. My biggest complaint about the drains is that they are kind of inthe way of everything and they only hurt when they are in the wrong position or something is pressing on them. I was able to get my children off to school this morning with my husbands help. I still had the two little ones at home to deal with. This morning started off interesting with the two smaller kiddos but I made it so far. I wS so tired by 11:30 we all took a nap until a out 1:30 the little ones slept a wee bit longer so that was a plus. Overall I am doing ok. Hubby went back to work today so I am certain he was a bit relieved. Well on to healing some more. I will happy when the binder is gone. Dont like it at all. Happy healing all!

Updated on 30 May 2012:
Well good morning fellow tummy tuckers, I must say that I am fowling better each and every day. I am planning on Venturi g our today for some very light shopping on the things we need. NO HEAVY Lifting! Hoping to just treat my family to a nice dinner this evening. I still have both my drains so it will be just slow going today at my own pace. I am happy that I am feeling so much better. Getting back to normal slowly! Yay! I have been a little bit down but I'm not goin to let it get the best of me. Time to flow with this new transition in my life. A tummy tuck and lipo is a big deal so those of you considering any procedure, just please do your homework. Well, I must get back to healing cheers to all of you out there healing and or about to take the tt,mr, lipo plunge. I'm personally feeling it's all worth it! Go for it! Happy healing!

Updated on 1 Jun 2012:
Well it has happened, I am a bit down. I feel as though it took so much from my family. The stress level ar home is somewhat high. It's been very hot outdoors so I have not been able to do much by way of activities. I did however take a quick trip to target and was extremely exhausted when that trip was over. Hubby took me to dinner the other night which was refreshing. I didn't each much but had sorbet for desert. It was yummy! Overall I am feeling better just to toll it has taken on my family is almost unbearable. We all have to remember, not only do we go through this whole change physically and emotionally, those that love us the most is also very effected but this whole process as well. I am sure as the days go by I will get better but until then, I am down in the dumps:-( hope you all are healing very well out there! Be blessed.