12 Days PO - quick question

Hi ladies. Happy healing to all! I have a quick question. How long after the TT did you wear that wrap around your stomach? My dr said definitely the first 2 weeks and then after that I could wear it as needed. Did you feel you needed to wear it longer than the 2 weeks? Did you buy something else like a tummy control slip/tank top instead? If so, did that work as well as the wrap? I don't like the idea of people seeing the wrap under my clothes and I'm too afraid not to wear the wrap and then get swollen and uncomfortable. I start work on Monday so I'm trying to get a feel for what I should do.

Thanks!!

I just realized it had been a week since I had posted. All is well in the recovery world for me. Today marks 11 days PO. I feel great! I did have a cold earlier this week. Complete with coughing fits and sneeze attacks. Can we say ouch???? Holy moly. I think I learned a new curse word everytime I sneezed.

Recovering with kids at home has been easier than I expected. I can't really hold my 9 months old due to the BR (she likes to smack my chest). But my 3 year old has been great. She asks everyday if my boo-boo is getting better on my tummy. If I take of the TT waist wrap for a couple of minutes to give my tummy a breather she comes running over and tells me to put it back on so that I can heal faster. :o)

Oh - a quick tip for anyone getting a TT. Go to bed bath & beyond or target/walmart and get those little claw pincher things (I don't know the correct name). It's a pole with pinchers on one in and a handle at the other. It helps to pick up things you drop on the floor. This was awesome!! I can't tell you how many times I dropped my chapstick, remote, phone, and this thing was awesome in helping me to reach everything. I was even able to do some light house cleaning and pick up my kids toys as well as reach cereal off the top shelf in our pantry. It was $9.99 and I would recommend everyone getting one.

I'm healing pretty well. My belly button is a little red, but nothing my doctor seems concerned about. I'm still having to have my husband help me get the tummy wrap on. I can't seem to get it as tight as he can. I put it on one day and about 6 hours later was suprised at how sore and swollen I was. He came home from work and put it on really tight and it felt so much better. So I have him put it on me after I shower every day.

I start work on Monday. I'm getting nervous. I'm not sure how my body will react. Luckily I have a desk job, so I will be sitting all day. Did anyone take a small pillow to work to either sit on or put behind your back? I'm wondering if I will need one. I also feel silly that people are going to know I had something done. Luckily I am starting in a new department on Mon, so most everyone has not seen me before. But those who have, what should I say? I know they are going to say something. I don't want to sound vain and admit to the TT but do I just straight up lie and say I have been working out? Since I will still be wearing the wrap around my tummy I have some blousy shirts picked out to wear next week. I don't want people to be able to see I am wearing the wrap, but that will also help hide my new shape.

On a side note, I tried on a tankini top that I bought last year. Bright colors, very fitted. Of course I ended up not wearing it to the pool this year. I tried it on this morning and omg - I looked awesome! I haven't said that about myself in 15 years, but damn I looked good. Haha. My husband came in the room as I was trying that and a bikini on. His eyes lit up and he said I looked amazing. I doubt I will ever have the confidence to wear the bikini outside my bedroom, but it was still fun to prance around in it. :o) My husband is so happy I had the surgery done. He said he has seen me naked more in the past week then he has in the past 6 months! And he loves my new confidence. It totally made this surgery and those horrible sneezing attacks worth it!

So I know I'm swollen and bruised in the new pics, but I really like the results so far. You know what's funny. I'm embarrassed to send these pictures to my mom and sister (they supported me having the surgery), but I don't mind sharing them with you all.

We got the kids back yesterday afternoon. The in-laws were a saint and kept them an extra day for us. My three year old walks in and starts making jokes and acting silly which made me laugh. Now I thought coughing put me in pain...laughing was by far worse! I thought I was going to die. My poor baby thought she made me cry. I tried to explain that mommy was laughing but that it made my boo boo hurt real bad. She's such a sweetie though. And then not being able to hold my youngest made me start crying. It was a rough and draining night.

The brown tape they put on the incisions, they said to change if it got real wet. Is that the only time I should change it or should I be doing that like every day? I've only showered once since being home and I'm in no rush to do that again soon, lol. I'll call and ask the nurse, but thought I would check with you all real quick.