“ After a Few Years of Deciding I chose a new me!”

My TT journey started a few years ago. I was a wreck emotionally, stuck in a bad marriage and didn't care much about myself. I focused my time and attention to caring for my 2 children and not caring for myself. I had finally had enough and decided to change all the bad things and make them all positive or as close to that as I could. I got a divorce, got my head on straight and stared to take care of me. I lost weight and got happy but was not happy with my tummy. During both pregnancies I got HUGE I didn't gain much weight but the circumference of my belly was enormous! So, I started doing research and decided that a TT was for me.

I am now 10 days post op and I am loving my new tummy. I wish I had started this process earlier. I have had a pretty easy go of the surgery too. For me the first 4 days being on my back was pretty bad. Then the drain tubes were not my friends. I tore the stitches on one side getting into the car to go home from the surgery center. In turn the drain would leak every time I stood up. My pain has been very tolerable. I took out my pain pump on day two and also stopped taking the Percocet and went to Tylenol as needed. I have been able to stand upright since day two also. I can feel my tummy pull and to compensate I try to move slow. I have yet to have any real setbacks and am optimistic that I will not have any.

I am so pleased with my outcome at 10 days post op that in 3 months from now I know I will be thrilled! I would do this over again in a heartbeat, with only one regret, I should have done this sooner.

Updated on 25 Oct 2011:
16 days post op and back to work. Aside from tightness and swelling all is good. My energy seems to be normal and I am in a good mood. Pants don't fit so I am wearing the same pair over and over but, with a cute blouse and different jewelry each day maybe no one will notice. Pain is very minimal, scabs on scar are almost gone, standing, walking, sitting and climbing stars can all be done again. woo hoo!

Updated on 26 Oct 2011:
I mentioned that I had lost weight before the TT but I failed to mention that it was a 100 pound weight loss.

Updated on 1 Nov 2011:
22 days post op. Doing well, feeling well. I am loving the way I look most of the time,my guy likes it too. I get a twinge of depression and feel like Frankenstein sewn together but it passes. I have some aches and pains still but they are tolerable and not constant. I am still swollen from working but rest when I can. I am able to wear some of my pants now, getting them buttoned was exciting. Have a post op appt Nov. 9th.

Updated on 7 Nov 2011:
4 weeks post op today! Feeling pretty good. I am a little depressed. I know this is normal, and this type of surgery takes a very long time to fully heal. SO, I try to remind myself that when I get to tired form all this. It's a full time job, how you feel, the physical healing, the wondering if all is healing internally. I know I look better and I know that soon I will feel better too. It's exhausting that every movement you are reminded about the procedure. On the other hand the month kinda flew by, so in no time I will be at the 3 then 6 then 12 month mark and I am really looking forward to this tummy next summer. I am not going to post any new photos yet because it still looks the same, all poofy!

Updated on 9 Nov 2011:
30 days post op and I had an appt to see my PS today. He said the incision looked great and that I still had a some swelling, he also said the reason I have had some pain that I have had and some localized swelling is because I tore some internal stitches! Now I have been doing what I have been told, been taking it easy, not lifting heavy things, not exercising yet nothing at all, just a major coughing spell one night. Not sure how I managed to tear them out. SO heed my advice, TAKE IT EASY even not doing much at all caused mine to tear. No permanent damage was done he said only recovery will take longer. Now I have to start over and for 8 weeks I can not do anything much at all. sigh... He also told me not to wear my binder anymore he said I don't need it at night any longer because when i lay down the swelling will ease naturally. He did however say to wear any spank type garment during the day to help with swelling up to 6 months if I need to. I found a very cheap $11.99 pair of boy shorts compression garment that is really soft cotton at KMart. So cheap I can afford a weeks worth, I tried them on already they are comfy.

Updated on 27 Nov 2011:
7 weeks post op tomorrow and overall feeling pretty good. I am still swollen but it's not too bad. I have not posted new photos as I look the same as I did in the last photos... :( Still waiting to heal from the muscle tear, very hard not being able to do much of anything... but, this was all still totally worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Updated on 30 Dec 2011:
I will be 12 weeks post op this Monday Jan 2nd. I am doing really well. Swelling here and there mostly towards the end of the day but not too bad. I am feeling good. The scare is very thin and starting to fade. I can do pretty much everything as before only now I am more comfortable. I will have to have lipo and possibly skin removal to reduce the mons pubis and I am not happy about that seeing that it could have been done during the TT. It is what it is! :)

Updated on 21 Feb 2012:
4.5 months post op. Pretty happy with my results. I am tight and firm and like my new tummy. I till have some swelling here and there but very mild. The numbness is still in the lower part of the abdomen but I have grown pretty used to that sensation. I hope that in the months to come normal feeling will return there. I am extremely happy with my decision to do this and am now looking forward to getting the mons corrected so it does not protrude so much. Once I do that, I will be VERY satisfied. :)

Updated on 3 May 2012:
6 months post op and am enjoying the new tummy still. I have adjusted to life with no fat roll on my belly! I have no complaints, and am still so happy that I did this!