22 days PO, TT-drainless, MR, Hernia Repair, Lipo of Flanks, Plano, TX

22 days PO, I returned to work yesterday. I was so tired By the time I got home. I have to admit just getting ready to go to the office wore me out. I definitely need to tack on an extra 20 minutes to my getting ready regimen. I need the extra time to reapply my silicon tape and put the cotton ball in my BB & then squeeze back into my CG, & then try to find some pants that fit that will still be comfortable 12 hours later. It's a process, no doubt. I'm healing pretty well, just exhausted by the time I get home. My BB still looks a little weird to me, could be the swelling. Just hope it stays an innie, it's to very far in so I just have to Poe the cottonball thing works. I've read some use a marble but I don't think one would even fit right now. I'm trying to drink a lot of water at work so I Poe that helps. Did anyone else end up with extremely dry skin post surgery? I asked my PS and he said it was side effect from anesthesia as it dehydrates the body. My skin is awful, sounds weird I know. Leave it to me to have crazy side effects. Happy healing everyone.

15 days post op. Went for my follow up visit with PS today. He said my swelling was normal. I'm so glad it wasn't a seroma and I didn't have to get anything drained. All that worry for nothing, I guess. My bb still looks funky. PS said it too was still so swollen and that he had to do quite a bit of work in that exact area to fix the hernia that was partially on the inside and outside of my old bb. I'm still taped up at incision. In a week, They told me to put some Vaseline on the tape and will loosen them up enough to fall off by themselves in a couple of days. Since my bb is barely an innie at this point, almost flush looking really, they want me to cut a cotton ball in 1/4 size then ball it up, shove it in my bb then put tape over it & then compression garment on top of that. That should help in making it more of an innie especially once the swelling goes down. They said try to increase it to 1/2 size cotton ball once room allows for it in my bb. So, I did that tonight & it's kind of uncomfortable but I want an innie so I better get over it. After my surgical tape falls off around my incision they want me to continue to tape it with silicon tape. I bought the one they suggested since they sell it there anyway for $24. They want me to tape it for the next 3 mos.. I take it off when I bathe and just put the same tape back on. I will put new tape on once a week. They said I could switch over to spanx type of garment going forward so I guess I need to some shopping for that. Oh yes, I weighed today and I'm 6 lbs lighter than they day of my surgery. Come to find out today, PS told me they removed 2.5lbs from my tummy and 2lbs from the lipo on my flanks and waist. I guess I've only lost 1.5lbs on my own. Here I was all excited because I've been trying to eat really healthy proteins and stay away from carbs and junk. PS said no jogging for at least 6 more weeks. He did say I could start on treadmill though so I'm glad about that. I'm going to strap on my pedometer tomorrow and do some shopping and see how I do. I went to 2 stores after my appt today and I was so exhausted by evening time. Just getting ready for my Dr. Appt wore me out so I sat in my recliner for an hour before I left for my appt.. I don't know how much treadmill I'll be good for but I guess I will just work my way up. I won't go back to my PS until March unless I feel like I have a problem or concern before then. I'm about to call it a night and get some rest. Thanks everyone for your support in healing.

I am finally adding pics today. These are before & after. I hope the before pics don't gross you out. The after pics are 7 days PO. I'm more swollen today than when those post op pictures were taken. I go tomorrow for my 2 week follow up visit with the Dr. I hope it is just normal swelling and not a seroma. I'm scared about that. I'll post the outcome tomorrow. Keep healing...