CONFESSION OF A POST OP TT PATIENT...2weeks post op! Little Rock, AR

I am 39 years of age and the mother of two. Both of my children are now over the age of 18 and I feel it is time to get this body back into a shape I can be proud of. I have always been self-conscious about my abdominal area, but this only became worse after having my children. Jeans don't fit correctly, and let's not even talk about low cut bikinis...URGH! Like most women, I have also struggled with the ups and downs of my weight, but no matter how small I got I could NEVER get rid of what I call the "c-section overhang". My 40th birthday is in December, and I decided in January that this would be the year for change. I started eating healthier and exercising which are two things that I was not doing before. I even broke up with Starbucks which was heartbreaking, but necessary. So far I have lost several inches and 40 pounds to date. Even with the weight loss and frequent exercise, I am still getting nowhere fast with my abs. I was really hoping to see a major change, but no such luck. I’ve had this same problem in the past, and it has derailed me from maintaining a healthy lifestyle because I felt that there was no point to it if I was still unhappy with the way I looked even after doing all of the work. I would give up and return to all of my bad habits. I really don’t want that to happen this time. I feel that having this procedure is going to help me in staying motivated to maintain the look that I have worked to achieve. Now, having said all of that here is something else, I have to stop smoking. Yes, I am one of “THOSE PEOPLE”. I went for my consult yesterday to discuss the tummy tuck and was informed that I need to stop smoking at least 6 weeks prior to surgery. So, surgery has been scheduled for October 15th which means that I have to stop now. I can already tell that I am going to need support, but this is something that I have needed to do for a while and have wanted to do, but just didn’t. So, change is all around, and hopefully this tummy tuck will be the thing that keeps me motivated to keep going.

I am beginning to get more nervous about this since making the decision and scheduling the surgery. I can tell that my anxiety level has increased quite a bit even from yesterday. I have been reading posts from others on here, especially pertaining to the things I'll need following surgery. I have decided that I will definately go and look for a recliner today. I know that it may be cheaper to rent one, but we need a new chair anyway. Two birds.....one stone sort of thing. :-)

I still have so many questions, and I am hoping to find answers here. So glad I found this site.

Today is Day 1 of NO SMOKING. It is 7:14 a.m. and I am already craving like a crazy. I am hoping that the cravings will pass soon because having this TT is more important to me than smoking and buring up my lungs. Maybe if I try to focus on how bad smoking really is then it will help me to get over the craving. Okay, that is not working so I just popped a piece of gum in my mouth. LOL

So my journey toward the TT is going to also include my ups and downs regarding having to stop smoking. I'm sure that is just what you all wanted to hear......my whining. I do promise that I will do my best to keep the whining at a minimum if at all possible. If not, then please let me know so that I will stop because whiners really get on my last nerve.

I will try to get some pics uploaded later today so that you all can see the before shots. I am finding that looking at the photos others are posting has really helped me to know what to expect during this journey. So, I apologize now in the event that I gross any of you out after viewing my pics.

Just realized that writing here is helping the craving to subside. Guess you all will be hearing A LOT from me over the next several weeks. Maybe we'll all become really good friends through all of this. :)