“Finally Doing Something For Me - Sacramento, CA”

Well ladies; I have finally gotten up enough courage to schedule my tummy tuck surgery (4/3/12). I have done an extensive amount of research and found a doctor I am pretty confident with. I have had two consultations but I am still nervous as hell(LOL).

I am a 35yr. old married AA woman with 3 children ranging in ages from a teen to a toddler; and boy have they all done a number on this body. I bounced back after the first one but my last two were C-sections and I have been unable to tighten up my belly or get back to my pre pregancy weight of 150lbs.

I am 5'8" and currently 174lbs and I just want to be beautiful again! My husband thinks I don't need to change a thing but I don't like what I see when I look in the mirror. So I've saved up enough money and have decided to finally do something special for myself.

Updated on 21 Mar 2012:
Well I showed up 20 minutes early for my pre-op only to be told I had been left off the schedule but it would only take a few minutes to get everything together and I would still be seen. Now my mind is running a hundred miles a minute. On started to wonder if that is a sign that I should not go through with this...or am I letting fear get the best of me???

Updated on 21 Mar 2012:
Omg! I'm freaking out! Now the anesthestist won't be available on the 3rd of April so my surgery has been rescheduled for the 5th. Which totally throws off my plan to have my tt done while the kids were on Easter break and away at a relatives house...idk It's like one sign too many...I'm starting to second guess this thing... :(

Updated on 27 Mar 2012:
Well labs all of my labs came back o.k. and I got all of my prescriptions filled. Just 9 more days to a new me! I still have some shopping to do before the surgery but I will take care of all that once the kids are out of school and off at a relatives home enjoying their spring break..

Updated on 4 Apr 2012:
Well ladies I'm off to bed. Tomorrow is my big day..keep me in your prayers..talk to u soon...

Updated on 5 Apr 2012:
Welll ladies..I.made it. Thank you for your prayers and your support. Will post pics soon. By the way I'm not in pain at all..:)

Updated on 6 Apr 2012:
Well I'm doing pretty good. Had my first post op visit this morning and got my catheter removed. I am flat but I still have some stretch marks which is a little depressing.....I'm still having no pain just soreness. I haven't even had to take any pain meds..I feel as if I could have been pulled tighter. I'm walking upright already.

Updated on 6 Apr 2012:
Swell hell is starting to kick in. :(

Updated on 7 Apr 2012:
2 days PO... Well I've gotten my appetite back. Still no.pain but extreme discomfort from the swelling. My tummy is so swollen I'm afraid I may get more stretch marks....
My ps does not use compression garments so I don't know what I can do for the swelling....any suggestions???

Updated on 9 Apr 2012:
PO day 4...feeling pretty good during the day but at night it's a whole other story. The swelling is so bad that it seems like its making the stretch marks i have left worse. Ive only taken pain pills twice and i had my first BM with no problems. Im almost standing up straight. I cant wait to get these drains out. They are so annoying.

Updated on 12 Apr 2012:
POday 7
Well I got one of my drains removed and thank god for that. These drains have been giving me issues from day one. From clogging up to not draining at all. And not to mention they are painful and just Damn annoying....I had to call my PS ER line 3times; one of which he was kind of rude and condescending. I had to remind him I'm not a freakn doctor and my reaction to things are normal for me. This is the first time I've ever had a Damn drain. He wouldn't be acting like that if it was his first time being pregnant( if males could have babies) and he thought he was in labor and I was telling him just calm down its nothing to worry about but he just felt like something wasn't right.... He's still a good doctor even though he was being an ASS!!! Well now that I got that off my chest..lol....I'm moving around on my own and even going up and down my stairs when I have to. After all I gotta get use to doing things on my own cuz my hubby goes back to work on Monday.. :( .... Will post new pics soon..steri-strips still on...

Updated on 16 Apr 2012:
11days PO
feeling much better. Was able to take a shower on my own yesterday for the first time. It was very exhausting. My back is still very sore and I still have swelling and bruising where lipo was done. I drive today for the first time. It wasn't painful but it was uncomfortable. I was so nervous I'd pop a stitch or someone might hit me. I go today to get my other drain out..thank god! Them I'm suppose to start receiving lymphatic massages so hopefully that will help with the swelling and soreness....I'm so tired of sleeping in a recliner and getting tired just from brushing my teeth. This whole process is really getting to me. I had a meltdown yesterday because Im was just so fed up with needing assistance to complete the simplest task like lotioning my legs or drying off after a shower. I am also upset I have been so swollen it caused new stretch marks along with the ones that were still left behind it just pushed me over the edge. Well I will update photo when I get my drain removed. Ttyl

Updated on 18 Apr 2012:
PO day 12...Feeling better than ever. It's like magic ever since the drain was removed on Monday I have more pep in my step...lol....I actually made dinner yesterday and didn't need to take any breaks. Majority of my bruising is gone but I do still have swelling and hard spots on my hips from the lipo. I have started wearing spanx and have noticed the swelling is a lot less at night and it allows me to get in and out of my recliner more easily. I still have on steri-strips so I'm going to ask when can I begin scar therapy.

Updated on 24 Apr 2012:
19 days PO...
Bruising is completely gone. Sitll having some soreness and hard spots where lipo was done but it has gone down and gotten better. I can't stand the constant fluctation with the swelling in my tummy from day to day but this too shall pass as I've read. Belly button is healing well and I will begin scar therapy as soon as these stupid strips fall off. My PS does not want me to take them off so it's just a waiting game. My scar is very thin and seems to be healing well from what I can see where the strips have actually come off.