“Wishing I'd Done This a Decade Ago! 8 WK PICS - Washington”

I'm 45, mom to three ages 20, 17 and 14. I'm 5'6 and 125 lbs. I gained 60 lbs with 1st, 35 lbs with #2 who weighed almost 11 lbs, and did full-on aerobics and step class till due date of 3rd and gained 40 lbs. Breast-fed all three a total of 3 years. No matter how fit I am, I'll have this puddle of skin that I have to push into my pants and no boobs--my sister and I call them Yubangee Boobies. I don't want huge boobs, just fill out the skin that's hanging there. I've had two consults and each told me I don't need muscle repair or a lift-yay! Going with silicone under muscle. Anyone else have similar surgery (no muscle repair)? I'm getting so nervous and I don't know how to prepare--a little over two weeks away

Updated on 18 Jan 2012:
Made the call to pay for surgery yesterday and had labs done today. Snowstorm dumped about 6 inches on us--cabin fever and too much time to think about this!

Updated on 20 Jan 2012:
I'm hoping hubby comes around because he's still being weird. I told him "I AM doing this. I will have a scar from hip to hip. In trade I will not have a bag a loose skin that makes me want to cry every time I'm bent over. I will have a normal belly button again that can be seen in public in a bikini. I will fit in bras and sundresses and tank tops and blouses. I will have a recovery period that I'll need help, patience, comforting...not guilt and silence"!

Updated on 30 Jan 2012:
Yesterday was my last day at work for 4 weeks! Today I must shop for comfy clothes to wear that open in the front and all my other necessities such as m.o.m., gas-x, colace, and wipes. My scripts should be coming in the mail today-hopefully! I'm going to try to get in for a pedi and haircut and shop for easy fixins for the kids. Three more sleeps!!!

Updated on 31 Jan 2012:
Love my haircut today and my pedi yesterday. Figured I'm going to be looking towards my feet for a while so enjoy the view! No prescriptions in the mail and all the necessary info I'm suppose to read and I leave in the morning to make the 4hour drive to pre-op. I don't feel fully prepared. Scared...nauseous...husband not exactly talking to me...my kids aren't saying really anything. I feel guilty doing this and think of the things that could be done with the money!

Updated on 7 Feb 2012:
Wow! Surgery took almost 7 hours! Today is p.o.#5. I don't remember anything after surgery until getting out of car and having to walk up the steps to my mom's house where-thankfully-I had a lift chair to live in for the next few days. First time getting up to the potty in the night, I broke out in a sweat and thought I was going to pass out! Hubby waited on me sleeping in the recliner next to me (and saying is this how it's going to be when we're old?). The first days are a blur of trying to eat, take meds, and getting up to bathroom. Yesterday 2/6, was my post-op appointment and everything was good. My drains are hardly putting anything out and I could have had them out tomorrow, but we had to drive back home 4 hrs. away so hubby could work. Dr. G didn't want to take them out right then in case fluid starts building up as I get more active, so scheduled for Friday.

First shower last night-almost threw up. Wow, was not expecting it to be that hard. Slept in my own bed-ahhh! I'm alone today to take care of myself so this should be interesting. Also, forgot to mention in surgery Dr. G found an area of muscle that needed to be closed so he just did it-thank you, thank you! I left size up to him with the knowledge I didn't want huge boobies...just filling out what skin needed to be perky, cute boobs like they used to be. He went with 215 cc's in each. I'm swollen, but love love it. I also have a verticle incision from old belly button because the skin was so damaged.

I almost chickened out on the breasts-hubby was extremely hostile with me prior to surgery and finally told me yesterday that he felt like this was the beginning of the end of our marriage-I don't know what more I can say to make him realize I'm not going anywhere just because I had this done--I'm still ME!! Days have been interesting, to say the least.

Updated on 9 Feb 2012:
One week p.o. I feel pretty good today. I'll feel even better tomorrow when I get drains out!! The band across my chest pushing boobs down is really bugging me but i guess I have to put up with it for two more weeks. Will try to get some pics up soon.

Updated on 13 Feb 2012:
Got my drains out Friday 2/10 (day 8) it burned a little and dr had to clean out my bbutton-EWWW! I'm one of those that doesn't touch the bellybutton--it weirds me out for some reason! The next day before driving back home (4 hrs.) we did a little shopping-wore me out. Back home hubby weirding out on me again--finally admitted that he still doesn't know what to do with his feelings of me doing this ?? TOO LATE!! So on top of me trying to breathe, not hurt, walk without stooping, not be constipated, worry about house...I still have to put up with THAT!! GRRRR!! Counselling session coming up soon! I'm very swollen, bellybutton looks red, and swelling on breast bone. Garments are killing me-I can't breathe! Posted pics-yuk I am depressed.

Updated on 18 Feb 2012:
I couldn't take it any more...I went to that pink store and had me measured! They tell me I'm a 32c but the bra I tried on (no underwire) felt loose. I really want to be a small c and hope I'm not going to be let down if there's still swelling. They haven't changed much this week. Anyone else have any input at being 16 days post-op size wise?

Updated on 23 Feb 2012:
Swell Hell! Uggg! I'm trying to see if not wearing compression makes any difference. I went without it yesterday because I had to leave the house and left it off all night--finally got quality sleep!! This morning I am wayyyy less swollen. Tomorrow we leave to make 4 hr drive to get bellybutton stitches out. Should be an interesting trip after counselling session yesterday.

Updated on 27 Feb 2012:
Experiment with leaving garment didn't work-painfully swollen. Garment back on. Got bb stitches out--love my cute little innie! I got to see my incision for the first time without any tape-wow! Thin and didn't look red at all! They put tape back on for another two weeks and then I use silicone tape for a few months after to get the best scar results. I have to go back in 3 weeks so breast can be evaluated. Hubby being Jekyl/Hyde! I'm sick of rollercoaster! I have to find out my work schedule today-I'm so not ready to be on my feet and running from one end of the warehouse to the other! I have nothing to wear and I'm depressed.

Updated on 1 Mar 2012:
Today is 4 weeks. I'm still dealing with swelling and now back to work. Yesterday worked 6 hours and had to unbutton pants on drive home. I fit into my Levis, but the pressure of swelling is just uncomfortable to deal with when I have to answer members questions walking from area to area in warehouse. My breasts kind of had a burning feeling from using my arms so much-don't know if that's good. Today I have an 8 hour shift, Lord help me.

Updated on 5 Mar 2012:
Tried to update and add pics and it was deleted! Here goes again: 1st week completed back at work--brutal! Not telling anyone what I did and trying to do my usual job's getting difficult. So far nobody's noticed. I'm feeling more like myself and fit into Levis, but thankfully, jacket covers swelling at end of shift. Swelling is above bellybutton and it's kinda droopy on right side...trying not to judge yet. It also seems like skin isn't as tight as it could be? I will be devastated if after all this pain, cost and conflict with hubby that I don't end up completely happy. I will just have to live with it, because I will get that big "I TOLD YOU SO". Hubby did, however, behave himself this weekend ;)

Updated on 7 Mar 2012:
Today I woke up super flat--man this back and forth is killing me. I wish I could see final result and stop freaking that I'll still have loose skin after all this. I meant to put on my new pics that the red around bb is from bandaid that pulled off my skin--nothing to do with surgery. Hubby is in his private counselling session as I write this...should be an interesting day.

Updated on 15 Mar 2012:
Today is 6 wks-woohoo! I've had a lot of hours at work and 8 hr shifts that my body doesn't really seem ready for, but I can't help it. I have the same amount of swelling with/without garment. Making the trip to Seattle tomorrow for checkup so we'll see what he says. I'm dying to get out in my flowerbeds and get them cleaned out! I have bulbs coming up everywhere and need to do pruning (I know that's probably a no-no)! On the hubby front: He brought me my favorite dinner to work last night-fish tacos-and we ate out in the truck so I could get away from the loonie bin. Then he tells me we have somewhere we have to be Saturday morning at 10 and to wear jeans, long sleeves, comfortable shoes...and hair in a ponytail. Hmmm!!

Updated on 19 Mar 2012:
Check up went well: I can shop for bra (which I did at VS 32C-yay!) I want to burn the surgery one, but find myself still sleeping in it. I don't need to wear garment anymore if I don't want, as Dr G said if it's not helping with swell, don't bother. I'm cleared to do most activities with exception of no ab work for 2 more weeks and no pec work for another month--which means no pruning of the shrubs/trees-grrr! Regarding the BB, he did agree that I have a little loosening of the skin above and we will eval in 6 months. I'm to keep taping all incisions with silicone for another 5 months :( I don't like it, but I will. I finally had the nerve to take pillow out from under knees and sleep on side with my little memory foam wedge like normal and AWWWWW--great sleep for me!

On the surprise front: hubby drove us to a shop that blows glass and we had a 2 hr class on making glass beads! Ponytail was so I wouldn't torch my hair off! It was so much fun and I was kinda afraid of the flame but would love to do it again. He was a pro at it because he welds, but my beads turned out pretty cool with the color combo I used--could be another addictive hobby!! We had to wait about an hour for them to aneal in the kiln so went across the street to German pub-was excellent! Major points to him :-)

Updated on 29 Mar 2012:
8 weeks post-op! Well, let's see what's new (or not new)...still have swelling above and below bb; still concerned about droop of bb (will be evaluated at 6 mo checkup); still numb over most of tummy; still have sensitivity in nipples, although not as severe. For the most part, I'm not wearing garment because it seems like I swell equally with/without it. I'm in a funk and not able to get out for some reason--I'm attributing most of it to my job, but also a little let down at appearance of tummy. I still have loose skin when I bend over or sitting that I don't like. I'm not formally working out, but started my spring yard clean-up which is more than a workout and I'm sooo sore! Holy cow! I was trying not to use tummy muscles yet or pecs so my butt and thighs are screaming at me! I still have to wait another 2 weeks before being clearing for pec use. Hubby has been treating me fine--he's getting house projects done that I've wanted for years! I've told him we need a vaca just us and I'm told if I can get tax refund for us to book it! Well, I'm not a miracle worker because usually we end up paying! I guess we'll see. Hope everyone is doing well!

Updated on 4 May 2012:
13 weeks! Not a lot of change body-wise. Tummy still numb and swelling. I wake up mostly flat and get a glimps of what I may be, but then I have a ridge that swells above my bb and down. Doesn't affect how my clothes fit or anything, but annoying all the same. Still waiting to see if skin above bb changes, because right now it still is droopy-not thrilled with that. Boobies are great-finally stopping the extreme nipple sensation/pain if-ahem-touched. I haven't been on here much because I finally took the big leap and created an Etsy website for my jewelry that I create--so between that and my other real job, family, house, yard, pool....not a lot of time. I haven't been getting email updates of those I've convo'd with--hope you are all well! And Happy Mother's Day to all!!