4 week update- told I can go without my binder - West Des Moines, IA

4 weeks post op today. So far everything has been great. My allergic reaction/ redness is starting to fade(thank The Lord). I am having virtually no pain but I do get a little uncomfortable after sitting at my desk for to long without getting up. I am back to vacuuming and cleaning my house that I have been neglecting lol!
I went to my 1 month appt with the PS yesterday, he took out 2 stitches that were popping through and said everything was healing great. He told me to rub mederma aggressively into my scar. I am having a little trouble with this just because it is all still numb and feels funny! He also said I can ditch my binder and I don't have to wear anything anymore, this makes me NERVOUS! I tried going to bed without it last night and lasted 20 minutes before I put it back on!!! I am going to try going longer periods without it instead of completely ditching it all at once.
As far as swelling goes, In the mornings I am flat but by the end of the work day I am super swollen. I read some reviews where they are swollen just near their incision but mine is all over. At the moment I am wearing hoodies and jeans everyday so I can't see the swelling. I still can't fit into my regular jeans so I am wearing jeans that were a little big before. I know I will be swollen for quite awhile and I am accepting it.

Pod 16 today- I went back to work at my desk job at 14 days. I didn't expect to be so worn out! Apparently getting myself up and ready plus kids and a dog wears you out. I ended up going home 2 hours early to take a nap. My next day back at work was much better. I was able to stay all day but I was much more swollen and sore than normal. Yesterday was probably the worst day as far as discomfort goes, I know it will get better eventually. By last night I was so beyond the point of exhaustion I went to bed at 9 and slept all night without waking. I have been sleeping in my bed on my side with minimal discomfort but I do surround myself with pillows. One near my stomach, one behind my back and one in between my legs which seems to help.
I am extremely happy with my belly button, that was the one thing I was most concerned about. I am not at all excited about the position of my scar. I didn't prepare myself for how high it is. None of my underwear covers it and none of my swim bottoms cover it even the ones he marked me in. Which is so frustrating! Also I still having an allergic reaction to the steri strips or the glue they used. I am on oral steroids to try to get over it. The inch of bright redness all across my incision is not helping me like the scar any better. I think it is making it worse.
I think I have hit the depression part of this process (which is knew would come). I am depressed that I had visions of wearing super cute bathing suits and now I don't know which ones will cover it which ones won't. My sweats and my shorts ride low and my scar is visible. I did try on my lowest pair of jeans and it was covered. I am now trying to enter the acceptance phase. There is nothing I can do to change the placement so I will have to work around it.
Other than all of that I am recovering well. I am walking straighter everyday, and little things seem to be getting easier like bending over and picking things up. Everyday I can walk a little faster and I have a little more strength than the day before. I able to take care of myself and my kids all evening by myself without any trouble.
Thanks for listening to me vent :) have a great day!

Pod 12 and I feel pretty well. I am swollen, I measured around my belly button and it is about 2 inches bigger than before. I know it will pass eventually so I am not stressing about it. Also a ton of the swelling is on my right hip.
Luckily I am having hardly any pain, sometimes I am uncomfortable. I am standing up straighter but I notice that I baby it and hunch over still. I go back to work on Tuesday and I didn't tell very many people so hopefully I can walk a little less noticeably! My children are being way better about this whole process than I expected. They are helping me quite a bit with no complaints which is amazing!! My incision is apparently having an allergic reaction to the adhesive on the steri strips so that's why it is bright red all the way. I will change my rating once everything calms down. I am also trying to be optimistic about my scar dropping at least a half inch. It is visible in almost all of my underwear and swimming suit bottoms. Anyone remember the person who posted a side by side of her incision dropping? What's her screen name?

Thanks for reading!