After my third c/section I experienced pain and discomfort above my scar on the right hand side. I just knew that something "wasn't right" but learnt to live with the pain. My PS has now explained it was the torn muscle which has still not healed properly 7 years later and I now have a hernia. I also experienced back pain and pin's and needles in my back where my separation of muscles caused me to have "no core". My fourth and last pregnancy was quite painful and of course my conditions became worse. I've now been diagnosed with a second hernia. I cannot roll over in bed without pain, cannot exercise my stomach in any way (the muscles are too far apart and my hernia's are in that area), cannot crouch down without having to massage my hernia back in.
So now my youngest is 3 and after two years of researching and seeing 2 surgeons I've decided to go through with a tummy tuck. I'm scared. Scared of what my surgeon might actually find in my stomach, I feel like there are more problems then I know of. I'm scared of the pain and the surgery.
My surgeon is lovely, he is very reassuring, he understands that I am anxious. He has told me that I'm not to worry about what is in my stomach that he will fix what is necessary.........I have only read good reviews. He has told me that I don't need to buy a thing, the cost includes all of my pre-op appointments and my garment. He will provide the stool softener. He has told me that the hospital will have physiotherapists to help me out of bed the day after the surgery and that depending on how he does my tummy tuck I may not require drains (another worry of mine!)
I'm excited to be pain free and not look constantly 6 months pregnant. I will put up before and after pictures soon.
Updated on 27 Feb 2016:
I hate these pictures ????
Updated on 1 Mar 2016:
I'm really scared -especially of the pain and going back to work. Will 2 weeks be enough???
Updated on 6 Mar 2016:
Talk about mood swings! One minute I'm ready to call this whole thing off, the next I'm thinking about how great it wil be not to live in pain, the next I'm thinking about actually being able to shop for decent clothes......then back to being terrified, crying, feeling trapped because I've paid.......????
Updated on 11 Mar 2016:
3 days to go and feeling scared, nervous and ready to bail out of the whole thing :/
Updated on 16 Mar 2016:
Day 1 was awful - found out that my muscles were so loose that I had 8cm muscle repair. So sore. It was about 50% worse than a c/section. The incision was ok it was the muscle repair that knocked me. Then nausea from pain meds, then headache from nausea meds. I got out of bed in the evening and had a little assisted walk. I have two drains.
Day 2 - had a shower today which felt so good. Still sore but feeling better.
Day 3 - the space between meds is getting longer so we will see how today goes. I'll try and post a pic later. Mons swollen but otherwise looks ok.
Updated on 17 Mar 2016:
Updated on 21 Mar 2016:
1 week post op and very happy with my shape!
Updated on 24 Mar 2016:
So this morning I wake up with my period :( nothing worse than trying to recover from abdominal surgery then having period pain on top. I'm sure all of you ladies on here experienced it too - it's just awful on top of everything else. 4 days left of recovery then back to work :/
Updated on 25 Mar 2016:
Updated on 28 Mar 2016:
I'm back to work tomorrow. I have a sit down office job so I'm hopeful that I will be ok....I will wear my binder and take painkillers with me. I have only been taking painkillers once per day and then at night before bed. My husband will drive me and pick me up. This is a big test for me....most I've seen don't go back to work this early so I'm nervous but I think I can do this so please wish me luck ladies :)
Updated on 9 Apr 2016:
Updated on 7 May 2016:
Other than a small dog ear bump and a heart shaped belly button I am very happy! These are two small things that my PS said to make an appointment for in 3 months time and he will fix it in rooms with a small local. Love my shape - still sore and swollen at the end of each day but feeling 75% normal. Anyway here are my pics!
Updated on 7 May 2016:
Updated on 7 May 2016: