Hi All, Decided to take the plunge and join the group of amazing ladies posting their hearts on this site. I am 41 (how is that possible) with three amazing boys 10,9 and 4 and a super supportive husband. My adult life has been a constant struggle with my weight. If I am honest I can't remember a time that I haven't worried about my weight. I was unable to get pregnant until we met the most amazing fertility specialist who performed a procedure on my ovaries that resulted in almost instant success. I developed PCOS and until the drilling of my ovaries I was unable to concieve. The PCOS also contributed to a rapid weight gain, that and my love for entertaining and gourmet meals! Over the last 15 years my weight topped out at 260ish pounds. This was during my last preganacy which also left me with Type 2 diabetes and HBP. So, end of the long drawn out sob story. I decided it was time to take back my life and have been working very hard especially over the last year to bring my wieght down and try to get off the copious amounts of medications that made me feel awful! My endo ( a very supportive physician) listened to me when I told her point blank that I did not want to have to continue with injecting insulin and precribed Victoza for me to try.
This was truly the start of changes for me. I joined Weight Watcher's online (AGAIN) and decided to make the necessary changes to get myself to the point where a tummy tuck could be a possibility for me. My husband has always told me that we would find a way to pay for the surgery if I could just lose the weight. This somehow clicked for me this year and so here I am about 77 lbs lighter and still working on it. I made the couragous decision to bare my belly for the PS as embarassing as it is for me. He was wonderful and I felt at ease immediately with him and his style. I am not looking to be a bikini model, I just want to feel like myself again. I want to remember the girl I used to be before I met "the belly". I want to feel sexy again, to feel good in clothes, to not feel as though I need to hide behind big, long shirts. I have a great life, God has blessed me in so many ways. I just don't want to not feel so self conscious. I want to wear a bathing suit and not have my tummy hang out the leg holes! I want to wear cute panties that won't look like g-string from the front! I am scheduled for my tummy tuck on June 5 so the countdown is on LITERALLY! I have a sticky note pad on my desk and I rip off a day at a time. I just want it to be here. But, until then I will continue to try to lose more weight, walk on the treadmill, and read the posts here. I meet with the PS again for another preop talk to answer any questions that I have. I am starting a list, if you have any suggestions let me know. I will post photos soon, just have to take them!!
Updated on 6 May 2012:
I'm getting impatient... How can it still be a month away?.
Updated on 8 May 2012:
Ok posting of the dreaded before photos. This poor tummy has seen better days....the days before the 2 hernia surgeries, the emergency c- section, the exploratory laproscopic surgeries, the 3 pregnancies with an all time high weight of 260(ish) and now the larger than life rectus diastasis.
Updated on 9 May 2012:
Well I meet with the PS again tomorrow to discuss in greater length the procedure and have my many accumulating questions answered. I have asked to be put on the cancellation list for any earlier surgery dates. I am starting to realize from reading other's posts that the recovery time I allowed myself prior to the kids summer break was probably a bit understated.....hmmm we shall see. I am a pretty quick healer but one never can tell how long till I am feeling 100 percent???
I have quite the list of questions started but any ideas for more would be appreciated!
Thanks TT Family!!
Updated on 11 May 2012:
Oh My Word, had the second pre-op question period with my PS yesterday. I asked to be put on the cancellation list for future dates that might come up prior to June 5 (my planned purgery date). The more I've been reading the more I realized that I might need a little more time prior to summer when my 3 dudes will be home with me while I continue to work my full time job. Well today I recieved a call that they had a cancellation and my surgery could be moved to May 16 if I wish!!! I burst into an immediate sweat and was excited and scared all at the same time. Wow, this time next week I will be getting the drains out and be on the "flat side". the surgeon told me yesterday that everything below the belly button will be gone and he will have a nice low scar below my existing c-section scar and hysterectomy scar. He will be giving me an all new belly button, he commented that my current BB is all over the place. When I asked how high the flank lipo would go he says they can't go very high because of where the blood supply comes from??? I am a little worried about being disappointed with that part. Although the idea of not having this skin flap sitting in my lap next week is uber cool! The other exciting part for me is the repair of my diastasis rectus which is terribly large and allows hernias to pop in and out regularly. I have already had 3 different hernia surgeries so this repair will be most appreciated. Well, I've got to finish my work day, make freezer meals all weekend and get my household in a state of order! My hubby was able to move his schedule around so he can be at home with me from Wed- Monday of the long weekend (in Canada). I have my mom and mom-in-law ready and willing to help after that point when needed. YIKES it's really happening. can't wait to post after photos!
Updated on 14 May 2012:
2 more sleeps, crazy!! So many things to do to be ready, I had my family over for Mother's Day lunch and my husband's parents for supper on Sunday. Today was a full day of work and getting things ready for the upcoming week. Did a $400 Costco trip made lasagna, meatloaf muffins, hamburgers for the freezer. Plans for a long weekend at the lake have been squashed thanks to moi! Just heaping on the guilt myself! Don't need any help with that. Hoping to get a good nights rest. Got an urgent call that the hospital needs to see me so I guess I will have to fit that into my work schedule tomorrow. Well think it's bedtime night all!
Updated on 15 May 2012:
Well today is the big day! Got to get 3 kids off to school and then make our way to the hospital for pre op stuff. Should go fairly smooth. Forgot to get measurements of the before girth but I will do that tomorrow. Drowsy so I should make use of the heavy eyelids. See you on the flat side!!!!
Updated on 22 May 2012:
Ok here's a couple of updates, not great pictures but they are at least showing I made it to the other side.
Updated on 22 May 2012:
Anyone know why I can't post updated photos?
Updated on 25 May 2012:
9 days PO
Dr. Told me a foot of skin was removed!! I guess that's depth because I am a whole lot wider than that!
Updated on 28 May 2012:
Hi all, today I drove for the first time and man I felt FREEEEEEE. I am just the kind of person that has a hard time relying on others for things that I am capable of doing on my own. I have been so blessed by so many people who have helped out over the last little while as I recouped. Many meals have been provided by caring family and friends. We as a family are so thankful for all the help.. Without my mom and my hubby this would have been a disaster. With 3 kids life is busy, with one parent down life is INSANE! I feel pretty good. I have not rested at all today. Trying like crazy to get back to a normal work schedule. My swelling was a little less today and I am down about 7 lbs since after the surgery. I have quite a bit of swelling in my lower abdomen and even lower! WOW I heard about it but never imagined what that could look like! I have been fairly emotional lately and I understand that is a normal part of this process, it just kinda took me off guard. ANyways, the healing continues and I will go to have stitches removed tomorrow. That will be nice. They are a little itchy at this point. Still wearing binder and control panties everyday and night. Hoping to go underwear shopping in the next few weeks to buy panties that don't cover my belly button for the first time in about 12 years!
Updated on 1 Jun 2012:
Well it's hard to believe 2 weeks have passed by already. Time flies and life is busy. Had to go for another visit to the PS yesterday to have my pubic area drained. When i saw the crazy needle I about dropped to the floor but thank goodness - haven't got much restored feeling "down there" yet! They took out about 200 cc of fluid build up. It was both relieving and odd at the same time. I can't get used to standing partly naked with people inspecting my "punga" as I refer to it. But, ce la vie! I weighed in todayand I am down 12 pounds from when I arrived home but I was up 5 lbs when I came home from IV fluids and meds. So it seems so far I am down 7 from my presurgery weight. 176 - havent seen that weight in over a decade I m sure. My pants are all baggy and loose on me and I just generally look better and feel better about me. I may have to go for another aspiration but that's okay with me.
Updated on 4 Jun 2012:
Well, time flies when you are a busy working mom of three busy boys. I am pretty much able to do just about everything on my own now, with the exception of vaccuuming and a few other heavier household chores. I am going to start back on the treadmill again tonight, wish me luck! I am working full time. I find that I tucker out by about 2:00, that is when the overwhelming tired feeling hits. Just gotta push through and keep on going! I still find the mid afternoon swelling quite incredible, and even though I think it will feel better without the binder for awhile, it is amazing how quickly my tummy and back hurt. So, CG it is for awhile longer. Think I may need to go back in this week to have my pubic area drained again.....not looking forward to it and hoping that I don't have to but the alternative is not fun either! Bought my first bikini undies in about 15 years, oh what a feeling! Saw some family this weekend and everyone couldn't get over my transformation. A lot of them haven't seen me since I lost weight never mind the TT. I have to admit I am not comfortable with the attention, made me feel kind of embarrased. WEIRD.
Updated on 14 Jun 2012:
I am one month PO now and starting to feel like oldself, just better! I am so not used to the newer, improved body I now have. I bought a pair of size 10 skinny jeans the other day. I could do up the 8 but just felt better in the 10. That is such a huge difference over the sixe 16/18 that I was wearing a year and a half ago. I have finally followed through with something. I set my eyes on my goal and although there were struggles I am happy with my progress. I really want to start on the treadmill but have been quite sore from the muscle repair. I think that I should start soon anyways but I vaccummed for the first time the other day and paid for it dearly. I guess waiting for another week won't kill me. It is time to start watching my points again on WW. I need to jog off these inner thighs and turkey neck arms! Bought a new bathing suit the other day, I am completly different sizes on the top and bottom, hoping that evens out more as I continue to lose weight. I have always been top heavy, it just got more even over the years!
Will try to post some new pictures soon!
Updated on 17 Jul 2012:
Well I am 2 months post op and feeling great. I still have internal pain from the muscle repair and I still get swollen by the end of the day but overall my scar looks fantastic. I went last week to have a stitch removed that was opopping through the incision line. I will likely need revision surgery in a few months, there is a small dog ear on my right side at the end of the scar line and the PS feels he may have left too much skin in the pubic area. I have to agree with him, it puddles when I sit down and I feel like it sticks out further than it should. It seems noticable to me although I am not sure everyone else notices. At first I wasn't keen on having any more surgery but I figure I paid to have this done and I should be 100% staisfied with the results. I can't believe how great I feel in clothes now. It truly is night and day. I will post some newer photos (Just gotta get ahold of my hubby's IPhone). I finally invested in some new pretty panties and more bathing suits than I have ever owned in my life!!!!
Hope all is well with my fellow Tummy Tuckers out there!