I have been waiting for this moment feels like my whole life. All I've been thinking about is summer, bikinis, with confidence! Day 1 of my surgery I was shaking with nerves knowing this is going to hurt so bad. I got a hernia removed, TT with Lipo. Everything happens so fast after they got me in with the surgery room. Next thing I knew I was waking up in pain. The pain was very intense! I think my nurse was holding back on the pain medication. She finally dosed me up and I felt so much better. First time walking to the car felt like a ton of weight in my stomach and I was being pulled down. By the time I got home I slept in a rocking chair. If you don't have one get one (life saver)!! My mom is with me helping me for the next week, she's amazing!! You'll need someone after surgery! Use your arms and legs getting in and out as much as possible. This helped me, taking three slow breaths before moving, then relaxing my stomach muscles and pushing up with my arms, once up take another breath while breathing out slide hips to the edge of the chair, then another deep breath, use your legs and arms to push yourself up while breathing outward. That's how I get up everyday. I am now 8 days post op and I'm feeling really good! I slept in my bed last night for the first time!!! FINALLY!!! I can position myself on both sides to give my butt a break. I've been sitting on the floor the past 3 days to stretch my muscles very slowly. My back seemed to hurt the most. I wake up and place both hands on the wall with one leg back to stretch a little. It makes not walk hunched over as bad. I can't wait to see how I'm doing at 2 weeks postop! Everyday is a journey and everyday I'm stronger!!! NO REGRETS!! Updated on 17 Dec 2016: Yesterday I felt so amazing and had a lot of energy. I decided to go grocery shopping with my mom and make cookie dough for Christmas. I didn't take any pain mess with me not thinking. By the time I got home I was hurting! It felt like my stomach was expanding. Sleep last night was tossing and turning even on meds. Taking it easy today and sitting. Lesson learned!! Updated on 20 Dec 2016: Today will mark the second day on no pain medication. I'm coming back to life and getting restless. I can tell the kids are bored out their minds too. Today I'm stepping out! Today is 12 days postop and I think everything is looking good. I do have one problem. The sight where the drain tube was is infected. I tried saline soaked bandage today. Tomorrow I'll check to see the progress. Updated on 20 Dec 2016: I went shopping and I think I've done a good job. I got tired out and I couldn't push the cart. I'm not on any pain medicine right now, I'm trying to save the little I have left for a just in case day. I still have some swelling above the right and left hip. Updated on 20 Dec 2016: I've been very nervous about sitting around and not being able to burn any calories. I'm only 5'1" and I put on weight fast. With all these cookies and sweets from family and friends is damaging for me. So I stocked up for my life changing moment. Updated on 21 Dec 2016: Went this morning to see my Hernia Surgeon and he said it's still too early to tell if my belly button will survive. I'll deal with that emotion when I have to cross that bridge. As for the drain site that is infected, the saline WORKED!! It looked a lot better this morning! Dr wants me to stop putting neosporin on my belly button. It needs to dry. I broke out from the tape so I have to use paper tape. Still some tightness and I get tired out very easy. Other than the pain in my shoulder blade due to it being my weight baring side all is good!! Updated on 22 Dec 2016: First time today I'm not wearing any bandages. Everything is dry and looking good. I'm still wearing my black girdle and the wrap from the doctor. I have my Vicodin but only using it as needed. Such as I know Christmas I might need one for night time due to being up and walking around a lot. I look in the mirror today and teared up. It's 14 years that I've looked in the mirror and loved what I see. No more feeling discouraged and defeated. I'm so happy!!! Updated on 23 Dec 2016: I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Progress is going great! Last night I slept flat on my back for the first time since D-Day! I think the things are looking good! I see my doctor in January. Updated on 29 Dec 2016: I did it! Holidays are out of the way!! I'm feeling so much better then 3 weeks ago, it's hard to believe!! It feels like forever but the better and stronger I get the more I want to do. I'm ready to get in the gym and start tanning again. When the impossible becomes possible and when dreams become reality. I look at myself everyday and want to cry because how happy I am with my results. I'm 33 years old and my body was messed up after my first kid at 19 years old. Not anymore!!! Updated on 30 Dec 2016: Updated on 3 Jan 2017: I can't believe I made it!! It's amazing how the body heals. I can't wait to see my DR so he can tell me how my process is going. I'm feeling good about it. I'm also looking forward to him saying I can get back in the gym!!! Updated on 3 Jan 2017: Updated on 4 Jan 2017: Saw my doctor today for my 4 week check up. I'm healing really good he said. I can't go to the gym for another 4 weeks. He doesn't like the fact I want to tan due to it can make to scar really dark. I could cover it to stop that from happening, he said. He really discouraged the tanning for other reasons too. I'm to wear my binder for another week and use a girdle there after. I asked him, what if I decided to workout what could happen. He said, rippling of the muscle could occur and become permanent. If that were to happen another surgery will have to be done. My nurse Julie talked to me more about my incision and the importance of being careful not to do and lift too much. Due to the incision splitting open. They see this at 3 weeks at times because we start to feel better and go too far. I feel almost normal right now and I just want to get moving and jump right back into my life. Today was an eye opener as to the extent of my surgery. I don't want to lose track of that. At times it's hard when you're feeling so good. As of now I'm on no pain medication I'm back to my normal vitamins, krill and flax seed. I drink my protein shake every morning and lemon water. I prepare foods for the week for my good eating lifestyle with high protein and low carbs. By the time I get in the gym I will shed and tone fast. I went into surgery weighing in at 129.6lbs and I've lost 6 lbs in 4 weeks. I'm so happy I can wear belly shirts again! Updated on 5 Jan 2017: Thursday December 8th at this time I was passed out from drugs. Today Thursday January 4th I'm standing up straight, walking at normal pace, cooking, cleaning, taking care of my two children and back to work! Updated on 5 Jan 2017: My left side scar from week 1 until week 4. Updated on 12 Jan 2017: Week 5 update! Updated on 13 Jan 2017: It's been a very long time since I saw this! Updated on 19 Jan 2017: It's been a very long time since I saw this! Updated on 19 Jan 2017: It's been six whole weeks and I'm feeling amazing!! I have two more weeks until I see my doctor and I'm hoping I can go back to the gym. I'm still not 100% yet. My abs still hurt if I over stretch. The pain is bearable, I need no pain meds. I love how lose my pants fit around my waist!!! I feel like a new woman!!! Updated on 27 Jan 2017: 8 week doctor appointment February 1st!!! Hopefully I get the go ahead to get back in the gym!!!! I feel great! The center of my stomach is still numb. I still can't lift a case of water without feeling tingling after. I'm wearing my spanx through the day and my binder at night. My belly button is looking SO much better!!! Updated on 9 Feb 2020: I love being able to show off my stomach and not worry about that ugly saggy skin. However, I hate the scar. I can't wear the cuter bikini bottoms without that scar showing and it's from hip to hip. Maybe it will slowly start to fade even more over the next few years. I still will have a pain in my right ab muscle that happened 3 months after surgery and it still sneaks up on me every once in a while. Very uncomfortable! I read up on it and it seems to be normal side effects to this surgery. Nothing that one can't handle just very uncomfortable at times. Has anyone had any complications this far post op? In their immune system, or anything? One thing I want to tell anyone getting this ask about how to reduce scar tissue underneath the skin. I had a surgery last May 2019 to remove my tubes due to abnormal cells and the surgeon said he had to cut through a very large amount of scar tissue. He said he helped me out and removed as much as he could starting from the belly button area and all the way down. I'm not sure why this happened and Id never known this if I didn't have that other surgery. Ask LOTS of questions people. My friends asked me if I'd do it again and I truly don't know if all the pain and complications post surgery were worth it. But it's a question that I couldn't answer right away. I love my stomach and how flat it is but that scar is so disappointing to me. So my answer is yes. I'd do it again bc it's over and I have a beautiful stomach for ever now. And ultimately at the end of the day it's how I feel about myself when I look in the mirror and I love seeing my stomach flat. I just hide the scar. Plus I don't have to be in the gym forever just to lose the belly bump. This is not an easy post op surgery. One of my worst pain wise. But stick it out and you'll be happy and love it! Good Luck to all! My next surgery to come!! Taking out my old breast implants and upgrading. Coming September 2020:)