I Really Underestimated This Procedure

still slightly swollen (more so on the right side)

lower tummy still feels funny when you touch it (like it isn't yours) no more pain - but you can feel it when you stretch pelvic floor drastically improved belly button healing but slightly off centre - favouring the left (waiting to see if that is just due to the extra swelling on the right) scar appears higher on one side (right) scar totally flat bar one little 'ear' at the end of the scar (on the right) using silicone on scar now that seems to be helping it fade it looks great in clothes but I am surprised at how my shape looks different - my legs look heavier and I don't look as curvy as I thought I would - but it takes 6 months till you see how you look (I will post again at the 6 month point). The biggest problem for me was getting over the anaesthetic. That took me just over 2 months. Breathing was hard and my fitness level dropped off the scale. But that has passed now.

10 new things I noticed at each stage in the first month

Post surgery

Wasn’t expecting to be sick - apparently has added a week to my recovery - oops
Had to stay in hospital 2 extra days
Wasn’t expecting to be in such pain
Wasn’t didn’t expect the underwear to be so tight
Wasn’t expecting not to want to eat at all
Spent 3 days wondering why I did this to myself
Became exceedingly dehydrated (needed a drip)
Have to have help in and out of the bed - this is rough - and can’t make it to the loo on my own
The drains came out OMG that was really gross and they went up so much further than I through
Car drive home I could feel every bump

Week 1

Slept so much (woke up so much during sleep)
Cannot stand up straight
Cannot lie down flat have to have knees and shoulders up
Still need pain killers
Stitches are taken out
Worked out we needed to undo the underwear around my ribs in order to sleep
The pain in my hip feels like someone has a flame on my hip
My pain is more on the right
Need to have a pulley to get in and out of bed
Got sores from the underwear (like bedsores)

Week 2

Pretty much the same as week 1 but getting a little better everyday
Standing up for more than 4 mins is too much
Scar is massive and nasty and very red and looks inflamed - I do not like it
Tried on my jeans they are very loose round the tummy
Can’t stand up straight but my stomach looks so much flatter
Took underwear off for a day - OMG I swell too much - it hurts to put the underwear back on
Got depressed - teary about everything
My leg is numb half the time
Had a reaction to the plasters and had a rash due to the sticky stuff
Tried to walk round the block that felt massive

Week 3

Got bored did too much it hurts and I am so tired
Went to work - probably should not have
Scar is still raised but less so may be getting redder
Sudden stabbing pains in my right side
Nausea if I eat too much
Wore heels that is a no !!!! back to wearing flats for a while
All public transport hurts to travel on (although each time I travelled for 2+ hours for work)
If I lie on my side, to sleep, it really really hurts afterwards
The swelling seems to be more?
My scar seems to be spreading

Week 4

Sneezing kills - need to manage that - if stood up and not expecting it it can take me out for 15 mins
Scar is smooth and flat but very red
Can sleep on my side - yay !!!
I sit at work and this causes me to cease up
Stomach is much more swollen (and more so on the right side so my belly button looks off center)
Weird feeling in the numb bit of my tummy
Stabbing pains are regular
Googling how long it took others to get better is all that is getting me through - apparently this is normal recovery
Still in the underwear - god I am bored of it - day and night it is uncomfortable - and as it is summer unpleasant
Burning in my hip (cooled by a wet flannel) doesn’t feel hot to the touch

Beginning to love my new tummy - can't wait to get out of this underwear though - 2 more weeks till I see my consultant