36 Years Old Mom to 4: Complete Mommy Makeover (Surgery-August 2016); Colorado Springs

The revision took place back at the end of June, only 2.5 weeks after getting my leaky veins in my leg removed, so June and the beginning of July was slow going with workouts. I had some skin removed from under my right breast and my tummy tuck scar fixed and thinned out. He got rid of the ugly purple parts of the scar that were holes that opened up during my healing and cut some of the scar tissue off that was making the scar thick/rope-like. Unfortunately, I had an allergic reaction to the tape he used to put over the stitches and it was awful! I had a horrible rash and lots of itching after the second day. The tape lasted another day and a half before I took most of it off and replaced it with paper tape...probably shouldn't have, but it felt better. I suppose I've been allergic to it all this time and didn't realize it because the last time I had surgery and that tape was used I was on a ventilator soon after and was really out of it for a while..and they likely took some of the tape off to access me in the ICU. I was, however, ecstatic after seeing my healing scar in just a week afterwards! He sort of tucked me a little bit more with the revision and it was perfect! He fixed my extremely tight belly button by clipping some ring of tissue inside. The hole is now the size of a pointer finger tip instead of a q-tip...still has scaring around it. The belly button hasn't been my favorite part of any of the surgeries. I don't know, maybe thinking about fixing it another time after more healing...talking a year or two. After all of this, I had to move...whomp whomp whomp :(
I moved to California last month so, for the last 8 weeks, it's been a tough time keeping up with workouts and eating right. I gained a few pounds and, with bloat on a short person, it looks like double. I've been soda free for 2 weeks now and stay away from sugar as much as possible, so that's taken my major bloating away (still bloat like crazy with menstrual cycle and ovulation). I had a serious breakdown last week and needed a pep talk from my trainer back in Colorado. She has reassured me that the definition will come back quicker than it took to get it. I started a pilates reformer class today and plan to continue it once a week. Add in my home workouts (until I find suitable new gym around this isolated area) and I should be seeing my flat stomach with muscle definition in just a few weeks!

I haven't scheduled my scar revision appointment because household schedules aren't lining up well. I was told that I would be walking out like normal afterwards and can be alone at home with no worries but I prefer to have someone with me at home for a few days due to my previous situation. I hope to have the appointment within the next couple of weeks...we'll see.
Onto the photos: The scar...it's not so pretty. I had 3 holes that opened up (4 if you count the one at the end of the incision that was from the drain tube); Front view...doing well; Side views: still battling some swelling but mostly after workouts and the obligatory menstrual cycle swelling (which is what these pics show); Belly button...not liking it. He gave me a steroid shot to help with the scar tissue in there and it helped (the opening was much smaller a couple of months ago) but I really hate the puckering and how small the opening is still. Will be addressed at appointment for incision scar revision; Right breast..I thought it was a "double bubble" forming but thank goodness it's just extra skin that can be cut and re-stitched. He plans to take care of it when I have my incision scar fixed.
I'll admit, I'm scared out of my mind to get the revision done, but I completely trust Dr. Smith to get things just right. I'm really worried about when I have to move in a few months. I don't know how check-ups and such are done if you move away.

It's been quite a while!

I left off with that ugly hole in my incision....It has since healed, thankfully! It took a long time because it heals from the inside out, but I just kept stuffing it with saline soaked gauze until it started to get pink inside and get smaller from the inside out. And then a month ago I thought I saw a "double bubble" forming but it turned out that I just had some extra skin.

I will have a scar revision for my tummy tuck scar and have the augmentation revision (remove the extra skin and sew it back up) in the next couple of months when my husband has time to take a few days to watch after me...no way am I going to be left at home alone to heal even for a minor thing! Along with that, I am also getting my veins taken care of. The valves are leaking and allowing blood to pool in my veins so I have to have minor surgery on them soon. Thankfully, I do not have varicose veins...just a bunch of spider veins caused by the leaky valves (also can be taken care of but aren't covered by insurance, so they may have to wait).

I will be moving out of state this summer and I am hoping that I will have some mental healing from what happened. It's gotten better but I am no where near not having panic attacks when talking about it or getting upset when driving past the hospital (which is across the street from shopping and grocery stores I shop at).

I try not to talk about it anymore, even with my husband. I don't ask him for details anymore unless I have prepared myself. It's difficult for both of us. We ran into one of my ICU nurses (I guess she was the one who stayed in my room with me) when shopping at Target one day in late December. I didn't remember her but my husband did. She told me her name but I can't remember it. She said I was a miracle. She said it was absolutely amazing that I was up and walking and talking like nothing happened ("Fake it till you make it" has been on repeat in my head since waking up from all of this). I gave her a hug or two and said thank you for keeping me alive. Afterwards, I had to stop my husband in an isle and calm him from the encounter.

I still can't recall my memories from that time I doubt they will ever resurface. My working and short term memory are still a struggle. I try write everything down all the time...so many notebooks floating around the house! My strength is probably at a 90% now. I'm working with a trainer at the gym twice a week and go once a week by myself outside of my training sessions. My balance and walking up and down stairs is what's holding me back, I think, from getting to 100%. It's mainly when my muscles are tired that those two skills are a challenge.

I haven't had any recent pictures taken to update with. I will have to take them before having the revisions, for sure. I doubt my doctor wants to do official "after" pics until I'm completely healed but I will be excited to finally get healed and have them done...even if I have to fly back here to get them taken!