43 Year Old Mom of 2, Diabetic - Made It to the Flat Side. Columbus, GA

Thank you! Most days I feel pretty good, just the swelling days make it uncomfortable. Today has been a good day :) We ate Chinese tonight, so I hope it doesn't make me swell tomorrow! I do feel good dressing up and I was wearing a size 12 and now I'm a true size 8. I have even bought a couple of size 6 that have a stretch comfort waist :D Now, if I could only lose the 10-15 pounds I want to lose I could easily fit into ALL the size 6's!

You can do it!

Thanks- hope it gets better for you!

Thank you! Some days I'm flatter than others - especially in the morning. I don't swell in just one area of my belly, it's like the whole torso area puffs up and I look thick from the side - some days REALLY thick. TMI... but I also noticed my bowel habits make a difference too. I pretty much wear some kind of compression all the time. Mostly high waisted Spanx during the day and most of the the time I wrap my original binder around the outside of my nightgown just to give me a little support during the night. The binder is not nearly as tight as the Spanx or my Squeem, but it gives a little support. I've gone all day a few times without any support just to see if I could, but by the afternoon I'm swollen and my muscles feel tired and sore, so I'm still not ready for that. I haven't started any kind of strength training or ab exercises - only walking and running. My doc said to wait until I see him at 3 months to get the go-ahead to start ab exercises. He even put in my operation report that I had extremely weak ab muscles - no wonder, they were 15 cm apart and literally around on my sides! I never thought they were weak though. I've heard that doing whole core exercises rather than concentrating on the abs is much better for toning your abs and keep you from 'rounding' them out like you describe. Things like Yoga and Pilates are good examples that work your entire core. I saw where you said you were swelling really bad. Is it getting any better? Some days get bad for me, but my doctor prescribed me 20 Lasix (water pills) back when I was 3-4 weeks along and was swelling extremely bad - even in my feet and legs looked like the Pillsbury Dough Boy! I took them for about 5 days and got over it, but I've used them a few times since then when I stay swollen for a few days. I only have to take them for a day or two and it helps. I've always been a water drinker, so I get plenty of water daily, but even with doing that the swelling gets bad sometime. Hope it gets better for you!

Thank you! LOL - I have enjoyed a bath more in the past 3 weeks than I ever have! I guess I enjoy it so much because I can soak in Epsom salt and relax :) Are you not able to take a bath because you still have open spots from the fluid draining? Maybe it won't be much longer. Happy Birthday!!!

Yes! Unfortunately the last hole is smaller than a q tip head but I want to be sealed like ziplock bag! Lol thanks I can't wait!

Thank you!

Thank you! I can tell the sensitivity has gotten better this week - it's not as constant. Isn't it the weirdest feeling to feel an itch but when you go to scratch it you realize you have no feeling in that area??! I'm still numb from the bb down, so occasionally I literally feel an itch I can't scratch - lol!

Thank you, I'm 8 weeks today and I have to say I'm so glad to have those 8 weeks BEHIND me! This has been an experience and not one I'd like t do again! I'm glad I did it, no regrets, I'm just so impatient. This is not a surgery/recovery you can be impatient with. I'm doing really well and starting to see some real definition. I'll probably take pics in the morning and post an update.

You look great!!

Thank you :)

Thank you! It's a journey for sure, but seeing my progress makes me even more hopeful for my final outcome :)

Thank you! Don't let the swelling worry you so much. It does get better. You can see from my pictures mine has gradually gotten better - and I am still swollen and expect it to get even better :) You can do the drain removal - believe me I'm so squeemish, if I can go through it anyone can! Just count to 3, take a deep breath and tell him when he starts pulling to do it in one steady motion. Not too fast, but not too slow either. Also, if you tug on it just a little when you start, you'll see the little stitch holding it. My stitch was clear like fishing line, so a little hard to see. It really didn't hurt at all, it just feels weird! My drainage was down to 25CC for 3 or 4 days before I removed mine. I was so afraid of getting a seroma, I wanted it to be a low as possible.

Im not so worried about my tummy swelling. I see that going down. Its the lipo to my back & flanks that has me in a serious Tizzy

Thank you!

Thank you - Ha ha, this makes me laugh because right now I'm going through this feeling where my skin is sooooo sensitive, I wish I could just go around naked - lol! How are you doing? Getting back to normal? Have you started having any skin sensitivity? It's about to drive me crazy! I'm not ready to go without my compression, but my waist is so sensitive I just have to deal with it... I'll be glad when this phase is over!

Thank you - I'm glad my journey has been helpful to you :)