I Have Joined All of You Fabulous Ladies on the FLAT SIDE! (TT, Breast Lift no implants, Lipo to hips and back) - Denver, CO

Hi all! I have been an avid follower of this site for the last couple of years, and I am thrilled to be able to join in the conversation with my own journey. I am a 31 year old mom of 4. 5'6 and weigh 188 pounds. My kids ages are 10, 7, 4 and 1. I first began thinking about a tummy tuck after my 3rd was born and after the fourth came along with a c-section, well that was it. I was going to get a tummy tuck! I had the awful saggy mommy pooch along with my stomach sticking out from some muscle separation. I began researching several doctors in my area and eventually landed on one that I really liked. Dr. Vath was great during the consultation, very professional and never made me feel awkward or uncomfortable. I set up the pre-op and surgery dates immediately after that visit with him.
I decided on a drainless tummy tuck with muscle repair, breast lift and lipo to my hips and upper back area. At the pre-op appointment I paid in full and had the dreaded before pictures taken. Seriously can they make smaller "panties" for you to model in?! Ugh! Had the blood draw done and got my prescriptions and post op instructions to take home. All I had left to do was get through the holiday season and wait anxiously for January 2nd!
My parents, brother and sister came out for Christmas, which kept me busy and distracted. Less time stressing about the surgery and more time being hostess! My oldest child's birthday is the 27th of December so we were plenty busy. My parents and brother stuck around until last night, they left a few hours after I got home from the surgery. They stayed to watch our kids while my husband drove me to the surgery center and brought me home.
I had pre-prepped some things for recovery; I picked up a walker for back support, lots of low sodium soups, jello, gauze pads, magazines, books, healthy snacks (veggies, almonds, etc) And of course filled my prescriptions to bring down to surgery with me.
We arrived at the surgery center yesterday at 6am, where they did the iv, compression socks, markings and post op instruction review. They injected a relaxing drug into my iv and that is the last thing I remember until I woke up in alot of pain. All I wanted to do was go back to sleep. But it was time to get ready to go, so they wheeled me out to the car where my husband helped me get in and we began the hour long journey home. We had to change my compression garment and clothes right away as they were soaked from leaking lipo spots. That wasn't much fun at all. I didn't get much sleep last night, everything hurt, back, hips, tummy from ribs down and all along the incision line. It's amazing how any movement is excruciating. I have been taking 2 percocet every 5 hours and a valium every 6. I also added in stool softeners and have been drinking tons of water.
My hubby helped me take a shower earlier today which was a bit of a chore to get into, but once I was sitting there with the hot water running on my back, it felt amazing. I didn't want to get out! My hubby was pleasantly surprised at how everything looked, he didn't expect so much of a change, that lifted my spirits up quite a bit.
I'm pretty tired now but would love to hear from you on any tips you might have for making the recovery a bit easier. Chat more later : )
Happy Healing Girls!

Had a mini meltdown today, I was in so much pain. It didn't seem like the pain meds were working all that great. I couldn't find a comfortable position in any of my 3 spots around the house. We called and talked to Dr. Vath who said I could take 2 percocets every 4 hours instead of 5-6, so hopefully that helps. He also said the first 3 days are the worst. I'm not used to being off of my feet and relying so heavily on others, so I get frustrated that I can't do anything on my own. My kids keep asking "when is mommy going to be feeling better?" And my one year old follows me around when I do my little rounds through the house, it's terrible not to be able to pick him up and hold him. I just keep telling myself, this is temporary and I will have the rest of my life ahead of me to enjoy this new sexy bod! : ) I plan on posting pics again in another day or so. The lipo spots seem to be a little less bruised and I am starting to have some itching, so I'm thinking that's a good thing. Hope you all are doing well!

Today I'm able to move around better; off the percocet as of this morning and taking extra strength tylenol. I am still doing the valium as I feel so much pressure around the mid-section. TMI alert: definitely been gassy but able to pass it on my own for the most part, but haven't had a BM since the night before surgery. Despite taking stool softeners daily, miralax daily for the last 3 days and eating a fiber bar every day for a snack. I would think something would happen soon. Made my hubby go out and buy milk of magnesia which I think I will try tomorrow if nothing happens today. I think all the pressure and discomfort I am feeling is from being constipated. Sorry about the gory details but hey, info. is a good thing right!?
My 4 year old son started back to preschool today, while our other kids picked up on our regular homeschooling as well. I typically handle all of that so doing my best to assist the hubby on what they should be doing. In his defense he has been handling the kids like a champ and doing a great job taking care of me. I am so lucky! Can't imagine how anyone can survive this on their own, serious props to those ladies!!
I have been able to stand up a little bit straighter each day, although my back still kills. I don't know if it's from being hunched over or the lipo I had done there, either way I don't feel like I have much strength to hold myself up just yet. Need some kind of support for my upper body, SO glad I got the walker!!
I have been trying to get up and move around as much as possible, taking short walks around the house every time I get up to go to the bathroom makes me feel better.
Don't even notice the boobs, no pain or tenderness there. It doesn't even feel like I had anything done there. So, ladies that's a bonus. If you are considering a breast lift with a tummy tuck, there won't be any pain noticed it's ALL in the tummy area. Kind of like 2 for the price of one in the pain department.
Will add some more photos today, thinking of you all!