June 19th TT w/MR & Lipo of flanks- 6 Months and Feeling Great! New pics! - Draper, UT

Figured I would check in since it has been a few months. I'm 6 1/2 months PO and feeling amazing. Still absolutely ZERO regrets. The few weeks of pain, discomfort, scar... all worth it! By the 3 month mark I felt back to my normal self (except with no saggy skin. YAY!) I did run in the Hood To Coast relay 9 1/2 weeks PO and I did fine. Wasn't my fastest runs ever but I made it. Lol

I love my new body and really enjoy buying new clothes now, something I don't remember liking for years! I have some hefty fitness goals this year. I'm running my first full marathon on my birthday in 5 months, and also running in the Wasatch Back relay race again. I'm excited for 2013 and plan to really take care of my body and make this my healthiest year yet!

My recovery has been pretty smooth these past 6 weeks. I feel really lucky! My back is still a little tender from the lipo and my stomach has the typical off and on swelling, but other than that everything is great! I was told to wear my binder for 4-6 weeks but I still wear it occasionally when I over-do it and feel swollen. I started back at the gym at 4 weeks, alternating a fast walk/light jog on the treadmill. I felt like there was a hard rock in my stomach as I ran. Those new tight tummy muscles are going to take some getting used to. Last week (5 weeks PO) I could push myself a little harder and longer. 3 miles at a light jog on the treadmill and felt pretty good. I even attempted some zumba classes and light strength training (all machines, no free weights). I have a 5K this weekend at 6 1/2 weeks PO. Going to take it easy and just run to finish, not for time. At 9 1/2 weeks PO I'll be running in the Hood To Coast relay. I think I'll be ready. I'm running a 4.5 mile leg, then 5.7, then 4.1. Not too bad. Definitely won't be my fastest runs, but that's ok. My team will understand. :) Can't wait until I'm 100% and can push my body even more!

I love how my clothes fit now. I'm not hesitant about wearing tight tops. My husband loves my body and confidence and can't keep his hands off me. lol I bought a new bikini last week (first time in 12 years!) I'm SO happy. No regrets about the surgery. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

So I'm 12 days PO. I've been feeling pretty dang good except for this pain in my neck and left shoulder. I noticed it a few days after surgery, after sleeping a lot in my la-z-boy recliner and walking around hunched over. Now I stand pretty much straight up. My stomach and muscles feel pretty good, no pain at my incision site, my back isn't very bruised anymore, but this shooting pain down my neck and shoulder is driving me crazy! It has woken me up from my sleep the past 3 nights. I started taking dilaudid again even though I really don't want to be taking any more pills. Any idea what I can do to get rid of this pain?

Other than the neck/shoulder pain, I really am doing very well. Yesterday I cleaned my bathrooms, vacuumed the house, went to my 9 year old's 5K and cheered him on, then went to a 4th of July celebration with my husband's family and was out for 7 hours. Felt totally fine.

So on Thursday I got a bill from my surgical center for $85. I was confused as to why I would be getting this bill (it wasn't itemized so had no clue what it was for.) I called the center on Friday and was told my dr had quoted 4 1/2 hours for the surgery and that's what I pre-paid but he went over that time by 3 minutes so that kicked us over into the next pay bracket. Thankfully though, I was told if the dr goes over by 5 minutes or less they write it off so it was a mistake and I don't have to pay it, but still I thought that was pretty crazy. 6 minutes over time and you pay another 85 bucks. I guess it's not a huge deal when I figure I have paid $6400 already but every little bit I can save helps!

Hope everyone has a great 4th of July!