2 Months PO

Hi all! I'm back! I've been waiting for my swelling to go down to see what size I can wear. Trying on clothes is SO fun now! This procedure has officially changed my life. This is weird, but the first month after I did this, around Christmas, I actually started having an identity crisis because I looked in the mirror and didnt see the fat teacher who wore all black anymore. I was a little freaked out trying to decide what style of clothing would define me. I pulled out a bunch of my old pre-baby college clothes but I've had implants and aged since then and they weren't "me" anymore, so I've spent a lot of time looking at clothing and deciding what I want to wear when I'm ready to buy new clothes. For now I'm still in my yoga pants. I want to lose another 20 pounds before I buy all new clothes, so I joined a gym last month and have been trying hard to stay on my diet. I've lost 5lbs so far, so it's getting there. I tried on my size 10 jeans and I'm an inch away from buttoning them up. I also have a small problem with my lipoed waist puffing out on the sides. I was told this is due to my bra? and the fat from my back. I think it's bc I probably should have lost more weight before surgery, but I did what I could! Two people told me I need my back lipoed now to get rid of the puffy sides, so maybe....but I'm trying now to shrink my butt with the elliptical bc I think it's what's keeping me from wearing those size 10s. I can wear 11/12s now and my Express dress pants from college look freakin hot on me! I bought new shoes and panties (mediums-yesss!) to appease my desire for new clothes until I get into my old jeans again. The tummy tuck is not for weight loss but it's such a motivator...I'm now 40lbs lighter than I was in July and I saw my old co-workers at a funeral last month and they all said I looked amazing. I worked there 6 years and I feel like they never really knew me because this "new" me really was here inside me all the time. I remember how I looked in college- it used to make me sad but now I'm happy bc I had no breasts back then anyway and now I can wear different types of clothing. I did however, wear my favorite size 10 skirt to have dinner w the cast from Steel Magnolias, which we performed in October. They all were surprised too, just 3 weeks post op and five pounds lighter. It changed my attitude, my perception and my self confidence. I'm eating better, feeding my family healthier, exercising more and my husband told me he never imagined that one surgery could change so much. He's become particularly generous since the surgery and takes me out more and gives me shopping money without me even asking- guys are so visual! But I swear this has helped my marriage too. I never thought it would touch so many components of my life. Oh! And get this. I visited my old Jenny Craig lady and she told me she wanted a tummy tuck and the military would pay for 80% but she was scared- I told her I was too but it's not bad, nothing like childbirth at ALL and she should do it! I'm SO glad I didn't let my fears rule my life and keep me from this newfound happiness. If anyone is considering this surgery, they should know it's a life changer for the better and I would do it again 10 times to have this feeling of satisfaction when I look in the mirror and see my belly button. It surprises me at least once a day to see it there and know ITS MINE!!! It's the best gift, besides having a child, that I have ever given myself. Thank you to all the women on here for your stories, words of encouragement and emotional support- you have helped me more than you know and I would recommend this site to anyone having plastic surgery. Well, I have to go do my morning workout, so goodbye all and good luck with your future endeavors!

Ok guys, I made it almost two weeks. I've been getting restless, feeling like a caged bird so I have ventured out a bit, which caused me both incredible exhaustion and momentary bliss. I went to the movies w my sister Friday night, the only hard part being the inability to carry my soda and the long trek to theatre 13 at the other end of the hall, and I got rolled around the mall by my friend this afternoon. I tell you what, I'm never one to sit around the house, so it was like a prisoner seeing the sunlight after way too long in the darkness. And I've never sat in a wheelchair that long. It was uncomfortable, feeling so openly vulnerable but better than staying home! I plan on venturing out in the chair again tomorrow- hope I'm not pushing myself too hard. I started my diuretic pills two days ago. Talk about thirsty! My toungue tasted like a ball of salt and I peed every hour- i couldnt even sleep. Afterwards I broke them in half, but I did look slimmer. I got excited and took out the tape measure buuuut, no go. Still huge waisted. I'm impatient. But I did get my drains out- one last Tuesday and the other on Friday after my drama at 5am Friday morning. I woke up all wet and saw (brace yourselves, this is pg-13!) pink liquid ooze all down my legs, on the sheets, everywhere! Ugh! Turns out my tube was hanging on by one stitch and I rolled on it in my sleep, dislodging it internally. Well, good morning sunshine, have a drain slushy! Sorry, that was gross but so true! I have also been getting dark blisters from the tape used to hold my bandages on. I have 3 now, but this too shall pass. Got my belly button stitches out- couldn't feel that n the drain tube removal just felt like an awkward tugging for a second, no biggie. I've put antibiotic ointment on my BB for two days bc it got a little yellowish but she looks good now! That cream they gave me to increase circulation made it tingle though. So, overall I'm doing good and feeling like I kind of look good but am definitely planning on going back to Jenny after Xmas so I can get new clothes for my Bday in March. That will be almost 4 months PO. I'm hoping I will be decently unswollen by then. I understand the women who have talked about PO depression now- this restlessness sets in n you feel like you are puffy ( I call it my Puff the Magic Dragon phase) n helpless. It IS frustrating but I feel a little better knowing the meds I take daily combat depression so I can manage. Focusing on Xmas now and going back to good ole New Braunfels tomorrow! I've been in Houston this whole time. Staying w your mom when you are an adult can be tiring! Anyway, my doc said the only issue I may have before my next PO appt at 3 weeks is the bloating. He said water gets trapped between the muscle and skin and can't drain out n if I get tight n my belly jiggles that I need to be drained. Has anyone here done that? They said I get local anesthetic in a selected location on my abdomen and he uses a fat needle to suck out all the fluid. Sounds like a party- count me in! Ha! Well I'm crossing my fingers that Fat Needle and I don't meet- I don't think we would get along....hope everyone in the trenches with me is going strong n doing well! We will look hot by summer for sure!

Oh! I forgot to tell y'all- my husband came up last week to get my daughter n saw his "new" wife. He's not the happy huggy type, he's more analytical, so I didn't know how he would react. He was shocked! He kept staring at me and saying I looked like a different person, almost like when we first met 11yrs ago. He didn't smile, he's not quick to react-he wrinkled his face like he was processing everything, then started being all sweet, bought my lunch and called me Baby, which he hasn't done in years. I asked him if I looked good n he said yes and that he really wants to see it under all those bandages. I know that look- he's worried some other guy will try to take me now! He gets jealous, it's silly, so he will be extra sweet and generous to me, which is nice. I hope he likes it even w my big scar. I told him I'm still swollen. Wait until I get into a bikini this summer! He will not know what to do! Lol