After 3 Months, I Can Now Say It Was Worth It! - Idaho Falls, ID

I have 2 children, the youngest is 9, via c-section. With my first child I gained 100 lbs through my pregnancy due to high blood pressure. My weight yo-yo'd between the kids and after my last one. I weighed 120 lbs before I had kids, I dieted and reached 130 lbs a couple times, but without diet or exercise and eating whatever I wanted I stayed at 150 lbs. I wasn't unhappy with that weight, I have pretty slim legs and arms, a cute butt, and a natural 34DDD chest, but I HATED my pooch. Anyone who has the post-pregnancy-c-section pooch knows how it is and hates it; having to dress to camouflage it and having it hang over your jeans. I expressed to my boyfriend how much I hated it, how insecure it made me, and that I wanted a tummy tuck and have been waiting years to be in a position to have it done. Of course, he thinks I'm sexy and beautiful no matter what, but he supported me in my decision. He even went to the consultation with me, and when the surgery date was set, he was just as excited as I was.

Since I don't have a recliner, in preparation I bought two of those wedge bed pillows. I also set up my night table with things to make my life easier: Snacks, bottled water, 7up (no diet soda allowed), makeup remover towlettes, chap stick, body lotion, and all my medications-- which I set alarms on my phone for each med to keep on top of pain management and I would get out of bed and take a few laps around the house to keep my circulation good. I also had on hand a walker (didn't use it, but would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it), a shower chair which I used for over a month, and a toilet seat riser (used once, helpful but felt ridiculous.)

I had my surgery on February 11th and after I felt the regular pain and uncomfortableness that all reviewers feel. Except my incision didn't heal. The middle half. My doctor cut away scabs, we tried packing it for a week and it was gnarly. So on March 1st I went into surgery again. I did TONS of research on ways to help heal better. I found a product called Juven, it's a powdered mix and it's actually for healing after surgery. I drank this twice a day (the orange flavor mixed with orange juice) and I loaded up on vitamin C and protein (2 protein shakes a day). I also took soooo many vitamins; fish oil, vitamin C, B vitamins, anything that encouraged healing. This time my doc used actual stitches instead of dissolvable stitches. I don't think my body likes the dissolvable kind. Now my incision started healing beautifully! HURRAH!!!!!

A week after the 2nd surgery I noticed liquid dripping. I thought it was maybe from where the drains had been removed, or my incision, so I started checking it out. Along my incision line, a hole had appeared as a result of infection along the incision line. The hole was as big as a pencil eraser, but I had to milk the fluid out of it for a week, it was disgusting. The doc had me start packing with gauze. Today is May 26th, two months later, and I am still packing the hole. I used to be able to pack 3/4 a sheet of gauze, I'm now down to less than 1/8 of a sheet. It is closing, slowly but surely. Patience. It's not painful, it's just annoying!

My shape is starting to really take form. I LOVE my flat tummy. There were times when I had the open incision wound and when I had surgery again that I just wanted to die. People would ask me "was it worth it".. I told them ask me in 6 months. Alas, it's been just over 3 months and even though I'm still packing that little hole, TOTALLY WORTH IT.