I Must Be Nuts! - Las Vegas, NV

I'm a 33 year old mom to 3 (15, 11, and 4). I am 5'2" and weight 130. Last year I lost 40 pounds with diet and exercise. The more I lost the more oddly shaped my stomach appeared. I showed some friends at work and they told me I had a hernia. I went to a surgeon and was told I had two hernias and severe diastasis. He wanted to make a vertical incision from my sternum to my belly button and use mesh to repair the hernias. He recommended that I get a tummy tuck after this to fix the diastasis. I called around and found plastic surgeons who do both. I started an online business to raise money for the surgery. I worked very hard and will be able to pay for the surgery completely on my own. I am really proud of this! I went to 2 different doctors and ultimately chose the one that was less expensive. I know that this isn't something that i want to bargain shop for, but his before and afters looked good. I am so scared of the procedure! I have not been in a bikini since I was a teenager. I am not looking for super body. I am more interested in fixing these hernias so that I can workout without pain. I have stretch marks alk the way up to my boobs so they will still be around. I have tons of extra skin. It really grosses me out when I am doing push-ups. Nasty! Working out makes my stomach hurt. I often go to bed with a heating pad when I do too much. When I reach up really high it is very painful. The general surgeon that I saw told me not to lift anything heavy or do anything strenuous until this was fixed. He said that my muscles are so stretched, that I am likely to end up with back and bladder problems because I have such poor core strength and a lack of internal support. I really want this fixed but the idea of a hip to hip incision freaks me out! I am going to take 4 weeks of of work. The first week I am staying at my mom's house and my mother-in-law will be with my kids. The second week, my kids are going to stay with my mom and I am going to be gone with my husband. I think I will manage with kids the third week. I can't believe I am doing this to my body! I see pictures of ladies on here who look amazing! I can't imagine that this is even possible for me. I can't imagine not having the tummy. Seems surreal at this point.

A month is a long tim, but not really! Only you ladies can understand how exciting and scary the waiting is. I see so many pictures that look amazing and some that look so painful! I think I am going to hire a cleaning lady just before my surgery and maybe two weeks after. I think it will make me feel relaxed and pampered to be in a clean house. I am anxious to buy things for my recovery. My mom keeps telling me to wait for the list from the Dr. so I don't waste my money on stuff I won't need or use. I have purchased a night gown that buttons up the front, a package of wife beater tanktops, fuzzy socks, throat lozenges, and chapstick. Not too much so far. I was thinking of getting a toilet raiser and a walker. Is this worth the money? Should I be super dieting before my surgery? If so, now is the time! 29 days and counting! I would hate to get super trim and then gain back to a "normal" weight for me and have a strange muffin top. Does that make sense? I am currently 130 and that weight is easy for me to maintain. I can watch what I eat and exercise and easily lose 5-10 pounds before surgery. Does it help to be skinnier or is it like- if you have the fat, let them suck it out! Looking at all the pix on here makes me wish I was getting more work done! Too funny! Thanks so much to everyone who left me kind comments. That was nice to read. Good luck everyone! - Autumn

I was so excited and nervous for my pre-op appointment. I have read lots of reviews but did not know what to expect. My mom came with me and we waited for over an hour when at last they called my name. I went into an office and a receptionist handed me a packet full of info and perscriptions. She asked if I had any questions. I asked her if I was going to see the doctor and she told me no. This was a little bit of a let down. I had some questions specific to my surgery that just seemed odd to ask her. I want to know where on my body I can expect the scar, how much skin will be taken off, things like that. I guess it does not really matter if I know this stuff before my surgery. I just really like to know what to expect so that I can kind of get myself used to the idea. She said Dr. would meet with me the morning of surgery and go over all that stuff. After we left, my mom pointed out that at that point I will probably be too nervous to remember my questions and after I probably won't care what the answers were. Is this normal to not see the doctor at the pre-op appointment? I am scheduled for the first surgery of the day so that is good. I have to go get some blood work done next week. This is starting to feel a littel more real. YIKES! I am going to have my daughter help me take some nasty before pictures. I will post them soon.