No Drains, No Narcotics (1 Month PO - sharing new pics too)

1 Month Post-op

First off, I haven't sneezed in 31 days! I know it's all in my head at this point, but I'm definitely still fighting it.

I feel like "wow! It's been a month!" Time sure has been crawling for me. But I'm taking it day by day, not wanting to take any chances on harming my investment.

The worst in these past couple of weeks has been my skin. Getting sensation back hasn't been fun. By the end of each day, I just wanna crawl out of my skin! But it does help to shed the clothes :)

I'm still swelling daily around the TT incision. I've only had a couple of non-swell days, which gives me a preview of the flatness that's to come....i just can't wait for it to become permanent flatness! The area in my lower abdomen feels like moss or a sponge. Usually i can feel my hip bones but right now pretty well-padded under swollen tissue.

On a great note, I've been back to the gym for the past 2 weeks, on the elliptical, and have gotten myself back up to an hour at a moderate-hard pace. And my PS cleared me on Monday for wt. lifting! So I've been able to add that on with light weights. Tomorrow I'm planning on hopping on my bike/trainer to see how gravity will affect me as i'm leaning over the handlebars. I'm still not doing any ab work, direct lifting with my pecs, or torso-wrenching activities, like snowboarding, skiing, or surfing. I'm being wicked patient with that, believe me!

One odd thing was that I got a massage on Monday night...first time on my belly in a month. And i couldn't sleep that night! Guess i was sore....I was pretty uncomfortable.

Back at work full on, and have been for 2 weeks now. Tiring but i don't have any minis I have to take care of, like some of you mom's out there do (mines all grown up!).

Oh! I went to VS to get measured for my new bra size....now I was flat 36C and was aiming for full 36 C. I'm now a 36DD/38D! I have mixed feelings about this. Needless to say, my husband is awfully proud! I'm thinking i may have a little more swelling to combat, and my PS said on Monday that they haven't fully dropped yet.

Work in progress.....

Best to you all!

POD 18
So today i decided was going to be my 1st day back to working out. Took a little while to decide what i was gonna do. Decided on the elliptical and not using the arm movement. I was also kind of self-conscious about showing my new physique, mainly my new baby sumo wrestlers, to the gym community. So i chose a pretty amazing top that showed plenty of "change" - why not just face it, eh?
So did about 35 minutes on the elliptical at a pretty easy pace. Although i was working hard enough (my last workout had been 20 days ago), i felt pretty good. But i was so in tune with any twinge from my surgery area, i was prepared to stop at any time.
I've continued to be comfortable and using occasional tylenol.
But the most amazing discomfort has been from my skin! Now i know that many superficial nerves were severed during the surgery, resulting in numbness. And i know that they're crazily trying to reboot. But i did not expect for my skin to be so sensitive - from the tops of my nipples to the the top of the tummy scar! And i keep getting "zingers" - electrical-like zaps that are minor but still make me pause.
Still taking the accolate twice a day to prevent contracture. Oh, and today i ordered some Invicible cream, for the scar. Anyone else use this before?
Back to work for my 1st full week tomorrow...work days so far have been pretty tiring. Really needed this weekend to rest. My next PO check is next monday January 14. One of my questions is how much my implants weigh ( i got 370cc textured shaped silicone). Another is how much skin he removed and how much fat did he lipo out of my belly (i did not have lipo anywhere else). In my frontal pic, at the middle of the TT scar, you can see where my old belly button used to be. I'm amazed at how much was removed. And i'm so pleased with how well the implants are settling....the PS and his staff said to wait a full 4 weeks before i saw the final results. I'll be patient.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this...I know you all have lots going on in your lives too!

So today is POD 14. My TT area has been swollen every day; today seemed a little less. Keeping up with the 2-3 liters of water every day. Accolate continues, and I guess it will for another 2 months. Does anyone else take accolate preventativiely post breat aug surgery?

Breast swelling is still there but I think they're gently settling into place. Mornings are the worst when I roll over and first sit up. So sore!

And I'm still being kind and gentle to my abds and using the rolling-on-my-side-first to get from prone to sitting.

Out of the belly compression garment for good. Just rotating through the Victorias Secret boy short garment and a couple of spanx tights. Mostly wearing sports bra tops underneath baggy sweaters.

And going back to work has been tiring. I think it swells me up more than anything. Went back on the 27th and 28th for half days. Relaxed sat and sun then back full day 31st. Oh and went salsa dancing NYE! I kind of just marched but it was fun! Back to work again today. Much better in terms of tiredness.

Everything is going pretty well, just like my PS and his staff told me. I think having no drains may tend to swell me up but my healing process has been fast and relatively pain free. Will post some pics soon.

Love my new belly button!