19 days PO, new pics and still feeling AWESOME!

Well ladies, I'm 19 days PO and have really been a lot of the same status for almost 2 weeks now, so not much in the way of updates...have posted a few comments in the 'December TT check in here' section, but that's about it. Aside from exercise I'm pretty muchback to normal. No pain at all, some 'tugging' feelings in bb but nothing concerning. Doing all my regular around the house stuff, eating normally grocery runs, errands etc. My recovery, once past day 3 or so, has been a non-event. No real swelling concerns despite eating pretty much whatever I want, (need to clean that up now that we're back to regular schedule!) Adding a few pics from Dec 31 and today, including a weird close up of my bb (so I could get a good look at it LOL!). I removed the rest of the surgical glue after my shower today.

OH, also, I posted a tip in the 'Dec' section re SNEEZING that I think people need to know! I read that actors press their finger along top lip right under their nose to supress sneezes on stage at teh first indication that one is coming. I have used that religiously since my surgery day and it works! No painful sneezes for me (I was terrified of having one, and had a bit of a cold going into surgery)!! About 1 week PO I had one that I didn't quite catch in time...I still sneezed but it was more of a...HOOOOOOUGH, like a windy grunt (haha)...than a sneeze, did not hurt, but was still enough to trigger a muscle spasm for a couple min after. TRY IT!!

Well, I am 11 days post op and still feeling great! Day 3 PO I stopped the heavy pain meds, and stopped Tylenol on Day 6 PO. I really don't have any pain to speak of, just tightness, and th odd 'twinge' on the right side if I move a certain way. If I had to, I could have gone back to work this week (but am very happy I didn't have to!!). I'm doing most everything I would normally be doing ...well, almost...not really lugging full laundry baskets around, just kicking them along the floor, and not exercising of course, which feels sooo lazy! We've been out boxing day shopping, spent 4 hrs shopping at Ikea, went to a musical at the theatre, had a mani at the spa, plus holiday visiting.

When I first get up in the morning I feel a bit stooped over, but am pretty much 98% upright most of the day. Later in the day things tighten up again, which makes my back a bit tired/sore. I'm wearing my regular clothes over the binder (which is 24-7), and there's definitely room in them, so I expect size to go down after binder/swelling is over. Have been able to sleep on my side the last 3 or 4 nights which is wonderful! Have suppressed all sneezes and big coughs since the procedure, thank GOD...had a half sneeze yesterday (I forgot until it was too late to completely stop it) that set off a weird spasm for a few minutes. Drinking lots of water, so no excessive swelling, and the regular swelling has gone way down. Bruising is still there but fading. Incision is of course pretty monster-like still, but that will just take time. Belly button looks nasty...a combo of dried surgical glue with blood in it so pretty much black (ugh) but doc said he'll remove that mess at my next appt. Otherwise I'm flat and taut and excited about the results I see so far!

I have to say that I was very concerned before my surgery reading about all the special prep other people were doing, renting recliners and shower chairs and raised toilet seats etc...I was scared to death that I was woefully unprepared for how bad it was going to be. I am NOT in any way knocking what works for others, but I can honestly say that for me, none of that was necessary and I am happy I didn't go there. I've been sleeping in my bed since the day of my surgery, with extra pillows to prop up wherever needed. I share my thoughts only so others in preparation mode, who might be feeling unprepared like I did, can consider that everyone is different and they know themselves best and will decide what works for them. :-)

Hope everyone else is recovering well, and for those coming up, know that day 1 - 3 is the hardest part...once you're over that hump, it's all good!

So today is day 3 post op , after TT & MR on Dec 18. I feel really good, aside from the perpetual gas pressure that kept me up most of the night. Just back from my post-op check, Dr was amazed at how upright and mobile I am! He said 'I tightened the crap out of your abs, thought you'd be still quite hunched over'. Felt GREAT to have the binder released for a few minutes. Gave up the narcotics this morning and switched to xs Tylenol. Dr thinks the gas is mainly from oral antibiotic changing the the 'flora' in my intestines. Says to take it 3 more days at least. Incision is low, down where my c-section scar was. Lots of glue in my belly button which is nasty to look at because it's mixed with dried blood, but no issues otherwise. Still some swelling, obviously, but happy with what I've seen so far! Now if I could just get the gas under control...