Best Decision Ever!! Don't Be Worried! Full TT with Lipo (41 yr old, 2 kids)

I am now 5 days PO, and I can already tell you this is worth it! I will continue to update from this point on, and this site has been sooo helpful to me, especially so that I would know what to expect. First: I am a 41 yr old mother of a 1 1/2 yr old and a 3 yr old. I work full time and travel with my job. I will be going back to work, and traveling, after only 2 weeks off (so I will update you all on that craziness!!!). I had 2 c-sections, and for me, the pain of this TT is not as bad as the c-section pain. The TT pain is, however, longer lasting and much more debilitating. You really are immobile, and this has been the most difficult part of the recovery thus far.

How I prepared: I really did nothing but research. I don't have a recliner (but I really think that would have been great). I didn't get a hospital bed or a walker (but if you have a folding stepladder, that can work as a walker, if needed - I used it the first day). I just used my bed and a lot of pillows. I also do have one of those airplane neck pillows, and that was magical for helping me get to sleep those first few nights! Otherwise, I got my percocet prescription, and I was ready to go. lol. The biggest prep I did, I think, was to really talk to the doctor. I was very concerned about the TT scar location, as I like to wear low cut bikini bottoms, and I have a really long torso (the longest the doc has ever seen, apparently. lol. go figure). This was a huge concern for me. But he assured me that he could keep it low, and he would make the incision as short as possible in order to accommodate my bikini line. I live in South Florida, so we are in bathing suits year round here.

Post-Op Days 1-5: Ugghhh. I got really nauseous when I first awoke from surgery. It just wasn't fun. But I made it thru - you really do need someone to help you with everything the first few days. You just really can't do anything, and I was so nervous about popping stitches or something. This surgery makes you so immobile. The pain is manageable, but the resulting back pain, inability to get comfortable, etc is just awful… thus far, sleeping has just been really annoying. The other really hard part has been not being part of the family. It is way more difficult than I thought it would be to not be able to hold my babies and really do much of anything… to watch my fella have to do EVERYTHING while I "lounge" is just awful - even though he is wonderful and is like "I got this! You rest!" It is just really, really hard. So already, at day 5, I am totally impatient and ready for this to be over!! But I am almost walking upright, and I slept for a couple hours on my side last night, so I am making progress. Oh - and I had to take a suppository to poop, and I'll prob have to take another in a day if I don't go again. . . .

Initial Results: So the drains are still in, and it is PO day 5. My doc said that if you get lipo, often times you drain a little bit more, for longer, for some reason. The drains don't hurt - they are just annoying. I am hoping to get them out by next Tuesday. I am healing well, and yes, the swelling sucks! I would read reviews and think "What is this girl talking about, swelling?!" But you can feel it, and it also makes you worry that you went thru all this and your stomach STILL isn't flat!! Ugh!! I am worried about that now, even though everyone says the swelling goes down. SO anyway - my doc made my incision SO low, and it is actually really short, almost like my c-section (he followed my c-section). But keep in mind that I didn't have a lot of excess skin, etc, to remove . . .. BUT, here's the problem! When a doc does a tuck, he not only pulls down the skin, but he also lifts up the skin, too, from the vajayjay area! So my vajay totally got a lift….BUT - as of right now, my bikini bottom does not cover my scar or my pubes, for that matter, because I got lifted so much! lol! UGH! Whatever - I knew this was going to be an issue bc of my long torso, and there's only so much in one direction he could go. .. but right now I am THRILLED with my results. I will keep posting pics. Basically, the only thing on me that I have been truly unhappy with is my stomach -- it just never could get flat after baby #2 … . no matter how many sit ups I did. And really, I never had a flat stomach to begin with, but I just wanted it to almost be as good as before babies… but it wouldn't even do that!! When I finally learned why, that's when I started considering a TT. My stomach has been like this downer for me every time I get dressed, every time I pass a mirror… it just sticks out, and it is so depressing. My clothes don't fit, I don't feel good… it has just been awful. So to think that my stomach may be flat now, well oh my gosh, I am so excited!!!

So today I really feel a lot better… I guess around day 5 or 6 is when I really started feeling like I could walk without needing a nap immediately afterwards, and that feels great. I am just about walking upright, and the only pain I feel is if I walk or vacuum or something for too long. I can carry my 1 1/2 yr old, but I don't lift her.. and I don't carry her for very long. I made lunch, grocery shopped, and tidied up the house a bit today. Now I am sitting all the way down. Lol!

And also - if I hadn't read online about how bad the swelling is, I would probably be discouraged right now. . . I totally understand now why people get so frustrated. But I shall be patient, as I know you can have swelling months after the TT. And gosh darn it, this compression garnet with the side zip is the most uncomfortable thing.. . . But overall, things just keep getting better! Oh, and my belly button and scar seem to be healing nicely. I'll post pics next time I take this compression garment off. . .