29 Years Old, 3 Kids, 5'3, 140lbs, Much Needed BA and TT! - Woodbury, MN

Yesterday marked my 3-month anniversary since the TT and BA. Cannot emphasize the importance of patience throughout this whole process because mark my words...you will feel awesome...just give it time.
I've been working out since my clearance at 6-weeks (yoga and lower body). I am now clear to begin doing crunches and pushups although I'm planning on taking it real easy for the first year. My rationale is that I'd rather be safe than sorry and I don't want to push myself too hard too fast and end up back in the OR.
However, it is INSANE how defined my abs are! You can't really see in the pictures but sometimes when I lean over you can see the sides of the abdominal walls and they look so awesome!! It's good to be whole again.
Boobs are doing good. My nipples are still numb-ish but 90% of my breast tissue is back to normal (feeling sensation, etc). My tummy is still numb below the belly button. I still use the silicone scar pads (I wear them all night/all day, rinse and dry them in the evening, reapply). My scar is looking less "angry" these days but it is still reddish in color so I will continue to apply the scar pads until it turns white. For the most part, the scar is pretty smooth...not as raised as it used to be. I think my abdominal swelling is 90% gone at this point (I never see indentations from my clothes anymore).
I still wear my compression garment at night...sometimes. If I get crampy, it just seems to help and I think it's a mental coping mechanism (I just feel nice and safe with my belly protected).

So at three months: energy 100%, exercise 95% (just taking it slow with the abdominal exercises), posture 100%, sexual activity (110%), and absolutely so happy that I chose Dr. Rocheford and so, so happy with my results. Take a look at the pics if you want to see the progress. I probably won't update this review until quite a ways out...as much as I love to brag and flaunt my happiness and sheer joy, my purpose in posting a review is to help others visualize progress at different points in the recovery timeline.

LAST POINT I WANT TO MAKE AND THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT: one thing that I think helped SO MUCH with the ease and speed of my recovery, and lack of infection was nutrition. Before having surgery, I researched the best foods to eat post-surgery and filled my post-surgery belly with the following: fish, beans, fruit, high-vitamin foods like bell peppers, vitamin shakes (such as Naked juice/smoothies, C-Boost, protein shakes). I don't think I touched a high-fat meal (pizza, burgers, etc) for at least two weeks post-surgery. I think this really helped with healing, normal bladder movements, and just overall energy.

Thanks for all your nice comments! Good luck!

So for the most part, I'm feeling great. I got the drain out at week one and every week saw an improvement in my posture. I've been weaned off the pain pills for a week (and I was using them only sporadically before that) but sometimes I take a muscle relaxer at the end of a long day.

So good things: I love the way I look. I could NOT BE MORE HAPPY with my results! This was WORTH IT. Totally. I feel so confidant and can't wait to exercise again and get the rest of my body looking healthy and fit again.

Tough things: it is hard to be patient and wait to feel "whole" again. Sometimes I just get frustrated that I can't hold my screaming 3-year-old, I can't lift anything (like even water my flowers!) and it gets hard ordering my husband and son around all the time. Also, I feel like work is just piling up and I'm constantly apologizing to people about walking slow or not chasing after my son at the park ("Sorry...I just had surgery...yes, I'm fine....no I don't want to share details with you :)". But that's really my only complaint.

Things that help: long soaks in the bath. My mom has a handicap accessible bath and boy is that sucker awesome! I can shave my legs without missing a giant swath of hair! My doctor has me soaking with Epsom salt to reduce swelling (I'm still quite swollen) and it helps my posture too. I'm almost completely upright...just slouching a little bit. Also, I sleep with two pillows under my legs at night and when I sleep on my side (yes, I've been able to do that again!!), I hug another pillow for extra support.

Hope everybody is healing and/or getting answers for your upcoming journey.