Tummy Tuck Part 1: PO day 21 - new pics AND new review started!

I had the thought a few days ago that I really have a seroma because God stepped in, knowing that if I didn't have some limitation I'd do too much. I do feel better and stronger each day and have been tempted to get on the treadmill or do a push up, but the water belly has kept my butt on the couch. The seroma does seem to be abating a little bit. I will see when I go for aspiration this morning. But my new concern, though I tried my very hardest to avoid it, is the cold the kids gave me. It is a really bad one with fevers, headaches, and tons of green mucus. Oh, I am so not looking forward to this. But it will serve to keep me on my back and sleeping for another week. Maybe it's a sign.

Yesterday I got fed up with the compression - my ribs were hurting, I felt like I couldn't breathe well and I knew that it just wasn't going to happen for much longer, seroma be damned. So I took my garments off and slept in normal clothes. I was so much more comfortable and slept like a baby. When I woke this morning I was lying on my stomach! That was scary, but it didn't hurt. And I don't feel that my seroma got worse through the night because I was uncompressed. Time will tell.

I think for the first time yesterday it hit me. I was sitting on he couch, with no drains or compression or odd clothing layers, just reading a book and realized with a startle that there was nothing there. I had no roll to rest my book on. Before my TT I thought I would have this moment of tears and joy when my new belly was revealed to me, but that couldn't have been farther from reality. So far I haven't really cared about my stomach or looking better, my main concern was getting well. But now I am beginning to process the reality of my changed body...changed life. This WILL be a process, one that I am excited to undergo.

Many new pre and post ops on realself...welcome gals! Take courage and happy healing!

To read part 2 of my Tummy Tuck journey, please click here.

Went to the doctor yesterday for another aspiration. They pulled 50 cc out, which is 2 days accumulation. So far the rate at which it is collecting hasn't really slowed down. But given that there are many ladies who have their drains for longer than 2 weeks, I am not really abnormal. Would I have rather had a drain this long, or go back for repeated aspirations? Well, that drain really got me down, so I guess I'd rather have it this way, even though it hurts to be stuck and I have to make a 40 minute round trip to the PS every other day. The PA drained me, but then the PS chased me out to the lobby, assuring me it will stop and that this is rare for him. I really believe it is due to the hernia repair, as the collection forms right over top of my new piece of mesh. I am cleared to exercise at week three, provided the seroma is gone. Please oh please...

My back hurts this morning, right in the middle. I think it is from the fatigue of just not standing quite straight. My ribs hurt as well from where the second binder scooches down in my sleep. I took pain killers for the first time in days this AM.

Managed to prevent myself from getting the kids' cold for now. I am going to go on a disinfecting rampage this morning and hope it stays that way. It is a pretty nasty one and I am not interested in getting it.

Today I start back at work. I am a writer. My current major project is as a ghostwriter for a self-help book. I will spend time speaking to my "author" this afternoon and taking notes for the next chapter. Hoping to sit at my desk for a few hours tomorrow and write. I am putting off my other job, as race director for an ultramarathon, until next Monday. Neither of these things are physically labor intensive but they can be extremely stressful and mentally taxing so I have provided adequate space until I was psychically ready to handle them. I hope it was enough time. If i have a nervous breakdown next week, I will get my answer.

Posted 2 week pictures. Skin looks healthy and everything is healing well. Of course there is a great deal of swelling, as is typical between days 9 and 28. Can't stress enough how much reading a million reviews has helped me. I know exactly what to expect by taking surveys from a wide variety of patients. I don't think I have had the "OMG, what is THAT?!" moment, and it is all due to post ops who generously and meticulously share their stories. Thank you ladies!

* addendum to todays daily post about "what's good": all of the 4, 6, and 12 month post op ladies who have posted recently. Thank you for showing us the light a the end of the tunnel!