Amazing. - Rochester, NY

3 weeks, 1 day! I feel awesome. I went to my 3 week appointment today, and it was apparent that my PS was really, really excited. I love the way I look! Most of the steri-strips were still on at that point, but he was just like "do you want me to take them off?" I figured why not, so a couple of tugs and they were all gone. I'm such a big baby. There were a few more stitches left in my belly button, so a nurse took care of those. My PS wanted some pictures taken, which surprised me as I didn't think I was getting pictures taken until my 3 month appointment. So, that made me feel like I was doing really well!

It's weird finally seeing my incision line. It looks fine! I was really excited by how light it is, but my PS made sure I knew that it will darken up as more scar tissue builds, and then lighten up again as time goes on. And that's fine, but it really does look great. I imagined I looked like Frankenstein's monster under there.

I had my boyfriend snag a picture before I got dressed at the appointment. I wish I had before pictures, I think I was too ashamed to take any. But imagine that with a huge roll above and below the belly button. And then a smaller roll above the roll above the bellybutton. Ugh! I'm so glad it's gone :)

I think I'm finally gonna call this surgery a "worth it"

Day 17! I'm so close to the three week mark!

Well, today I am tired. Paul and I went on a longer walk than usual tonight, because I was feeling good. And we're moving from New York to New Hampshire in about a month, so tonight I felt compelled to start packing. I filled one box with books, then I was exhausted. I felt better after eating dinner, but still tired. That's okay.

Last night I decided I wanted to try wearing my Spanx garment instead of the one they gave me after the surgery. The one from after the surgery comes up to my chest and goes down almost to my knees. I hate the leg part. My thighs have been swelling horribly though, so I didn't dare try to go without. Until last night. The Spanx garment that I bought also goes up to my chest, but has straps and no legs. So much more comfortable, but I shouldn't have tried sleeping in it. I woke up a couple of hours after going to bed and my thighs felt really big. I touched them and they were sore. So I nudged Paul and asked him if he would go downstairs and get my other garment for me. Thankfully it had finished drying. I put that on and felt pretty good by morning. I kept wearing my regular garment throughout the day today, and I think I'll keep wearing it unless I'm going out and don't want to feel so constricted. My PS said it was okay to wear Spanx now, or whatever I'm comfortable in. I ordered a Spanx garment with legs today, and a smaller size of the one I had on yesterday.

My Steri-Strips still have not fallen off! The ones of my vertical incision are really gummy. I think I'm just going to leave those and let my PS pick them off when I see him for my 3 week appointment.

I can't wait until my thigh swelling goes down. That is the worst part for me right now.

I'm also more swollen on my left side than on my right. I can live with that, I know it will go down.

But really, things are going pretty good. Moving around a lot more, driving myself again (the first time was sort of painful, but I've gotten used to it!), and feeling more independent. I like that!

Now it's day 14! I wasn't supposed to go back to see my PS until 3 weeks, but yesterday I developed a pretty big lump on my upper abdomen. It looked like a muscle. It worried me, so my doctor told me to come in on Monday morning. I saw him when he got out of his first surgery for the day, and he said he wasn't too concerned about it. It wasn't fluid, it was probably just some muscle swelling or cramping. I still don't like the way it looks but I'm going to trust him! He was so thrilled to see how good I'm looking, which makes me even happier. He also took out my bellybutton stitches! I wasn't expecting that. He didn't tell me, but I assumed they were not the kind that dissolved. All in all, it was a good visit. I'm so glad that my PS is so responsive and answers my calls (even on Easter Sunday!) and puts up with me even though I'm a crazy person sometimes.
Also I took a shower all by myself today! It's hard to take that for granted anymore.
The weekend was pretty good. I got out and did some errands, got sore and stiff feeling, but once I put my feet back up for a while I felt better. I'm learning to go slow and not do too much at once.
Still swollen, down 7 pounds from pre-surgery, but I'm feeling good!