tummy tuck San Diego, CA

Well I've had 7 massages already. My doc gets everyone started on them the day after surgery. Also, are you taking arnica or rubbing it on your bruises? I'm doing both! And i just started drinking pineapple juice which I think has been the reason I've improved do much the past two days?

It is completely normal! You are not alone I just had mine done on the 18th of this month. Up until the day before I had I worst anxiety I couldn't eat or sleep and when I did sleep I had nightmares. Then all of a sudden the day before I became calm. I wanted this I fought hard to very this procedure and I wasn't even going to let myself ruin it. So I didn't I slept great the night before with no sleep aid got up refreashed went in with a positive attitude and everything went great. My doctor was fabulous all the staff and nurses were superb. All I'm glad I did it. You will be fine and you will look beautiful.

Thanks for your reply to my question, it's just that I have never had a major surgery, just minor, but I guess it's all normal to have this feelings going on. Thanks Will have to relax and just think of the out come... :-)

How are you feeling? I see that I am only a week ahead of you but omg the back pain and not being able to walk or stand straight very long is impossible. My doctor said I would feel good to back to work by day 10 and feel totally duped! Now that I am reading all the blogs on here it seems to be more like 4-6 weeks to feel normal again.?

You will do fine! I have had 2 major surgeries and one c-section all unplanned and I wasnt scared or nervous. But when it's a surgery that you plan and think about it give you too much time to develop nervousness. I can honestly say I have had very little pain or discomfort I also had my saddlebags liposuctioned and those don't even hurt. It just feels like I had a really good workout. I feel great 5 days po and I already walking straight. Keep yourself busy imagine how awesome you will look because you will look awesome.

Thanks for the reply this sight has seriously been the only thing keeping me calm. Are you still feeling super tight in the abdomen and hips?

Yes mostly really tight in upper abdomen and have pain mostly in one spot on right side.. but when standing or walking too long back hips and abs hurt very bad...I'm concerned about that spot on right side it feels weird like I want my garment tighter in that spot..hoping I didn't tear anything there..had a couple laughs from my kids that about killed me then swallowed water wrong and had coughing reflex and omg..thought I would die...it seems like that spot was what really hurt..also I still have my drains..they are starting to really get on my nerves...yes this site us awesome..you don't feel like the only one going through all these crazy things.

I had the same kind of sharp pains in the lower right side of my incision. I was told I could be laying towards that side too much causing more swelling? I also felt like the stage 1 garment really rubbed my incesion on the sides horribly. Felt much better after I switched to spanx garment. Worst part for me is trying to sleep at night! I seriously have to start taking Vicodin by 6 or 7 to fall asleep by midnight! Ugh so awful! Just trying to make it to the four week mark! Seems to be the turning point for most people! 15 days more to go!!!!!!

I know..I can't wait to get to that point...my perkoset (oxycodone) usually makes me sleep very good thankfully!!!

Hi there thanks for all the helpful tips and advice. How long did your wife need the pain meds for? I notice most people are completely off of them by 10 days but I can't even try to sleep without them!

My wife was ramping down her big time pain meds by ~day 16 - with the time between taking the meds increasing a few hours at a time. As I'm sure you have read, the Rx pain meds constipate often. Rather than meds to counter that, my wife took a fiber tablet each day and she began to be regular soon enough. Good Luck to you, ever day you will feel better.

Thanks I have been lucky enough to not get constipated. I learned when I had both my kids already the horror of pain pills and constipation. I started taking medicine even before my surgery to make sure that wasn't an issue. Only issue is the horrible pain starting at noon. I am defiantly going to ask for another two weeks of pain pills to go through this next hurdle!

I have worked closely with Drs, including surgeons during my career. I have never met one who wanted their patient to experience more than discomfit, not pain. But they sometimes have a one-size-fits-all approach when it come to pain medication - which makes it appear they trivialize on-going pain. Every body experiences pain different and especially liposuction disturbs nerves close to the skin surface - where pain is sensed the most. Most surgeons are numeric thinkers - That is why I encourage you to put your pain in the common pain threshold 1-10 from the time of one pain med to the next in hours. And review any sort of sleep (loss) log. As she sees you are beginning to be able to go longer between the pills (and of course not jonesing for unnecessary pills) you will have formed a team with her - and sooner than you fear, your pain will reduce to tightness and some discomfort. Finally, from a father and husband: Mommy guilt is a powerful and real thing. Kids are needy, sweet and resilient. Do your best to not feel guilty about _you_ not being able to take them outside. Reach out to those around you for help occupying the kids minds and time. As you look back on your decision to get this Mommy Make Over, you will see that what may have appeared to be selfish turned out to be one of the best gifts your kids (and husband) has ever received. 1.) The kids were not even wounded by not having 100% of you attention and time. 2,) Your increased self esteem will rub off on the kids, especially as they realize that their mommy did something brave and learn that mommies and daddies need their own time together. A revitalized, generous wife is a thriving mother. Best wishes to you and your entire family!

Thanks it's super frustrating at times and I feel so bad my kids are spending so much time inside! How many weeks post op are you? Any unbearable tightness ect in abdomen still?

I had my TT on June 28th, so I'm 3 weeks out. Definitely been the longest 3 weeks of my life!! This week I've been able to sit with the kids outside a good bit, but I'm still not driving around much unless I have to ( I hate climbing in & out my giant SUV) Once I started walking straight up (9 days) i got some relief from the tightness. Still a very strange tight/ numb sensation, but it's not painful....just weird

I'm glad you are past the painful part. I hope I will be driving and felling better at 3wks :)

Thanks I think the soreness in my back and butt is from the lipo on my sides, they go through your back! I am day 17 post op and itching to sleep on my side! This recovery defiantly takes a beating on you mentally and physically!!

Thanks you look great as well! Your scars are healing very nice I must say! I see you are 2 month post op? How are you feeling? Back to normal other than the occasional swelling and fatigue? I am super anxious to not have to sleep propped up on a million pillows!!!

I feel great! The swelling is the worst part, but it's better than it was. I slept on a million pillows till at least 5 weeks. That was hard. I'm a side sleeper usually. :)

Thanks for the inspiration and motivation to get to five weeks! That is the one thing I can't handle! Swelling and pain is usually bearable but the sleeping arrangement not so much! Lol.

How funny I live in north county! We are in the Rancho Bernardo/Ranch Santa Fe border. I haven't tried the pineapple juice actually for swelling just the arnica which I didn't honestly notice much of a difference from. The swelling is only bad in the afternoon from 1 or 2 on and I am sure it's because I have a 2 and 4 year old at home I am chasing after. The worst part of recovery so far has been sleep for me not so much the pain or swelling. I hope that put's it in perspective a little? The extreme tightness can panic you a little at times as well! Lol.

Are you still having sleep problems now? With your sleep problems, why do I think that as soon as you are able to go off the Rx pain meds, your ability to sleep will return too. aka: uncommon side effect of pain meds in your body. Of course, your level of pain is also decreasing, allowing more undisturbed sleep. Did your surgeon clearly hear your lack of sleep complications? Was there discussion of changing to a different class of pain meds?

I'm sure that is the cause of your swelling, I have kids in that age range too so I'm not looking forward to that part of recovery either. My husband once said after my 4th was born and we were up all night that there's a reason they use sleep depravation as a form of torture!! Cause it is!!! It affects you in so many ways. I hope you are able to get more comfortable. Can you take something like melatonin to help you? Not a narcotic, non-habit forming. Hang in there, I'm sorry you are having a hard time. I think you will feel it was worth it in the end, at least I hope so for your sake. I grew up in Oceanside and lived in Carlsbad and La Jolla as well. Miss the beach and the weather, I not fond of being land locked. I had a friend that moved to Rancho Bernardo, nice area.

Hi there I did meet with my surgeon on Friday and we discussed my issues with getting comfortable at night. He tried to prescribe me a sleeping pill and I had to reject them because the Ativan they prescribed originally gave me horrible nightmares. They believe it was the Percocet giving me nightmares but I am positive it was the Ativan.

Thanks I love the area I hope I can enjoy the weather again soon! As of now I would rather stay inside and rest. I took the kids to the pool today and didn't do too much being that they can swim but man it took allot out of me!

Have you tried melatonin to see if that will help? I give it to my kids when they had a rough night the night before and didn't get enough sleep. Or when they are sick and restless. It helps them fall asleep. I'm sorry about the Ativan giving you nightmares, that's terrible!! I hope you get a resolution to this quickly, that makes it harder in the day when you aren't sleeping enough at night. Can you sleep on your side with pillows all around you, but not under you? Glad you got to take the kids to the pool, that's fun for them. Do you have anyone that's helping you still, or are you flying solo with them? Maybe if you had someone else to help you all of Thurs, you will get enough rest to feel up to going to the races and dinner Fri? Good luck!! XOXO

Hi there thanks! I actually have been sleeping in bed since day one with a million pillows behind me, one on either side, and one under my knees. Sleep for me is still the biggest issue since I find it extremely uncomfortable sleeping straight up! The incision seems less tight the last two nights but I still have some pain on my tailbone that wakes me up at night. I will be 3 weeks Thursday so I am hoping to turn a corner here in the next week or so. All in all I am getting around good but sleeping is just annoying at this point!

I can relate. I've been in my bed with a billion pillows. I'm able to sleep on my sides but I wake up about 3 times/night and each time I feel so sore. I have the best sleep when I take Advil PM. I may try Zzzquil tonight.

I feel like everyone says you turn a big corner at week 4 and are able to sleep normal around 5 weeks? I am so confused at this point as to what is actually better, normal, and healed?

Have you tried a sleep med or tea? I'm 3wks po, when I took the Advil pm over the weekend I slept soooo good. Try it if you really are craving a full nights sleep.

Thanks I just had the hubby buy some for me yesterday. I had a few Vicodin left that I have been taking to get comfortable at night but I hear the Advil pm is way better to get you to sleep! I am exactly 3 days behind you so I will have to track your progress

Just so u know I'm nowhere feeling normal either. I haven't driven yet, I am cooking meals and extremely light cleaning while slightly hunched, it's getting better very slowly but I know it'll take time. Just take it as easy as possible. I know it's easier said then done especially with 2 little ones. Oh and I love Advil pm, the pain pills didn't give me the restful nights sleep like Advil did.

Thanks good to know I am not alone! I know people say it will take time but OMG the tightness is a scary thing to me no matter what anyone says. I am defiantly going to try the Advil pm tonight. I haven't driven yet either! I am sure I could but I am just not in the mood to go anywhere alone with two kids! Lol.