36 Y.O. 2 C-Sections - Full Tummy Tuck with Lipo of Hips, and Lipo of Chin - Stratham, NH

I've been wanting a tummy tuck after the c-section birth of my first son. now that he's 10, and the other one is 7, we are in full "see the world-vacation" mode. i'm a busy working woman and just have never been able to get my abs back. time is limited as it is, and the tummy area just ruins all my efforts. not sure if i focus too much on this area, but i don't have the time or emotional energy to give to it any longer. LIFE IS TOO SHORT to be this unhappy with something that can be fixed AND TOO LONG to be this unhappy with something that can be fixed. I finally had the procedure last Tuesday, March 17, along with lipo of the hips, and last minute decision to lipo the double chin. I'm on my 5th day of recovery. I haven't been out of pajamas, this binder, and chin strap, but when i shower and change -- WOW. i can see the difference already!!! i'm still swollen, and newly stitched -- but already a huge IMPROVEMENT from what i had the day before surgery. very excited -- hope to recover fast. really really not used to being weak and immobile...update periodically.

I cannot believe its been 7 days since I had the procedure. The first 5 days for me was a space/time vortex. I felt like Quazimodo alone up in my bedroom recovering in my recliner. Sunday was the 5th day for me, and magically, I felt better!! I was able to spend most of the day out the recliner - I made breakfast and dinner for the family. Lower back didn't hurt like all the other days from sitting and being hunched over. YESTERDAY though, I slipped down the stairs and felt like I ripped in two. Of course, this had to happen when I had 1.5 pills left. So ab pain came back. I had my 1st post-op yesterday and the nurse bound me tighter than I have been doing for the past week. I've been doing it tight ever since. This morning, I noticed that I was swelling right above the pubic area. :-( I took pictures of it to share with RealSelf -- in doing so, I noticed for the first time, that I really do like what I see (except for the swelling). I can just imagine when things settle down in place. I cannot wait to take my drains out on Thursday, because any longer than that, I might just accidentally yank them out altogether. I am trying to push myself to walk straight. I am getting there. The strength thing is a problem. I'm a working mother of 2 boys -- I literally do a lot of heavy lifting myself...I find myself laughing alot, at myself, bc I cannot lift even simple things like the water pitcher, the comforter, my son's moon/snow boots. Working however, is keeping my mind off of myself, and helps with pain. And when I need a recliner break, I take it with a good book. The good thing about being off the Vicodin is I can now stay awake on the recliner and do constructive things, like search for bikinis!! (lol) Bad news is that I am eating Ibuprofren like they're skittles. I need Metamucil and stool softeners, and am excited to buy prunes from the store (like Grandma used to do). I'm still wearing my chin strap for the chin lipo. If anyone has any tips on keeping swelling at bay, please let me know!!! Also, should I be binding myself sooo tightly??

I'm heading out of house, on my own, on back-to-real life excursion (non-hospital related). I did go to my 1st post-op on Monday to the Dr's. He told me no elastics at all near the wound, meaning no underwear --but also, what does this mean for pants, or jeans, etc.? Also, for the last week, I've been living in hubby's t-shirts as the barrier between the elastic of the binder and my skin. I'm heading out for a social group - what the heck to wear?? So today, I found things in my closet that are comfortable, according to dr's orders, and hide the band and the "testicle" (the drain).