42 Years Old, 4 Kids, It's My Time Now - Tulsa, OK

When I turned 40, I was determined to find the better me that had been covered for years! This journey began with a weight loss challenge at work, which I won! It quickly turned me into a fitness fanatic as I was introduced to a life filled with Zumba and Weight Lifting, I wouldn't trade this love for anything, it caused me to feel strong, confident and in control at least with my clothes on! After weight loss we can tuck, position and hide those areas that we don't know what to do with but when I stood naked in front of the mirror, those areas were still there! My husband, who is my biggest proponent, actually nudged me to my first consulation! After my first one I actually felt like maybe those areas that wouldn't fall in line with my goals, could possibly be fixed! After a couple consults, I knew I wanted to take the next step! I was a smoker and had tried many times to quit, this was just the motivation I needed, especially after realizing that no extra money would come out of our budget because the amount I was spending every month on cigarettes, was the exact payment amount we needed it to be! You guessed it I scheduled a BL/BA, TT w/ associated liposuction of abdomen and waist! I was nervous but more excited than anything because I was finally going to get my body back!

Upon waking up from the procedures, I felt like I had defied everything I had heard! I could do things that others said I couldn't and my recovery was going great! At 2 we post op I was faced with severe pain in my abdomen which turned out to be hematoma that had to be extracted by being opened back up and a new drain being placed in just above where my old one was.

Currently, I am 4 weeks and 1 day post op and the healing process is slow at best! My emotions are heightened and frustration levels are very evident. I just started back to work yesterday which has been difficult because by the time I go home I feel like I have been run over by a mack truck! I know that all of this will be worth it in the end and will have an amazing testimonial of this experience but sometimes it is hard seeing the end of this all!! I welcome any and all comments that will assist me positively in moving forward! It's always nice to know that you are not the only one riding this roller coaster!

Monday, which is 5 weeks from my initial procedures, PS wants to take a culture. He is is pretty sure I have developed an infection. There is an area on the left side of my incision that has opened up a little and is draining a clear/bloody fluid and my tummy is a lil red and swollen. Not sure if this is just normal swelling or that of an infection. First a hematoma and now this! I really hope that I do not have another setback, I just want to move forward with my recovery!

Yesterday I went back to my PS and I didn't have to have a culture taken because there is no infection! ! Woot Woot! I was really scared that I was having another setback!! Some of my internal stitches were trying to work their way out and found a few soft spots to do that to and that is why I was red and swollen in a few areas. The nurse cleaned those areas and pulled out those stitches that were causing irritation. My right breast didn't like them at all and is having a harder time healing on the underneath side. PS said my body is generating new skin and that it will heal up nicely. I am still very tight in my tummy area which is to be expected and will continue to decrease in size and tightness over the next 6 - 8 months. I don't have to return until June unless something is wrong. I gained a lot of piece of mind by talking to PS!