It’s Not a Walk in the Park

I’ll be posting before and after pictures at a later date.

I am 58 years old and 5’ 2”. Throughout the last 20 years my weight ranged 118 to 125 lbs. My weight started to slowly creep up in 2018 and I wasted several thousand dollars on CoolSculpting. November 2019 I smoked my last cigarette (thanks to Chantix). My weight continued to increase. In December I was 136 lbs. I was going to the gym religiously for at least 2 hours, 4-5 times a week and was seriously watching what I was eating. My weight kept increasing to 140 lbs. Blood test results showed hypothyroidism. I finally got my thyroid levels under control. Now I’m ready to get my body back.

Days and Time Before: I was not extremely excited but wasn’t scared at all. Got teary-eyed seconds before the happy juice and that was it.

Day Of: My mouth was dry all day, like I slept with my mouth open all night and tons of water didn’t help. My throat was scratchy and sore, I struggled to swallow, hard to burp, pain level 2.5/10, 65 and 150 cc drainage.

The skin removed weighed 732 grams (about 1.6 pounds) and liposuction took out about 1.75-2 pounds of fat. 

Day 1: Pain level 4/10. Throat is back to normal. Cleaned the drain areas and it didn’t need it. I felt faint while doing it. 58 and 63 cc drainage.

Day 2: pain level 4/10 in the morning before taking pain med but still taking Oxy. Cleaning the drain sites are tough, I get cold then hot and feel faint. 45 and 45 cc drainage.

Day 3: Sitting up is much easier. I still walk hunched over. Pain level is 3/10. 45 and 45 cc drainage.

Day 4: I can sit up with much less pain. It still hurts when I walk and I tire out very fast. Pain level is 3/10. 70 and 35 cc drainage. I’m hoping but don’t think drains will be removed on day 7.

Day 5: 3:00 in the morning I was resting comfortably on my borrowed electric fully-reclined chair contemplating going to the restroom. The electric went out. My text messages indicated that power would be restored by 10:00 AM. I carefully crawled off the chair which was surprisingly easy and made it to the restroom. I was excited that I would have no choice but to sleep in my bed. My bf stayed over and was sleeping in my bed. He moved over and I was on my side of the bed with 3” to the edge but he still elbowed me during the night. Ouch! The power had been restored and I went back to my recliner. Why do my caretakers get up at dawn? They’re quiet but I still hear them in my small house. I sneezed today. I tried to stop it but I couldn’t. I really hurt for about 15 minutes afterwards. I had two small bm’s today. Hope that counts. 20 and 50 cc drainage.

Day 6: Pain level 2/10. I’m no longer taking Percocet, just Tylenol twice a day. I feel good today. I even leaned over the tub and washed my hair by myself. I do get tired though. I’m just not sure I can walk the long corridors and wait for the slow elevator at my doctors office tomorrow. I’d like to get the drains out tomorrow but my guess is only one will come out. I still walk a little hunched over, need to remember to keep my shoulders back. When I’m laying down I feel like there is a 20-pound football laying on my belly. When standing, it feels like I’m sucking in my stomach in, but I’m not. 15 and 40 cc drainage.

I'll be updating my progress weekly but I just wanted to share this first comparison photo. There will be many more once I get to try on clothes in a few weeks. I feel small today, which is good. Recovery is going great!

Day 7: Pain level 2/10. I feel good today. Walking a little hunched over occasionally. I didn’t really want to weigh myself since the doctor said I’d probably weigh more, but I did. I was 136 lbs, down 3.5 pounds! I’m so hung up on the number on the scale and I know I shouldn’t be. Today was my first follow up appointment. The doctor seemed please with my progress. I am too. I look like I still have a slight belly bulge which I hope is just swelling and fluid retention. My compression garment was removed, it felt great (but it also felt good to get it back on). My bellybutton looks great. Stupid me never thought of taking a picture. One drain was removed! It burned a little but it feels better that it’s out. I thought I’d feel the tube moving inside but didn’t. Some of the dressing was removed as well (why isn’t there tape invented that doesn’t leave a residue that I have to rub my skin raw with alcohol pads to get it removed?). My stomach has a lot of different feelings; tingly, numb and sensitive. When asked, my PS said it takes a very long time for the feeling to get back to normal, if at all, but he said that probably feeling won’t come back below my bellybutton. Why didn’t I know that? I’m in my home alone and scared to take my garment off for fear that I won’t be able to get it back on. So I won’t be posting pictures yet. But I have my “before” pictures ready to photojoin with “after” pictures when I get them. The measurement from my last drain today was 45 cc. It has to be <30 cc for two days in a row to be removed.

Day 8: Pain level 1/10. I should clarify that it is not pain but rather discomfort which will change/increase throughout the day. I weighed 135.5 today. The measurement from my drain today was 35 cc. Shooting for that magical daily number of <30 cc.

Day 9: I will not be reporting pain level anymore since I’m no longer experiencing pain. I still feel tightness and I get a pinch in my back occasionally due to not standing straight. I still have a lot of tingly and numb feelings. I weighed 134.5 today. The measurement from my drain today was 25 cc. Two consecutive days of <30 cc means I get my last drain out and then I can take a real shower! Fingers crossed.

Day 10: Each day I feel better than the last. I’m thankful to be this far in recovery and I really like what I’m seeing; bellybutton looks good, from what I can tell the scar looks good, the drain holes are dry and just overall I look petite again. Today was the first I drove. Seatbelt didn’t bother me but the bumpy roads were felt in my stomach, tolerable though. I did about 30 minutes grocery shopping. I’m glad I had a cart to hold onto. I was nervous about lifting my mom’s walker in and out of the car. She used her late husband’s lightweight walker and was a breeze. I weighed 134 today. The measurement from my drain today was xx cc. This is my second consecutive day of <30 cc which means I can get my last drain out, maybe tomorrow.

Day 11: Today I got my last drain out, woohoo! I immediately felt better and relief overall. I didn’t want to know how long the drain tube was until after she was done. She showed it to me. OMG it seriously looked a foot long and she said my first one was longer! It was less pinching than the first drain removal. I did another 30 minutes of grocery shopping again. I’m a little uncomfortable and tired so I don’t think I’m able to fully enjoy the freedom of being drainless. I weighed 134.5 today (1/2 pound increase) so I maybe plateaued. That’s ok, I know weight loss wasn’t going to be huge and I’m thankful for the loss of 5 pounds but I really like my transformation and I think it will even get better.

Day 12: Today my boyfriend helped me take a real shower. I live alone and was nervous that I would run into problems or not be able to get my compression garment back on. I did it without his help and all went well. My belly looked puffy. I hope it’s just swelling. The shower felt amazing! I weighed 135 today (another 1/2 pound increase).

Day 13: I woke up feeling a lot of discomfort, like my binder was smooshing my organs and ribs. I got up several times to move around and adjust the garment. Nothing obvious relieved the discomfort, it just slowly went away. I weighed 134 today. Yesterday as a water pill day which is why my weight is down a pound. I need to stop obsessing over the scale!

Day 14: Again today I woke up with some discomfort, not like yesterday. I had a follow up appointment today. The tape on my incision was replaced. My incision looked good. Scabs are good I guess. I hope to not gross out anyone but I noticed my lady parts changed. The natural discharge in my underwear is in a different area than before TT. I have tender skin at my underwear line in front of my legs. It’s burny and sometimes itchy. I don’t know if it’s stretched skin or rubbing from my garment and/or underwear. I mentioned it today to my PS but he really didn’t comment. After my shower today I put on some powder and that seemed to help some. I weighed 134.5 today.