5 weeks PO pictures....some residual swelling and scar looks more red than 2 weeks ago. Happy with results so far!!

I decided that I should probably write an update on my TT review. I know how much the stories and photos helped me before my surgery so hopefully my documenting my experience could help someone else.
I had my TT on Monday, 12/10 at 11:45 a.m., was in the OR for 2 hours, in recovery maybe 30-45 minutes and then sent home. Once home, I immediately laid down and pretty much rested but got up and down several times throughout the evening. I told my family that I hurt my back and thus the need to be on my bed on a heating pad.
PO day 1 = walking about 90% erect, not much pain at all, just felt very, very tight, and also pretty tired. I think the fatigue was from the Valium that my surgeon gives post-operatively. I spent a good portion of the day on my bed, but again up and down frequently.
PO day 2 = Still walking about 90% erect, not a huge change from day 1 other than not quite so tired. Actually drove down to the corner store in the afternoon but came immediately back. Not much in the way of pain but still very, very tight. I actually made a simple, quick dinner for my family.... chicken and made a salad, in the kitchen for about 30 minutes. Lower back extremely sore this day due to abnormal gait and by evening I had to get in bed very early.
PO day 3 = Walking about 95% erect for most of the day until evening. I have found that the longer I am up and moving about, the more hunched I tend to become. Did laundry, picked up house, drove to the corner to get a coffee. Not really any pain, more just discomfort and tightness, like if I move wrong the stitches will break open.
Today is PO day 4 = so far so good, although don't think I'm walking quite as straight as yesterday. The incisions feel very dry and tight.

I took a shower on PO day 2. I never had drains. I am wearing a CG but nothing over the incisions, no steri-strips and it feels so exposed, like I want them covered. I like what I see so far. I feel very thick, which I know is due to the swelling, although I don't think I'm excessively swollen. I do feel tired today.
The biggest challenge for me so far is simply the fact that I was determined not to share this surgery with anyone other than my husband. Therefore, I have been trying to rest during the day and then when my kids are home in the late afternoon to evening, I am trying to be up a little more and acting like myself. I will update some pictures soon. I thought for sure my weight would be up with the swelling so I did not even weigh myself until today, not that it really matters, but to give an idea.... I was down 1 pound from the morning of surgery. I have not taken any measurements yet.

From all of the research I did beforehand, I honestly believe that the TT surgery is a very individualized surgery with many contributing factors, i.e. amount of work needing to be done, the patient's health status, the surgeon's technique, etc... I think there are so many variables that can make the recovery either easier or more difficult for some. To date, I feel very, very fortunate with my experience thus far. I'm leaning towards the rating of "worth it" but will hold off until the swelling goes down and I feel like my posture is 100% normal.

And a little more information for women who are on the thinner side.... I knew going into this that I would have a small vertical scar from my old belly button because there was not enough skin to pull all the way down.... I expected that the vertical scar would touch the long horizontal scar but in my case it does not; it is about halfway between my new belly button and the horizontal scar.... I am okay with it but was surprised and did not expect it to be that high, although I'm glad my surgeon did it that way rather than make the long incision higher.... my hip to hip incision is very, very low.

I am now PO day 6. I honestly cannot believe it has been almost a week since my surgery!! For all you women who are Nervous-Nelly's like me, it is so, so worth it and honestly it is not that bad, at all. I know everyone is different but for me, I can't say as I've even really had any "pain", more just discomfort and tightness. Finding the hardest part of the recovery is making myself rest and not over-doing because I really do feel that good. I even went to the grocery store today but then thought "what the heck am I doing" and cut the shopping trip short, just grabbed a few items, went home and got back on my bed. The only pain I am having really is in my low back from an abnormal gait and not standing up straight. Anxious to see what the doctor says at my 1 week PO visit tomorrow. Good luck to all the girls going for surgery this week!