POSTED UNDER Mommy Makeover REVIEWS
2 weeks post op- all is well!
ORIGINAL POST
Well I put down my deposit today and booked my...
Fitbody2013November 14, 2012
WORTH IT$12,000
Well I put down my deposit today and booked my full TT and BA today for Friday, Jan. 4th- no turning back now! My story: I have two kids ages 4 and 2 and my belly never went back to normal after birth. My belly button stuck out, flabby pouch, a 3 finger width diastasis the whole way down my stomach, and deflated flat pancake boobs. Total bummer. I'm 5'5" 130 lbs and pretty fit in general but no amount of diet and exercise will change the look of my belly.
I am really nervous about going under general anesthesia and about pain management afterward. I don't even like to take over the counter meds. I got really ill after both of my cesareans and even had preventative antinausea meds before the second one that was planned but still got ill, and those were just with an epidural and spinal. Even after both cesareans I refused the percocets because I was so afraid I might get ill and it would hurt my stomach muscles even more. Meeting with the nurse Thursday to discuss medication options and then meeting with my PS again on Dec. 4 to go over any more details and pay in full. Did anyone show their PS pics of belly buttons they liked and didn't like? I have found that they tend to vary in after pics that I have seen in the internet and I prefer the look of some over others. I like the ones on my PS' website but feel like if I am paying a ton of money I should be very specific. Is that overkill or rude?
This site has been invaluable to me in deciding whether or not to actually go through with this procedure- thank you to everyone who have posted their stories, tips, and tricks. This seems to be such a supportive community and I am glad to be joining as I prepare for the big day.
Fitbody2013's provider
Replies (4)
November 19, 2012
Definitely show your doctor pictures of everything you want, if you have strong opinions. But also realize that they do many surgeries, and work with many women, and if you don't feel very strongly about something, I'd suggest that if you trust your doctor, you can let them decide. I have always found that I had a wide range of breast shapes that I thought were beautiful, so I let my doctor decide how mine should look, and I just couldn't be more pleased. I completely forgot to ask about the belly button, though. I think that for most doctors, it's harder to customize the BB, but that's just a guess. Definitely ask!
Thanks for starting your story. Can't wait to see pictures, as fit people tend to get great results!. Are you getting impatient yet? Or maybe your nerves and the need to discuss all the medication stuff are making it feel like time is running out too fast! I can say that I was nauseous from the anesthesia for about 10 days post op. I have a queasy stomach, but I didn't get nauseous after my C-section (of course, I did not take percoset or vicodin after that). I had a spinal headache for 3-4 days after the c-section. After this surgery, there were a couple of times I was sure I was going to vomit, but I didn't. I think maybe my stomach muscles were too weak to do it. But they wouldn't give me an anti-nausea med until I was leaving for home, after 23 hours! It worked great for me. So definitely get a script for that, and make sure they have it in the hospital for you directly after surgery so you don't have to go through what I did--or worse!
November 20, 2012
Thank you so much for your comments. I am a little impatient, more just worried I suppose. I just either want to chicken out or to have it be already done and through the recovery. I just want to skip that whole painful scary part in the middle! Thank you for you advice, I will keep posting as I get closer to the surgery.
UPDATED FROM Fitbody2013
2 months pre
Well kind of a bummer tonight- the plan was for me...
Fitbody2013November 19, 2012
Well kind of a bummer tonight- the plan was for me to stay with my parents for a few days and have my husband take care of the kids (ages 2&4) so my mom could help with with the initial recovery and not worry about the kids wanting to see me/jump on me/etc. well tonight my mom is saying she is really worried about what all she will need to do to care for me after surgery with the drains, pain meds, helping me to the bathroom, etc.
Can anyone please share candidly with me exactly how much help you needed after your surgery and for how long? I have been reading your posts and they are helpful but I am wondering if I could just tell her, here are what the other women say is needed in the first couple days/week. Perhaps that would help to either reassure her she is capable of helping me or let me know that I need to work out another plan. Thank you!
Can anyone please share candidly with me exactly how much help you needed after your surgery and for how long? I have been reading your posts and they are helpful but I am wondering if I could just tell her, here are what the other women say is needed in the first couple days/week. Perhaps that would help to either reassure her she is capable of helping me or let me know that I need to work out another plan. Thank you!
Replies (3)
November 20, 2012
For the first 2 days, I needed someone to do everything for me. Walk me to the toilet. Get all meals. Empty drains several times per day. Move pillows. Move me when I was uncomfortable. Help me get up and lie down. Keep the med schedule and give all medications around the clock, every three hours. My husband did this while telecommuting full time for work. I did not have a hospital bed. By day three, I could potty myself and move myself a little in the bed. I could not rearrange pillows easily and my husband still did everything else for me. By day 7, the meds were winding down and I could accomplish most things myself. You're fit like me, so I'm guessing your recovery won't be worse than mine (except the BA might hurt more, but your TT is unlikely to hurt as much since I got three rows of sutures (lateral and medial) instead of just the normal diastasis repair.) Hope this helps!
November 20, 2012
Oh, and those first few days when you're most needy, you will mostly be sleeping, so there's not a lot of other things you mom would have to do for you--she'd get some breaks while you're sleeping. But she'd need to be around most of the time, and never leave for more than a few hours unless you can handle your own meds with a med timer.
UPDATED FROM Fitbody2013
2 months pre
Trying to patiently wait for the big day, a little...
Fitbody2013November 26, 2012
Trying to patiently wait for the big day, a little over a month away. I try not to think about it but it's constantly on my mind. At work, in the car, making meals, showering, trying to go to sleep...I can't get my mind to stop. I'm mostly just really really really nervous for the actual surgery and the first few days of recovery.
Some things I think about that don't help my nerves:
What if I throw up after the surgery
What if the anti nausea meds don't work
What if the painkillers make me sick
How much it will hurt if I'm heaving after BA & TT
What if my mom freaks out about having to empty the drains and can't do it
What if the scar is higher than the doc says it will be- she told me she can do it below my cesarean scar
What if the belly button she makes for me is huge or ugly
What if I got boobs that are too big/too small
Hahaha what a worry wart!
Things I think of that keep me positive:
I will look KICK ASS in a bikini this summer!
Can't wait to test drive the new girls in the bedroom with the hubby
Pants will fit better
Won't be afraid to get another hernia at the gym- can do lots of sit ups and hopefully get a nice stomach
Buy gorgeous Victoria's Secret bras and actually not have flat droopy pancakes inside
Having cleavage!
Feeling more confident overall in any clothing, bathing suit, or NAKED
Wondering if I'll love my body enough to walk around naked in front of my HB or leave the lights on :)
I am so thankful for everyone's posts. Nobody really gets it like you all do.
Love you guys.
Some things I think about that don't help my nerves:
What if I throw up after the surgery
What if the anti nausea meds don't work
What if the painkillers make me sick
How much it will hurt if I'm heaving after BA & TT
What if my mom freaks out about having to empty the drains and can't do it
What if the scar is higher than the doc says it will be- she told me she can do it below my cesarean scar
What if the belly button she makes for me is huge or ugly
What if I got boobs that are too big/too small
Hahaha what a worry wart!
Things I think of that keep me positive:
I will look KICK ASS in a bikini this summer!
Can't wait to test drive the new girls in the bedroom with the hubby
Pants will fit better
Won't be afraid to get another hernia at the gym- can do lots of sit ups and hopefully get a nice stomach
Buy gorgeous Victoria's Secret bras and actually not have flat droopy pancakes inside
Having cleavage!
Feeling more confident overall in any clothing, bathing suit, or NAKED
Wondering if I'll love my body enough to walk around naked in front of my HB or leave the lights on :)
I am so thankful for everyone's posts. Nobody really gets it like you all do.
Love you guys.
Replies (3)
November 28, 2012
I think everyone takes the surgery a bit different depending on so many different factors. If it helps...I had a severe MR with extended TT, but no lipo done anywhere. My breasts had major work done and didn't hurt me at all. For my TT I had a pain pump called a Q-Pump that stayed in me the 1st 3 days and made a HUGE difference for me. It slowly releases a local numbing medication along my muscle midline. It cost me $250 and was totally worth it to me! My 1st day I was in a hospital and had help getting up/down/everything. I slept a lot on day 1. As far as what my DH did for me:
day 2&3: help in/out of recliner. I walked on own
Day 2-5: help with sponge bath, binder, clothes (at times).
I always did my own drains, dressings, meds, food. It's tough to get yourself tucked in at night with the pillows-my DH was great with that! On day 6 I was alone with my 2 4 yr olds. I don't recommend that, but it was doable for me.
I would think your mom would be ok as long as she was ok giving/helping you with a bath? Taking care if me was super easy.
December 6, 2012
Thanks for your comments, very helpful! I will ask about the pain pump. I go back in on Friday with a girlfriend to look at the implants again. It feels like shopping for the perfect pair of shoes or something- I'm giddy about them!
December 6, 2012
And by the way, you look amazing! My body is similar to yours pre-op, so I can only hope and pray for results like yours! Sexy! So happy for you!
Thanks for starting your story on RealSelf! Don't worry about overkill. IMHO, you can't communicate too much with your doctor at this point. Make your wishes known now.
I'm glad you're thinking this through and meeting with your surgeon again before surgery. Please keep us posted!
Here's a great list of supplies you might want to consider for your recovery.