So, my tummy tuck...I started looking into the procedure about 2 years ago. I met with a surgeon and decided the timing wasn't right with Kate being so little, but I knew it was something I wanted to do. I looked into it again back in January and found the surgeon I wanted to go with, but again, just didn't feel like it was the right time. In October I was discussing it with Ryan again, and we realized now was as good a time as any to go ahead with the surgery, so I called the surgeon and got on the schedule for December 3rd. I was very nervous, but so excited I was finally going to be able to get it done. I felt I needed it done because I had significant extra skin hanging from my abdomen. I also had significant scar tissue and diastasis recti or separation of my abdominal muscles (turns out I also had an abdominal hernia). The surgeon said I was an ideal candidate and expected good results.
About a month before my surgery I found a lady on Instagram named Christa Cox who had a tummy tuck and had documented her recovery on YouTube. It was very helpful and gave me realistic expectations of what to expect throughout my recovery. I felt much better prepared going into it, thanks to her.
Two weeks before surgery I had a review appointment with the doctor to go over what would happen and my expectations. It was really great to meet with him again and be reassured that I was a good candidate for good results.
A week before surgery I went in to sign paperwork, get everything I would need, paid the remainder of my bill (it was not covered by insurance), and reviewed pre and post op care and got orders for blood work.
The day of surgery I had to arrive at the surgical center at 7am. I met with the doctor again, put on my Ted hose (to help circulation post op), and headed back for surgery. I only remember being cleaned off, climbing onto the table, laying down, getting my IV, and then waking up after surgery. When I woke up all I remember feeling was that my abs felt like they had been beat with a baseball bat and everything felt very very tight. I wasn't in a ton of pain, just felt very sore. My mouth was unbelievably dry, I could barely talk. The nurses gave me sips of water and ice chips, it was the best thing ever! After they felt I was awake enough (although I was still pretty out of it), they had me stand up, very bent over, walk to the bathroom and go to the bathroom. Then they got me dressed and put me in the car to head home. I was home before noon, it was pretty crazy!
Once we got home I went directly to the basement, very very slowly. I set up camp on the end of our couch that reclines. Ryan had to help me recline the couch and do any moving at all for the first few days. My abs were so unbelievably sore that I could not do any movement that required my abs, which is just about everything! I had to get up to go to the bathroom a lot, thanks to all the fluids during surgery, and I was always very sad when I had to pee! It was very difficult to get up and down from the couch and toilet and I needed a lot of help. My abdomen was wrapped in a surgical binder and I had 2 surgical drains that came out from my pubic bone and had to be drained every few hours the first few days. The pain meds helped take the edge off, but I was still in a lot of pain most of the time. I didn't move at all unless i had to and sat and slept partially reclined on the basement couch. The day after surgery I had to go back to the doctors office to have my incision checked and bandages changed. I almost passed out from pain and exertion, but it was nice to have clean bandages and be reassured that everything went well. They told me they removed almost 5 pounds of tissue from my body!
By day 3 or 4, I was at least able to get up and down from the couch and toilet by myself, and I felt like the pain meds worked better against the level of pain I was in, but still took them every 4 hours around the clock.
By about 1 week I felt significantly better. I was still very sore, moving slowly, still very bent over, but I felt a little bit functional. Walking or standing for any extended amount of time was very painful, mostly because my back would hurt so much. Since I couldn't engage my abs and was bent over, my back felt very strained. Usually if I had to walk farther than from the couch to the bathroom I would have to sit and rest in between to rest my back before I could continue.
By 2 weeks, I felt much better. I started venturing upstairs occasionally, and even out of the house a bit, and being able to walk a little farther at a time, and was a little more upright. By this point, my abs felt sore, but usable. The most pain I dealt with was the surgical drains. They were very uncomfortable, and made it hard to be comfortable sitting and moving around. I was still occasionally taking a serious pain pill, but not on as tight of a schedule. Luckily they came out 2 days after my 2 weeks mark! It felt very strange and uncomfortable to have them removed, but it was great to have them out! They also removed the stitches from my belly button and the steri-strips from my incision.
From week 2-3 I got progressively better. Having the drains out made it possible to sleep in my bed, walk more uprightly, and move around more easily. Being more upright has helped my back pain, although I do still get tired standing or walking for too long. I experienced more swelling in week 3 since I no longer had the drains and I was moving around more, but the doctor had said that would be the case. I still have to wear the binder night and day to help with healing and swelling, but it actually helps the ab and back pain, so I don't mind it at all most of the time. The incision is healing really well and doesn't bother me that much, which is surprising since its 18 inches long! I rarely take pain medicine now and if I do need something I just take advil now. I get sore and swollen by the end of the day, but its all been worth it! My clothes fit so much better even now as I'm swollen. I can see that hard work I did last year finally, its not hidden by extra skin and scar tissue. I feel hopeful for the future and about loving my body for the first time in 8 years. I got the ok after the drains were removed to start light exercise, mostly walking, I just did that today for the first time (3 weeks 2 days post-op) and walked 1 mile on my treadmill. It was slow, but I'm glad to be moving again. I'm doing most of my normal daily activities now, except anything that require lifting, and I still rest often. I have another doctor appointment today to check my incisions and swelling. We'll see what they say!
So that's where I am today! I'll keep you posted!
