Week 7 - Green Light

This week marks 7 weeks since my surgery!  I haven't posted in a while because I've been in a fairly mundane routine. Work has been great!  I've become more active - going on brisk walks on the trail and on the treadmill.  All trying to ease my way back into a routine so as soon my the doctor clears me for activity I can hit the ground running...literally.

This week I met with my surgeon for the first time since my drains came out.  It was a short check up but a couple of things happened during the check up:

1. Green light for all activity - working out included
2. Ditch the abdominal binder

He was very pleased with the preliminary results and had no concerns at this point.  He set my next appointment for the six month mark.  At that time I will take my first set of before and after photos. Looking forward tot that.

So I left the appointment feeling good.  Accomplished.  Happy. And without my abdominal binder.  The rest of the day was good.  A little uncomfortable being without constriction around my waist, but knowing it was time.  Feeling blood flow through areas that have been constricted 24hrs a day/7days a week is painful.

Today was my first full day without the binder.  Man oh man was I in for a rude awakening.  The pain feels similar to having a bad sunburn...when you sit against that sunburn and then stand up quickly.  Uncomfortable.  And the swelling....damn it.  I know it's part of the process, but man it is a mind f@$#!  The binder keeps swelling down, but isn't meant to be worn forever.  The body has to heal itself and being able to control swelling is part of that. So I've officially entered what is commonly known as "Swell Hell"....estimated time to deal with random swelling: UP TO 6 MONTHS!  Ugh....

To end on a positive note:  all of my clothes are fitting amazingly well.  Exactly how I've always envisioned them fitting! It really makes going to my closet a much more enjoyable experience.

Below is a 7 week post op photo.  This photo was taken on Monday before the ab binder was removed from my daily wear, but gives a good view of what things are looking like!

Week 4 - Back to the Office

Today is 4 weeks post-op! On Saturday I finally got that second pesky drain removed.  Much more painful than the first one, but after being in my body for 26 days it was to be expected.  It was a very liberating moment though! My doctor said everything is looking fantastic!

Today was my first day back in the office after 4 weeks.  I was very excited to be back around my peers, my team and the excitement of a new year.  I may have been a little too excited and was all over the office.  Went to lunch with a colleague.  Made my rounds.  By 3pm I was feeling the pressure in my abdomen.  Getting home and getting into comfortable clothes revealed some swelling had returned.  This is to be expected as I haven't been overly active until this point.  Just a part of the process that I have to put in the right place to not let it get me down.

I go back to see my doctor in 3 weeks.  Hopefully will be cleared to get back into the gym!  I miss it. I miss being active.  I know I will have to ease back into it, but I sure am ready!

Here are a few pictures from week 4!

3 Week Post Op Photo Update

I am excited to share some photos!  I took my binder off to take a shower to reveal that the swelling has gone done a little more!  It's really starting to show how the changes are settling. :)

 And just in case you forgot what I looked like...below you will see the night before surgery photo on the left and the one I just took on the right.  WOW!!!!

Obviously you can see there its still some bruising and swelling....but SO much better!

Mental Fortitude

Tomorrow marks 3 weeks from surgery!  I see improvement with each passing day, but the improvements are small. Some days are even a small step backwards.  I have to keep reminding myself that the recovery process is long.  I may not see final results for 3 to 6 months.  Seems like a lifetime.

None of my clothes fit right now because I'm still swollen.  THAT is a tough pill to swallow right now.  The thought is that skin/fat is removed and that you should be smaller than before surgery.  The reality is quit the contrary.  It takes strong mental fortitude and patience to not get bogged down in numbers this early on. Stay the course.  The other disappointing part...I still have one drain in.  The numbers are inconsistent at this point.  Frustrations with the continue.

Good news:  I am getting stronger and more mobile by the day.  I am sleeping in my bed again, which was a huge step in my book! On the other hand I feel very lethargic.  I can't work out yet, besides minimal walking.  I haven't been eating poorly, but the lack of basic exercise makes me feel like a lump!  HA.  I know, I know...all in due time.

I appreciate everyones continued support!  I'm getting there. :)

Going Bonkers!

Wow!  Time has been flying by for the most part. I have to say that I am starting to get cabin fever after being cooped up for 2 weeks.  I've gotten out of the the house a couple of times, and today I actually drove myself to the grocery store (with doctor approval)!  That felt amazing...to know I am gaining mobility! Other than that I'm tired of sleeping in this recliner.  I tried sleeping in my bed last night...I lasted about 4 hours (mostly restless napping) before I moved back to the recliner.  The pressure of laying on my sides made me a little nauseous. I'm sure some of it is mental. Maybe one more week in the chair will be enough to make me feel better about it.  Huge thank you to Rosemary for hooking me up with the recliner!  I can't imagine this recovery without it.


Yesterday I have a two week follow up with my surgeon.  He removed my belly button stitches, which still doesn't really look like a belly button to me.  The swelling around it is still pretty extensive.  It's rock hard, and not in the "rocking a six pack" kind of way.  Hardcore swelling means rock hard fluid build up.  Speaking of swelling..the swelling on my hips and legs has gone down quite a bit, which makes me very happy!  The doctor said I am healing very quickly and was impressed with how far I've come in a short time.  I have to continue to massage the areas that are hard/swollen to help dissolve some of the fluid build up.  The downside - the second drain has to stay in for a little longer, which was a bummer.  It has to drain around 20cc's a day for two day before he will remove it.  Right now I am averaging around 50cc's a day.  It's annoying but I also don't want to rush removing it...more frustrating than anything else.

How is the pain after 14 days you ask?  Actually - I would rate it a 1 out of 10 right now.  I'm just really sore.  Like I did 10,000 crunches.  Bruising on my back and sides still looks pretty bad and is very tender, but I have to keep massaging it as much as possible.

Overall I feel pretty good at the end of week 2.  I have no regrets so far.  I know that once I heal and the swelling goes down I am going to be very happy with the results!

1st Week Survival

I survived the first week without extra skin!  WOOO HOOO.  This week has been filled with ups and down....both emotionally and psychically. Every day that passes brings a little less pain, a little more mobility, and one day closer to seeing results.

I had a realization the other day.  I booked this surgery 3 months in advance in order to hold the date during a busy time for the surgeon, but a slow time in my office.  Now that the surgery is over I have to wait 2-3 months to see real results.  (Side note:  it can take up to 3 months for swelling and bruising to subside).  I had a countdown on my phone to show how many days I had until surgery, which kept me excited and motivated.  Now there is frustration that I have another waiting period to see how this is going to play out.  As I had this realization I felt pretty down about it.  More waiting...great.

Then a friend of mine gave me some great words of encouragement.  He told me to look back at where I came from.  Look at the amount of work, dedication, and sweat I put in to getting to this point.  No matter what the outcome is of the results be proud knowing that I have created opportunity to do everything that I have set out to do.  WOW!  His words gave me a new outlook.  Thank you JLW!

Yesterday I had one of the drains removed.  Once the drains start showing lower numbers there get removed.  well, the one on the left side was ready to come out.  The process is pretty simple and I read enough about it that I was prepared for the worst (as usual).  The nurse sniped the stitch holding the tube in place where it entered my side, which is at the end of the incision line.  The she said "here comes the fun part"...wait, what?  Fun for who?!?!  She start pulling for what felt like forever.  It was the strangest/grossest feeling.  I could feel the tube sliding under my skin - between the skin and muscle.  CREEPY.  What I didn't know is that the tubes under my skin are actually about 8 inches long!  WHOA! Check that off the list.

Good news - on Saturday I go back to get the other drain out!  Also, they will remove the stitches in my new belly button. It's actually starting to look like a belly button.  :)

Next blog post - GOING STIR CRAZY!

Drainage & Swelling

Time flies when you're...sleeping! Tomorrow marks 7 days since my surgery.  WOW!  What happen to this week?  Oh, right.  I slept the first 3 days straight.  Honestly, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.  Sleeping has allowed my body to make huge leaps in healing.  I'm so thankful for that.

The pain was uncomfortable for the first few days, but not unbearable.  I started coming down from the pain meds after day 3.  I am now down to just a couple a day balanced with Tylenol.  Couldn't be happier about that.  I have overall be surprised and that the pain hasn't been more.  I expected the worst, but landed somewhere below the middle of those expectations.  I have a high tolerance to pain, so thank you to my genetic make up! Right now, my pain is at about a 3 out of 10.  :)

Tomorrow I should get one of the 2 drains out.  The other one plus the stitches in my new belly button will come out at the end of the week.  These drains have been one of my biggest complaints.  I have to empty the bulbs every 4 hours and record how much as come out of me.  This is actually really gross.  The sites where they enter my belly are sore and tender.  Every time the drain tube moves it hurts the entry site.  I can feel the tubes under my skin and it sometimes shoots sharp pains across my belly.   Having them taken out is something I'm so ready for, yet dreading because I'm sure it's going to hurt.

Now let's talk about swelling.  Swelling across my belly where the incision was made has little swelling and is healing nicely.  The doctor did a great job with it.  The swelling and bruising on my hips and flanks where he did some lipo is out of control!  From the middle of my back to the top of my buttocks, and then from the top of my hips down to the middle of my hamstring is dark purple and VERY swollen.  I feel like I have birthing hips!  UGH.  I know this is natural and will go away with time, but the mental frustration is rough.

Positive notes: my appetite is coming back, I'm moving around much easier, almost able to stand completely straight (about another 10% to go), not needing pain meds as much, being able to do things on my own!

My motto = One day at a time!

Big thank you to everyone that has helped this past week.  Whether it was stopping by, texting, Facebook, phone call, prayers and thoughts.


HUGE appreciation to Rosemary and Jeanette who have been around all week for anything that I've needed.  I definitely could not have done this without these two amazing friends.  Much love!