minidriver

Have you heard back on your tests yet? Let us know. I'm doing well . . . every day is a little better. Lots of swelling in the afternoon though. Very annoying.

Thanks, ladies. Skinnyjeans, those four weeks will be gone before you know it. Although the four weeks since surgery have gone by much quicker that the four weeks before! Mimi, when is your surgery again?

Well, it's been four weeks today since my tummy tuck, and I'm pretty darned happy with the outcome. Having some swelling in the afternoons, and the "Ken" area is always swollen, but hopefully that will go away some day. I also have a little extra swelling on the left hip where I had the hematoma, but the massage therapist is getting rid of that slowly but surely. My incision is still kind of sore where it wraps around onto my back, but the front is not a big deal at all. I'm really not trying to wear smaller pants or anything yet . . . maybe I'll try in a few more weeks. I have posted some updated photos. The link is: Plastic Surgery Pictures, Videos, Photos, Pics, Before, After, Cosmetic Surgery password: goobgone

Hi Barb. I just wanted to check in and see how your blood work is looking.

My issue was with timing as well. I also work at a university and am on sabbatical this term, so it was really the only time I had when it made sense to do it. My PS said that, as long as I didn't lose more than maybe 10-15 more lbs, he didn't care at all that I wasn't at goal. He just said that if you lose more than that, the skin starts to sag again. Made total sense. I really am fine with the idea of only losing ten more pounds. It has taken me six months to lose the last ten, so I don't think that, reasonably, I can expect to lose a whole lot more. I won't be skinny, by any means, but I am pretty happy with how I look and feel at that weight.

I had some drainage Tuesday morning, but nothing since then. I just came back from the PS, and he thinks all the old blood is gone. YAY! I LOVED the massage. Loved it loved it loved it. I think it will really help with keeping the swelling down.

No, it was very gentle. She would work on my tummy for awhile, then move to another part of my body to let my tummy rest. It was a very pleasant experience.

Ooooo, that would be awesome if you could get it done through the program there! Unfortunately, I was self pay. So I had no hoops . . . just had to come up with the money! Luckily my PS was very reasonable - $5800 for everything. I thought that was pretty good.

Hi ladies. I had my first lymphatic massage today. It was FABULOUS!!! The massage therapist claims that it will really help with the swelling and with general healing. All I know is that I felt so much better after I went. I can stand up straighter and I just feel much closer to "normal". I have been peeing like crazy since I got back, which I'm hoping means that some of that excess fluid is draining away. I am going again next week and can't wait. I highly recommend it for anyone having a tummy tuck.

Hello, ladies. Let's see . . I will try to make sure I answer everybody's questions. Mimi and Skinnyjeans, I think I'll wait till next week for a massage. Even if the masseuse could deal with the blood seeping out of my leg, it really grosses me out. I would be totally grossed out on her behalf. Seriously. I just talked to the nurse and if it hasn't stopped by Monday, they want me to come back in. She said they might have to "go in again" and remove the blood. Poop. Oh well. Let's see, I bough a Flexees firm control corset with panty and ordered it on Amazon. I wanted that particular one because it has hooks and eyes all the way up the front, so I figured it would be less difficult to put on. I don't have sweaty skin per se (haven't hot flashed for awhile since I had a hysterectomy 10 years ago), but the thought of pulling something really tight over my incision sounded kind of oogy. Barb, my energy levels are kind of up and down. I was feeling great yesterday morning and went grocery shopping with DH. By midafternoon I was pretty tired. My daughter and her husband came by to visit last night, and I was beat by the time they left. I am really happy I'm not having to deal with work right now. I think it would be tough for someone my age to go back to work after two weeks. How is your red blood count looking? Still tolerating the iron supplements okay? EbonyRose, thanks for looking at my pics and for your kind words! Sounds like you are doing great on your weight loss! You must look fantastic at your height and weight! Wow! And your time for surgery will get here before you know it. Speaking of weight, I weighed this morning and I am 4 lbs less than I was the morning of surgery. YAY! So I'm hoping that trend will continue. I'm actually quite (pleasantly) surprised! I figured it would take longer to show up on my scale. Well, I'll post again soon, and more pics next week or something. And I'll let you ladies know what happens with the seeping blood thing.

Why thank you, Miss Mimi! Friggin' awesome is definitely what I'm going for! So I switched today from my binder to my Spanx type thing. Unfortunately, I went to the grocery store and by the time I got back the hole from my drain had quite a bit of blood and I don't want the Spanx to get bloody so I put the binder back on. The Spanx thing definitely works better under my clothes though. I am soooooo close to being fully upright. That will make such a difference in my back pain, I think. I can't wait to go have the massage, but I don't want to go while I'm still bleeding from the drain hole. I don't want to subject anyone else to the potential grossness. :tongue2:

Thanks! Yeah, those drains get really annoying after awhile. Sooo happy they are gone.

Hello ladies! As promised, I have posted some "no drain" pics. I am still draining from the one side so I have a sanitary pad taped over it. And the scabbiness makes the incision look worse than it is . . .the surgical glue just doesn't want to come off! While I had my binder off, I decided to try on some jeans and a tank top. I was so excited that I posted that pic too! Anyhoo, to answer the shower question, my PS also let me shower starting at PO day 1. In fact, he really encouraged it. It's so funny how things differ from one doc to another. It made me kind of nervous, but I guess it was okay. Sure made me feel better. Here is the link to the pics: Plastic Surgery Pictures, Videos, Photos, Pics, Before, After, Cosmetic Surgery password: goobgone Thanks for all your support. It really helps.

Thanks, Mimi. Yeah, kinda' ick. I was gonna' come home and try on some sexy new underwear! Oh well. I guess I'll wait till tomorrow.

Well the good news is, I got my drains out today! YAY!! And it didn't hurt at all. Just felt kinda' weird.:biggrin: The bad news . . . .all that old blood from the hematoma is no longer draining into a nice little plastic bulb. Instead, it's draining down my leg. :wink2: The doc put a piece of surgical gauze on it before we left his office. By the time I got home, it had soaked through that, my pants, etc. :frown: I, of course, thought it was new blood and went back in, thinking I needed stitches. He assured me its old blood and that it's best to get it out of there. Uhhhhh, it really grosses me out. I have blood phobia. I don't like actively bleeding wounds. He told me to come home and get in the shower and try to "milk" as much out of it as I could. I almost fainted in the shower. I'm such a boob!!! So no new pics today. I'll post some tomorrow for sure. Oh, here's a funny thing . . . I thought my incision was still really scabby but it's just the surgical glue he used! He said to scrape it off with my fingernail. Who knew? So hopefully my incision looks way better than I thought it did. Other than the amazing draining groin wound, I have felt really good today. Pretty much zero pain, very close to standing up straight, etc. I am at day 12 and I can see how people can go back to work at 2 weeks, although it would be tough. I think 3 weeks would be much better. Anyhoo, I promise I'll post drain free pics tomorrow. TTFN.