Yep, Tummy Tuck, here I come!!!

I am on the schedule for May 20th---less than 2 weeks now. I am so excited it is truly hard to believe.

The plan as it stands now, is for a Full Tummy Tuck, with mons lift, and minimal lipo.

I am getting close to goal weight, and as we have followed through with appointments, I have continued to drop additional pounds, but my belly measurement does not change.

He said he plans to do some muscle repair, as we know I have a torn muscle (mean a$$ ex husband) and also stretched muscles from pregnancies.

I have BCBS of TX, and they approved it as a medical necessity. I have documentation of the muscle tear, as well as several skin breaks -- it literally just tears from the weight of itself---so nasty!!! I also had documentation of rashes under the pannus. I have had it for years, and hated it with a passion, I am so blown away to think soon it will be gone!!!!

Thank you Steph, and Julie, and everyone who has been there lately sharing all your steps with me---I look forward to sharing mine with those following me.

I will post pics after it is done....I cannot imagine I am saying that I will show this monstrosity!!!

I am going on a mini vacation, to meet up with my fellow Shrinking Violet bandsters from the 16th to the 19th of May, come home the night of the 19th, and have surgery the morning of the 20th! I figured it would keep my mind occupied!!!

I have no children at home, and no job to get back to, so when I clean before leaving on my trip, my DH will keep it that way....he is much neater than I am!!!

Will update as I see the surgeon the last times before the big day!!

Let the FUN begin!!!

Kat

Kat, good to see your pretty face back here again. Happy to hear that you are home and up and about some. Wishing you a speedy recovery. I look forward to your updates on your PS. Thank you for sharing. As I am sure you know, it paves the path for us thinking of eventually going down that road. Take care of yourself.

Hi Kat! Good to hear from you! Remember its going to get better each day. Just try to move alittle at a time, rest and take your pain meds. Before you know it you'll be up and about. I got addicted to Clean House on the Style channel, it seemed it was on at all hours of the day or night - maybe they were having a marathon that weekend. I slept a few hours in my bed, got up and moved, slept a few hours in the recliner, got up and moved and went back to bed again - I did that for the first week. I never did get used to sleeping on my back. I finally figured out how to adjust my pillows to sleep on my side. I hope you are comfortable, take care and let us know how you're doing when you can.

Hi Kat!!!! How ya feelin' today, sweetie??

Thinking of you!

Hi Kat,

I hope you're feeling better. I want wait to see your after pictures. Take care of yourself.

Ana

Hey Kat! Keep sleeping and rest lots sweetie! I am so glad Rick is waking you for the breathing! That is where I failed 100%! Speedy recovery hun!

Hey Kat! I only pop in the PS forum every once in a while. Congrats on your surgery! I'm glad you came through the surgery fine. I hope you are feeling okay. I wish you a speedy recovery. Take care.

Thanks so much everyone--I am feeling a bit more "with it" today, but other than another trip to the PS, I vegged all day! We have been taking short walks---just like I took him on when he had his heart surgery, has a definitive Deja vu feeling!!

Today the PS removed the pain ball, and the tubes for it. It was a ball about the size of a billiard ball, it was filled with pain medication then it had 2 teeny tiny tubes that went into both sides of my incision, allowing pain meds to be administered 24/7 in the area I needed it. It lasts for 48 hours. He removed it and the tubing today. I still have 2 drain tubes, but the amount of drainage has reduced drastically, as well as the content, it is no longer bright red blood, it is more yellow thin plasma looking drainage, he said that was good, it is doing just what it is supposed to.

He warned me during our first visit, that reducing the upper abdomen is much harder and is often done as a procedure in and of itself, because the only way to really deal with it is serious liposuction. And with the amount they remove with skin,on the lower abs, they do not want to shock the body severely, so the amount the can lipo, as well as how much pain you really want to deal with figures into it. He did some lipo, but I can see it is still going to be larger than I hoped, but there is nothing lying on my lap anymore, I can see my toes.....and not having that apron of skin and fat, is miraculous feeling!!!

Well I am headed back to my recliner.....we have grown quite attached to one another!! And it is time to breath----he is making me crazy!

Kat

Kat,

So glad to hear that the recovery is going so well and smoothly. It sounds like you are doing all the right things to speed this along.

A big thumbs up to your DH too, for taking such excellent care of you :rolleyes2::thumbup::biggrin:!

Who's making your crazy? Rick?? LOL What, trying to get you to rest and take it easy? I'm sure that's no easy task!!!

I'm glad to hear your report from the doctor that everything is going as expected. Where can I get one of those pain bolus thingies??? :rolleyes2:

I don't know Terry, but I want mine back, I am hurting today! My drain tube stitches are pulling, and the compression is beginning to rub.....and yep I just feel like whining!!!!

I have swelled a lot in the upper abs. Rick actually called the Dr. who called in some diuretics for me, and wants to see me if it gets worse--but only to put me in a different type of compression, he said it is normal for the swelling to get worse before it gets better. Fun!!

Oh well, going to mind the DH and take a pain pill tonight and relax......

Will check in tomorrow!

Kat

Goodness, I had been wondering where you were. I never come to this forum, I guess it is because I am no where near ready for ps yet. Glad to see everything went well for you Kat!

Kat - Glad you're doing so well. I'm reading everything you post. I want to know everything since I'm hoping to have a tt soon. I've never heard of a pain ball, is this something new? How is it getting up and out of bed? The ps I had a consult with said I wouldn't be able to lie in bed for at least 10 days, only a recliner.

Anyway, it's great to hear you're up and moving and that your dh is taking such good care of you. Hope things continue to go well for you.

Congratulations! I've heard that this is super-painful and that pain-ball thingie sounds like a dream. I wonder why on earth they only give it to you for 2 days? Why not 5?

I was amazed that you came home so soon. I thought you'd have to be in the hospital a few days at least. It's pretty major what they did to you!

Oh, well. Hopefully, the worst of it is over and you're on your way to no-belly-land. I'm so happy for you!

Hi Kat,

I was reading about your journey and I want to thank you for letting us know about it. I am 35 pounds away from my goal and will probably need a tummy tuck. Well I am just terrified of doing it. Thank you for information about the process. I have that apron too. Reading your posts have made me think about getting it done too. Please keep posting. Congratulations!!!

Kat it is good to hear that you are doing alright. I am getting a bit nervous about mine. I too will be getting the pain pump for 48 hours. My doc said it was about the size of a soda can. But I am also instructed that I MUST take my pain meds every 4 hours for at least 5 days, preferrably 1 week. She says the body heals so much better when you are not in pain. I requested liquid pain meds as I don't want any problems with them getting stuck because even though I am unfilled...things still get stuck. Besides...the liquids work better.

Here is to a speedy recovery!