11 days post-op from tummy tuck

iluvadam · May 2012

I haven't posted up until now because this is the first time I have really felt up to it. To put it lightly, I am AMAZED at the results! I know this sounds bad, but I look fantastic. I would do this again in a second. Wow.

I don't want to say how great this is without also telling you that this surgery is NO JOKE. I stayed in the hospital for two nights on a pain pump that did absolutely nothing for the kind of pain I was experiencing. All you can do is wish for death for about the first 4-5 days post op. The pain is like nothing I can even describe to you. I would only lay in bed and sleep, I didn't even have the TV on. I would sit up and play games and color with Max when he would climb in bed with me. I would also go downstairs every couple of hours to visit with the babies. I would feed them in their booster seats for a few minutes and then it was right back to bed. The lack of energy and level of pain was all that I could think about when I was awake. It was awful. I missed my kids dearly.

I did a ton of research and talked to people that have been through this surgery and because of what I learned from them, I hired full-time help for the first 3 weeks post op. I am so thankful that I did this because there is no way I could have taken care of the kids on my own and recovered the way I am supposed to. I wouldn't have done this any other way. It has worked out so well that H is still able to work and the kids are being taken care of the way they need to be. Every post op appointment I have been to, the doc tells me how quickly I am recovering and how well I am doing...I know it is because I haven't been pushing myself. I have been following the rules of no lifting and I could never have done that had we not gotten all the help we have.

About the one week mark is when I turned the corner pain wise. I have a lot more strength now and am able to get up and walk around a lot more. I am able to spend a lot more time with the kids. I can sit on the floor and read to them, play with them, etc. I am also taking far less pain medication at this point too.

I had my big appointment yesterday and finally got my drain removed. They also took all the stitches out of my cute little belly button. I am finally starting to feel like a human being again. I am healing up very nicely and cannot wait to see what I look like in another week.

This has been a very tough road up to this point but like I said in the beginning of this post, the results are so amazing that I would do this again in a heartbeat. I am beyond thrilled!

redhotchili83 · May 2012

Did you have separated abdominal muscles too or just a tummy tuck? Im looking at getting my abdominals put back together (right now you can fit your whole hand between them). Thanks for posting this - Im trying to figure out the best time to get the surgery.

iluvadam · May 2012

redhotchili83:
Did you have separated abdominal muscles too or just a tummy tuck? Im looking at getting my abdominals put back together (right now you can fit your whole hand between them). Thanks for posting this - Im trying to figure out the best time to get the surgery.

Yes, I had abdominal separation. When you have a tummy tuck done, most of the time they repair both the muscles underneath as well as cut off any excess skin. When the doctor talked to my H in recovery he told him that my diastastis (abdominal muscle separation) was far more severe than we had previously thought and that no amount of exercise would have ever repaired it.

jenn_darrin1515 · May 2012

I do hope you will be posting before and after pics! Once we decide we are done with babies (or have our final #3) I fully intend to get a tummy tuck...my twin skin is so disgusting.

eyelovemascara · May 2012

I'm glad to hear its worth the pain!! I can't imagine going through that amount of pain and then being only mildly satisfied with the results! I hope you feel awesome enough to show before and after pictures as soon as you are all healed up

LALASEPT05 · May 2012

Good for you! It's great that you're feeling better and that even with all of that pain you'd do it again because you are so happy with the results! That's really great. Congrats!

Fancy3Face · May 2012

That's so awesome!

I'm counting down the days (ok years) until I can have this done. We're not done having babies yet, so once we are and they're walking age, I'm going for it.

I'm glad you're loving your results! So happy for you!

LucyRicardo3 · May 2012

very cool! I am extremely curious about this surgery but it would be totally cosmetic since I didn't have separation, that I know of. But we're not 100% sure that we are done so it will be a few years before I could do it, most likely.

I told DH during the twin pg that I wanted either a tummy tuck or a Harley, lol.. after 3 pregnancies and let's face it, I'm no spring chicken, I don't think this body will ever see a swimsuit again. ugh.

UsedToBeGoldie · May 2012

i'm so glad you are happy with it!

did you just do the TT or did you have anything else done (breast lift, etc?).

I really want to have this done - but I first need to have surgery to fix the issues I've had for 5 years since having DS1 and a 4th degree tear... which will likely have me on STD for 6 weeks- so i'll need to wait another year or two before I go out on leave like that again from work without them hating/firing me I'm considering having my crotch surgery this fall... dreading it- but needs to be done now that the twins are bigger and i dno't need to lift them as much, etc.

Before and after pics are a must you know!! I'm excited for you - must feel great!!!!!

iluvadam · May 2012

LucyRicardo3:

very cool! I am extremely curious about this surgery but it would be totally cosmetic since I didn't have separation, that I know of. But we're not 100% sure that we are done so it will be a few years before I could do it, most likely.

I told DH during the twin pg that I wanted either a tummy tuck or a Harley, lol.. after 3 pregnancies and let's face it, I'm no spring chicken, I don't think this body will ever see a swimsuit again. ugh.

Thanks for your reply. I did want to tell you that abdominoplasty is a purely cosmetic procedure regardless of muscle separation or not. You can live a totally normal life with no long-term issues from abdominal separation. I have always put a lot of my self worth in the way that I look (I cringe at saying that out loud but it is the truth) and I have always been naturally thin. My second pregnancy with my twins changed my muscles and my skin forever. No matter how much work I did or how many hours I spent in the gym, I could tell that I could never be comfortable in a two-piece bathing suit again, or even any bathing suit for that matter.

The only part of this surgery that my insurance covered was my umbilical hernia repair. My belly button was totally jacked from the three laps I had from my endometriosis and then the twin pregnancy on top of it. Apparently that is a condition that can cause issues later on in life...I don't really know what those issues are, but my insurance paid for all of that repair as well as a portion of the OR and anesth. costs.

iluvadam · May 2012

UsedToBeGoldie:

i'm so glad you are happy with it!

did you just do the TT or did you have anything else done (breast lift, etc?).

I really want to have this done - but I first need to have surgery to fix the issues I've had for 5 years since having DS1 and a 4th degree tear... which will likely have me on STD for 6 weeks- so i'll need to wait another year or two before I go out on leave like that again from work without them hating/firing me I'm considering having my crotch surgery this fall... dreading it- but needs to be done now that the twins are bigger and i dno't need to lift them as much, etc.

Before and after pics are a must you know!! I'm excited for you - must feel great!!!!!

Ha ha. I knew someone was going to ask me about the boobs! LOL! Yes, I also had breast augmentation. I have wanted it my entire life. I was always barely a B cup and even during and after my pregnancies I was still a B cup. All I ever wanted was to be a C. I figured if I was going to go into this tummy tuck procedure and hire full-time help, I might as well go for it all at once. I have to say that the boobs were cake compared to the tummy tuck. I barely have any pain from those. I'm sure it would hurt a little bit had I not just been cut from hip to hip, but after having a surgery as intense as the tummy tuck, I don't think anything will ever be as painful as this. Oh, and by the way, I am in love with how they turned out. They are exactly what I wanted. Not too big, not too small.

Thanks for your reply, I am so excited right now about how this has all turned out. I hope I have the courage to share some pics with everyone in a few weeks.

pea-kay · May 2012

so awesome. sorry about the pain, but it seems well worth it. can't wait til the boys are out of kindergarten so i can get one too!

Darcie Elicia · May 2012

iluvadam:
I know this sounds bad, but I look fantastic.

this.

TripMomma · May 2012

Thanks for sharing, I love hearing TT stories, I hope to get one one of these days. I do know 3-4 triplet moms who did get their insurance to cover their TT's. The key for them, they said, was to not see a cosmetic surgeon or have anything refered to as cosmetic, they saw a reconstructive surgeon and it was coded as such and BCBS paid out. We also have BCBS so I am hopeful I can get mine covered too.

KarliB84 · May 2012

iluvadam:
LucyRicardo3:

very cool! I am extremely curious about this surgery but it would be totally cosmetic since I didn't have separation, that I know of. But we're not 100% sure that we are done so it will be a few years before I could do it, most likely.

I told DH during the twin pg that I wanted either a tummy tuck or a Harley, lol.. after 3 pregnancies and let's face it, I'm no spring chicken, I don't think this body will ever see a swimsuit again. ugh.

Thanks for your reply. I did want to tell you that abdominoplasty is a purely cosmetic procedure regardless of muscle separation or not. You can live a totally normal life with no long-term issues from abdominal separation. I have always put a lot of my self worth in the way that I look (I cringe at saying that out loud but it is the truth) and I have always been naturally thin. My second pregnancy with my twins changed my muscles and my skin forever. No matter how much work I did or how many hours I spent in the gym, I could tell that I could never be comfortable in a two-piece bathing suit again, or even any bathing suit for that matter.

The only part of this surgery that my insurance covered was my umbilical hernia repair. My belly button was totally jacked from the three laps I had from my endometriosis and then the twin pregnancy on top of it. Apparently that is a condition that can cause issues later on in life...I don't really know what those issues are, but my insurance paid for all of that repair as well as a portion of the OR and anesth. costs.

I also need an umbilical hernia repair so I have been thinking about getting a TT at the same time we just need to be 100% sure we are done having kids before then! : ) if you don't mind me asking, how much was it? Glad to hear it turned out good for you!! : )

ougrad1 · May 2012

I had my appendix out in college and it was incredible pain. I have a huge threshold for pain but, that, I don't know. Glad you're feeling better and I'm in for seeing some pics, too! : )

iluvadam · May 2012

KarliB84:
iluvadam:
LucyRicardo3:

very cool! I am extremely curious about this surgery but it would be totally cosmetic since I didn't have separation, that I know of. But we're not 100% sure that we are done so it will be a few years before I could do it, most likely.

I told DH during the twin pg that I wanted either a tummy tuck or a Harley, lol.. after 3 pregnancies and let's face it, I'm no spring chicken, I don't think this body will ever see a swimsuit again. ugh.

Thanks for your reply. I did want to tell you that abdominoplasty is a purely cosmetic procedure regardless of muscle separation or not. You can live a totally normal life with no long-term issues from abdominal separation. I have always put a lot of my self worth in the way that I look (I cringe at saying that out loud but it is the truth) and I have always been naturally thin. My second pregnancy with my twins changed my muscles and my skin forever. No matter how much work I did or how many hours I spent in the gym, I could tell that I could never be comfortable in a two-piece bathing suit again, or even any bathing suit for that matter.

The only part of this surgery that my insurance covered was my umbilical hernia repair. My belly button was totally jacked from the three laps I had from my endometriosis and then the twin pregnancy on top of it. Apparently that is a condition that can cause issues later on in life...I don't really know what those issues are, but my insurance paid for all of that repair as well as a portion of the OR and anesth. costs.

I also need an umbilical hernia repair so I have been thinking about getting a TT at the same time we just need to be 100% sure we are done having kids before then! : ) if you don't mind me asking, how much was it? Glad to hear it turned out good for you!! : )

Yes! I would definitely wait until you are sure you are finished having kids. Since I had my sudden total hysterectomy last June, we sort of knew . I don't mind at all telling you how much it was but I am estimating because they divide up the costs between the dr, hospital OR fees, and anesthesia. It was between $6500-$7000 just for the TT. I do not know how much the hernia repair was because it went straight to insurance. Depending on where you live in the US and how particular you are about your surgeon, you may be able to find a better price.

Good luck!

iluvadam · May 2012

ougrad1:
I had my appendix out in college and it was incredible pain. I have a huge threshold for pain but, that, I don't know. Glad you're feeling better and I'm in for seeing some pics, too! : )

Yeah, I hear you about the appendix thing. I had mine taken out a few years ago and thought that was pretty bad as well. I think I have a pretty high threshold for pain as well. I have had 3 laps, appendectomy, hysterectomy, kidney stones, vag birth, and c-section birth...None of those have even come close to this kind of pain. I didn't even know there was pain like this...It was unreal. Luckily, I talked to some people prior to having it done and was expecting a very painful experience so it didn't come as a surprise.