Post Op – Day 24: I Can Stand-Up Straight!!!

July 10, 2016

I am so excited!! I can finally stand-up straight!! No more walking like a hunched-backed-grandma. As much as I have complained about my life-sucking-tummy-binder, this tight-itchy-contraption has been my solution to standing 100% erect (yes I typed erect … hehe. Forgive me as I am sex deprived for 6 weeks during the recovery period). But seriously, when I’m not wearing my arch-nemesis-stomach-compression I find myself walking hunched over; this stupid thing does give me the back support I need to stand up straight without feeling too much tension in my stomach. Don’t get me wrong, my skin and muscles always feel like someone is pulling them in two vertically opposite directions, but the tightness doesn’t bother me as much when I’m wearing the compression.

In regards to my slight complication last week, my surgeon said that I technically didn’t rip open my tummy tuck incision. Apparently, my body was rejecting some of the internal stitches and the stitches were popping out of my skin – which caused that small opening. He said that this is completely normal and it should heal in a matter of weeks without leaving a thicker scar. He also said to not be surprised if more internal stitches begin to pop out in other spots. So yey !!! It wasn’t my fault !!!

Unfortunately, as fast as I am healing, I am still uncomfortable sleeping in my bed; so I am forced to continue sleeping in my reclining chair. Last night I tried for the first time to sleep in my bed, and that did not go so well. If I turn on my side, or stretched out my legs, my stomach muscles would spasm and strain. I needed so many pillows behind me head, under my knees, and on my sides for me to even feel somewhat comfortable; so around 4:00 A.M. I gave up and had my husband help me back into my recliner. Maybe in a few more days I’ll give it another try.

Some other interesting changes this week:

1. The skin on my breasts are shiny!When I signed-up for a shiny-new-body, I didn’t think it was literally going to be shiny. Why are my boobs so shiny you ask? Well, the skin on my breasts is pealing and flaking off. If I scratch the skin around my breasts (which I do a lot because it itches so badly), it literally looks like snow is falling from my boobs. Apparently, this is a normal reaction from surgery and possibly the paper tape I use to cover my incisions (and yes, I am already using the sensitive tape & lotion and it doesn’t make a difference).
2. The scars on my blisters are looking much better!! Look at the difference between week 1, week 2, and week 3 !!!
   
3. I’m losing my muscle!!Since February of this year, I have been working-out really hard. If I wasn’t running 3 – 4 miles in the evening, then I was doing the Insanity max interval training videos or the P90X DVD’s. Aside from visibly achieving zero results on my stomach area … my arms, legs, and butt were looking great – very sexy and toned. But now I’m losing the muscle I worked so hard for because my doctor doesn’t want me to do any exercise for 6 weeks. It amazing how quickly you can lose something you worked so hard to gain. NOT FAIR!!! But that’s life.
4. Although I’ve lost my muscle tone, I feel much stronger in my core!!On a few occasions I had to lift my 16 month old daughter (21 lbs). Normally, I have help in my home 100% of the time because my surgeon told me that I am not allowed to lift anything heavier than a gallon on milk for 6 weeks – so I have organized help between my family, friends, and nanny for this time period. Unfortunately, there have been a few instances this week when no one was around to help me (everyone was occupied doing something else). You see, my little Amy is a climber!! She climbs everything imaginable!!! I always joke with my husband that Amy will be the boy he’s always wanted. Anyways, on a few occasions this week, I’ve had to lift Amy off of some of the things that she climbed onto. I swear my little Amy is going to give me gray hairs one day. But when I picked her up, I felt no strain at all!!! My core felt solid !!! So I guess that’s a good thing.

At my next post-op appointment on Thursday 7/14, I plan on asking my doctor if I can do a few more things now that I’m feeling stronger and standing completely straight.

• I want to lift my baby – but only when necessary (in & out of the crib, up & down from her high chair, in & out of her car seat, etc.)

• I want to start walking/jogging. I have become addicted to exercise since I began in February, and I cannot stand sitting around the house doing nothing. And walking is too boring.
• I want to take my kids swimming. Hopefully my incisions will be healed enough for me to go into a pool. And then that gives me an excuse to shop for my first bikini in 5 yrs !!!!

• I want to wear a normal bra. I want to feel sexy again – and not like some chopped-up-put-back-together-raggedy-woman who looks like she ran away from the medial supplies factory. I’m also interested to see what bra size I am.

Thank you all for your support thus far. Y’all have been amazing.  Keep looking out for the next update. See ya!

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