jaybre

Hello
So I am booked in for the 4th August flat belly here I come...I am so scared about it I feel sick.I keep remembering the pain from my C-section. How many days after do you start to feel yourself? Did anyone go home the same day with a catheter? Any experience replies helpful.
Thank you

xpgmmsb1

I just had a tummy tuck, lipo and fat injections in the breasts on 7/13. It could have been a same day surgery but I decided it was big enough to warrent staying over night. It was a 4 1/2 hour surgery. In the end I stayed in the hospital 2 nights mostly because I was going to be home alone (for the most part). I'm not going to kid you, the first couple of days were rough but I expected it would be since I had 3 procedures at once and was under anesthesia for a long time. I would think if you are only having the tummy tuck it would not be too bad since you wouldn't be under for too long.

It is now 1 week and I'm doing very well and so far am very happy with the results.

Good luck to you! I'm sure it will be worth it!

jaybre

Hello
Wow!! you did have a lot done. Glad your doing well. When did you stop the strong pain meds?

xpgmmsb1

I hated the way that the pain meds made me feel so I only had percocet 1 time and moraphine 3 times and that was the first 2 days post-op. After that Tylenol did the trick for me. And, I do not have a high tolerence for pain.

I too had a c-section 17 years ago. The tummy tuck is not as bad as the c-section because it does not cut through the muscle and the uterous. Plus you don't have a newborn to carry around.

Are you getting the muscles sewed together also? I did because I'm very petite and I had a very large baby that stretched and separated them.

Let me know if you have any more questions and hopefully I can at least answer how it went for me.

SMM3

I am scheduled for a tummy tuck, breast augmentation and lipo this monday. I too am extreamly scared, hope all goes well for you on the 4th!

jaybre

Hello
Sorry took so long to get back, been away for a few days. I had my C-section 16 1/2 years ago and two years ago I had the hysterectomy, which I was once again cut open for. Before that I gave birth to three other children ) So four children and twice cut open, the belly is a lop sided hang over.I too hate the way pain meds make me feel like a bug. So that is good news that only afew days they are needed. Yes muscles are being stitched back together.What happens to those stitches? Do they stay ?disolve? The muscles ones I mean. Hows the getting about going? Hope you have some help now. Thanks for answering my ??? )

jaybre

Good Luck for Monday, keep me posted .

xpgmmsb1

The abdominal muscle stitches are internal and desolve. The "smiley" incision on my lower abdomen was stiched internally with desolvable stitches and glued on the outside. The 2 drain hoses had a stitch or 2 each to hold them in place. The drains and the stitches were removed 6 days post-op. It didn't hurt because the skin was and is still numb. I think there were a few stitches around the belly button but again it was numb so it didn't hurt coming out. Getting the drains out was a relief. The part about draining them was kind of gross and a nucance but I managed. They are a pain but it's only temporary. Keep in mind that I went through recovery for the most part on my own and I came out just fine.

I pretty much went into this surgery with the attitude that this is something I've wanted to do for a long time. So, I knew that I would be very uncomfortable for a few days and then things would improve. I just kept telling myself that this is just temporary, this to shall pass and would improve each day. And, it did. I can't believe how far I've come in just 11 days. I know I have some time before I'll be 100% but I'm well on my way. I just do what I feel comfortable doing and rest or take a nap when my body tells me I need to. It's all in the attitude you bring going into it

Let me know if you have any more questions.

jaybre

You have made me feel so much more relaxed, thank you. I am kind off excited about it now and I shall take all your information in with me and also keep you posted. Monday is my pre-op. Knowing that the C-section was worse makes me feel more at ease. Mine was not planned and a bad experience.
Thanks once again..
Wishing you all the best in the coming days.

xpgmmsb1

Just wanted to update you on my progress...
By the 13th day post-op I was able to stand straight up for the most part. I went shopping for a couple of hours, stopped to have lunch and then shopped for another hour. Then I went home and did some things around the house. I was still very careful not to twist or lift anything over a few pounds. Then, yesterday I went to work from 8:00 - 3:00(desk job) and then went over my friend's for dinner. Of course, I still took it easy. My plan was to stay home today to rest which I am doing and definately needed. I probably shouldn't have done so much for 2 days in a row but I'm doing okay. I slept good night and then took a nap. I'm going to work again tomorrow and probably 1/2 day on Friday. I figured going back to work gradually would be best.

I continue to wear shapewear "Assets" (Target) because it feels more comfortable. Because they sewed the abdominal muscles together it feels like I have a corsette on inside of me. I can tell when I'm overdoing it because the corsette feels even tighter when I do. Then I know that I need to slow it down. The PS said it would feel tight for a while and will go away over the next few months. Many people continue to wear shapewear for the first few months because it just feels better.

Overall, I really can't believe how far I've come in just 2 weeks after having surgery. I hope your journey goes as well. GOOD LUCK and GOD BLESS!