It's been 6 days since my surgery and I've promised a couple of pictures so here they are.... this pic is just 3 days post op..... I know... my belly button looks HUGE..... but that's because my entire abdomen is swollen and the belly button is stretched out.  It won't stay that way.  However, it takes about 6 months + for all of the swelling to go down.

I thought of a couple of things that might be helpful post surgery.  Have some hard candy ready because your mouth will be super dry.  I tried to eat some crackers so I could take my pain meds and they just turned into a big dry tumbleweed in my mouth!  But to stave off nausea..... make sure you have food in your stomach!  And drink lots of liquids too. Also -- in the post op instructions it says to walk for 20 minutes, 4 times a day.  This is crucial!  I would also advise everyone to do ankle pumps as soon as you wake up and do at least 20 reps as often as you think to do it.  This activity is so important to prevent blood clots from forming in your legs and then traveling to your lungs or worse.  The breathing exercises also help prevent pneumonia.  The reason I'm stressing this is because a woman my doctor did the same procedure on just 2 days before mine did not follow these rules, went home and sat in her recliner and is currently in the hospital with blood clots in her lungs.  This is serious advise.  Ignoring it could be fatal.   A very helpful tip with the walking is to borrow or invest in a 4 wheeled walker to lean on during your walks.  The walking kills your back because you have to walk with a flexed posture which forces your back to hold up your entire torso -- this hurts alot. So having something to lean on is a great help..... I couldn't have done this without it.   I have also borrowed a reacher to help grab things just out of reach..... a life saver for sure!

 

This pic is 6 days post op.  I took this just prior to my doctor's appointment today.  Things went really well.  He removed one of the drains and the surgical tape that was over my incision.  My Plastic Surgeon doesn't use any stitches on the outside.  All of them are internal...... and I am very pleased with how the incision line looks!  Some after pics I've seen have a very jagged with a wide looking incision line.  Mine appears to be more smooth and thinner than others I've seen.  Of course I'm still swollen.  I'll be so glad when that goes down!  I still can't stand up straight, but I'm working on it.  I did sleep in my own bed last night!  ....Best nights sleep I've gotten since the surgery! But I had to prop up on pillows and prop my knees up on a pillow.  My torso just can't handle laying flat yet.  I think that's enough for now.....