Update #1, 7 weeks pre-op
We were able to close on financing for the surgery last week. Fortunately I did have some money in savings that I could dedicate to this procedure, but I was short the total amount for the diastasis recti repair, full abdominoplasty, and--since I'm going under anyways, a bilateral brachioplasty. To be honest, my arms have always bothered me more than my tummy. Especially with all the sports I do and tank tops that are required. I know that I will never, ever, ever want to do surgery again if I don't have to and so I'm doing my arms!

I did some online research and read one negative and frightening experience after another so that I nearly backed out. But then I found a few positive ones and that gave me hope. I've decided at this point to stop reading the internet!

Now that my hospital room has been reserved and the down-payment cashed things are getting real. I'm starting to notice all sorts of things that I never paid attention to before. Suddenly the extra skin on my arms and tummy are really bothersome, annoying and uncomfortable no matter what activity I'm doing. I especially notice it when running and biking. Having been overweight my entire life and then having the extra skin--I have no idea what to expect post-op with repaired abdominal muscles and a flat-ish tummy. There are all sorts of core exercises that I have never been able to do no matter how committed I was to making my body do it! I'm curious to see how my running and biking may change. I have chronic IT band and lower back issues and I wonder if having a stronger core (my abdominal muscles in the correct place) will help correct that? I don't know.

This is the first update. I may do one more pre-op.