BR & TT - how long before you could hang out w/ the kids?

Hi,

I'm having a breast reduction and tummy tuck done in 2 weeks. I have 2 kids (6 years old & 2 years old) and I'm just wondering how long it'll be before I can hang out with them like sitting on the couch watching tv with them while they play or riding along to the park with them and my husband and sitting on a bench while they play at the park.

My surgeon said most people can return back to work by week 2 or 3 but that it's a full 6 weeks before you're back to normal. I think that includes being able to do more vigorous things. I'm just trying to figure out if it'll just be the first 2-3 days where I may want to hole up in our bedroom away from the kids or if it might be longer than that.

My recovery from gastric bypass was really easy so I'm prepared for this to be much tougher. I know everyone's experience is different and I've read about and heard of some recoveries already but I'd love to hear more.

Thanks!

There is a big difference between hanging abd being with your kids-and doing with them! Couch and tv will prob be fine as long as they don't climb on you or poke you or expectmuch or you aside from verbal interaction.
You will most likely enjoy results.
Mikimimo

 Thanks!

Hi - I had the same 2 procedures on 4/9. I can tell you that the first week is kind of a blur. I stayed on top of my pain meds every 4 hours religiously. But by the fifth or sixth day I was more present and definitely could have hung out (watched, talked, etc) with kids.

But, of course, everyone is different. I have no kids or major responsibilities, and my Mom stayed with my for the whole time. So I had the luxury of basically sleeping through the worst of the pain.

Thanks for the reply! My kids are in school all day so I should be able to sleep through the worst of it too :-).

 It's hard to say because everyone is so different. I would say the first or second day you could watch a movie with the kids. (assuming your not in too much pain, it seems to vary a lot) but each day you will feel like doing a little more. I would just be careful not to over do it. It's going to be hard to not pick up your 2 year old. Especially once you start feeling normal. At about week3 1/2 I went out of town to a cheer competion. I had to have my friends 7 year old carry my luggage. Embarrassing, but they didn't mind. . I had a few extra procedures done on top of that, and went on a cruise at week 6. I stayed out of the pool, but pretty much did everything else. I went back to work at week 8(I have  job that involves a little lifting). And this was my first week back at the gym (week 9) I was nervous to over do anything, but it paid off. 

Jennifer

Thanks for your reply! Too funny about the 7 year old carrying your luggage :-).

Thank you for posting this!! I'm having my TT on Tues and I have 4 kids (11,9,3,10 months) and have been wondering the same thing.