hadouni

Since being sleeved I've told three men (in a dating situation) about having WLS or that I've lost a significant amount of weight.
The first took it in stride with barely a comment and said I looked great. I miss him. Too bad he was such a mess over other aspects of his life.
The second I didn't actually tell I'd had WLS, only that I'd lost a lot of weight. He said something to the tune of it would be an issue for him if I ever got fat again. He was easily 50lbs over weight. Yep, he's gone... long gone!
The third I just recently told. I told him I'd had WLS and that I'd had my stomach fixed through plastics. He didn't say much at the time but later during conversation he commented that one of the things he likes about me is that I'm really smart, then qualified it saying except for in a couple areas in my life. When I asked him what areas those were he said that I let myself get really overweight (and something else I don't immediately recall). Interesting. This is a man for whom fitness has always been a part of his life - he weight trains and other such things and has spent his adult life tinkering with his size - bulking up and that sort of thing. He's currently trying to work on his mid-section. I find this an insulting response and I'm sure he has no idea how kind-of clueless it is. We'll see how this one goes...

Since being sleeved I've told three men (in a dating situation) about having WLS or that I've lost a significant amount of weight.
The first took it in stride with barely a comment and said I looked great. I miss him. Too bad he was such a mess over other aspects of his life.
The second I didn't actually tell I'd had WLS, only that I'd lost a lot of weight. He said something to the tune of it would be an issue for him if I ever got fat again. He was easily 50lbs over weight. Yep, he's gone... long gone!
The third I just recently told. I told him I'd had WLS and that I'd had my stomach fixed through plastics. He didn't say much at the time but later during conversation he commented that one of the things he likes about me is that I'm really smart, then qualified it saying except for in a couple areas in my life. When I asked him what areas those were he said that I let myself get really overweight (and something else I don't immediately recall). Interesting. This is a man for whom fitness has always been a part of his life - he weight trains and other such things and has spent his adult life tinkering with his size - bulking up and that sort of thing. He's currently trying to work on his mid-section. I find this an insulting response and I'm sure he has no idea how kind-of clueless it is. We'll see how this one goes...

And you could try saving up funds
..but I think plastics are a nice to have. I would not have used retirement funds for it, I put off remodeling my house and used that money..

Oh yes... it was hellish because I was single through the worst of it...
My advice` get a really good vibrator because you'll want to take the edge off quickly and often for a while! I'm three years out and all I can say is thank heavens for my hitachi and I have a boyfriend!

I had a paniculectomy on 12/23/14. They moved my bellybutton back up at the same time. I didn't have any abdominal plication or hernia repair but my recovery has been pretty great. My incision is pretty long - from the outside of one hip to the outside of the other hip (180 degrees around me). It dips down pretty low in the front because he got rid of my c-section scar. I'm 6 weeks out, today.
I went in at 6:30am and was leaving the surgery center around 12:30pm, same day. We stayed in a hotel over night because I had to be back at 8am the next day. I was up and used the bathroom before I left the surgical center. The hotel was fine. I propped myself up with pillows at my back and under my knees. I took my pain meds and just killed time watching TV, chatting with my mom and reading. I'd suggest to have lots to read and watch on TV for a week or two.
I wore loose sweats and a comfy pull-over sweater. I had two drains that exited out of the sides of my hips at the ends of the incision. They put a waist binder on me and the drain bulbs went into little "cozies" that velcroed to the binder. My drains were in until the next Monday morning when both the drains and belly button stitches came out.
The first week with the drains is the worst and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was up and around walking pretty easily right away. I got off the pain meds and muscle relaxers on the second day home. I think the pain meds are as much to help keep you sleepy as they are for the pain but I don't like what they do to my GI so I get off them as fast as I can.
Do plan on sleeping propped up or in an easy chair that reclines easily (or you'll need help) for a while. I'm a side sleeper so I slept in the chair for a few weeks. Because my incisions went all the way out onto my sides it took a few weeks of healing before I could sleep on them and I have a pretty comfy memory-foam bed topper.
I'm still wearing shape-ware. I have a few spankx tops that I wear during the day most of the time. I also bought a two pack of bali firm support underpants that go up quite high on the waist. I found those at Macy's and they've been the best. I'd suggest you stick with the velcro binder they put you in for the first couple weeks at least. It's very firm support.
I see the surgeon again, probably for the last time this Thursday afternoon. He released me to drive and work at 4 weeks although I must admit, I'd been driving a little since about 2.5 weeks out. I'm back to my distance walking on the weekends, although a little slower. My incisions are healing nicely and I'm very happy with the results.
Good luck to you!

You look great! I looked very similar to what you've posted above but I had more stretch marks (from pregnancy). You look like you have good muscle tone under your loose skin. Again, you look amazing and congrats on your success!
I recently had a panniculectomy along with a belly button fix and am totally amazed with the results. I skipped the abdominal plication (where they stitch together your abs) and am so happy I did - less $ and easier recovery! I only wish I'd been thinking ahead enough to have had him Lipo my back fat when he did my panni!
If you are thinking plastics my advice is find a great surgeon and make your consult for a panniculectomy because they'll know from the get-go that you might have an insurance option for part of what you want done. If you get lucky and your insurance will cover a panniculectomy the out of pocket cost will be radically different.
Good luck!

Oh yes... it was hellish because I was single through the worst of it...
My advice` get a really good vibrator because you'll want to take the edge off quickly and often for a while! I'm three years out and all I can say is thank heavens for my hitachi and I have a boyfriend!

Good response to CGJ Lexie...yes, WE ARE ALL THAT THIN GIRL IN THE ROOM NOW! I like that! And yes, it is the pits that we can eat so little and struggle so much to keep our weight under control. But the fact is, it finally IS under control! How many years did we beat ourselves up when we tried so hard but failed at so many diets. These threads are good ones but I hope we don't discourage the newbies from having the surgery, because even though it's not a magic bullet, and at times it is hard, it is doable. And sorry, but a traditional diet for me was never doable for the long haul....so it's not perfect, but it's damn close! Hang in there CGJ....you've come such a long way!

I am 16 months out. I never made goal I still need to lose 40 pounds . My lowest weight was 173 in August. I had gained weight and was at 187 at my dr. Visit last week. Needless to say my surgeon challenged me to lose 10 pounds in two months. Told him I thouj my sleeve was broken. Turns out I have been grazing. I kept saying few snack won't hurt me. They have killed me and Im so mad at myself. I'm going to Paris in June and want to look fab.
This week went back to basics and have lost 6 pounds since monday. I have gone back to basics as everyone on here suggested and it works. 1 Protein shake in morning , greek yogurt for lunch. Lean Protein for snack when get home from work. Additional lean protein around 7 pm. Also have gotten in all my Water something I never did before. Keeping my carbs at 20 grams and my protein at 90. I am so grateful. That I have this forum to see that I'm not alone on this journey

That's so great that you are happy with your results! I was surprised my muscles were separated - I already had a super flat belly, minus the extra skin on my lower belly. It's been 5 months and I'm still sore.
Your comment about nit-picking struck home with me - I always have to remind myself not to! Another thing I'm learning is that even with all that plastic surgery, most of us will never have perfect bodies. It's all about realistic expectations and remembering we were far from perfect before. Not sure why, but I don't think I had an expectation of perfect, but I'm almost more critical of my body than I was before.

I skipped the abdominal plication because I felt like I had decent strength in my abs to support myself/posture and I didn't want to be held together with stitches and then scar tissue.
It was a very personal choice and my surgeon told me in all his years he'd only done one paniculectomy without the ab plication before. I chuckled and told him I'd always been an outlier.
I am thrilled beyond belief with my results. My stomach has never been this flat. At 5.5 weeks out the incisions are still pink but they're fading and the lines are so tiny/thin -once they're faded to skin-tone they'll all but disappear.
If I wanted to nit-pick, my left hip isn't as smooth a silhouette as my right but it's probably more from the alignment of my existing stretchmarks than anything else.

Love the Soup idea! god knows most of us are always cold!

It's been six days since my panniculectomy and belly button fix and I got my drains and stitches out! The surgeon was impressed with how well it's progressing and with how good the results are. I go back in a week to check in. I'm so glad I did this for myself!

It's been six days since my panniculectomy and belly button fix and I got my drains and stitches out! The surgeon was impressed with how well it's progressing and with how good the results are. I go back in a week to check in. I'm so glad I did this for myself!

Oh yes... it was hellish because I was single through the worst of it...
My advice` get a really good vibrator because you'll want to take the edge off quickly and often for a while! I'm three years out and all I can say is thank heavens for my hitachi and I have a boyfriend!

Oh yes... it was hellish because I was single through the worst of it...
My advice` get a really good vibrator because you'll want to take the edge off quickly and often for a while! I'm three years out and all I can say is thank heavens for my hitachi and I have a boyfriend!

For those of you who have had TTs, would you recommend the ab muscle tightening/stitching? I'm not going for a bikini body with my TT, I just want my belly flap gone. Has anyone else skipped the ab muscle stitching who would be willing to share their experience? Has anyone had the ab stitching and wished later they hadn't?
I'm 99% sure I'm going to have my stomach fixed. I have a smallish panis (sp?) and loose skin/stretch marks.
When I went in for the consult, the surgeon went through what he does and talked about stitching the ab muscles together to further tighten things up. I asked him about that part and he said I didn't have to do it but he recommended it. He's the expert so I just went with it and didn't ask much more.
However, this seems like something that won't heal together and will forever be held together with the stitches. This might sound dumb since I'm considering plastic surgery, but that seems really unnatura and I'm not sure I want my abs forever stitched together.
Thanks!

Hello All,
I think, in the end it might come down to money for me. If my insurance agrees to pay for the paniculectomy, I'll probably let him do the ab stitching (as long as he assures me there is something to heal and that I won't be held together with twine for the rest of my life).
If I have to self-pay then I'll probably skip the ab stitching unless he can make a really compelling argument for me to go for it!

Hi!
I'm not a guy but I'm almost three years out from my sleeve and the only thing I regret is that I let my regular Dr. talk me out of doing it a year earlier. Other than having my son, this is the best thing that I've done for myself.
The only hard thing for me this far out is dealing with other people's judgement of how I eat. I don't tell many people that I had WLS and it's hard for people who don't know to accept how much I eat at a sitting. If pressed I say that I lost a lot of weight and did it by carefully managing how much I ate more so than what I ate and that I generally avoided starches, but people still judge and/or question.
We are a food based entertainment culture in the USA. You will possibly miss being able to pig-out with everyone else but more than likely you'll be so happy to be healthier that it will be worth skipping the pig-out fests!

Hi!
I'm not a guy but I'm almost three years out from my sleeve and the only thing I regret is that I let my regular Dr. talk me out of doing it a year earlier. Other than having my son, this is the best thing that I've done for myself.
The only hard thing for me this far out is dealing with other people's judgement of how I eat. I don't tell many people that I had WLS and it's hard for people who don't know to accept how much I eat at a sitting. If pressed I say that I lost a lot of weight and did it by carefully managing how much I ate more so than what I ate and that I generally avoided starches, but people still judge and/or question.
We are a food based entertainment culture in the USA. You will possibly miss being able to pig-out with everyone else but more than likely you'll be so happy to be healthier that it will be worth skipping the pig-out fests!

ok I just now learned how to tell what "forum" I'm in! I always read the "recent topics" and just reply to them. I was unaware that in tiny writing at the top of the page AFTER you click on the topic it tells you where the topic is. So there for I have been posting in the forbidden "men's room" unknowingly God only knows how many times....so sorry to have invaded the man room! It was not my intentions to prance around your manly room! Please forgive me!! To make up for it I'm doing some public shaming to myself(AKA:apologizing) ! Thanks...BRO's ; )-

I'm 7 days out from surgery and can't believe how fast the weight is coming off already. As of this morning I'm down 22 lbs from the time I started pre-surgery liquids. (I only needed 2 days of liquids prior to surgery). I know this will slow once I get on puréed and solid stages of food but I'm still blown away by how effective this is.
What is probably more important is:
- I'm sleeping MUCH better and for the first time in 2 years I can breath through my nose instead of laying all night with my mouth open, choking for air. I'm also starting to have, or at least remember, dreams again. I feel like my sleep apnea is gone but realize it may be too early to claim victory entirely. Keeping my fingers crossed.
-I was also pre- diabetic prior to surgery and craved sweets constantly. Now the thought alone makes me nauseous. I also haven't had blood sugar issues at all since surgery.
-My BP has decreased to normal levels.
-I'm wearing clothes that haven't fit me for the last 2 years.
-it may sound strange but everything outside seems more vivid in color. The trees, the sky, the Water, they all seem brighter.....maybe it's just because I'm spending more time outdoors walking and relaxing instead of working, stressing, and eating, but it doesn't seem like it.
So far I'm very happy I had this surgery even though it's far from being easy and I'm still in some slight pain/ discomfort. I'm getting a glimpse of what the future holds and things are looking up for the first time in a long while. I can't wait to see what life is like a year from now!

My insurance paid for a panniculectomy and I paid for the belly button fix because that's considered cosmetic.
If you make an appointment for a consult, make it for a panniculectomy, not a Tummy Tuck, even if you want more than the panniculectomy. I had to fill out some forms that included my reasons for wanting the procedure. I made it all about the problems (rash, discomfort, smell/sweat) related to the panis and I wrote down all the prescription and OTC creams I used to deal with it. They worked with my insurance and got it approved quickly.
I'm three years out from my sleeve and have been at a stable weight for over a year.

Thanks everyone. Yes, I also plan on restarting the Protein shakes to hopefully kickstart things. I have finally been able to resume my pre knee surgery walking/bike riding workouts so that should help, I just have to work back into them slowly. I still need/want to loose about 50 to 75 more pounds to hit my pre-surgery goal. I know I can do it, I just need to refocus. I think one problem is I have been fighting some old demons as far as food and eating habits. I know they are wrong but hard to control sometimes. food was always my drug per say. I was depressed, I ate, I was angry, I ate, I was bored, I ate...etc. Luckily no depression or anger but I guess I have ADD and get bored easy so I try and stay busy. But sometimes it only takes 5 minutes and for some reason I want to nibble on something. I bought a big pack of sugarfree gum last night. My theory is everytime I want to nibble, chew a piece of gum for awhile. Hopefully it works. Thanks for y'alls help, it means alot.
By the way Helen, what is the 5:2 diet? I might need to look into that also. Always looking for ways to vary things daily.

I agree its a painful adjustment but once you hit that 4 to 6 wks things will turn around. I'm at 4 wks and just starting to feel normal. Good look eveyone.