TheRealMeIsHere!

No where near as painful as I imagined it would be. I thought I would be VERY debilitated for a while. Slow and stiff, but not too bad. ALL worth it!!

she said 3-4 months till it will be fully flat and I will lose the extra weight from swelling. She also mentioned that I am extra swollen from bruising, so maybe I am more bruised than some people. Bought a clingy shirt today, tried it on, without the binder, looks AWESOME!! Can't wait to see how it will look in 3-4 months! Now......gotta find some HOT clothes to wear for Thanksgiving, Christmas and, of course, New Years Eve!

That's why I asked how you got him to do it! LMAO

Is it ok, if I ask you a few questions about your Tummy tuck? Is your stomach numb? How long till mine will be flat? Have you lost the extra weight from swelling? I have about 10 lbs. right now, from swelling. BTW, you look GREAT!!! How are you feeling?

so far am pretty happy with it, will get better as swelling goes down and it gets flatter. Drains are AWESOME!!! NOT!! Was supposed to get the second and last one out yesterday, but was till draining too much. Fingers crossed for tomorrow! They are not as gross as I expected, though. I pass out easily and was afraid I'd pass out EVERY time I looked at them or emptied them. Didn't even bother me, from day one!! But.....I am sooooo over it and want it O U T!

before/5 days after TT/panni. Will post more as swelling and bruising go down

pics before TT/panni and 5 days post-op. Will post more as bruising and swelling go down

PERFECTLY normal. Use the time to develop non-food activities and make healthy low fat, low carb, high protein choices. MUCH easier to teach yourself to make good choices, now, while food doesn't have the hold over you.

at a support group meeting, shortly after my sleeve, I used that exact same word, "liberating" I was/am no longer a slave to the menu and it's pretty pictures. I look for the lowest caloie/carb/fat highest protein and non starchy veg. I can find. My fave is salad with steak or grilled chicken. NOT the big plate of fried, disgusting, greasy, carby stuff I used to get.

you don't want to do that. It will hurt! Your stomach needs time to properly heal. Puree is not as bad as it sounds. Be creative. I ate egg salad, pureed chicken and gravy, ff/plain greek yogurt with splenda and chocolate, extracts or baby fruit (stage 1) FF Ricotta seasoned italian style and heated, then topped with sauce, I have a cannoli cream recipe too, if you are interested. Egg beaters, etc.......

They gave me a man's extra large, binder!! It says 52-60". They said the small that they had would've been too small and there was no in-between size. But I'm short, so this goes from c**chie to B**bs!! After Tuesday, when this last drain gets pulled, then I can wear my bodysuit, YEAH!!! I too, thought it would be much worse as far as pain and gross drains. Annoying but not so bad. Will be nice to be able to lay down in my own bed, in another month, though.

I have MediBlue Select and Medicare. Just had a tt and panni on 10/17. I, first, went to the ins. website and printed the criteria for panniculectomy. Then took that to my pain management dr., who wrote a referral letter that basically echoed what the ins. was looking for. I have MANY back issues. Took that to the PS, who submitted, with pics to ins. In less than a week I received an approval letter. Good luck to you.

and that's your story and your stickin' to it!! :ph34r:

Ok, just have to ask. How, exactly, did you get your cat to bite the drain tube? I'm done with mine and dr. isn't pulling it till Tuesday. I'm thinking Peanut Butter, might work, and here kitty kitty!! Of course, I'm kidding.....or......maybe not LMAO!! How are you doing/feeling??

It's too bad that MORE people don't ask this question. Yes you will be able to eat more after 1-2 years. If you have used the restrictive time wisely, you will have learned healthy eating habits. low fat and fat free Protein and low carb veggies should be the mainstay. If you have trained your tastebuds/brain, these will be the foods that you gravitate towards. I eat my protein and CRAVE salads to fill up the extra space. Just be mindful of the dressing that you put on your salad. I hope many see your question because too many people think that they can eat pizza/fries/ fried foods, etc....because there capacity is so small. But that is not the case, FOREVER!!!

WOW! You look great!!! Glad to hear that you are doing well!!

Actually tried using my sis' BIG couch cushions as wedges. Slept GREAT!!! Soooooo......I'm sleeping on her couch for a while, LOL!!

Actually my sleeve was paid for by a managed Medicaid plan, before I got Medicare.

Where did u get the wedges? and how much are they?

http://asra.com/pain-resource-center-regional-anesthesia-transversus-abdominis-plane.php

Surgery went GREAT!! They gave me a TAPS block, while under anesthesia, so I woke up with virtually NO PAIN. The effect lasts about 16 hours, so took very little pain meds during that time. Left the hospital about 17 hrs after waking up. Now a bit more pain, but wouldn't call it excruciating. It's more back pain from walking like Quazimodo and sleeping sitting up. Unfortunately, I don't have a recliner. Tuesday, the Dr. will probably take out one drain and remove the dressings. I'm guessing the left drain will come out first as the output is about 1/5th of the right. Drains are NOT as gross as I expected. I'm able to 'detach' my brain, so it is just a bulb with red stuff. LOL. When I actually see where they go into me, that might be a different story Thanks again for all the well wishes! I will take pics, when the dressings are off.

Thanks for all the support and good wishes!!

Today, I leave at 11:00 to go to the hospital. Surgery at 1:15. Getting panniculectomy AND tummy tuck. Would post before pics, but this page seems to be having issues. Will post before and after, when I can.

I am getting a tummy tuck and panni on 10/17, all covered by insurance. I got a referral from my pain management dr., due to spine issues. It also helped to go to my ins. website and print the criteria for panniculectomy to bring to the appt.

I'll have to REALLY watch my cat, he loves to chew wires. Especially fat ones. Ate an A/C wire once. Will probably LOVE drain tubes, LOL