GREATFUL

Oh, I am going to do some before and after pictures (with clothes on). Got a really cut new dress today....drum roll........size 10 ...OMG...did you hear that....size 10 !!!! I was in size 16 when I started this journey. YEA can you tell I am happy? Laura

Well today is 2 weeks post op for me. My house cleaners come every other Thursday, so I made big plans to be out of the house this morning. I started with coffee at Starbucks, and the paper. Went to Ross and Marshals to try on clothes, has to buy a few. Very happy with the sizes, YEA. Had lunch with one of my best Girl Friends then ran by JC Pennys to buy a new bed spread. BUSY DAY, and I am pooped. So the rest of the day is to be spent on my fanny when my feet up. I almost feel like a movie star or something, LOL. Now I just hope DH will cook supper. I am so glad that I decided to take off 3 weeks instead of trying to go back to work at 2. I just dont think I could of made it to work today, at least not all day. But, work is an hours drive away, that is why I opted to not do half days. So glad..... I took it real slow today, so I do not think I overdid it, I am not swelling as far as I can tell, but will be pushing the Water the rest of the day. Take care all, Laura

LOL - I bet they are..... but I was doing what my mom called "all that was possible" Wash up as far as possible Wash down as far as possible Then wash Possible.... Laura

Hello Dr. Schulman, I am 2 weeks post-op for having a FTT. I am very happy with the results. I am trying to do everthing I can to do my part to have the best results. What I was wondering is: How long to you have to worry about bad thing happening such as hematoma, seroma, infections and necrosis? When are you "out of the woods"? Thanks for what you do here, you are such a help!!! Laura

Skinnyjeans, Thanks for the fabulous comment. Boy do I understand the wanting it BAD thing. It was like when I made up my mind I wanted the lapband surgery, well that was all I could think about. I stayed on this site all the time, reading and reading. Then when I made up my mind to have the TT well it was the same thing.... So what are you wanting to have done? Just a TT or some other work also? I have been watching what I eat since surgery to have the best healing possible. Salt intake, because of swelling, Protein for healing etc. Well, big bonus, I have dropped 3 lbs since surgery. I am so excited, just 5lbs from goal. I know that he took off 5lbs of skin, so I was expecting some weight to come off, so we shall see. I so want to reach my goal by the end of August. He said I could start walking (mild) tomorrow. Isn't it funny, when you have one part of your body look good, instead of thinking "How nice that looks" you think "My ass sure is flabby" LOL Today is going to be a wonderful day. No drain tubes and I had a shower......now that is a good day in my world!! Take care all, Laura

Thank you Sue, and yes it is much easier to sleep now with the drains out of my hips. It is eashier dressing also, it seemes liked everything I put on pulled or rubbed at my hips. Shalee04 - Hey Girl how are you doing? I followed your journey and it sure helped me prepar for mine. Thanks for the nice comment. Mimi - Thanks, I am very pleased about how the healing is going. And yes, last night was much better. Take care all, Laura

Yesterday was a great day. I got my drains removed and the stitches taken out of my BB. I feel liberated. PS said that most people feel like that, and then they turn around and over do it and undo all of the great healing that has happened. SO, it is his policy to be on bed rest for 48 hours after having your drains pulled. He says that when the drains are pulled out, the healing that has happened around where the drains are has been removed. And that has to reattach. I trust him and and he is a wonderful PS....so I am doing my very best to stay down for 2 days. It is hard. But after I got home I did notice a burning sensation in my tummy, he said I would feel that, that is where the drain tubes were. So I iced down and stayed off my feet. I have a few movies to watch today and going to be a very good patient. Just so happy with the results so far, and do not want to do anything to mess that up. So far my swelling has not been that bad, but I am only 12 day out I know. Watching the salt, taking bromeline, drinking lots of Water and resting. Okay, my DH......I think he is afraid to say I look good. Because I will think he did not like me before. He is funny that way. He just does not say much....I have to ask him "Honey how do you think my BB looks" he will reply "Looks good, but it was not that bad before". So last night I had a talk with him, and told him I know that he loved me the way I was. But, I need him to love me the way I am now. So I think it helped. we shall see....Did anyone else have this? I have taken new pictures, if you wanna see..... Password: OMGnoflab http://www.makemeheal.com/pictures/viewAlbum.php?albumid=9792. Take care all, Laura

Hey All, I am doing so much better today. Sue, I would take a show if I could, boy would I love to take a shower. Still have my drains, and PS said no shower until they come out. I am hoping it will be tomorrow. They have slowed down the last few days. PS told me to call when they were below 30cc for a 24 hour period. They were below that Friday and Sat. and looking good today. So I will be on the phone with them in the morning and hope they can get me in to get ride of these things. I cannot wait to take a real shower. I have been able to wash my hair in the sink with DHs help, and even sat on the edge of the tub and shaved my legs yesterday. That helped me feel better, but a real shower.....now that is what dreams are made of, LOL. Mimi, you may be right. I thing maybe I was coming down from being so pumped up before surgery. I slep good last night. Took pain meds before going to bed, woke up at around 4 am to go potty and took more. I woke up around 8 am well rested and ready to go. No back ache. I think my problem is that I am a side sleeper and still have my drains, in my hips, so that makes it had to try to sleep on my side. Take care all, Laura

I woke up this morning with my back killing me. I will be so glad when I can sleep on my side. The drains are coming out of my hips so it makes it hard to lay on my side. It really sucks to wake up in pain, puts a damper on the day. I think I am having the hormone flux, I am very emotional, and well, my DH he can't do anything right. Luckly he is gone for the morning, gives me a chance to get my head around this. I am such a baby....... Laura

Since my TT I have been trying to keep my protein up to 100 grams per day. I don't know if it has helped or not, but this morning I was down another pound. I am not that worried about loosing weight during this time, just not gaining. Plus I have read that protein helps with healing. I would love to be at my goal by my Birthday in August. Six pounds, we shall see, hard to do when you cannot exercise. Going to have a big day today. I am going to the grocery store. Weeee. Just need a few things. One of them being I NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE! Going to get some fresh fruit. Dont need any veggies, my garden is coming in now, and we have tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, etc, coming out our ears. My poor DH is not a gardener, but he has been having to pick it each day. He has been a real trooper. One of my Best Girl Friends is coming over tonight to watch chick flicks. So today is going to be a good day. Can you all think of some low salt, movie watching, munchies that I can make for us tonight? I guess if nothing else it will be fruit and vegies. Or no salt pop corn. Take care all, Laura

Hey Mimi, make haste slowly, LOL.

Got more pain meds. YEA Drugs. I had to go pick it script up because they cannot call that type of meds in. So I had my first outing today, I drove myself to the doc and then to the drug store. It went well, but sure took it out of me. Nurse told me that it was 30 cc in each not total, That was good news. So I sure hope to get these drains out by the first of next week. Trying to not be in a hurry, because I hear horror stories of people having bad trouble with swelling and sernomas (sp). So just sucking it up. Take care all, Laura

Thanks everyone! I am calling the PS to get a refill for the pain meds. I took the last of the meds lastnight and slept like a baby, and feel so much better this morning. I can't believe it has been a week today. I love my new tummy. I am just bored with being at home and not being able to do much. I keep telling myself that I was so looking forward to having nothing to do but lay around. So going to try to enjoy it today. I can do this, I can be a lady of leasure. LOL Better be careful, I might get to like this and not want to go back to work. My PS's nurse said to call when my driaining was below 30cc in a 24 hour period. Well last night it was 20cc in one and 50cc in the other. I dont remember if she meant 30cc total or less than 30 in each one. I will ask today when I call about the meds. Take care all, Laura

I had a hard time sleeping lastnight. My back was hurting. I took some of the percocet and was finally able to get to sleep. Then I woke up, had to pee, and was in alot of pain again. It had been a little over four hours since I had taken the percocet, so I took some more. I hope this is just part of the healing process. I hope that this too shall pass. I do not want to have to depend on pain med to get to sleep. My DH reminded me that it has not even been a week since my surgery, and not to stress it.

OMG Girls, I almost did the same thing. The binder that I came home in, well didnt have a bottom, so got used to just going. Then I canged to this CG that has a slit, and not much of one, you still have to move it out of the way. Well, lets just say, I have failed to move it a few time. LOL Take care, Laura

Decided this morning to cut back on the pain meds today, just to see how it would go. Well, I think it is too soon to go 100% without them. Experenced alot of back pain and discomfort from the drain site. So I think I will wait to try this when the drains are removed. The Tylenol help a little but not enought. Oh well, I guess I am a wimp.

MIMI - Thanks, I feel wonderful. I am so very proud of my new tummy, I just have to show it off. And well, my DH can only look at it so much, so I have to show it off here. LOL Skinny - you know, my thighs did have some slight drooping. I showed it to my PS and he said that could be taken care of with the TT. You know he was right. He did a mond lift, and it did help with the thights. He pulled it thight, in my goin area I have a burning sensation, he said it was where he pulled the skin very tight. I put coco butter on it to help with the pain and to keep from getting new strech marks. I just found out you could get thoses after PS, and don't want them. Allie - I don't know about the playboy model thing, but I do think my PS did a fabalous job. I am so happy. You know you dream and hope it will turn out good. BUT wow, it exceeded any of my expectations. I give all of the credit to my wonderful PS. He is a perfectionist. They told me he drives everyone in the operating room crazy, because he wants it how he wants it, and will not settel for anything else. Sometimes it takes him an additional hour to do the surgery just because he wants it to be perfect. And he is very proud of his work, rightly so. I am very lucky.

Hey Everyone, Had my followup with the PS. Did not remove any drains, but I didnt expect him to, they are still going pretty good. OMG I am so happy with the way I look. I just can't believe it is my tummy. I have posted some more pictures - they are Day 5 pictures Password- OMGnoflab http://www.makemeheal.com/pictures/viewAlbum.php?albumid=9792. I am surprise just how much it took out of me just to go to the Doc. I am wiped out. So it is nap time for me. Later all, Laura

Well today is my post-op appointment with the PS. Will finally get to see what is under these bandages. I do not think I will be getting any drains out today, draining too much. Pluse, I am in no big hurry, I know it helps with the swelling. (I say that now, ask me in a few more day, LOL) Itching is starting to get a little annoying. I would love to take a shower, was able to wash my hair last night with the wonderful assistande of my DH. That did help how I was feeling alot. DH is back to work today so I am on my own, he will taking me to the PS for my appointment later today. Sorry rambling, just very bored..... Laura

Sue, I know what you mean about the people on this site. My DH thinks it is funny how I want to keep up with everyone here and know how they are doing. You can talk to your DH, you can talk to a friend and family. But they cannot understand all that you are going through. Then you can come here and express your concerns, share your fears and victories with someone who is going throught the exact things you are. I think of this place as a blessing. Take care all, Laura

OH, Thanks you Skinnyjeans for the sweet comment. And, I am down another pound this AM. So I am back where I was on the day of surgery. I know I am still swolen some, because he took of around 5lbs of skin, and that has not been reflected in the scales yet. But I am not worried about my weight, just about healing. It is just habit to weight myself each morning, LOL, some habit never die. Laura

Another good nigth.....it was a great night. I took my last pain meds at Midnight and did not wake up until 8 am. So feel very rested this morning. But not good enought to make it to church. I know God understands. I think my pain pump is finished or real close to it. I am feeling some twinges in my muscle area that I had not felt before today. Almost like I have done to may situps or someone punched me real hard in the tummy. I took some lortab and it has helped with the discomfort. I will see how it goes the rest of the day when it comes to pain meds. Thinking I will wait until after my followup with the PS tomorrow before coming off the pain meds. I just can't wait to see what I look like without the bandages. PS did not give me permission to remove them, so I am not. Later, Laura

Allie - I had my surgery at a surgery center, they also do not have over night stay. But it is just 15 min from my house. I also had my DH to stay with me, and a few friends as backup. I did better being in my own bed. BUT, like I said, I was only 15 min from my PS. With yours being 2 hours away, I would consider staying in a hotel room. Do you not have any family member who will be coming with you? Will they be sending you home with a pain pump? That thing was a life saver for me. I am sure that is why I am doing so good. I didnt have a catheter or an iv when I went home. Because of that I got up every hour and went to the potty. Kept my blood moving, no clots. What I would do, and this is just me.... I would have someone with me, family. Second I would make sure I am going to have a pain pump and other good pain meds. I would get a hotel room and stock it with lots of Water, Protein drinks and low salt Snacks. I would stay at least until the first followup with the PS. I don't think I needed professional nursing, but I did have my DH to help me. All I did was....take pain meds along with lots of water, nap and pee. You need to do what you feel comfortable with. Good luck, and take care Laura

Sue, Thanks for the nice comment. I know that he did not go as high as he wanted to with the muscle tightening. His concern was putting a kink in my band tubing. I am about the 4th lapband patient he has worked on. He was telling me a new technique that he came up with, so not to cause problems with the band tubing and still gettin a nice flat tummy. I was out of it when he told me what he did, but I will find out more Monday. I will be a good girl....no more peeking. You should see me at christmas time, LOL Laura

Okay, could not stand it any more. Had to look. I posted 2 more pictures on makemeheal if you wanna see. I can tell a big diffrence from the side. Now I just want to get the bandages off, can't wait till Monday, but I will be a good girl and not bother them. http://www.makemeheal.com/pictures/viewAlbum.php?albumid=9792. password - OMGnoflab