KarenG.

Frangi - I am all over the shopping. My size 10's are pretty lose and I think I can easily fit into an 8 - at almost 5"7 that would prob be fine for me but part of my dieting mind wonders if I will eventually be a 6! I have been afraid to try on pants because I am scared of being dissapointed and also I think I am still pretty swollen. Probably this weekend I will hit the stores!

Hey all, At about 5 weeks out I am feeling pretty good (despite Fluid issue). As of this week I am down about 11 lbs from pre-ps surgery weight - a lot of that weight has come off in the past week or two. I also know that my swelling is less because I can see my port through my skin when I am standing up. My port was moved but not changed to a low profile - immediately after surgery I could feel it but not see it under the swelling - now I can just barely make out the lump. The human body is very complicated isn't it? I have only been walking for working out but if weather permits here this weekend I am going to start running and probably spinning within the next week -I feel like I am starting all over again! I am kind of scared about what it is going to do to my body but since I am relatively pain free I guess I should be ok since most of my discomfort is from stiffness and swelling. Any tips on starting up the vigourous expercise again?

Something to consider - is your band too tight? Maybe your fill was too much. If you are having a hard time eating healthy foods this is definately something to think about - even the tiniest bit removed might make a big difference in terms of what you can eat.

This is a good thread. I told only my closest friends at first. Even now some of my more extended relatives don't really know for sure. My main concern (and it proved true) is that people would be watching me for weight loss and constanly asking me how it was going. To them they were trying to be supportive - to me it added stress. In the end I was lucky because the weight came off pretty easily and I was glad that I had support of my friends. Also, it is hard to hide changed eating habits (like liquid diet, no bread) so if was easier to relax on a night out and not to have to worry about eating really slowly or very little.

Karey: stick with the pills! Can you ask your doctor about trying one that makes you feel better? I found that some pain pills made me feel awful and some were much more tolerable. The next week or two will go much faster if you are not in pain!

Good luck! It is going to be over before you know it!

Ugh, 110 cc's drained from me at my appointment today. I still prefer that to walking around with the drains all the time.

It is local (lidocaine I think) that goes right into the incision area and works for like 3-5 days. It is amazing and helps you take less oral meds. Ask your PS about it because it really was great.

Congratulations! A second binder should really make your recovery more pleasant. Take care of yourself.

Karey your arms are going to look great! That might be next for me. I hope things are going smoothly for you. I see that you had the same acufuser pain pump that I had. I kept the bag and put the drains in it when I showered even after the pump was removed. Sending healing vibes! K

How do you edit a post?

Hi guys - good luck. about the "hunch" I was told at first to walk hunched but now I am allowed to walk straight. I start off in the morning all tall and happy but by about midday I am hunching over again. Slowly but surely!

THanks so much for your kind words. It means so much coming from people who totally understand where I am at! I feel like my shape is really sqaure right now which takes adjusting to ... as you can see from the before picture I have always been curvy, even after losing weight. Now as you can see I am almost like a sqaure! I hope my waist will get smaller but even if it doesn't I am thrilled. I'll leave this up for a day or two more and then when I take them down - whoever wants to see me can PM.

Definately, intensive working out without adequate water always makes me really, really tight. If I run or go spinning I need to start drinking a ton of water early in the day if I have any chance of eating and food afterwards.

THanks guys! Its nice to have the positive feedback since it is so scary posting these pictures. I have to admit that so far I am extremely pleased - I can't even believe that is me sometimes. I wish I had some pics comparing my butt though because most of the skin removed was from my behind. I am really lucky - my surgeon did an AMAZING job.

I literally feel like it was yesterday when I was feeling the same way but it was one moth ago today! I think that the cleaning and prepping is good but the suprising thing about this surgery is the long, long recovery but not such bad pain (for me at least). The pain really wasn't so bad and I would describe the majority of what I have felt as moderate/severe discomfort - not really pain. In some ways it was much easier for me than the LB - maybe because I am in such better health now, maybe because I stayed in the hospital longer? The thing that suprised me the most was how long the pretty bad discomfort goes on for. So, don't worry about pain if you experience is like mine, don't worry about being "out of it" or really don't worry about not making it through the surgery! (I got my nails done too in case any cute doctors around) I would just prepare yourself for limited activity for quite some time. It is going to be great and I can't wait to hear how it went.

With great reservation I am putting up one month before and after photos. I hope I made them decent enough. I am going to take them down really soon so if you PM me I will send them to you seperately. I am really pleased with the results. I do not have butt pictures which is by far the greatest change for me but you can tell a little from the side view shot. As you can also tell by my belly button I am still pretty swollen. I am hoping to get more definition in my waist. Here goes!

This is my longest day back at work and a lot of time on my feet and I feel like I am going to explode! Not good. The only good news is that I am down about 8-9 lbs since surgery - should be 12-15 since that is how much skin was removed but I am getting the picture on how it will slowly come off instead of all at once.... right?

You are 4 days behind me and I am still definately swollen - my waist is bigger than it was before surgery at some times of the day. My activity is also very limited too - by the end of the day i am hunched over like an old woman! Also, I know I am retaining fluids because 12-15lbs of skin was removed and I am only down about 7-8 lbs so far. My point? We have a good 6 -8 weeks mroe of recovery ahead of us - sorry to say. Every day will get a tad better but give yourself a break! Your body is trying to fight its way back. I do understand what you are feeling though - I am tired of feeling like an invalid also and am used to being very physically active. Also scared to death of getting out of condition.

You look great! Such a big difference. Congratulations!

I am drain free! So exciting. Had to do a little shopping to celbrate. Now I am sooo tired. Hoping that I don't get fluid build-up. The problem was that although I still have a lot coming out, the drain was falling out.

Thanks Karey! Am thinking about you today - you are probably in-the-middle-of right now! I am pretty tight and flat actually extremely flat - like a pancake - just flat, tight and SQUARE! This has never been my "problem" before since I have a tiny waist and had big hips. Now that my hips are gone (as in bones are showing) my waist isn't much bigger. I wonder if it is swelling since my waist is bigger than it was pre-op OR is it possible that is my result? Hope not. Can't wait to hear how you did today.

I hear you on the drains problem. I am 4 weeks out and still draining heavily (75-80) from my remaining drain. Tomorrow is my PS appt so we will see what happens. I am not on antibiotics though - should I ask about that? Also no diuretics for me. Sorry for your troubles. Keep us updated!

Frangi - good to hear from you. Wishing you a quick recovery and a speedy trip home... .and that your house isn't a wreck!

Back to work tomorrow. Not looking forward to that - boy is sitting at a desk rough - any tips out there? Also, final drain is stil at 75 or 80 so I am thinking that my ps might not want to remove it Wednesday. I am more than a little depressed at the idea of yet another (5th) week with it in! Do you vetrans out there think I may be released from my cg? This is 4 wks for me now. I was given permission to sleep without and am enjoying that. If I do get the drains out I may briefly post before and afters. I am really shy about this and not so computer savy but I may do it because I know that i loved to see if before I had my surgery. I am down about 7 or 8 lbs so still waiting to get down the additional 12 that was removed from me - if that will ever happen. It will right? My hips look good but my thighs are really swollen still and my waist is like 2 inches more than it was pre-op. How long will that last? Karey - will be thinking about you on your big day!