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Thank you! I had a panniculectomy and tummy tuck. I am in the process of appealing a denial for a brachioplasty (arm lift). The recovery from the TT was ROUGH. In retrospect, I would do it all over again because the results were amazing (I think there are pictures in my profile), but it is definitely WAY more difficult of a recovery than the WLS itself and I would say even more difficult of a recovery than childbirth. :-) BUT again, like I said, the results are so worth it once you get past that first few weeks. I'm 2.5 months post op on the TT and still wearing full compression and sometimes my ab binder (mainly when I'm at home) and my abs are still sore. My surgeon told me it takes a good 6 months or so for the ab soreness to go away.

I use miralax or MOM at least a couple of times a week to stay "normal". I had some problems after my TT/panni where I didn't and I had a blockage and that was the WORST thing ever, so now I do anything to stay "normal" :-) I don't get nearly enough fiber in my diet as a WLS patient on the high protein/low carb diet (I'm sure others are better at it than I am), so they have been my life-saver. Don't let it go too long!

For me, the absolute biggest factors to my success with the surgery were these two things. 1. I stuck to the "plan" to a "t" in the first 10 months or so until I reached goal. I mean, I didn't stray at all. It just wasnt' an option for me. Lots of Protein, no more than 40 carbs, and 100 oz Water. 2. This is probably the bigger one. Around 7 months, I don't know what happened, but something clicked (in a bad way) and it was a LOT harder to pass up things that I should pass up. At that point I sought out therapy with an eating disorder therapist because I didn't work so hard to just throw it all away. I feel with a lot of certainty that had I not done the hard (I mean HARD) emotional work to figure out my eating issues (that coincidentally have very little to do with food) I would have started regaining at that point. My therapist is awesome, and at almost 2 years post op, I still see her weekly. If you can't commit to therapy at this point, at the very least I would recommend getting and reading (RIGHT NOW) "When food is Love" by Geneen Roth....absolutely changed my life. Good luck to you!

I think it's normal to have doubts as your surgery gets closer because it becomes more real. For me, very early on, on my blog, I made a post-surgery "bucket list" post with all of the things I wanted to do after surgery that I couldn't do at that time, and all of the reasons I wanted it. When I had my freak out about 2 weeks before surgery, I went back to that post and reminded myself of why I made the decision that I have made. I've gone back to that post many times since then - mainly to mark thinks off as "accomplished" . I would encourage you to make a list of the reasons you want the surgery and what you hope to accomplish from it. Revisit it whenever you are having doubts.

Count me in! I blew the last challenge. My lowest weight so far has been 123 and I'm up to 129. My goal is to get back down to that lowest weight and I'd really like to go no higher than 125. So.... Starting weight: 129 Goal weight: 123

Thank you! :-) You are at the hardest part now, hang in there!

I was fortunate to have my abdominoplasty and panni fully covered. I guess I will just have to pay out of pocket for the arms. I think it will be much cheaper than the tt & panni, so that is a good thing.

Yes exactly truly the best to let yourself have the space to recover and listen to your body. Who'd have thunk it? Not me anyhow. That it would make me sad to NOT exercise! I know, right! I've been dying to try a barre class too for my xtraining days, and I know my abs would weep if I put them through that right now. lol. It's frustrating!

I really wanted to get back out there today, but I was just hurting so much that I couldn't bring myself to it. Maybe this afternoon. I guess the biggest thing is just listening to your body and not pushing too hard too fast. At least that's what I'm going with. It's so frustrating though because I"m dying to get out there and get training. Ugh.. Patience .....

The panniculectomy alone is just skin removal- basically the pannis hanging below the belly button. It doesn't really deal with anything above the belly button, lipo, tightening, or muscle repair. It is JUST skin removal. Luckily my ins covered both the tummy tuck & panni. So the TT pulls the upper skin down, a little fat removal on the sides if you need it & sewing together (repair) of the ab muscles. It also involved a new cute little belly button for me :-) I think the amount of muscle repair varies. For me it was extensive, but I had four babies all over 9 pounds and that combined with carrying around 155 excess pounds left me with very weak, thin, stretched out ab muscles. It still hurts in there, but it's so worth it. I don't know if I would have just gotten the panni without the TT

I was an avid runner -training for a marathon- before my TT & panni. Now at 8 weeks post op I finally felt strong enough in my core to go for a run. I only went 2 miles, it hurt like hell, and I'm still feeling it a day later. But I'm getting back out there tomorrow morning again. I have a 1/2 marathon in October that I need to formally start training for (starting at 3 miles) on July 27. Has anyone had a TT/panni & returned to running? How long did you wait? How did you ease back into it? How long until your core didn't hurt anymore when you ran? Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.

Three things: 1. Stick to the plan. Resolve yourself to it. Don't plan on just eating the same food just smaller portions. That won't work. For me the first 10 months were "to a 't'" at least 65g Protein, no more than 35 g carbs & at least 100 oz Water. That's it. Simple. 2. Do the hard emotional work to figure out what your food issues are really about because they're probably not really about food. I've written a lot about how I've gone about doing this in my blog. I try to be as honest as possible. Check it out if you're interested in more on that. 3. Realize that your sleeve won't "make you" lose weight & it certainly won't "make you" keep the weight off. The extent to which you are successful depends on the amount of work you're willing to do & HOW you use your sleeve. Good luck!

I definitely remember that feeling. The only time I've EVER regretted surgery was in the first week or 2. It's a major physical AND emotional change. I promise it gets better. Browse through my blog.....you'll see.... It's worth every ounce of work, sacrifice, tears, sweat, and change. Good luck to you on your journey!!

I had a TT & panni 8 weeks ago. It was extremely painful, BUT with that being said I absolutely would do it all over again. I had an excessive amount of muscle repair to be done. The surgery is major & ended up taking 7 hours & 3 nights in the hospital. The drainage tubes suck, and my abs will likely hurt for a good 6 months. BUT. The results are freaking phenomenal & the worst of it is all a memory now. I'd do it all over in a heartbeat! I'll put my before/after pics here. If you want more details there is some info from my experience in my blog (linked in signature).

Not me. Too much sugar for me. I keep my drinks sugar & calorie free.

I've not had anything carbonated (flat or not) in the 22 months since surgery.

Wow really?!?! That makes me sad. I am three weeks out tomorrow (did my first marathon two weeks before surgery) and am missing it so much! Was hoping I could try at four weeks (paperwork says I can "ease back in to exercise plan" then) but when I asked at my appointment last week if I could try gentle/restorative yoga the nurse laughed at me and said NO. I was hoping to be back for a half marathon in October. Maybe not ???? Everyone is different. I had a significant amount of ab muscle repair done after 4 9+ pound babies & 150 excess pounds. It probably depends on the extent of work you have done & probably your pain tolerance too. I technically was released for exercise at my one month check up, but I was barely standing straight at that point. Running seemed impossible. I probably could've started last week, but decided to give it one more week hoping that the extra week off would help speed up the healing. I am registered for a 1/2 marathon the 3rd weekend in October. My official training plan starts July 27, so I am just trying to ease myself back up to 3 miles (where the plan starts from) by then. You may have a completely different experience. I hope so!! Lol. Still would do it all over again....totally worth it.

Yes. I'm only 8 weeks out and I went for my first "run" yesterday. I am still WAY hurting, and I was an avid runner, training for a marathon at the time of surgery. I think I'll be doing a lot of run/walking intervals until I'm completely healed. It was more painful than I thought it would be. But my surgeon said it is ok, that I'm not going to "hurt" anything in there, but just to listen to my body and not push it for the first at least 6 months.

"I'm hungry and grumpy as hell, but your words are filling me up". That literally made me tear up. This is the sweetest post ever, Thank you SO much. There are days I struggle and it's posts like this and messages like this that i receive that keep me going on the straight and narrow. Hang in there. You are definitely in the hardest part. In a good month or so you are going to be on the other side of it, feeling good, and dropping the weight like you wouldn't believe. Just stick to the plan and do the hard emotional work that a lot of people don't want to acknowledge.

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I just called the insurance company because they told me they would have a decision on my arm skin-removal appeal by today. She said it was denied, but couldn't load the letter that was mailed out so she couldn't see any details other than that it was deemed cosmetic. I sent in an 80 page appeal full of medical records, letters from my pcp and surgeon, and a letter from me. I guess there's nothing else I can do. I will wait and see if the letter gives an option for a third-level appeal, because I will keep going. Kenny says he doesn't think I need it, but it really bothers me. Immmmma go cry now. For reals.

Wow! Thank you so much for reading! I always think it's so cool when I'm able to encourage or inspire someone with my journey. That is neat that we have so many similarities. And awesome that you have insurance that will approve your surgery. Good luck on your journey!

who was your surgeon if you dont mind me asking? they did an amazing job you look fantastic! He really did an amazing job and I'm SO hoping my brachioplasty appeal is approved so I can get him to do that to too. I think picking a surgeon was one of the hardest parts. You don't want to end up on an episode of "Botched" lol. It was Dr. Scot McKenna in Scranton, PA

Thank you! I appreciate it. And yes, this time I really tried and listened to my body. I took off extra time from work because I just didn't feel ready, and I STILL am wearing my abdominal binder most days, and compression garments all days to keep the swelling and Fluid build up down.

Lol that's actually really funny bc if you see my post just above, I'm waiting on approval for a brachioplasty or arm lift. They are the last part of me with excess skin. You just learn what angles to stand at to hide the wings. Here's a more realistic look at them lol. Thank you though!