mrskrzyz

Hello All!!!! Yes, it is hard to believe that it has been 2 years!!! Oh what a journey and happy to say that I wouldn't change it for the world! (Even with 6 months of a broken band...) I am at 92lbs. lost, wish I could have made it to ONEderland for my Bandiversary but it wasn't really a goal. Not much more to take from!!! Feeling great, a now size 6 from a 20!!!!! Whoooo Hoooo!! Hope everyone else is doing great too!!!:thumbup: Pics are current of me and hubby and dressed for a Disco party a few weeks ago!!

That is WONDERFUL news!!! You should feel nice and satisfied with your results!!! My belly is healing wonderful as well!!!

I have been stuck with no weight loss for a long time now. I am still 20ish lbs. away from my initial goal. I just had my TT last month. I am glad I did it now. It only took 5 lbs of skin and fat off but I really feel so much better and am motivated to start working my butt off again!:laugh:

I am having my abdominplasty in one week!!!!!!! Just wondering... truthfully... how long it will be before I can get back to the gym???? I am very nervous about what all this laying around and recovering is going to do to my body!!!! I know I have to heal and take it easy... just want to know when everyone else got back to their fitness routines?????? thanks for your posts!!!

Ok... I am going to try to upload a picture of the belly button that I am concerned about. This is what it looked like yesterday when I saw my doc. He wasn't concerned and said this was normal. I told him that it wasn't previously seeping or red around the rim. Today it is even a little more red and tender. Just a little.. Please give me your opinion and thanks for taking your time to address my concerns!!!

Hi out there!! Just wondering if any of you experienced seepage from the belly button area??? I am two weeks out. Up until yesterday, my belly button was dry and healing. Now is is getting a little red and has a bit of drainage. I went to doc today and he says its normal. Told me not to treat it in any way. Most things I have read say the belly button should be healed in 2-3 weeks. I am so scared that is going to be a start of an infection.:w00t: Also... how long before your belly button went back to looking somewhat "normal??"

Fingers crossed that all goes perfectly second time around!!! Glad to see he is taking care of the bill as well!! My belly button is getting kind of fugly right now and I am worried it might get infected.... praying not!!!!! Best of luck!!! Thanks for always sharing!!!

Ok... so I just left my docs office from my one week post op visit. I am devistated to say the least. I realize that I am majorly swollen and my doc reminded me of that several hundred times. When they placed me in the mirror, my new belly button was WAY offcentered to the right side. By an inch or two I'd say of where a belly button would normally be. It's clearly not in the correct spot and its easy to tell that this is where it will be healing. I can't stop crying!!!:thumbup: Anyone else have this happen???? I can't even bare the thought of having to go through another surgery to have this corrected. My doc acted as if it was no big deal but I know he sees that he's screwed this up. What do I or can I do about this???? I just had this vision that when I saw myself today... that I would see through the swelling to what my belly will someday look like. Now all I want to do is cry!!!!!!!! It looks ridiculous seeing an offcentered belly button... seriously.

thanks to all of you for your kind words and support!!! My husband, of course, thinks I am way over reacting!!! He does agree that it is not centered... but doesn't think it is bad enough to have it corrected. I am sorry I am not brave enough to post pictures of this yet. I am going to try to calm down and wait out the recovery period and all the swelling. I realize that I am still full of pain and DRAMA right now!!!!! IF I am still feeling this bad about it when it is all said and done.... then I will be after my doc to do something about it.

Thanks so much for your time and putting things in perspective for me. I, of course, hadn't looked at it from that point of view. I did check my insurance papers and it was approved for both procedures and had codes for both procedures. I guess we will wait and see how the billing part happens. I usually get the "eob" letter a week or two after each procedure. Thanks again.

Is there a difference between an adminioplasty performed by a self-payer (cosmetic) or one done on a patient that insurance covers due to medically necessary??? I ask this because mine was approved by insurance. For a pannilectomy and abdominoplasty. My doc seemed to constantly remind me that this was reconstruction without the conturing done in a cosmetic procedure. I feel he did the bare minimum. Although it looks better... there is still quite a large amount of bulk in the abdominal area. Just wondering if a doc is supposed to handle the cases differently???? (self pay vs. insurance) Thanks so much! Thanks in advance for your answer.

Wow... can't believe it is all said and done!!! It is quite a recovery...I don't know how some people do multiple areas at once. I think revovering in my tummy area alone is all I can take at one time. At first I was frustrated that my doc didn't want to do my breasts at the same time, but now I am grateful for that decision. I am very sore, but I am sticking to my pain meds faithfully. Usually after surgery I give them up about 1-2 days after.... but this time I think it will be at least a week before I give them up!!! I am very drowsy cuz of the meds so I have been doing lots of sleeping. Back pain and tummy muscles are much more sore than the incision itself. Can't wait to go to my post-op next week and get this binder off. Its SOOOOOOOOOOO itchy and tight. The drains are pretty easy to work with, but I was surprised at how large they are! Good thing I saved some stretchy pants from my heavier days.:ohmy:

Not sure, as I am only one week out so far. I think it would be fair to say at least 2-3 weeks because of drains. It is really hard to conceal them as they are big and bulky! I am sure it all depends on what you do for a living, etc.... Good luck!!

I have lost 60lbs and have been stuck there for quite a few months now. I would love to lose another 20-25 and am hoping that my new tummy will bring new motivation!!!!:rose: I am so glad I did the band and know that it is responsible for my success!!! I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!! Good luck in your journey!!!

I was able to tap into our "sick bank" for 4 weeks out because the procedure is considered medically necessary and not cosmetic. So I got a full month paid for recovery!!!!

Thanks everyone!! I am feeling much better and am managing to get around quite a bit!! Tomorrow is my follow up appointment and I can't wait for doc to tell me how things are going... and maybe, just maybe, get my drains removed!!! We'll see...

I just had a tummy tuck this past week. My port was located up by my sternum/ribcage. Now, with the tugging of skin, etc... my port has been pulled down much closer to my belly button area. Not sure how I will do with this???? Time will tell I guess!!:thumbup:

Ok.... so of course I am starting to get VERY nervous about the whole thing. I have done my homework and I am sure I am prepared for what is going to happen. Any last minute advice on things you might have not felt prepared for??? Before?? During??? After surgery??? Thanks in advance for taking your time to post!!:w00t:

Thanks so much for the advice... I hope I can bounce back as good as you did!!!! And congrats on your remarkable weight loss!!!!

Thanks again. I plan on spending a good deal of my recovery time in the living room. Luckily, we have a downstairs bathroom as well! :thumbup:

I am interested in knowing which flavor you liked as well!!:redface: Did any of you gals buy your own compression garments??? My doc hasn't mentioned this to me... He said I would be wearing one... I am assuming they provide it.

Thanks Kelly... I am gonna got some of those shots right now!!

Quenee...Wow... thanks for taking the time to post so early in your recovery!!! Good luck with everything!!! Happy Healing!

What are protein shots???? Where do i get them???