lellow

Hi urnoturcar, congrats on your up-coming surgery! I have to admit there are a lot of little differences in the way different PSs do things, so while I may share my experience, it may not end up being the same for you. I had a lower body lift, not a TT, but essentially the same would have happened: I had a complete unfill 1 week prior to my surgery and got refilled with 90% of my previous fill 1 week after surgery. My next fill to get me back to where I was pre-BL, is in May. My port also got moved from just under my ribs on my right hand side, to just to the right of my new belly button. I was at goal when I went for surgery (only just though! I hit goal 2 weeks before my op) and since my op, am down almost 10lbs from my goal (7lbs of skin was removed) and that's with some swelling still! I reckon as far as your questions about unfilling and your port are concerned, it's something you need to talk to your PS about. My PS answered those questions for me at my first consult with him.

Juli you're doing well, matey! Hang in there! I'm completely off any pain meds, including paracetemol. Am doing pretty well in general. Still have a drain in - because of the Easter long weekend, I don't see my PS again until Wed. But yesterday I hid it in a messenger bag, and went to the shops with my DH and my 3yo. I couldn't walk far but that was okay, it was nice to be out in the sunshine and in public! I'm still slightly hunched though, which I was a bit self-concious about. Can I ask any of you ladies who've been through this: how long was it before you were completely upright again? I've finally taken photos, and will hopefully upload them today or tomorrow!

Congratulations Brad! WTG!!!!! After my body lift surgery (3.5kgs removed) and a week of hospital food, I'm down to 66.1kgs (145lbs) from 70kgs (154lbs). I'm still a little swollen and it really is quite the cheat to have lost almost 9lbs in two weeks when 7lbs of that was skin, but it takes me to my own personal goal weight of 145lbs, so I thought I'd share. My DH took a pic of me today and even I have to admit, I look thin now. Far thinner than I expected, and more than thin enough for me to be happy with my shape. I now wear the same size as my beautiful, very slim 19yo daughter. As from now on, I will be in recovery and maintenance mode, and will not be actively trying to lose any more weight, I guess this is my last official weigh in with all of you amazing all-stars! BUT I will still be checking up on you and encouraging you all to your own goals!

I'm sorry to hear your arms are killing you, Juli. And yeah I'm still puffy, but getting better everyday, so hang in there!

Hi josiebies, good luck with your upcoming surgery! It's good that you will have someone experienced to look after you after you come home. I don't think my hubby would have managed with me, to be honest, if I didn't stay the first week in hospital. As for the junk food, back away from it all slowly! I know about being tight - I get very tight at the TOM. But reaching for junk food will do nothing but make you feel awful. And you want to be as fit as possible before surgery. So it's good that you're countering the junk food with extra exercise! And as for the pain - honestly it was what I worried about the most, and I think the worst thing has been the backache from being hunched over. But I'm more upright now, so really it's only one week of bad back pain, and manageable incision pain. You'll be fine! And your flat stomache and new breasts will be worth it!

It was only when I got 6cc in my 10cc band that I felt some restriction. 6.75cc was my sweet spot. I recently got refilled after surgery to 5.9cc and I can honestly say that I'm not feeling a lot of restriction right now. But it still beats being wide open like I was when I was completely unfilled!

Thank you Mimi!

I have a twin saver cover (hospital and extras), so not the highest cover, just sort of mid-range cover. Yet it covered my surgery no probs at all (I'm with HBF in WA). Maybe you should speak to your preferred PHI company and ask them which package covers what.

Congratulations fleminld!! over 100lbs lost! That's incredible! You should be mighty proud of yourself for your achievement!

Thanks for popping in to check up on me Jeni! How have you been? As for me, I was discharged from hospital yesterday and am finally home 7 days post op. My Dr changed my dressings yesterday and I got to see myself for the first time, and I can't believe how flat my tummy is!! He did such a neat job, and I'm incredibly happy with his work! I had a huge lot of tattoos on my tummy and back, and while most are now gone, there is the remnants of two half butterflies coming out of my new belly button, and two bits of vine coming out of my back incision. But all in all, they don't look so bad that I'd be rushing out to get them removed! Could have been worse. My PS reckoned that initially he thought the mangled butterflies would be coming out of the incision above my mons. That would have looked really wierd! Lol! I also got refilled yesterday finally and my lapband dr weighed me while he was at it. I'm 67.3kgs now (down from 70kgs on the day of the op) and I still have a bit of swelling going on, so I'm ecstatic! I'll take pics soon, I promise!

That's an interesting point you've made, Jacqui. I think the thing people seem to think about me now is that because I exercise, eat well and now have even had surgery (OMG!) that I've become this self-obsessed jerk whose whole life revolves around me, me, me. And yet for my entire life prior to this, I always put myself last. Now I take the time to be good to myself, and in real terms, it means not putting junk in my mouth, taking 120mins out a week to exercise, and paying for surgery that I need to look my best, just like I am paying for braces that my children need to look their best. What have I been teaching my now 19yo daughter all these years, by putting myself last all the time, allowing myself to always come behind my children and my husband? That she should also be self-sacrficing, always putting herself behind her boyfriend? God, if that's what I've done, then I was wrong! So now I tell them: my needs are equal to theirs. No more, no less. They will always get what they need, and I will always be there for them, but I will not let myself get nothing, need nothing, to give them what they want. My kids don't suffer for the time I take to exercise and eat well. I would like to think they're learning the good habits I didn't learn when I was growing up. I think that acually makes me a role model of good self esteem for my children, for the first time in a long time.

I got people becoming nicer, and people becoming nastier, and in the end, it all kind of evened out. My family was probably the worst about not being nice about my weight loss, tbh. Their excuse is that they're so used to seeing me fat that now I look wierd skinny. Riiiiighht. My friends and colleagues at work have been pretty good. I have had the odd person who I was bigger than before, but who I am much smaller than now, say some very unkind things about my weight loss and how I cheated by having lapband surgery. But I reckon they could not be more obviously jealous, so I kinda just feel sorry for them.

heartfire, no it was definitely weight and not post surgery swelling. They weighed me just before I went in for surgery so I know it's all from being unfilled and eating more than I should have in the preceding week. Though I imagine I've put on even more since then. After the op, my PS insisted that until I got refilled, that I was to eat 'heartily' so as to aid my recovery, so I have been tucking in without guilt. I figured that once I'm refilled (hopefully today) it's time to take it seriously again, but the week right after having major surgery was probably not the best time to worry about my diet. Plus, I'm swollen so I look about 4 months preggo, and so I imagine the scales would not be kind to me right now! But now I'm ready to get my band working again and get back on track. I've made a promise to my DH that I will not weigh myself for at least a month (so not til the 1st of May) so as to allow the swelling to go down a bit. You know how obsessive I can be about numbers!! So while losing almost 8lbs of skin, but then gaining wieght while unfilled, I'm hoping that on the 1st of May, I'll have stabilised at my 'official' goal weight of 154lbs, if not less. If I can achieve that, I'll be ecstatic.

Wow, Cathy, you're a superhero! I got out of surgery at 8.15pm and didn't even come to until about 4am the next morning. Though I imagine there is some theraputic value to being in your own bed. I miss mine! Just saw my PS and my drain has to stay. He'll reassess tomorrow, but did say that I'll likely be able to go home tomorrow after he sees me, so I'll be able to spend the easter weekend with my family. Now just waiting for my lapband dr to come see me to refill my band. I miss never being hungry!

Hi Ro and cutie! Nice to see you both back and posting! And thanks for the visitor msgs you left me. I'm fine and recovering, but am still coming here to check on how everyone's going. I'm hopefully getting refilled today because I'd gained a kg (3lbs) while i was unfilled and I suspect even more since then, and I really want to 'get back on the wagon', so to speak. So it would be nice having my pals here to catch up with! Ro, I'm sorry it's been such a tough time for you finding the 'perfect' spot for you. I hope with all the tweaking they're doing, they'll hit on exactly the right combination!

Mimi, thanks for popping in and checking up on me! Kareyquilts, OMG really? Day surgery for a body lift? I didn't even get OUT of bed for 36 hours!! I can't imagine having to pack up and go home! Yes, Australians are lucky then! I'm staying in hospital at least until Wed, which will make 7 days here. 7 days of seeing my PS every morning, having nurses constantly on call, and having all my meals cooked for me. Okay I will NEVER again complain about being stuck in hospital!! AND I have complete respect for (and am in complete awe of) all of you who have gone home straight after surgery!

Yay Juli! Thanks for the update babygrl! I'm glad to hear that everything went well!

Thanks oneflew! I'm taking this time at the hospital to really take it easy and rest. I know I won't have the kind of attention that I do here with the nurses when I get home, so am trying to enjoy it while I'm stuck here anyway! josiebies, congrats on your upcoming surgery! I'm glad I made you feel a bit better about the pain. Honestly, I thought it would be excrucriating, and it was not a lot worse than the lapband surgery, if you ask me. Sure, you don't heal as fast as with lapband surgery, but the pain is definitely manageable. And imo, the pain is worth the results. I still can't believe my 'overhang' is gone and that my tummy is flat! I keep smoothing my hands over my belly just to remind myself it's true!

Juli, have been thinking of you and sending healing vibes your way! I'm 4 days post op and really happy with everything so far. I'm sure you will be too! Can't wait for you to update!

Hi all! I'm typing this at 8.30pm while sitting up on my hospital bed. I'm about 4 days post-op. The surgery went very well! I haven't had the dressings changed as yet as they've remained dry and clean, so haven't had a look at what my scars look like. But from what I CAN see, it's beautifully neat and I can't see one stretchmark in sight! I'm a little boxy from the swelling but even so I can tell that my tummy is flat. And even with the swell, I already have a decent waist, and my butt is not the least bit sagging. It's tight and all I feel when I touch it is muscle and bone. NO fat! My PS removed 3.5kgs of tissue, and since my op has insisted that I eat well at every meal 'to aid my recovery'. So I have, and haven't felt guilty about it. But tomorrow, my lapband surgeon comes round to refill my band up to 80% of what he removed 2 weeks ago, and as of that point, I'm back on the wagon. I had 4 drains put in at surgery, and two were removed the day after surgery. Another was removed yesterday and now I have one that's unfortunately still draining a bit, so it's staying for the time being. I was on a pain pump for two days but it made me nauseous and so yesterday morning, my PS agreed to take my IV out and now I'm only oral pain meds only. So all in all, I'm feeling great! The pain wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'm now in a compression suit and can even get myself on and off my bed, and around my room on my own. Still hunched over, which is a killer on my back, but having an adjustable hospital bed helps heaps! I'm staying in hospital until at least Wed and then will hopefully get to go home to recuperate. So just wanted to let everyone know I'm alive and well, and so happy I did this! I'm just going to concentrate on recovering now. I promise I will post pics once I'm home, upright and my dressings are off!

Thanks everyone for posting your good wishes! It's 7.30am here in Western Australia and I'm about 6 hours away from surgery now. I've just had Breakfast (my last meal before surgery) and am about to take my reflux pill. I've got 3 hours before I have to be at the hospital. Have finished my huge list of things to do late last night, so basically, except for needing to have a shower and get dressed, I've got plenty of time to sit here and obsess about the upcoming surgery. Actually I'm surprising calm about it. I looked at my belly this morning and said a fond goodbye! I won't be able to post about how I fared until either my DH brings my laptop in to the hospital on Saturday, or until I get home 7 days from now. But as soon as possible after that, I will try to get on and let you all know how it all went. Thanks for all your support ladies! You've made this so much easier for me to deal with. Not sure what I would have done without your wonderful encouragement and advice! Juli, good luck for the 6th!

I went through this. I really wanted a tummy tuck about halfway through my weight loss - about November last year. I too thought that if I just lost my tummy, I would be happy with how I looked at that stage. I was convinced that it was the best idea. It was actually Dr Schulman who reminded me that if I lost more weight after the tummy tuck, that I'd likely need even more surgery later because the 'effect' of it wouldn't be as good as if I waited until I was closer to goal. So I waited. I figured at about 7-10 pounds a month weight loss, I'd only have to wait another three months before seeing a PS. So I rescheduled my PS appointment for Jan 09. When I saw him I was 8lbs from goal, instead of 25lbs. He scheduled me for body lift surgery (it's today actually, in about 6 hours!!) and as of today I'm below goal. So I would say that it may be an idea to wait. Even if it's only for 2-3 months. You only have 25lbs left to lose according to your ticker. What's 2-3 months in the scheme of your whole life? And the results will be much better if you wait just a little bit longer.

You're laying groundwork for us, Jeni, so please do ramble all you want! I'm hoping that I'm back exercising as soon as you are! I'l a cycler, so am hoping to be back at least on my stationary spin bike within a couple of weeks. I just had 2 weeks off exercise because of a strained muscle, and it was a loooong two weeks. I can't imagine not exercising for longer than that! You're a super woman! I hope to heal as well as you when I'm done!

Juli, Today is my last day at work, and tomorrow I'm packing my hospital bags and cooking up some meals to freeze for DH and my sons. Thursday, as you know, I'll be going in for surgery (and coz I'm in Australia, it'll still be Wed night for you when they start working on me!) If I don't get to speak to you again between now and when your turn comes, please know I'll be thinking of you on the 6th of April, and sending lots of good wishes your way. Good luck, matey! You're going to look absolutely WONDERFUL!

I'm very very nervous Jeni! I keep thinking only two more sleeps then get the worst butterflies in my stomache! Also had a heart attack about half an hour ago when the anaesthetist's receptionist called to say that I hadn't pre-paid for his fees, and if I don't get the money to them by tomorrow morning, the surgery on Thursday would be cancelled. NO ONE told me I had to prepay his fees, otherwise of course I would have ages ago! It takes about 24 hours for money to transfer from my investment account to savings account and there was no way I'd make that deadline so I was close to tears! I called my PS's nurse in a panic, and she told me not to worry, that she'd sort it out. She must have because I then got a call from the anaesthetist's rooms saying, it's cool, you can pay as late as Thursday morning if you want to. Phew!! Not really happy about driving 45 mins to pay his bill on the day of surgery, but it's better than having the whole thing cancelled! Also had a huge 'farewell and good luck for surgery' lunch at work today and I ate the equivelant of 2 days worth of banded-life food in one meal, so feel HUGE. I can't wait to come out the other side now. How are you going, Jeni? Feeling better? How are the scars healing?