Cherishthepast

I'm over 2 months out since my TT and MR and still use my pillows (6 total) to prop myself and elevate my legs as it feels much better to not lie flat or straight. The incision from the TT is fine (numb); however, the muscle repair is still uncomfortable while in bed or trying to get comfortable to sleep. I don't have any discomfort when I'm up and about.

Thanks! It's muscle repair.

Finally, here are my before and after TT pics. I took the pic after a long day so I'm a little swollen - looks far better even swollen than I did before. For whatever reason, my husband could get a clear front photo, I'll try it again some other day.

Thanks! Fortunately, my insurance BCBS MA paid for everything. The TT w/MR was 100% covered, the lipo (upper stomach) and moving my port was a gift from the PS. I plan to get the breast aug done in the fall allowing me the opportunity to save the money needed to cover the surgery, which based on consults the range $5,800-$6,400. I hope this helps. Wishing you continued success.

Thanks so very much for your responses, I'll give it another month (3 months out) then start to seriously wean myself of it.

Hello, Though I've been told that I can stop wearing it, I can't seem to stop wearing the darn thing. I actually feel more comfortable with it - PS said that it wouldn't hurt to continue wearing it, so I hope to wean myself at some point - at least before the weather gets hot. Just curious, how long did you guys wear your garment? Did you experiece separation anxiety? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Another vote for Unjury - love all the flavors. I mix the strawberry sorbet w/ raspberry lemonade crystal light. The chocolate, I mix with skim milk for breakfast and late afternoon snack - espcially when I need a chocolate fix. The chicken soup, I have with lunch sometimes and also use it as a base for other soups/sauces.

Congratulations and Thanks! I wear Design Veronique brand, I'm currently wearing style 850, which were ordered by the PS. I ordered new garments from the PS office last week, I'm getting styles 1653H and 1450 - same brand. PS told me to stop wearing but I feel so much more comfortable with it that I'll hold off for awhile; especially since he said it wouldn't cause any problems to continue wearing. I ordered new ones that don't have zippers and also a size smaller as the current garments are starting to bunch up along the side of the zippers. More importantly, I tend not to swell as much with the girdles on. PS said that once the weather heats up I'll be happy to ditch them

Hello Ruthpets - Thanks! and a BIG congrats to you too. The PS told me I could ditch the CG (girdle) during my visit last week (6 weeks out), I told him I was planning to hold on to it for dear life - of course he laughed. I tried living w/o it for a day and was very uncomfortable and actually swelled to the point that I was in extreme pain for the first time in weeks. I put it back on the next day and don't plan to give it up anytime soon. I called him this past Tuesday to see if wearing it would cause me any harm and he said no, though he suggested that I consider a panty girdle to wean myself. I really wanted to get the girls done and get the lift/aug at the same time but chickened out. How is that going? I think that I'll get my breast done this spring. If not, I'll wait until the fall. Continue to hang in there. By the way, yes, I still have swelling tend to get worse by the end of my work day. Also, I went swimming a couple days ago, swam 200 meters felt great. The downside, I woke up in pain 2 days later - felt like I'd done 1000 or more stomach crunches - much better today. I'll try again next week and swim perhaps 100 meters instead of 200.

Hello! I still experience some back pain towards the end of the day and still have some trouble sleeping comfortably. Do I have any regrets - HELL NO! I'm so very pleased with the way my clothes fit. I feel great and actually think that I look really good - this is a milestone for me as I haven't felt good about my appearance in over 20 years. I walk back straight (don't have a choice with this girdle ) and head high. My husband is very pleased too as I'm a lot more frisky these days. I'm 49 and have big plans to wear a 2 piece bathing suit this summer - perhaps in the privacy of my backyard; in the recent past, I wouldn't have considered this as an option no matter what setting ... Okay this is going to sound stupid, but it's exciting to see my belly button and my mons area without the sagging stomach. I'm still a little swollen but if it doesn't get any better than this and I don't lose another pound, I'm a very happy girl. Yes, this was indeed the icing on the (weight loss) cake.

Hello, Things have been going great! I stopped taking pain meds over 2 weeks ago. Still don't sleep comfortably, I guess that will happen in time. My problem is for the past few days my band is TIGHT; yes, I can get liquids down and must eat really slow to get foods down and I'm tired as hell. Is it normal for the band to tighten like this weeks after a TT? I was fine initially then out of the blue I'm in restriction hell. The Nausea seems to happen after lunch; as a result, I don't have dinner and have no desire to eat or drink after 1:00 or so every afternoon. I've called both PS and LB docs, waiting for a return call. Any words of advise, wisdom....?

I tend to sleep with it more than without. Believe it or not, I really feel more comfortable with it. The only time I take it off when I sleep is when the darn thing pinches my butt. I'm wearing a girdle not a wrap. So far so good. I go back to work tomorrow and can't wait to get out of the house.

Not sure, he told me I could take it off to sleep and to wear it during the day while I was up. It has helped me sleep better without it during the night.

I was cleared to drive Tuesday (13 days post op) and went shopping for 3 hours, actually felt great and very liberating. My only problem these days is pain in my back - sort of left shoulder blade. I no longer have to wear the compression garment to bed - YIPPEE! I also no longer have to wrap myself like a zombie in gauze. I was instructed to use a good lotion on the area of the incision. I could actually return to work but since I'm not scheduled to return for another week, I'll just chill and enjoy the time off. I plan to post pics later today - before and after.

Other than the fact that the PS said I have wonderful insurance (whatever that means...) I made it a point to note rashes on the questionnaire the LB doc has us fill out at every appointment. I also mentioned the same to my internist during regular appts. I did this from the first month of having the band until my most recent fill a couple months ago. I also talked with the folks at BCBS MA member services, they actually directed me to the policy that spelled out the coverage. I sent a copy of the policy to the PS and noted for him the pages (19 & 26 in my case) that referred to the coverage, asking that he submitted this information with the claim for pre approval.

It went very well. My incision wasn't hip to hip but about 5 inches or so around my back on both sides. I had muscle repair and some lipo along top of my stomach, especially under the breast were it was lumpy and rather weird looking due to the fat pockets. They removed 4 lbs of skin and fat and also moved my port. My drains were removed today, that was great as I no longer feel like or look like I have tubes running in every place. I've actually started chronicalling it on my thread "had tummy tuck Wednesday". Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. My lapband and PS have asked me to come to a lapband seminar and talk about my experience and how I was able to get it covered by insurance - they are also amazed that insurance covered everything.

Decided to use this Thread to chronicle my experience. Had post op appt today - 6 days since surgery, The drains were removed today along with the onQ pump (I highly recommend) the onQ pump numbs the area requiring less pain meds (narcotics). for the past few days I've only taken 2 pills a day, 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening. The doc told me I could walk around more and use the steps more now, so I went to TJ Maxx for 20 minutes this afternoon and walked around, then went to starbucks - it felt good to be out and about but at the same time I didn't want to do too much and came home and am resting. Resting, healing and happy to be in the flatlands...

Thanks Sue, I'm starting to feel better, taking a lot less pain med and sleeping through the night now. My DH realizes that I'm starting to feel better as I'm getting cranky. I go in tomorrow for my post op appointment, crossing my fingers that I get the drains out and can't wait to get the onQ pump out as well - I feel and look like I'm tethered with all these darn tubes hanging from me. Right now the thoughts of getting the girls done is completely out of the question. I'll rely on Victoria Secret to keep my secret (that the girls are flat and deflated ; } I'll post pictures once I'm able to sit at my computer comfortably, currently I'm using my son's and it's like pulling teeth to get my hands on it, needless to say, the thought of uploading pics to his computer would cause a war. Anyway, I'm doing fine and the head cold I had prior to surgery didn't stop anything. I actually no longer had the cold, suffiness, head pounding... right after surgery - not sure what happened but the awful headcold was gone. Again, doing fine and will touch base later.

Came home yesterday, feeling sore and tired. Everything went well, my incision comes around toward my back - beyond hip to hip as I initially thought. PS moved my port and did lipo on the entire tummy area. My lapband doc came by to visit me at the hospital which was really nice. I'll touch base later as I'm a little loopy to say the least.

Any ideas how get rid of this cold? I'm drinking lots and lots of fluids and have been taking sudafed to eliminate the congestion. I'm thinking that I should be fine and they won't postpone my procedure since it's not a chest cold. Any thoughts, suggestions, remedies...?

Thanks Sue, I'll add additional Vitamin C and will definately work on getting more rest. Right now, I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Can't believe this is actually about to happen. Thanks Bandit, I also read something about dial soap, I had completely forgotten - thanks for the reminder, I'll make certain I use it from this point until the day of surgery.

Hello! I'm a week away from my TT w/ lipo and MR... Do you have any suggestions to promte successful healing? I will follow Dr's orders to the letter and have already given up smoking (I'm now 15 days smoke free) to eliminate smoking related complications, such as: • Poor and/or delayed wound healing • Increased risk of infection • Longer bruising period • Skin loss • Hypertrophic or keloid scarring • Increased risk of pulmonary problems • Flap necrosis (as with "flap" procedures) or tissue breakdown Do you have any insider tips? Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

I have BCBS MA, I'd suggest contacting member services and asking them for a copy of the medical policy document - for me it was Policy #068. This is a 33 page document which outlines plastic surgery coverage. I would never have known that they covered an abdominoplasty if I hadn't read this document. Also, if you speak with someone (insurance rep...) DON"T mention tummy tuck, refer to it as abdominoplasty.

Over a month ago I received a letter from the insurance stating that I was approved. However, I received a call from the PS office 2 days ago that they only received approval of the panniculectomy CPT code 15830. After 2 sleepless nights and nothing resolved, I called my insurance company again today and spoke w/ a knowledgable rep who informed me that both the abdominoplasty CPT code 15830 and panniculectomy CPT Code 15847 have been approved. Yes, I obtained the authorization/confirmatin numbers. That was one heck of a scare, with less than 2 weeks before the scheduled procedure. I'm back to being a happy camper again.