tazzyinheels

Hello I had a tummy tuck on March 15th and with lipo of both hips, 2 drains, my incision was hip to hip and my umbilicus was relocated. I went home from the recovery room and like you I am a teacher and was concerned. I had a niece who is a nurse stay with my for 5 days. I am also the can't sit still type. I have been very blessed. I had no pain, a little road rash from the binder (putting tight underwear and spandex under the binder resolved that issue in 1 day).Some people told me to wear my old big underwear and that didn't work for me (the wrinkles were worse) The hips were hard and hot for 2 days and about a week out they itched like hell for 2 days but that also resolved. I was told the itching was a good sign. I still have my drains but one will probably come out tomorrow. I have varying stamina and had one dizzy spell in the bathroom the 1st day post op (i think i had a hot flash and was a little hypotensive so I skipped BP meds for the next 2 days and it all resolved. As to activity, I was probably bad and had a lot of adrenaline the 1st day post op and actually went out to lunch and a little shopping. I probably over did it. I am able to walk daily (4-5miles), but have learned to listen to my body and take naps if desired. My results are phenomenal already , no regrets and more than pleased so I am anxious to see the results in a few months when it all matures. I wish you the best. Tazzy

Thanks for the suggestions. I have help planned for the first week (my niece) then I have good neighbors and friends but don't want to impose if I don't have to. So I am trying to get my stuff organized. I appreciate your help. Tazzy

I am 52 and getting ready for a tummy tuck as my abdomen and love handles resemble Jabba the Hutt or a shar pei puppy. Just to give you a mental picture. I am not complaining as I lost 100 pounds getting ready for surgery then another 60 since my lapband. So I have nothing to complain about. Starting a savings plan is never a bad idea. I wish you the best. Tazzy .

My turn is coming soon. Any suggestions to make the first week smooth? things I should get in the house? Thanks Tazzyinheels

Hello Okay I have lost weight (160 pounds from my highest) and am now 230 pounds and a dress size 16-18. I also have a 42DD chest so I can't go much smaller and fit them in (they were 44G a year ago) so I am making progress. I tried to venture into online dating but not getting many matches. I chose full-fiqured. Am i using the wrong category? I am still finding many shallow people, some are at least honest about it, others are what others have called frogs (half of what they said online was incorrect on further email). I was hopeful and thought I was ready but this is so hard. This is really a lot of rejection. Makes me think maybe I shoudl get a pet. TZ

I am 1 year and 8 months out and I have trouble with moist bread, chicken and rice/nori sushi (I can eat sashimi and Poke without a problem) If I am socializing I have to be careful to chew well as thats when the dry meat gets me if I don't chew to apllesauce consistency. I also drink in social settings (Water, ice tea) to keep things flowing ...My band doesn't like carbonated things I am tight in the morning. Haven't filled in 7 months by my choice as I am trying to change my lifestyle and don't want to use up my band too soon You do need periodic adjustments because you stomach also loses size so the band becomes looser from the changes

I have worn some form of spandex for a long time and think it does help to remind me to have good posture and suck it in Try things on: try the discount stores such as ross's TJ maxx and Marshalls and sample what you like it does run small so spanx was not my friend I love flexees and they sell at costco Avoid the dryer as it will weaken over time, don't buy too much of anything as hopefully you will shrink too. Good luck

Hang in there. I am coming on being 18 months post band and only lost 25 pounds last year despite all my efforts including exercise x 8 hours a week. The body does get thrifty and I was extrememly frustrated but was seeing NSV (non scale victories) then boom My body has go9ne back to losing significant weight again. So keep pluggin in as we are all in this for the long haul

I agree that it is probably variable for everyone but especially related to Fluid retention I have gone from a 10W and 10EE to being able to wear normal 8 or 8.5's I have lost 100+ pounds total: at first I didn't need the wide unless I ate salt (reason for my salt/fluid comment) and recently I have lost the length I am a year post op with a recent bandversary So beware as my friends are making out raiding my shoe closet now.. As to your tennies: I was able to wear them a little longer by wearing thicker socks but my sandals/pumps that are too big cause blisters so no can do:thumbup:

Enjoy your family and take things at your pace Your recovery should be going well at this point (gas pains over) and hopefully your endurance is coming back I missed my naps when I went back to work rememeber Soup and scrambled eggs or egg beaters in my case were good friends. I love the southwestern version. Best Wishes

I have experienced your dilemma I fly about a week a month and I usually do fine but I did have one bout of tightness on the plane. We are all inidividuals, I often get tighter 3 weeks after a fill then initially so I just eat how my band is, tighter in the am. I can swallow pills except Calcium tablets What seems to help me is when I fly I break cardinal rule #1 and drink with my meals to keep things flowing and I typically drink something warm to wake up my band that I want to eat. I also try to remember to chew, chew and avoid dry meat (my downfall). I do take a few powder mixes with me on trips and a Protein bar or two for the travelling days especially when the airlines is only offering Pasta. The sashimi and noodles in Japan go down easy. Enjoy and take things as they come.

I was told they would re-test me at a year post op I have lost 140 lbs from my heaviest and 100 lbs in the last year I can manage a night or two without it now but on the fourth day or so my symptoms start to come back and I went out in a hot meeting so I know I am not ready yet I agree that I have a love/hate relationship with it. I love that I sleep all night if I don't take fluids after 7pm and I dream again but if my allergies are acting up then its hell So talk to your PCP as if you do need it and stop on your own you may also see your symptoms re-appear and of course your BP and crankiness will likely increase I remain hopeful as I want to lose another 50 pounds but I am still a success regardless.

I have done the bra fitting thing and encourage it. Macy's and Nordstrom's do it for free and I got much good advice then after I knew what I liked bought more on ebay Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshall, Stein Mart are also fun as you can try someone new with little investment Someone (a friend) starting sending me Victoria's catalog but they still don't fit My bust did not shrink at the speed of other places and a good bra makes a big difference I might suggest if your loss has been significant that you invest in one or two good ones along the way. I am becoming an exercise addict and a loose ill fiting bra just tears me up now my 2 cents

I eat out alot Some suggestions: Soup salad fish order an healthy appetizer which is just about the right size for me order and request take out box to start meal so you only have half on your plate or share a meal. My friends love to eat my left overs or I have a great lunch for work the next day avoid the kids menu as bad choices ie fried and/or fat Good luck, it can be done.

V8 butternut soup goat cheese hummus frozen grapes I seemed to get hooked on things for a few days so it went fast. Good luck

:thumbup:a few more suggestions if you have netflix they have exercise items viewable on your computer that way you can do them whenever and mix it up without starting a library also ebay has many used items as does craiglist that can reduce your cost my library also has free loaners I have just dance for the wii and love it so do the kids

Yes, I own one for a year and used it pretty faithfully for the first 2 months now occasionally I also have the wii active and the just dance, too I am easily bored so I need variety, used when can't swim Pro's: you can do it whenever especially if weather or allergies are acting up, quiet, don't have to leave home, gives you feedback, gives you wt, bmi and physiologic age, charts your progress, many activities including yoga and balance, can do it with others, doesn't take a lot of space good if YOU have competitive nature it does have a wt limit (350 lbs?) in case that is an issue :tongue2:

The longer you are on this website the more diverse answrs you will see. My physician, dietician and I talked about this at length. Soup is their opinion is not verboten but it is a slider food which means more will go in so you can get more calories than you need pretty effortlessly. If you are trying to maximize your loss large volumes of soup will not get you there as many soups are pretty high calcoric. The other issue is the sodium content of the soup which leads to Fluid retention. Lastly as part of the bandster diet we try not to take fluids with meals so we fill quicker so soup is liquid so it does counteract the band. That being said we all agree that it is not forbidden but needs to be done thoughtfully. All the best,

You should not have any problems 2 week postop so I would just suggest high Protein and what you like. You won't be restricted yet from your band but I still tried to eat the band diet. So some of my choices, scrambled eggs, i would deconstruct the burrito/ etc as bread is not my friend or really dry meat otherwise i did fine until I reached restriction after my 4th fill and oh my, I now need to chew and eating slowly or else. Other things that were easy for me salads, tuna salad, chicken salad (not dry), meatloaf, etc hummus and the other slider foods such as Soup. Depending on your sensitivity, the big items that some of have trouble with are bread, dry meat, Pasta and rice as they tend to make dams versus slide thru as other things do. Enjoy the conference and make sure you stay hydrated, exercise and rest. I still periodically wanted a nap at two weeks but I went back to work after 4 days. :thumbup:

Just a few words of warning/learned wisdom: It is good to find your limits but they will change as you get filled and are not always consistent thru out the day. Some of us ar etighter in the morning and looser in the evening or vice versa. Be careful with soup and slider foods as more can go in so more calories go down easy without filling you. Many Soups are not low calories at all. I also have found as my diet has gotten better that I am more sensitive to salt and then retain water: My rings/watch get tight when normally they are have become bracelets. Especially the day or two before a weight in. My normal 2 pound fluctuation during a day becomes greater when I eat salt. Wishing you all the best on your journey. All in all I am a very happy camper.:smile:

I just wanted to agree with everyone else. I also wanted to say that pain is different for each person but this wasn't bad at all except the gas pains. I only took pain meds x 1 after getting home. Lots of Walking and spandex did more for me to push the gas out. They gave me a long local anesthetic at the surgery site so it never really hurt. I only took the one dose at bedtime so I would hopefully sleep well which I did. Looking at the site you can see that gas pains in the shoulders for a few days impact many people, that really was the worst of it.

Hang in there. I had second thoughts and put off the surgery for years. But things didn't get better and I wasn't getting any younger and having more health issues so I started the process and tried to live the lifestyle before surgery and lost 65 pounds. But I had lost 50 pounds before and gained it back too and then some. But I was exercising 7 or more hours a week, transferring my food addiction to exercise. My BP meds were cut in half, my arthritis has gotten better and I rarely take those meds anymore. Then I had to deal with a few people who didn't think I needed the surgery since I had done so well. I had the surgery 6 months ago and have lost another 35 pounds. If I hadn't done this I would not have lost the weight, it is a constant motivation. I still worry about failure but when you are facing that you are over 100 pounds overweight closer to 150, it just seems like an impossible mountain to tackle. I have found this a second chance.

It is very common as gravity helps it go down. Sometimes I just have to stand up and the food goes down. Good Luck:wink2:

I had the same problem, wild swings in temperature I was told that fat has lots of estogen in it and we are losing our insulation so this happens dress in layers and mind did get better in time. Hang in there.:thumbup: