wish412

Congratulations on your wight loss and upcoming tummy tuck,,,,having read your post I thought I could offer you this advice, having gone through the surgery after a 100 lb weight loss,,,,,,,you will not be able to sleep laying flat for some time after the surgery,,I slept in a recliner first then graduated to a bed with my legs propped up on pillows to take the strain off of my lower stomach,,so I suggest you figure out exactly where you intend to sleep, and go ahead and start sleeping like that for a few days prior to your surgery,,,if you don't your back will hurt so much from the change in sleepin position that you will not be able to really get any rest...my back hurt me worse than my front did till I got used to the new sleeping position. I had to sleep like that for about three weeks till I could actually lay straight out again....good luck, and post before and after picks,,if you have any questions feel free to ask!!!!

Run jmunk run!!!!!!

I am right at four years out to the day,,and have always been called the model band patient,,lost my hundred pounds right off the bat,,the next year got tummy tuck for all the skin issues,,and always stayed the same weight give or take 1 to 2 lbs, for the last 2 years. Back in March I was traveling, and either food or something else caused me to have the worst night of nausea and vomiting,,the shakes, and inability to sit up for about 12 hours,,that hard vomiting from the bottom of your tummy, and this is the first time I have done that since my band. I don't know why, but I just felt something had gone crazy inside, but when I got back in town, I called my doc,,talked to the nurse. She said since I was so far out, that I had enough scar tissue to hold it in place,,but since I could eat and drink,,she didn't suspect any trouble. Well,,,,boy can I eat,,,,and eat and eat!!...I stay head hungry all the time,,my stomach growls again after years of not,,and I have gained nearly ten pounds. I felt I should get it xrayed, but she said it didn't sound serious, so I am just waiting it out. I can eat foods I haven't eaten in years, and haven't pb'd but once since the incident,,but my stomach wakes me up at night with pain if I lay on my side very long at a time... Sorry this is so long, but I need to hear from folks that have had serious vomiting incidents and how it all went after that,,I really am scared to go to the doctor in case I have to lose my band..my insurance won't pay for another one,,any help out there......:eek::thumbup::cursing:

Well, that could also depend on whether or not you come home with drains or not,,they are hard enough to deal with under sweats and baggy stuff,,I could not even attempt to put on regular clothes till they came out, and it was still a bit before anything tight went over that incision,,,but you just have to follow what your doctor recommends for your individual type of incision,,all seem to have different approaches to the healing process..best of luck to you, and enjoy that new shape!!!! Miz-boo

If I may throw my two cents worth in here,,,I travel quite a bit, flight, and by car,,and have never had to have an unfill, or even noticed a problem except for two occasions. Once while in Maine I went to an ice cream place, and forgot that I had one of those tummy trimming undergarments, and could not even get icecream to go down,,so while eating, don't wear restrictive clothing,,will squeeze what may already be a tighter than usual band go crazy,,,the other time I was in south Louisiana and had way too much shrimp and cajun stuff, and threw up for two straight days,,thought I was gonna die alone in a hotel room,,so alway make sure you travel with the liquid phenergan or some other anti nausea meds from your doctor so that if you do get sick away from home you can get some relief before the vomiting causes a slippage. Your doc will gladly give you something to carry with you when you travel. I got patches when I went deep sea fishing, but did not need them. Hope that helps some,,and have a great time catching up with friends, don't let the band even be an issue!!!!!!miz-boo

This is just a thought, but after my tummy tuck, when the drains were removed, I too continued to swell, and actually developed a rather uncomfortable pocket of fluid below my belly button. My surgeon took a huge needle(looked like a turkey baister to me), and drew the fluid out. It was a LOT!! After that, no more swelling,pressure, and the recovery finally moved right along. That was at about three weeks out,,so you might have them check you for a fluid pocket...Again,,just a thought,,,,,,

So you are saying that anything you can puree will be ok to do while going on liquids for a streched pouch? I was reading and when I read the post about the bra feeling uncomfortable, I knew why I have been really hungry, can eat a LOT at one time, and only get hung up every blue moon or so.. I am going full liquids for a while, haven't had a fill in a year, but have 3.2 in a 4cc Inamed and want to control this thing without running for a fill all the time. How long should it take for your pouch to stretch, cause all this eating makes my back hurt between y shoulder blades and is quite worrisome....MIZBOO

I am about 2 and 1/2 years out, and I can say that this has not been the easiest thing I have ever done, but it certainly has been the most satisfying to my heart and mind. I am so pleased with my success, haven't had any problems, had a tummy tuck after I lost 100 lbs. and never regret it for more than a few minutes while I wait for that too big a bite to go down. Best thing I ever did for myself to improve my self respect. Never looked back,,,,,miz-boo

I paid 7000.00 in Texas for mine, planning on getting the boobs reduced and that will be another 6000.00. If it goes as good as the tuck did,I won't miind dishing out for it.

I gues it has just started since my last fill in January. I also had a tummy tuck last November too, so I really thought it was due to that, but that is all healed and it got worse when I got just a tweak fill in Jan. Some days it is better than others, but I have only lost about 2 pounds since that fill. I am lower than my goal now, but still not satisfied with the shape of things, and a bit too much fat still.

Is it just me or is there anyone else who finds it difficult to eat while seated, or while traveling in the car. I seem to have a lot of trouble with this, but if I get up and walk around or get out of the car and stand up, the food goes on down. I am almost 2 years exactly out, and this is really getting frustrating......anyone have any suggestions???????Mizboo

Julie, not to even hint that I know were you are within your depression, but just as an observation from one who has battled depression since a total mental collapse in 2004, it really seemed that I was over all this, had seen my therapist for what I hoped was the last time, off all meds, and so happy with my weightloss from the band, and then as a treat for all my hard work, I scheduled a TT. I thought I was on top of the world, surgery went great, wonderful results, a bit slow I thought with the recovery, but now I realize that that old feeling of the blues is back. Do you think maybe all the excitement over getting FIXED after all that work could posibly lead to a huge mental letdown when after all that and you have shopped till you are bored, it seemes life is really NOT all that different like you thought it would be. I personally am trying to figure out what the crap I have to be so down in the dumps about!!!!! Hope you pull yourself up and out, and I will try to do the same. Just glad to see that I am not a freaky thing that gets down after geting what they wanted for so long!!!!!! CHin up girl, you are our role model!!!!!! MIZBOO

I had a Tummy Tuck with muscle repair the first week of November, 2007, and here it is now 3 months later, and I wish I could say that it is just a memory, but NOT!! The pain was totally tolerable without meds after 2 days, but those drains gave me fits. I could not sleep in my bed for a couple of weeks, since the drains came out on day 10, and then I got some swelling and had to be drained a few days later. Not painful though, just a nuisance. I could stand up straight by Thanksgiving, as a matter of fact I had my family over for the day, but was so tired, and was bent nearly over by the end of the day. Each day got straighter, but the tiredness still continues to plague me. I feel fine, look great, just a sort of pale white color, and not enough energy to get my house cleaned. I really think it is the winter blues more than any thing else. I am sure you will do just fine, and you will LOVE your new body. We all heal different, so let us know how you are getting along. MIZBOO:lol:

Good Luck to you, and God speed in your recovery. Get well and come tell us all the details, because as you know...inquiring minds absolutely have to know!!!! MizBoo

Julie, I hate to be a pest, but I feel you are the most forthcoming person about this subject by far, what with all the notes, pictures, etc, so here is another question. It has been 6 weeks for me now since the tt, but I still get so tired, and by the end of the day my tummy is bloated, and my upper back aches. How long before you felt like you could go full throttle again? I really need to get back to the gym, but am just not 100% yet. Any advice...... MIZBOO

Did they say what might have caused it to flip so soon after surgery? I really thought they stitched them down pretty good,,,on all four sides,,,,,so they wouldn't move. I am 1,1/2 years out and still worry that mine might flip over. Ever since I had my tummy tuck it feels like it is laying different in my abdominal wall, maybe because they pulled the skin downward from around it,,,, just wondering.....Mizboo

I just had the Tummy Tuck so that is the only price I know: Texarkana Texas 7000.00 everything included except 44.00 lab fee. Hope that helps!

Julie......I was just thinking about what all you have gone through to get your body to catch up to your spirit,,,,,not being able to stand straight with the TT and now not being able to sit with the thigh lift....I can only imagine how gald you will be to get through the boob work, and finally get on to enjoying your body and reaping the benefits(looks, whistles, and green eyed envy are just a few you will probably have to deal with). You certainly deserve to be able to flaunt it all. I certainly wish I had your stamina, but this TT things is really whipping my butt. My back hurts from the poor sleeping positions, and now I am having terrible hurtburn for the first time in a year and a half. I assume that all the abdominal sweeling is putting a lot of pressure on my band. Did you ever have that happen? If it does not improve I will talk to my doctor about it when I go next week. They did not do my TT and I think they are a bit P.O'd about it so they may not be much help from now on. Oh well..., Kepp us posted and get those pictures out soon,,,, you know we live for Pictures.....visual aide for lap banders..... Mizboo

Julie, you are indeed my AMERICAN IDOL. I really think that show has their criteria for idol all wrong. Look at what you have done with your life!!!!!!Simply Amazing!!!! May I ask you a question regarding your TT ? Was there ever a time post surgery when you wondered if you had done the right thing, or if you would ever stsand up normally again, and look normal? My husband is telling me how unnaturally high my bely button is, and it really does right now. WIll that all chsange? I am 5 days out and sort of freakin right now. My front hurts nothing like my back does. And rear end hurts from sitting in this chair for 5 days straight. Any words of hope for me???? Thanks, I have followed you r every progress, MIZBOO

Julie, I am about to have a TT on Monday, and am kind of concerned about my port and how they go about seperating the skin from around it without pulling the tubing apart or pulling the port lose from the muscle, etc. Did that come into play any with you, and is your port a lot more visible now after the swelling has gone down more. I wish I could ask all this of my surgeon but he is out of town till Sunday and I have just began the real worrying about everything post op. Thanks in advance for your reply. MIZBOO

Just curious, why do you sometimes get the hiccups after the first or second bite wen there is no way you can be full after just a couple of bites of soup. That happens to me quite often, ad I also get the strangest pain in my port when I get too full. I think the food puts some sort of backpressure on my port . Anyone else ever feel that pain.

This was a new one for me...... when my husband got in our suburban to drive after I had been driving it( which I rarely do), he hit his legs on the steering wheel. He began to gripe about who moved it down that low, and I explained to him that after losing 90 pounds my butt sits a lot closer to the seat, and now I could not see over the steering wheel. He really got a kick out of the fact that my butt being flatter also made me shorter in the seat. See if it is true for you, you have to move the seat or the stearing wheel to see over the dash. I also love that the seat belt will actually stay in place and not slide up over my face cause my boobs push it out of the correct place. Some days being in my own car seems like an out of body experience( a good thing)!!!!!

Edie, we had our surgeries in the same month(7/5/06) and we are both 48, so I have kept up with your weight loss. I have lost 85 ls. and sort of jst been sitting there the last few weeks, but I also wear a size 12, down from a 24. I have been experiencing the exact same thing you are discussing. I seem to be always cold indoors, and can't even seem to work up a god sweat doing yardwork and stuff. ISN"T IT ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL TO FEEL THIS WAY!!!!!!!!! Hasn't this really been an exciting , scary, challenging, and miraculous year. Keep up the great work, and enjoy the new life you have created for yourself. MIZBOO

Well, I have sort of been rewarding myself all along since every 25 lbs. I have to find new clothes( but my sister and I stayed so close in size that we kept switching our closets around), but my really serious reward came when I lost 75 lbs. I went to Tiffany's, and bought myself a platinum and diamond ing with a little dangling heart on it to remind myself daily that all of this work has been to spare my heart any further damage, and then when my new grandbaby is born in December I will gift it to her . I really feel that if I had not had this surgery, I might not be alive to even hold her, much less watch her grow up. My heart was suffering from the load it was under, and my husband had had a heart attack at 45 from years of obesity. Now he has had the surgery, and is on his way to a good reward. Mizboo

Maltomeal, it can happen, just keep thinking about it cause it just sort of sneeks up on you, how small you are getting. I started out a size 22/24, and now 9 months later, I am into all 12's, and some stores 10's. I could never imagine that ,and now it is almost like I am shopping for a stranger, because i have been large since a car wreck in 1990 that caused me to put on 100 lbs I could never lose. Thank God for the lapband, cause I lost that weight almost faster than it took me to be able to walk again after the wrexk. It is truly amazing how it all works, so just keep believing in yourself and the band. It will happen for you!!!!! Mizboo