Hey all. I'm about 4 weeks post of from getting my skin removed from my tummy, back and arms. I had about 3 good weeks with only a few bad days, but this fourth week has been miserable. More pain and more fatigue. I just want to feel normal again. I want to get back out there and start exercising again. Sadness has begun to set in. Any advise or encouragement would be helpful. I thought that things would start to improve by the 4th week, but they seem to be going worse. Is this roller coaster normal?

On a more positive note, I am thankful that they removed about 12 pounds of skin!

Good job on the walkin 2-3 miles. That's awesome! I too hated exercise, but I grew to love it. I miss it sooooo much right now. I worked up to running. This helped acclerate my weight loss. You might want to consider trying to start running. I couldn't go more than 2 houses w/out hyperventilating (LOL), but the Saturday before my skin removal surgery I ran my first ever 10 K (6.2 miles) and I ran the whole thing. It took me about a year to work up to the 10 K. In fact the most I ran prior to the 10 K race was 5 miles. I was just so determined to reach my goal for 2012 (running the 10K) that I knew I needed to do it prior to skin removal surgery.

I don't think you were having a pity party at all. You are just expressing your thoughts and feelings about the frustration of being close to goal weight and how hard it is to get there when you're smaller. I have about 30 more pounds to go and it seems like the goal is 100 miles away, but you know what I'll make it, just like you'll make it! Keep your chin up, keep getting out there and exercising. It IS possible!

Started running on the straight aways(if you can call it that, more like a shuffle) and walking the turns. This is advice I got from one of the trainers at the track. I know that I'll eventually run the whole thing. As long as I keep going it's progress. Made it there 5 days this week. My kids are tired of going and now taking turns with me.

Sorry to hijack...But I am having a TT on Friday. Do you have any advice to offer?

TracyW2, no problem. Take it easy during your recovery. I'm about 6 1/2 weeks post op and I over did it at work and home on Thurs. I paid the price yesterday and today. I'm totally wiped out and was in some significant pain. Some advise in regards to incision healing: Take extra Vitamin E, once the steri-strips come off and there is no scabbing use lotion with vitamin E in it. Rub in using small circular strokes (my dr said twice a day for 2 minutes) I rubbed the incisions in the shower with the antibiotic soap and then when I put the lotion on. My incisions look great! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks for the tip about the Vit E. Do you take extra in pill form or just the lotion?

So even at over 6 weeks post op, you still arent quite feeling yourself? My biggest worry is when I will finally be able to get back in the gym. I have been warned about that first week and pain. How long did you take off from work?

I am super pumped about my surgery, but then of course scared and nervous. I typically bounce back pretty quickly after surgery and have a feeling I am expecting to bounce back a lot sooner than what I'm going to.

I take pill form AND do the lotion.

I had RNY surgery not lap band. This surgery was MUCH harder to recover from for me, but I had complications after they gave me a blood thinner so I wouldn't get blood clots. The initial surgery for the abdominalplasty went great. I think had I not had the complications things would have been easier.

I took 6 1/2 weeks off work. I'm a ward clerk in a nursing home. My first day back was this past Wednesday. I was exhausted after day one. Then Thursday I felt great and I had so much energy. Hardly any pain, so when I got home from work, I went out for a walk / jog. I over did it. I paid for it yesterday and still today. So that's why I say take your time in healing.

I'm definitely not myself - well on Thursday I was, but like I said, I over did it and it set me back. Ease back into the work outs.

Everyone's recovery is different so maybe you won't have the issues I did. I'll be praying that you don't!

Tracy I had tummy tuck 8 weeks ago. I had lost 170 lbs so there was a lot of skin. My healing took awhile. I just got my last tube out 2 weeks ago. I over did it from the beginning and I think that made the healing more difficult. Now in 5 days I'm having a breast and neck lift (I was instructed no Vitamin e before surgery so check that out). I haven't been able to start exercising but mainly because I don't want the swelling to come back before my next surgery. If it weren't for that, I'd probably chance it. I've attached my before and after. I'm so happy with my stomach now!

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Thank you. I plan on picking up some vit e this week so i will have it ready.

Karen thank you so much for posting your pics. Seeing them is making me even more excited for my surgery. I jump between 165 and 170 lost and my stomach looks a lot like yours. I have been maintaining for over 6 months.

I have surgery on Friday the 10th and my husband will be with me until he goes back to work on Monday the 20th. How much help did you need at about 1 1/2 weeks out? I have 3 young kids and will have to get 2 of them off to school that Monday.

Again my biggest concern is when i will finally be able to get back into the gym. Did I mention I was a gym rat yet? LOL

Thank you both for your help. It is so nice to talk to others whom have had this done!

My stomach had 2 big tires. I'll try to post photos if I can figure it out.

If you have kids, you will definitely need some help. I am a single lady and though I didn't need a lot of help, I think the stress of the things a mom does you will need help especially if they are real young. Definitely no lifting. Follow your doctor's orders on what you can and can't do. Unfortunately you won't be able to get back to the gym as quickly as you'd like. My surgery was June 18th. I haven't been able to get back to the running that I did before. Though in saying this, I had some complications and my recovery might be different. I have run twice about 2 miles at a very slow pace. Very slow which is VERY frustrating. I loved my exercising and not being able to do it really stinks. Just be prepared to not exercise for awhile. Mentally before surgery, I thought that I would bounce right back into exercising. I was wrong. I can't wait to get back to where I was. I pray it is soon.

one of my fears of getting banded, which was done this past Monday, is the excess skin. I am almost 62 and female. I have been losing a pound a day, which is nice. Since my highest weight in March, 2012 I am down about 33.

Dylanmiles23. Good job on your weight loss. Keep it up! Yes, the excess skin can be very bothersome however it can be removed. This is not to discount your feeling at all. Your fear is normal and valid. Have they said that you can't have the skin removal surgery? I encourage you to focus on the weight loss at this time. Fear can set you back. Trust me I know. Let me know if I can help ease your fear in some way. I'm here to encourage and support you the best I can.

Tracy I'm having my surgery at CosMed on Thursday the 9th. Will you be there? If not, we will for sure be talking via this website. Good luck! And I lost the 170 by exercising about 6 days a week and I miss it but it won't take long. Heck, I thought it took a long time to lose 170 lbs but now I look back and realize that 2 years was really quick. Funny how I thought when this all started I'd have it off in like 10 months, lol.

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I'm having my surgery done here where I live.

Looking back, I did lose it fast. Plus I got pregnant 4 months post op and had to take a year off from losing while I gained a baby.

Good luck to you on Thursday!

Good luck to you both this week for your surgeries and i wish you a speedy recovery. I am now 12 weeks post op on my abdomino, body lift and brachio, am completely healed now , just half an inch of a scar where my vertical scar on my tummy meets the horizontaal one, a known trouble spot lol but its almost healed completely now.

I started my cycling at 6 weeks post op, and now at 12 weeks can go back on my road bike and start on my abs again. I had a massive repair to be done to my diastis recti , my vertical stomach muscles and now they need some gentle work to get them back working again.

I actually really never had much pain at all, it was sore and uncomfortable but thats it, obviously keep taking the pain meds till u dont need them, worst was trying to move around while in the bed, couldnt use my arms or tummy so i was more uncomfortable but i soon figured out a way to get into a good sleeping position.

I am having my thighs done next march 2013 but its never going to be a miracle when the skin is as bad as mine is/was. Keep the scars nicely creamed with the vit e cream and hopefully they will all heal up fine. Just be patient on the exercise front, your surgeon will let u do it as soon as u are able to

Just wanted to give you an update. Surgery went great yesterday. Im actually getting around really well. The pain is tolleable, but i'm also staying on top of the meds. I'm eager to see what is under all this dressing!