Yep, Tummy Tuck, here I come!!!

I am on the schedule for May 20th---less than 2 weeks now. I am so excited it is truly hard to believe.

The plan as it stands now, is for a Full Tummy Tuck, with mons lift, and minimal lipo.

I am getting close to goal weight, and as we have followed through with appointments, I have continued to drop additional pounds, but my belly measurement does not change.

He said he plans to do some muscle repair, as we know I have a torn muscle (mean a$$ ex husband) and also stretched muscles from pregnancies.

I have BCBS of TX, and they approved it as a medical necessity. I have documentation of the muscle tear, as well as several skin breaks -- it literally just tears from the weight of itself---so nasty!!! I also had documentation of rashes under the pannus. I have had it for years, and hated it with a passion, I am so blown away to think soon it will be gone!!!!

Thank you Steph, and Julie, and everyone who has been there lately sharing all your steps with me---I look forward to sharing mine with those following me.

I will post pics after it is done....I cannot imagine I am saying that I will show this monstrosity!!!

I am going on a mini vacation, to meet up with my fellow Shrinking Violet bandsters from the 16th to the 19th of May, come home the night of the 19th, and have surgery the morning of the 20th! I figured it would keep my mind occupied!!!

I have no children at home, and no job to get back to, so when I clean before leaving on my trip, my DH will keep it that way....he is much neater than I am!!!

Will update as I see the surgeon the last times before the big day!!

Let the FUN begin!!!

Kat

Yes I have the spirometer, and used it faithfully til this! But now if I breath deep, and I keep trying, it sends me into coughing jags. I am seeing my PS tomorrow-----so I can find out which I need to do more, protect my new muscles he repaired, and my belly button, or to cough it on up-----which is ungodly painful!

Meanwhile I am on antibiotics----I think they were the cause of the reflux to be honest, they taste beyond nasty, and that is what the reflux was.

I know I have to keep my lungs working----I am trying...EVIL reflux!!!

Kat

I feel for ya Kat! On day 6 I started sneezing - thought I would die! I went to ps on day 8 and he checked everything out and said all was fine with the muscle repair but dang did it hurt! I went to get refilled three weeks out and wow what a fiasco that was. I had 7.5 before being unfilled and I knew I was a little too tight so I had band doc put in 6, I was throwing up 3 sips of tea. It was awful. I don't know what was going on, if the swelling from tt made the band swell too, so he took 4 out and I'm left with 2 - needless to say I don't have enough restriction but I'm so afraid of throwing up or even just pb'ing that I haven't gone back yet. All that said... I'm a gabber... just to say I know the pain and fear you were going through, I hope all is much better now. Deep breaths are important for healthy lungs so try. I'm a firm believer in pain meds, if you are hurting take something. Seriously. If you can take a med and a deep breath then do it. Its better then going with out pain meds and getting sick.

I have avoided sneezing so far---barely, but have done it!!!!

I am still coughing some this morning, but I can breath deep without choking, and without pain----none of the wheezing of yesterday.

I have mild asthma---only presents itself when I have respiratory infection or something---and I was wheezing yesterday. My PCP had me use my inhaler, and told me to keep trying to deepen the breathing. By last night I was doing the yoga breathing of in through the nose to a count of 4, hold the breath for a count of 7 and slowly out through the mouth to a count of 8. It was controlled enough that it did not immediatley make me choke.

I see my PS this morning at 10:45. My incision is seeping more than it was---but man where the steristrips are off, it is a fine line, will make a smooth scar if this is not serious infection or something. There is no odor, no heat, no redness, and no pain.

I have the smaller band--mine is 9.75ml, and will hold 5cc's. When he did my unfill, I thought I had 1.75cc's. He pulled 1.6--and said that was good since I had not had a fill in over a year and a half. My ability to eat more changed. If I pay attention, though, I have not had hunger, or any changes that way. If I serve myself small portions, I am fine with them. I will stay this way as long as possible, and fill when my weight changes or hunger returns. Til then will give my belly a break.

My weight has remained pretty steady for a few days. I was 184.5 the morning of surgery. Then popped up to 198 the day after!!! It has dropped and I have been at 177 for a few days now. Without the belly, I can see myself being able to do so many things without embarassment, that I think I could drop the last 10 or so with increased mobility----WHEN I get mobile again, I am still somewhat stooped over and not moving very fast!!

Anxious to see him today.....

Kat

Hi Kat,

Glad to see that's there's been some improvement for you :thumbup:!

Have you ever had anything like this happen before since you've been banded? Has refluxing been a problem for you in the past?

I know that you said you were unfilled prior to surgery, and I'm going to try to get through my surgery without an unfill. However, I sure don't want anything like this happening, and in fact, you've almost got me wondering if I should stay on liquids for a week or two after surgery.

Good luck with the Dr. this morning and keep taking good care of yourself! :tt2:

For many years I dealt with reflux problems due to a hiatal hernia. Both of my parents have the problem as well, and my Grandma for years before that! The surgeon fixed the hernia during my banding surgery, and I was good for a few months, then it returned. We did the swallow study and all to assure ourselves the band was ok---and determined it had simply herniated again. So I take Prilosec OTC and have the head of my bed raised and have no issues, as long as I do not sleep on my back. That has ALWAYS been the problem. Before banding to now, I could not sleep for long periods on my back without refluxing.

Well with the TT--laying in the bed was an issue so I was in the recliner----on my back night after night. Slowly stretching out more--until it was just too much!

Last night I moved back to my bed, and onto my side, was touchy as far as comfort, but with DH's help, lots of pillows and allowing myself a few minutes to relax, and it ended up being fine, and I went all night with no issues.

I slept like a log!!!

My Dad had surgery to correct his hiatal hernia several years ago, and it was a big surgery---only for his to re herniate within a year as well. We must have weak diaphragms!!!

I think as long as I go back to what I know works I will be fine....was just a lesson learned the hard way!

I was unfilled a week or so before surgery, and have not even contemplated refilling at this point. My fill was not tight, and has never been relative to my reflux.

I ate the night of my surgery----I never even thought of going onto liquids. Actually they had me eating saltine crackers in the surgery center to take my pain meds with. I have made a concentrated effort to eat healthy, trying to regain my strength quickly. I take my Vitamins and all----but eat normally. Might be something to discuss with your Dr.

Kat

Hi Kat,

Thanks for the very detailed info!

Seeing that you have had a problem with this in the past makes me a bit less concerned that it will happen to me, since I don't have much of a problem with this, pre or post band.

Thanks again, Kat :thumbup:!

Dannygirl, I don't know anything about LapBand International -- sorry. Perhaps you might want to post this query in the "Doctors and Hospitals" section of this forum. Good luck!

Dannygirl, you need to go to the main page "Forum" and as Frangipani said, go to the "Doctors and Hospitals" section, and under "Thread Tools" I believe it is, you will find an area for starting new threads.

I have not heard anything about this place.

This is an established thread, concerning my Tummy Tuck, so I just doubt you will get much response from asking in here.

Good luck in your search for info.

Well, back from the Dr. the discharge from my incision is called some big fancy word meaning FAT necrosis. Meaning dying fat. He said when he did the TT, he removed the blood supply to some of the remaining abdominal fat, and so it is dying, when that happens it basically melts----turning a yellowy/whitish color, resembling chicken fat. He said puss from infection will have a green tint and a defining heat or redness. He said with this necrosis, I do stand a chance of infection forming, but with my antibiotics and all we should be fine. He removed some of the strips, and I can see my big old owie now!!!

He showed me exactly how and where to apply counter pressure to my belly button to cough or sneeze. Said it looks like it made it through yesterday ok. He listened to my lungs and said it sounded clear.

I stopped at the store for a few things and I am exhausted!!!!!

Kat

Kat I had Fat Necrosis around my port incision after I was banded. It's such a weird term, and a weird thing! Sounds like your doc is watching things so you should be good. I am so happy things have gone so well and I can't wait to see updated pics! :w00t:

Kat. Hop eyou feel better soon. I woke up from surgery coughing and it last over a week. It was excrusiating. I feel for you. I cried a couple times and asked my wife why I did this. It does get better though and would do it again tomorrow if I had to. Hang in there :w00t:

Wow Kat...you're doing so well all things considered. You've been thru some tough stuff girl!! I truly hope that with each day you feel better. I'm glad you've got a good hubby and good docs taking care of you. Sending you bigs hugs and wishes for a continued safe and speedy recovery!!

-Amy

Thanks so much guys!! Neil, I too am already thrilled beyond belief with the results, and would fight to be first in line to do it again-----but as we both know, would love to do without the coughing!!!

My belly button is still fully encased with steri strips, and has not ooozed a drop of anything----so it is kind of hard to see---from what I can tell, it looks like it used to!! I mean it IS my old bb-stuck through a new b hole!!! LOL, kinda anxious to see it!

Kat

Oh, Kat girl, doesn't it just figure? Is it better now? Try eating a cracker or two - that sometimes will calm your throat and esophagus. Your recovery sounds amazing overall, so I truly hope this is just a tiny bump in the road and doesn't affect anything. Sounds like the swelling is going down a lot though, right? Are you able to walk normally now? And sleep in bed?

Yes the coughing has eased, and I am feeling great again!!

The drainage continues, which is kinda yucky---but in the overall view of things I can deal with it!!!

I am walking pretty normally, slow in and out of the car, that kind of thing--I am not probably as perfect in posture as I usually am. You get that after growing up tall---with a Dad at 6'5" always telling you to walk straight!!! But I am not hunched....just not stretching it yet. I am back to sleeping in my bed---I do find it hard at times (last night!) to find a comfy spot--it seems like I lay there, and this twinges, or that......but nothing I would call painful-------just enough to keep me from really relaxing and going to sleep well. Going to try some Tylenol before bed tonight.

I am off to the golf course today! Not playing---no way! My DH's employer is involved in an API American Petroleum Industry golf tournament, and BBQ cook off. DH has us a golf cart, and we are going to go make the rounds!

Everyone have a great day!

Kat

Hi Kat. I'm so glad to read that you are feeling better and well enough to go on a little outing today with your hubby.

I've been following your story with great interest. I'm scheduled for a lower body lift and medial thigh lift in a couple of weeks and the details you have provided have been very helpful.

We have similar stats. I'm also 5'9" and we've lost about the same amount of weight, so hearing how happy you are so far makes me even more confident that I'm going to be thrilled with my results too.

It seems like you didn't take pain meds for very long. Did you not like the way they made you feel or did you just not need them? My doctor says I'll probably need prescription pain meds for a couple of weeks. I don't like the sounds of that, but I guess I'll see how it goes. Are you able to drive yet?

Keep resting and taking care of yourself. Becky

Hey Becky~

After the first 3-4 days I found no need for the pain meds---I did take one at night occasionally....but have not had any in several days. As soon as I was off the narcotic pain meds, and had my drain tubes removed, he give me the ok to drive.

My incision runs from my hip bone on an angle down to my pubic bone, across, and then angles back up to the other hip bone, and then my belly button is a circular incision---for lack of a better word.

Today I went to a sale at JC Penney's and bought some pants (capri's) that might stay up--and with bandages and everything the 12's fit with ease, and a 10 was snug with all my binding and what have you. I was shocked!! I will be in an easy 10 when this is said and done. I actually bought 2 pair in a size 12 and 2 pair in a size 10---different materials etc.

I was doing little happy dances in the dressing rooms--well as much dancing as I am doing so far!!! I did walk through the mall for a ways, and had no problems at all.

My drainage is way down for today----yay!!!

Going to try to walk through part of a carnival and watch my grandkids have fun tonight----but coming home early to bed. I do not want to over do and set myself back. So far so good, and want to keep it that way!!!

I have noticed towards evening I begin to swell....my compression binder seems much tighter in the evening. I have read of others swelling like that at night so figure it is normal.

Have also been fighting off the sneezes again today! Sooner or later it is bound to happen, I am working to make it later!!!

Kat