Hi everybody. I wanted to start this thread to document the plastic surgery journey that we are about to start on. Frangipani & I both were banded last August and have each lost over 100 pounds. Since we have been traveling the lapband road together and now are about to have PS at the same time (me on June 12 & Frangi on June 13) we thought it would be appropriate to share a thread.

We have both learned so much from those who have gone before us and our hope is that our stories can be of some value to others.

I am having a lower body lift and medial thigh lift. All of my pre-op testing is done and now I'm just nervously waiting for my big day, which is less than two weeks away! I will post clothed before and after pictures for sure and I'll have to think about more revealing pictures later.

Hey everybody, it is actually me; doped up but it is me. I'm sitting at the desk in my hospital room and feeling pretty good considering. So far it is not as painful as I'd expected. Mostly because I've been taking the meds on a strict schedule to keep it from getting out of control.

Can't tell much yet except everything feels really tight and flat! I'm going to get out of my binder this evening long enough to take a shower, so I'm looking forward to getting a peak at things.

Thanks for checking on me one and all. I'll keep you posted as I can. Right now I'm just anxious to hear about Frangi. I'm sure with the GYN work she is also having that she's going to be more miserable than she otherwise would. My best advice is stay well medicated!!!!

Hope this all makes sense. I'll check back later. Becky

Becky, you sound great!! I know it is because of all the exercise you are doing. I will update Frangi when she calls again. She sounded wonderful! I am so glad for you two!!

Doped up and still using proper punctuation! Glad to hear you are doing well. Gives me hope. Are you on IV med or just oral meds? I am hoping just oral cause that is all I am having!

Salsa,

Frangi is on the pain pump. Just figured I fill you in!

Jody, thanks for the news about Frangi. I am so happy to hear she is doing well. Becky we are thankful for your update too. That sounds great that you feel well enough to be at the desk on the computer updating all of us. Sending all the well wishes we have for the both of you!! Thank goodness for pain meds!! Take care!

Becky - I am so glad to hear things went well.

Jody- keep us posted on Frangi!

I'm so proud of you girls and will be thinking about you this weekend!

I completely forgot to tell everyone that Frangi is up for a Stein Mart trip tomorrow! She says she will be ready!!

Yay!!! So glad you are through the surgery part Becky---please be sure to thank your sister for letting us know. I tried to get my DH to do it, and the board just confused the hell outta him, or so he let me believe!!!!

Rest up!

Kat

LOL. Kat, my DH is an engineer and he has the same "trouble" figuring out how to make the bed and operate the washer and the vacuum cleaner. ;o)

Glad to hear everyone is doing so well!!!

Hi everyone,

Frangi called today at noon. She is doing wonderfully! She was sitting in a chair while we were talking. The Dr is taking her off the pain pump today and switching her to oral meds.

Becky, she wanted me to tell you that you that she is really thinking of you. I told her you were waiting to hear how she made out as well. Sounds like both of you are doing amazingly well. I bet it is because of all that exercise.

Frangi wants to thank everyone for their thoughts and well wishes.

Becky, how are you feeling today?

I'm home and not feeling quite as good today, but hanging in there. I told sis and hubby that from my knees to my toes feels just great and from my shoulders to my finger tips, no problem. Its everything else in between that maybe was run over by I truck while I was under anesthesia Thursday.

Really, I have heard that the second or third day can be the worst, so I'm hoping to feel a little better tomorrow. I did shower at the hospital yesterday and in spite of the drains, swelling, scars, etc., I can tell the results are good.

Frangi, hope you are still feeling great. Stay on the pain meds is my best advice. More later. Becky

becky,

so glad to hear that you are OK... i was getting worried!

day 2-4 was the worst for me.

if you need anything, let me know.

C

I'm home and not feeling quite as good today, but hanging in there. I told sis and hubby that from my knees to my toes feels just great and from my shoulders to my finger tips, no problem. Its everything else in between that maybe was run over by I truck while I was under anesthesia Thursday.

Really, I have heard that the second or third day can be the worst, so I'm hoping to feel a little better tomorrow. I did shower at the hospital yesterday and in spite of the drains, swelling, scars, etc., I can tell the results are good.

Frangi, hope you are still feeling great. Stay on the pain meds is my best advice. More later. Becky

You'll feel better soon Becky!! You are doing just great!!

We have been camping all weekend but I made DH drive about 35 miles so that we could get service on his blackberry to make sure that Frangi made it out of surgery. We are all so connected, I didn't think I would be able to sleep if I didn't know how my friend was doing.

Becky, take it easy and keep up with those pain meds. My doc will be leaving my pain pump in for 2 days, but I don't know how that will work, because 2 days after surgery is a Saturday!

Becky, hope you are feeling better today.

No update from Frangi. I am a bit worried. I don't want to call her and bother her if she is resting.

Karri------if your pain pump is like mine, it is a round shaped IV sort of bag, and when it is empty it would just hang out with your drains until you see the Dr. the next time, it won't be a big deal if it remains in, even when it is empty----not something to worry over!!!

Becky, Frangi------so glad you are both hanging in there, it gets better quick.....and your new you starts emerging---such an amazing transformation----you will love it!!! So glad you are both through the surgery itself and on the road---I love being in such great company!!

Hugs!

Kat

Hi all! I'm not surprised Frangi hasn't called today. I do think that once all the anesthesia is out of your system and you start trying to manage the pain with meds it takes a day or two to adjust. She is probably really tired and sore. I bet we will hear from her tomorrow.

I am feeling better today, but I'm not going to sugar coat it. It is pretty bad pain. Moving around helps, but it is hard to get up and down and walking is very, very slow.

Salsa, in answer to your question about the pain meds; on the day of surgery I had i.v. meds and oral meds all day. The second day I had pain shots and oral meds. Yesterday and today I've had oral only and I've taken them every four hours without fail. I'm also taking xanax (anti anxiety) 3 times a day and a sleeping pill at night. All of this and I really am not out of my mind or even sleeping constantly. Maybe I have a high tolerance to pain meds, but I think it is because I really am experiencing heavy duty pain and I need heavy duty meds. The doctor told me to stay on the schedule I'm on and we can start cutting back by early to mid week coming up.

I did have an issue yesterday morning with an area about two inches long on my back side coming open and having to be sutured before I left the hospital. Today another area about an inch long came open also. My sister called the doctor and discussed it. He gave her instructions on how to bandage it and I will have to go in tomorrow instead of Tuesday as we'd planned. He says this is very common and one of the difficulties of being cut 360 degrees. It is just hard not to have pulling somewhere along all these cuts. All of my sutures are internal except for the ones that had to be added yesterday to my back side. DermaBond is the surgical glue that I'm sealed up with on the outside. Its suppossed to help with minimal scaring.

I've been out of the binder twice now for showers and I can tell I'm more swollen today than yesterday, but all and all, I think things are looking pretty good. It looks like most of my stretch marks are gone, and so far I can't even tell where my port is or even the original port scar.

Thank goodness for the tip about the elevated toilet seat ladies. I'd never have thought of it, but I say everyone should put it on their lists of post-op must haves.

I've been up for a couple of hours now so I'm going to lay down for a while. Thank you all for checking on me and sending the healing vibes. Jody, when you talk to Frangi give her my love and best wishes. Becky

Karri------if your pain pump is like mine, it is a round shaped IV sort of bag, and when it is empty it would just hang out with your drains until you see the Dr. the next time, it won't be a big deal if it remains in, even when it is empty----not something to worry over!!!

Good to hear. I think this is how it is going to be. I have surgery on the 3rd and see the doctor on the 9th. I will not be staying overnight. My tummy tuck will be done outpatient.