frumpynomore

Today is Day 47 and I still have a little swelling just above and below my incision. Most of my stomach is still VERY numb and even down my thighs a couple of inches. I wore jeans yesterday and couldn't tell how tight they were so I wore a wife beater tshirt under my top and tucked it in to prevent my jeans from rubbing the incision. You can see in the latest pics I posted that the incision is red and lumpy. The lumpiness will go away as will the redness in time. It's not perfect but it's a lot better than what my stomach use to look like. It is a little teeny tiny bit disappointing that the incision isn't perfectly straight across and that it doesn't look like the stomach of a swimsuit model on the cover of Sports Illustrated but it's o.k. I'm real and this is my life and reality isn't what we always want...I'm totally pleased with the outcome!

A little late but as promised...Day 46 after TT pictures:

Standing up straight pulls on the stomach muscles inside. To anyone looking at me that doesn't know I had a TT I look like I'm standing straight. I'm glad you asked the question, Butterthebean, so I could clarify. I wouldn't want anyone thinking that my actual skin is being pulled this far out from having the TT! Turning or twisting at the waist pulls too on the muscles inside. For everyone's information, I weigh exactly the same that I did before my TT. Even though, generally speaking, I know that not much weight loss happens with a TT it's still a little upsetting. To be honest, I haven't been eating well since my TT and need to get a grip again.

You are soooo welcome Smoggy and Supersweetums! As I've mentioned before and can't say thank-you enough...I got through it not just from my family and friends but also from all the helpful, friendly, and supportive members on this site!

Today is Day 43, 7 weeks out from my TT! Wow, how time flies! Seven weeks ago I dreamed, prayed and begged for the time to go by quickly so as not to have any more pain and to feel normal again! I am soooo happy I had the TT and especially the time of year I chose. I haven't had to deal with the heat or humidity which I can't imagine how uncomfortable that would have been! For the most part, I can stand up straight and look normal to everyone that doesn't know I've had a TT BUT I still can't pull my shoulders completely back and stand as straight up as possible. There is a pull in my stomach when I try to and my doc says not to push it...just let it happen naturally. All the steri strips and tape are gone from the incision now. I actually put on my first pair of jeans today with no pain on the incision. I still can't lay down flat on my back. I have to elevate my legs on one pillow or it pulls on my stomach. I still have to help myself up with my arms from a lying down position too or it pulls my stomach muscles and hurts a bit. The incision looks great though. It's a little crooked and still very lumpy and red but I know that it's going to take a good year before it's through completely healing and I'm not complaining! Perfectionism was not my goal and as far as I'm concerned my stomach IS PERFECT compared to what it was! I had a request from a fellow member to post an updated picture of my incision so I'll be doing that tonight or tomorrow. BTW: I will be having my Breast lift/new implant and thigh lift consult on April 3rd! Isn't it funny how soon we forget the pain!

Hello Coops! Yes, I believe that 4 weeks is long enough to take off from work. I went back to work on Day 19 and although I was uncomfortable sitting and very tired I managed just fine. I put my laptop on top of a file cabinet so I could stand up most of the day at work, I took the elevator instead of the stairs to my office, and I brought my lunch to work everyday so I wouldn't have to drive anytime other than to work and back. You will just have to make some small adjustments to make your days as comfortable as possible to get through them. As you know, everybody heals at different rates and there are different levels of pain so I say 4 weeks is long enough with that caveat. The first 2 weeks are the worst but everyday you will feel a little bit better than the day before. Good luck and please keep us all posted on your TT journey!

FABULOUS! You already look GREAT! It's good to see TT pictures from a guy and I'm sure it helps all the men out there!

Boy! Can I relate and I can't stop! I've been weighing myself EVERYDAY since my VSG 14 months ago! Just can't help myself! For some reason if I don't weigh myself then I give myself an unconscious approval to eat whatever I want! I've tried having my BF hide the scale and it just drives me crazy! Whatever works for you...that's the bottom line. Good luck on your journey!

Thanks for the sweet compliment Readyforachange! I also wrote about my day to day journey for selfish reasons. I really needed emotional support and every member that wrote me, sent me emails, and the ones that just followed my posts gave me a feeling of not being alone. The support on this site is phenomenal! I don't know what I would have done without this site through my VSG and TT! Quick update: Today is my 39th day since my TT surgery so just a little over 5 weeks out. I can finally stand up straight!!! On the 34th day is when I noticed I could stand up straight but to really hold my shoulders back and walk as straight up as I could took until yesterday, Day 38. My incision is almost completely healed. There are just a few very tiny places that still have a little scab. It's still a little swollen on top and bottom of the incision. I still can't wear jeans because it hurts for pressure and something rough and rubbing on it so for now only soft material pants. I still have some original steri strips on the incision but it's mostly paper tape now. My doc told me to put paper tape on the incision when and wherever the steri strips come off. My next follow up appointment with doc is in 3 months so everything is going great! Thank you EVERYONE for all of your support!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm 13 1/2 months out now and here's what I've learned about the VSG: Everyone is different, every NUT had different directions, everyone experiences stalls at different points in their weightloss journey, everyone experiences different levels of pain and anxiety. What you are going through is completely normal. I have had MANY stalls but everyone of them was just a stall. I'd get all depressed and worried and then BOOM I would start to lose again with little to no adjusting of my calorie or carb intake. I know that it gets discouraging at times but try not to let it get to you. This site and all the people that have posted their journey and advice has been such a godsend for me through my journey. Try to keep positive and don't worry. Before you know it...it will be a year down the road and you will be a shadow of your current self!!!!! Good luck!

WOW! You look fabulous! Your outlook is so positive! CONGRATULATIONS!

I am 13 1/2 months out now and have RARELY ever felt a restriction. I never had any pain at all after the VSG surgery but I had the one incision through the belly button which might have had something to do with that. I don't think I have heard of anyone yet on this site that had the one incision. Yes, you are just one of the lucky ones!

My hair started falling out lightly in month 6 and then by month 7 it would clog the drain in the shower so bad that I would have a couple of inches of standing water before I was through showering. It finally stopped at month 10. It is sooooo thin! I am 13 1/2 months out now and don't even see any new hair growth. I too believe it's a luck of the draw. I've always gotten in more than the daily protein recommendation and taken many vitamins and minerals. I sure hope my hair comes back!

I've had my implants for 17 years and have lost approx. 80lbs with my VSG. They are not real bad but bad enough that I will be having a lift and new implants soon. If my implants weren't so old I would not have a lift as I don't think they look bad but since they are old...why not get the lift done now while I can still enjoy them?! Its really going to be different for everyone. You'll just have to wait and see how yours end up.

Just being honest...the TT is so much worse than an abdominal hysterectomy where the incision is vertical from belly button to pubic bone! My doc said it to me like this..."I'm going to fillet you like a fish on the operating table". His explanation is exactly correct! You not only get the hip to hip incision but the painful part is the stomach where your skin is removed from your body up to your boobs AND your muscles are all retightened which causes a lot of the pain too. I'm 3 weeks out from my TT now and still can't stand up straight and still uncomfortable. Yes, everyone experiences pain differently but overall in general a TT is considered to be one of the more painful plastic surgeries BUT i would do it again in a second as the outcome is more than worth the pain!

OMG! Standing totally naked in front of the 3 cosmetic surgeon consults I went to for a TT was one of the worst things I have ever had to do!!!! I also had an email consult with a mexican doc and I had to email him all kinds of naked body shots! That was just as horrible! I just crumbled inside and grinned and beared it!

CONGRATS on your weight loss!

Lara2080, when and what type of bariatric surgery did you have? How much have you lost? Who was your doc? I see that your a new member...welcome and please tell us about your journey.

Yesterday was Day 21 and I did much better at work. I stood most of the day again and didn't have near as much pain as when I sat for long periods at a time. The steri strips are still well adhered to the TT incision. Both drain holes have healed over now and I don't have to tape on the gauze pads anymore. I was suppose to have my 3 week check-up yesterday but I cancelled the appointement until next Thursday as I am still trying to catch up at work and just don't need to be taking off another day so soon after taking off 12 days. The nurse said that I can start to wean myself off of wearing the binders. I asked her what she meant...stop for an hour a day or 2 or 3? She said most people don't feel comfortable without wearing them and it takes them awhile before they feel like they don't need them anymore. Not me!!!! It feels so much better without them! Today is the first day that I'm not wearing them and I'm at work and I feel a lot better!!!! I've already had two work associates come up to me this morning and tell me that I look like I've lost weight! One of them said I look like I've lost 20 lbs! OMG! The feeling is just so amazing to get compliments on my body! GETTING THE VSG AND TT WERE THE TWO BEST DECISIONS THAT I HAVE MADE IN MY LIFE THAT WAS JUST FOR "ME" IN A VERY LOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG TIME!