GREATFUL

I got up this morning and went to church. DH was leading the singing so we had to stay for both services. Wanted to be there for him in support. So had to get up at 6 AM. Then we had lunch with some friends after, so it was around 2 PM before me got home. OMG, I was wiped out. I went to bed and took a 3 hour nap. I am so very glad that I decided to take 3 weeks off work instead of 2. I realise after today that my body is still healing and needs its reast. So hear is to looking forward to another week at home, and being very thankful that I have a job where I can take 3 weeks off. Take care all, Laura

I do not know. You would just have to check with them. I just wouldnt call it a TT when I talked to them. All TT are considered cosmetic, and not covered by insurance. I would talk to them about skin removal, Pannicelectomy. That is what I talked to my insurance about. GOOD LUCK Laura

Mimi - Like you I was worried about this also. I talked to my PS alot about this. I had heard of a few people who had problmes with their band after having a TT. The tubing had been pulled or kinked during the TT. He had worked on a few other band patients. And actually was very proud of himself, he had developed a way to roll the muscle, working with the tube. I also think it has alot to do with where your port is located. Mine is very high, kinda in the middle of my rib cage to one side. So it only affected the upper muscel tightening. He was very careful about the port when dealing with the skin. If I were you, I would just talke to my PS. Ask him if he has worked with other band patients. Stress to him your concerns. My PS also knew my Band Doc. He said if there were any problems he could call him in. That helped me not to worry as much. You have to trust you PS, that is the biggest thing. And talk to him about your fears. Take care, Laura

Mimi - I dont know if you could call me a cat lover or not. The kitty refrence came from a very funny story, well it is funny then anyway. My mom had to have open heart surgery, and they had to do one of those heart caths. Where they go into your groin area. Well she was one blood thinners and brusied very bad, and they had shaved her privates, and she was on heavy pain meds. Well..... my sister and I were helping her to the bathroom, and well, she said "Look Girls I have a purple Kitty". We almost died laughing..... one of those moments I guess. The week of my surgery I went to Victoria Secrets and bought six pair of sexie panties. I have so enjoyed wearing them, even if it is with my binder on. I have worn them in my pictures. So you need to get you some before surgery so you will have them for you before and after pictures. Yesterday was a funny day. It started out fine, but early on it was like BAM.... I hit a wall. I had no energy and just wanted to lay around. I was checking with with some others that have had this done and they told me that it was common. To have a great day, with lots of enery, where you feel like you can do anything. Then you will have a bad day, just wiped out. Two steps forward and one step back. I think this has tought me that I am not out of the woods yet. And I am still healing, and I need to take it slow and easy. So today is just going to be that. SLOW AND EASY.... I hate it, DH has all of these projects planned. We are putting our house on the market and there is painting and such to be done. But I will behave. One more week off work, I am going to make the most of it. Take care all, Laura

Allie, Fan Club, now that is funny. LOL Was I unfilled for surgery? Well, I talked to my PS and my Band sugeon both about this very thing. I had went in for a fill back in April, and well lets just say, I was tooooo tight. So I had to have a slight unfill. Doc wanted me to wait 6 weeks before he did another fill. So I have not been very tight anyway. So I just stayed that way, and I had no problems. Just to note, and something I did not put in my post above about my diet. I did stay on liquid for the first 2 days after my TT. I did not feel like eating, and wanted to get in the Protein, so I stayed on liquids, with one exception. I did eat low sodium cracker before taking pain meds. I did not have any problems with my band. I just took it real easy the first week. WOW, December.....I was like you, I wanted to do all I could to make this surgery a success. Every time I put something in my mouth I would think "Is this going to help me, or hurt me". My band was loose, and I dropped 10 lbs. That was all because of my mind set about having this TT. You will do great!!! And you will love FLATLAND! I still cant belive I am here, Each morning when I take off my binder it is like unwrapping a present. I get excited to see my flat tummy. I know..... I'm weird. But I think only people like you and I can understand, after you have lived with the "kangaroo pouch" for most of your life, and then it is gone. And you have a belly button that is cute and not one that trolls could live in. And you can look down and see your "kitty" (LOL), without having to lift up flab and look in the mirror. Oh, I could go on and on......but you know what I mean. That is why I love this place. People who know where you are coming from. I will be watching and looking forward to your journey in December. Take care, Laura

WOW - you have done awsome!!! I took of 3 weeks from work. And I highly recommend doing that. PS said some go back at 2 weeks, but it is hard. I have spoke to some who have, and will it is tuff going, you are very tired and achey by the end of the day. I just paid too much for this to mess it up. I was lucky, I had the time to take off. I am so very glad that I dont have to go to work next week. Do I think I could if I had too? YES. But I am so glad that I have another week to rest and recover. I have read that alot of the problem that pleople have after PS is because they have over done it too soon. I do not plan to be one of them. Yes I took vitamines before surgery.....a good friend of mine had breast cancer and had to have reconstrution surgery. She gave me this diet she found, and she swears by it. She had very little brusing, no bleading during surgery, almost no swelling and her scar, well you cant hardly see it. What it is is - 2 weeks before surgery -each day take, One multi Vit, Vit C - 1500 mg eat fresh spinich at two meals Drink at least you 8 glasses of Water 3 days before surgery, same as above but add, increse Protein to 100 grams (I used protein shots, one has 45 grams drank one of them each day) After surgery - Same as above but added, Bromelain - 2000 mg (4 pills per day, take 2 in am on empty stomack and take 2 at bed time). They are big pill, I broke them in two. Increase water intake as much as possible. I don't know if it made a diffrence but I drank "Smart Water" with electrolytes. I like the tast of it. I was able to get down almost 100 oz per day. Be prepared to get up and pee alot, I got up every hour after surgery. My poor DH.... but it flushed everything out and I was supposed to move to keep away blood clots. In addition to all of this, no vit E, no herbs that begin with G (ex. garlic). I don't know it this made a diffrence, but it has made me feel like I have been apart of my healing, and I am a controll freak. LOL Laura

Mimi - Well, before surgery I went on to "Makemeheal.com" and ordered 2 compression garments. A stage one, for the first 2 weeks, and stage two for after that. I should of talke to my PS before I ordered and paid a bunch of money for them. He has me in a binder, and wants me to wear it for a month. I asked him about the compression garment (CG), and he said "Yes, you can wear that, but you have to wear the binder over it". It is hot here.....so I have just worn the binder like he said. I have considered sending the stage one CG back, but tried it on, and well I liked how it fit and felt, so I am keeping it for later. Who know I might want to wear it. And the stage 2, I will wear for sure after the month of the binder.

Oh, I am going to do some before and after pictures (with clothes on). Got a really cut new dress today....drum roll........size 10 ...OMG...did you hear that....size 10 !!!! I was in size 16 when I started this journey. YEA can you tell I am happy? Laura

Well today is 2 weeks post op for me. My house cleaners come every other Thursday, so I made big plans to be out of the house this morning. I started with coffee at Starbucks, and the paper. Went to Ross and Marshals to try on clothes, has to buy a few. Very happy with the sizes, YEA. Had lunch with one of my best Girl Friends then ran by JC Pennys to buy a new bed spread. BUSY DAY, and I am pooped. So the rest of the day is to be spent on my fanny when my feet up. I almost feel like a movie star or something, LOL. Now I just hope DH will cook supper. I am so glad that I decided to take off 3 weeks instead of trying to go back to work at 2. I just dont think I could of made it to work today, at least not all day. But, work is an hours drive away, that is why I opted to not do half days. So glad..... I took it real slow today, so I do not think I overdid it, I am not swelling as far as I can tell, but will be pushing the Water the rest of the day. Take care all, Laura

LOL - I bet they are..... but I was doing what my mom called "all that was possible" Wash up as far as possible Wash down as far as possible Then wash Possible.... Laura

Hello Dr. Schulman, I am 2 weeks post-op for having a FTT. I am very happy with the results. I am trying to do everthing I can to do my part to have the best results. What I was wondering is: How long to you have to worry about bad thing happening such as hematoma, seroma, infections and necrosis? When are you "out of the woods"? Thanks for what you do here, you are such a help!!! Laura

Skinnyjeans, Thanks for the fabulous comment. Boy do I understand the wanting it BAD thing. It was like when I made up my mind I wanted the lapband surgery, well that was all I could think about. I stayed on this site all the time, reading and reading. Then when I made up my mind to have the TT well it was the same thing.... So what are you wanting to have done? Just a TT or some other work also? I have been watching what I eat since surgery to have the best healing possible. Salt intake, because of swelling, Protein for healing etc. Well, big bonus, I have dropped 3 lbs since surgery. I am so excited, just 5lbs from goal. I know that he took off 5lbs of skin, so I was expecting some weight to come off, so we shall see. I so want to reach my goal by the end of August. He said I could start walking (mild) tomorrow. Isn't it funny, when you have one part of your body look good, instead of thinking "How nice that looks" you think "My ass sure is flabby" LOL Today is going to be a wonderful day. No drain tubes and I had a shower......now that is a good day in my world!! Take care all, Laura

Thank you Sue, and yes it is much easier to sleep now with the drains out of my hips. It is eashier dressing also, it seemes liked everything I put on pulled or rubbed at my hips. Shalee04 - Hey Girl how are you doing? I followed your journey and it sure helped me prepar for mine. Thanks for the nice comment. Mimi - Thanks, I am very pleased about how the healing is going. And yes, last night was much better. Take care all, Laura

Yesterday was a great day. I got my drains removed and the stitches taken out of my BB. I feel liberated. PS said that most people feel like that, and then they turn around and over do it and undo all of the great healing that has happened. SO, it is his policy to be on bed rest for 48 hours after having your drains pulled. He says that when the drains are pulled out, the healing that has happened around where the drains are has been removed. And that has to reattach. I trust him and and he is a wonderful PS....so I am doing my very best to stay down for 2 days. It is hard. But after I got home I did notice a burning sensation in my tummy, he said I would feel that, that is where the drain tubes were. So I iced down and stayed off my feet. I have a few movies to watch today and going to be a very good patient. Just so happy with the results so far, and do not want to do anything to mess that up. So far my swelling has not been that bad, but I am only 12 day out I know. Watching the salt, taking bromeline, drinking lots of Water and resting. Okay, my DH......I think he is afraid to say I look good. Because I will think he did not like me before. He is funny that way. He just does not say much....I have to ask him "Honey how do you think my BB looks" he will reply "Looks good, but it was not that bad before". So last night I had a talk with him, and told him I know that he loved me the way I was. But, I need him to love me the way I am now. So I think it helped. we shall see....Did anyone else have this? I have taken new pictures, if you wanna see..... Password: OMGnoflab http://www.makemeheal.com/pictures/viewAlbum.php?albumid=9792. Take care all, Laura

Hey All, I am doing so much better today. Sue, I would take a show if I could, boy would I love to take a shower. Still have my drains, and PS said no shower until they come out. I am hoping it will be tomorrow. They have slowed down the last few days. PS told me to call when they were below 30cc for a 24 hour period. They were below that Friday and Sat. and looking good today. So I will be on the phone with them in the morning and hope they can get me in to get ride of these things. I cannot wait to take a real shower. I have been able to wash my hair in the sink with DHs help, and even sat on the edge of the tub and shaved my legs yesterday. That helped me feel better, but a real shower.....now that is what dreams are made of, LOL. Mimi, you may be right. I thing maybe I was coming down from being so pumped up before surgery. I slep good last night. Took pain meds before going to bed, woke up at around 4 am to go potty and took more. I woke up around 8 am well rested and ready to go. No back ache. I think my problem is that I am a side sleeper and still have my drains, in my hips, so that makes it had to try to sleep on my side. Take care all, Laura

I woke up this morning with my back killing me. I will be so glad when I can sleep on my side. The drains are coming out of my hips so it makes it hard to lay on my side. It really sucks to wake up in pain, puts a damper on the day. I think I am having the hormone flux, I am very emotional, and well, my DH he can't do anything right. Luckly he is gone for the morning, gives me a chance to get my head around this. I am such a baby....... Laura

Since my TT I have been trying to keep my protein up to 100 grams per day. I don't know if it has helped or not, but this morning I was down another pound. I am not that worried about loosing weight during this time, just not gaining. Plus I have read that protein helps with healing. I would love to be at my goal by my Birthday in August. Six pounds, we shall see, hard to do when you cannot exercise. Going to have a big day today. I am going to the grocery store. Weeee. Just need a few things. One of them being I NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE! Going to get some fresh fruit. Dont need any veggies, my garden is coming in now, and we have tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, etc, coming out our ears. My poor DH is not a gardener, but he has been having to pick it each day. He has been a real trooper. One of my Best Girl Friends is coming over tonight to watch chick flicks. So today is going to be a good day. Can you all think of some low salt, movie watching, munchies that I can make for us tonight? I guess if nothing else it will be fruit and vegies. Or no salt pop corn. Take care all, Laura

Hey Mimi, make haste slowly, LOL.

Got more pain meds. YEA Drugs. I had to go pick it script up because they cannot call that type of meds in. So I had my first outing today, I drove myself to the doc and then to the drug store. It went well, but sure took it out of me. Nurse told me that it was 30 cc in each not total, That was good news. So I sure hope to get these drains out by the first of next week. Trying to not be in a hurry, because I hear horror stories of people having bad trouble with swelling and sernomas (sp). So just sucking it up. Take care all, Laura

Thanks everyone! I am calling the PS to get a refill for the pain meds. I took the last of the meds lastnight and slept like a baby, and feel so much better this morning. I can't believe it has been a week today. I love my new tummy. I am just bored with being at home and not being able to do much. I keep telling myself that I was so looking forward to having nothing to do but lay around. So going to try to enjoy it today. I can do this, I can be a lady of leasure. LOL Better be careful, I might get to like this and not want to go back to work. My PS's nurse said to call when my driaining was below 30cc in a 24 hour period. Well last night it was 20cc in one and 50cc in the other. I dont remember if she meant 30cc total or less than 30 in each one. I will ask today when I call about the meds. Take care all, Laura

I had a hard time sleeping lastnight. My back was hurting. I took some of the percocet and was finally able to get to sleep. Then I woke up, had to pee, and was in alot of pain again. It had been a little over four hours since I had taken the percocet, so I took some more. I hope this is just part of the healing process. I hope that this too shall pass. I do not want to have to depend on pain med to get to sleep. My DH reminded me that it has not even been a week since my surgery, and not to stress it.

OMG Girls, I almost did the same thing. The binder that I came home in, well didnt have a bottom, so got used to just going. Then I canged to this CG that has a slit, and not much of one, you still have to move it out of the way. Well, lets just say, I have failed to move it a few time. LOL Take care, Laura

Decided this morning to cut back on the pain meds today, just to see how it would go. Well, I think it is too soon to go 100% without them. Experenced alot of back pain and discomfort from the drain site. So I think I will wait to try this when the drains are removed. The Tylenol help a little but not enought. Oh well, I guess I am a wimp.

MIMI - Thanks, I feel wonderful. I am so very proud of my new tummy, I just have to show it off. And well, my DH can only look at it so much, so I have to show it off here. LOL Skinny - you know, my thighs did have some slight drooping. I showed it to my PS and he said that could be taken care of with the TT. You know he was right. He did a mond lift, and it did help with the thights. He pulled it thight, in my goin area I have a burning sensation, he said it was where he pulled the skin very tight. I put coco butter on it to help with the pain and to keep from getting new strech marks. I just found out you could get thoses after PS, and don't want them. Allie - I don't know about the playboy model thing, but I do think my PS did a fabalous job. I am so happy. You know you dream and hope it will turn out good. BUT wow, it exceeded any of my expectations. I give all of the credit to my wonderful PS. He is a perfectionist. They told me he drives everyone in the operating room crazy, because he wants it how he wants it, and will not settel for anything else. Sometimes it takes him an additional hour to do the surgery just because he wants it to be perfect. And he is very proud of his work, rightly so. I am very lucky.