angelnurse

jm & whos-no problem with the questions, I check out the plastic surgery thread every time I'm online. I finally got brave enough and got on the scale last night. I weigh the same as I did on the day of surgery, so with all the swelling I didn't think that it was so bad. Hopefully after the swelling is gone I'll be real close to goal and only have to tweek it a little.

jm-actually it's the old belly button in a new spot!

jm-they didn't touch my band. I had to have the compression garment changed again today because of drainage around the drains and I did notice that I no longer have my port scar. It must of been removed with the excess skin, I guess that was just a bonus! I can still feel my port, but once the swelling is down I don't think it will stick out. It's just right and a little up from my new belly button.

dibaby-thanks, it was a killer surgery but I'm hoping the results will be worth all the pain. stefanie-I'm trying to keep very busy with my hands, I actually went out to brunch with my niece this morning. She's in the Navy and was on her way to the coast to report on base after visiting my brother in Southern Idaho for Christmas. I was getting "Cabin Fever", so it was nice to get out as I'm not allowed to drive for 2 weeks. I had 1/2 of an ham and cheese omelet and she had the 2 pancakes that came with my meal. We had a very nice visit but I was tired and needed to come home to rest. I am so envious of all of you that can go to the gym, as it's driving me nuts not being able to workout. I know, in time...I never thought that I'd miss the gym, it's amazing how you can replace a bad habit with a good habit in such a little time. Well, everyone enjoy the gym and I'll be back at it soon!

jm & whosyourdaddy-thanks for the words of encouragement. I'm trying to take it easy and rest, but am so bored that I find myself wanting to eat when I'm not hungry. That's a slippery slope I don't want to find myself on. I guess it's time to bring on the DVD's, books and craft stuff to keep me busy. Just looking forward to the time when I can start back at the gym at least walking on the treadmill. When I see the Doctor on Jan. 2nd, I'm going to see if he'll release me to at least doing that much. Getting on LBT Forum helps some. Well, it's early and I just took some good drugs, so I guess I'll go back to bed and try to catch a few zzzzzzzz's. Keep up the good work!

Just got back from my first Post-Op visit with my Surgeon. He took off the dressing on the incision in back, milked the drain tubes and put a new dressing around the drains. He said that everything looked great and to keep walking every 2 hours and rest between. I need to get 110 grams of Protein per day minimum during this healing process. I go back on Jan. 2nd for possible removal of the 2 drains. I was worried about the amount of swelling that I have, but he said everyone is different and that it wasn't abnormal, that gave me some peace of mind and I felt so much better. He showed me pictures of my surgery that he'd taken during the operation, pretty graphic with my backside filleted open(spelling). I just can't wait to see the end results. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and will be having a Happy New Year!

jm-I had to have a dressing change around my drains early this morning, so I got a sneak peak at the results. I'm still very swollen, but what I can see is going to be great. It seemed really strange not seeing my big pannus or "apron", just a flat stomach. I can hardly wait for all the swelling to go down and all the healing to take place. I'm looking forward to shopping for some new clothes. I never thought that I would say this but I miss the gym and can't wait to get back and lose the last few pounds as well as maintain my weightloss for the rest of my life. Take care everyone!

jm-I made it home yesterday. My surgeon compared the lapband to a mosquito bite and the lower body lift to an alligator bite, I say a shark bite! I almost passed out my first time standing up and only took 4 steps. The second time up was better, but only made it to the door. I think if we truly knew what it was going to be like, no one would willingly do this. The surgeon said that he took more than a foot of of my stomach, he doesn't weigh and I don't dare weigh yet as I am VERY swollen. He said that he was real pleased how everything turned out but it'll be a few months 'til I see the final results. I think the first 2 weeks are going to be the hardest. I'm taking Lortab 7.5 and Soma every 4 hours, it doesn't take away all the pain, but makes it tolerable. I'm getting up every 2 hours to walk around. My first Post-Op visit is this Wednesday. Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers and hopefully I won't have any complications, I'm trying to do everything that the Doctor tells me to do, but Nurses and Doctors make the worst patients. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

jm-thanks for asking about me. I still have my cold, but I'm not running a fever or coughing up anything, it's mainly in my nose. I took last week off from the gym and haven't posted since then. I'm scheduled to arrive at the Hospital at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow. I don't know if I'll get much sleep due to being nervous and everything, but I guess I'll sleep during the surgery, seeing as it's supposed to take 5 hours. I'll spend the night and get discharged on Friday. I'll post and let you know how it went when I'm feeling up to it. Happy exercising everyone and thanks for all your well wishes, prayers and thoughts, I appreciate it very much.

Stefanie & whosyadaddy-Thanks for the prayers! I've got the Zicam, Vit-C, chicken noodle soup, the works, hope something works. Decided to skip the gym again, I need to take care of myself. Hope things are well with you both!

No exercise for me this morning, I woke up with a head cold, you know the sore throat, stuffy nose and the "cotton-head" feeling. I'm scared to death that this won't be gone before my surgery next week. I decided that I needed to slow-down the exercise and take care of myself today. I'm getting some Zicam as soon as I get to the store today and try to get rid of this a.s.a.p. I feel very guilty not going to the gym today. I plan on making it to the gym tomorrow cause I can't afford to miss 2 days in a row. Say a few prayers for me that I can get rid of this before the 20th! :help:

jm-Thanks! I'll post after I get home from the hospital, if I'm feeling up to it. I spend one night in the hospital and then home if no complications. I have a friend staying to help me for a couple of days. I already have my 1st Post-Op appointment for the 26th. I'll have 2 drains and they stay in a minimum of 10 days, then out after 2 days of less than 30 cc output. I'm taking 6 weeks off of work and may take more if needed. I know, it's pretty bad that I have to have surgery to get a vacation!

Whos-The day after my surgery, the 21st, is my 2-Year Bandiversary. I picked that day for just that reason. I'm able to take off time around Christmas because the boy I take care of is on break from school and one of the Nurses that I work with is also on break from school and can fill-in for me, she did that with my Band surgery 2 years ago. The only bummer about having surgery at this time of the year, is that you miss out on all the Holiday festivities.

I was diagnosed with FMS in 1994. My symptoms are much better with my weight loss but I still have "sleep pattern disturbances", as in I wake every couple of hours. Part of the problem is that I work nights, on my nights off, I sometimes can sleep 4 hours straight without waking. After my PS this month and the 6 week recovery period, I'm going to start looking for a different job, as in a day job. I guess I'm pretty lucky as my PMS has been moderate, the strongest meds I've had to take for pain was Ultram, then I switched to Ibuprofen and now I don't take anything. I know that there are a lot of people that really suffer with FMS and have terrible pain and end up disabled. Hope you don't suffer too much with your newly diagnosed FMS. Good Luck to everyone that has FMS!

Can anyone join in? I have 10 to go & am hoping the PS will put me there!

jm-yes, the surgery is 10 days away. I saw my surgeon on the 3rd and paid the $ and signed the Op permit, they also took those lovely pictures with the paper underwear. I'm getting very nervous but also very excited!

Elliptical: 8.32 mi., 90 min. Wt. Training: 40 min. Treadmill: 1.98 mi., 30 min.

Elliptical: 8.52 mi., 90 min. Wt. Training: 40 min. Treadmill: 2.35 mi., 30 min.

Walked to & from the gym: 2.68 mi., 30 min. Elliptical: 8 mi., 90 min. Wt. Training: 45 min. Treadmill: 2.31 mi., 30 min.

Walked to & from the gym: 3.17 mi., 30 min. Elliptical: 7.56 mi., 90 min. Treadmill: 2.72 mi., 30 min. Dibaby-Way to go on the #9 on the most calories burned!

Elliptical: 7.55 mi., 90 min. Wt. Training: 46 min. Treadmill: 2.35 mi., 30 min. I see my PS today for Pre-Op and to pay $ for my upcoming surgery.

On the 21st it'll have been 2 years since I got my band. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself. I've lost 156 pounds and am 10 pounds to my goal. I'm having a lower body lift on the 20th. I have had my struggles and had to have a port revision 6 months out, but I wouldn't trade my band for anything.

My PS said that the skin is too thin and stretched to be a good quality to use for any type of skin grafting. Of course, this is only one Doctor, you could call around to see if anyone was accepting skin from a procedure like a LBL or TT. I doubt they would take it but what do I know?

Elliptical: 7.7 mi., 90 min. Wt. Training: 40 min. Treadmill: 2.8 mi., 30 min. Whosyadaddy-I know I've been an "Exercise Fanatic" lately but I'm a woman on a mission. I'm trying to get as close to goal before my plastic surgery on the 20th. I won't have as many days to exercise in December.

Elliptical: 7.68 mi., 90 min. Treadmill: 2.74 mi., 30 min. Made my 3,000 minutes & one day left in November!:clap2: