TLW

All I can say is WOW! I thought I was prepared, but boy was I wrong. I have had 2 c sections, my roux en y, plus other surgical procedures, so maybe Imwas over confident coming into this. I am at day 5 and the pain is still a big factor. My incision burns and gets random sharp,shooting pain, my ass is so sore from sitting in a reclining position for the last 5 days. My back and neck are sore from being hunched over, and I am beyond tired. The swelling is substantial, and the drains are nor only gross, they hurt and I can't get them out until I drain less than 30 cc for 2 consecutive days. Right now I still have well over 30 cc of fluid. On a positive note the surgeon said all went well and he believes I will be very happy with the results. I wanted to do a thigh and breast lift as well, but the insurance would only cover the tummy tuck, at this point I am am glad because I couldn't imagine even more areas of my body hurting at the same time. It is also allowing me the option to really think about if I would want to go through this again. One word of advise, keep the compression binder your surgeon gives you on at all times except the shower. It really does help with the support, and pain.

Thanks for the encouragement. I know it will get better, just having a rough start. I swear my Roux En Y was so much easier, but like my husband keeps reminding me it's not really comparable as this was a a very invasive procedure with and incision from hip to hip versus 5 small incisions.

So excited, two days after submission my insuarance company approved me for my tummy tuck.i was so sure I would be denied and have to appeal. Now, I just have to try to contain my excitement and not drive myself or my husband crazy before my Nov 10 surgery date. I have watched the procedure online, listened to numerous stories, and read what seems like 100s of articles on the internet, and I still feel like I am not prepared for what I/ my body will be going through. I think what scares me the most are the drains. I have a really weak stomach and am really hoping the sight and smell of it does not make me sick. Any suggestions on how to get through the next few weeks, and preparing me for post surgery are very much appreciated.

I tend to rash easily when it is hot out and I sweat, so I first went to my regular doctor and asked what I could use to treat it, he prescribed an ointment. At my 12 month RNY appointment, I was asked how I was doing, I said fine except as I sweat I tend to become a little irritated and get a rash, she looked at my stomach, saw my stretch marks were irritated, recorded it, and we talked a little about plastics. I was not supposed to get a plastic appointment untill December, but somehow the scheduling got screwed up and I went the end of Aug, luckily it was a hot day and my stretch marks were red from sweating, and when they looked at my past medical they saw documentation of my "rash" , we talked and they said they would need pictures to send to the insurance, for some reason, my stomach really started "itching" which of course made the redness worse. The pictures were taken and at that point the suregeon really was not sure if I would be approved, but we tentatively scheduled surgery for Nov, which will be my 18 month post RNY. I heard nothing until I called the surgeons office and asked if they had sent in my pre authorization for, they said not yet, but would do,it the following Monday, I heard Wednesday afternoon, 2 days later. So I guess if you can document a rash, they consider it because a rash can cause infection.

If what you are eating is going straight through you, your system is telling you it is not ready for it yet. I was not able to eat eggs or fish until I was about 8'weeks post op. It was just too heavy for my stomach. And as I introduced food I had to introduce only 1 new food a very two days so I could identify the reaction. I truly just focused on my protein shakes, to ensure I got the protein and allowed my stomach and system to guide me back to food. I am almost 18 months post op and will be going for tummy tuck Nov 10. Trust me when I say, you will go back to being able to eat almost everything you could before, and you will crave the things that you shouldn't have, and you eat something that makes you dump, see it as a great reminder to why you went through all you have. Also when you go out to eat, no matter how tempting, stick to safe food, like veggies, and lean meats. Best of luck to you.

2 1/2 - 3 weeks

Thanks for all the input. I have never heard of the tape, but will be finding some. Thanks again.

Could someone please tell me if I will need to or should purchase a compression garment and if so what have you found to work best? How long should you wear them?

My surgeons office said I would be coming home with a binder, I just wasn't sure if I should have another one?

Personally I cannot think of any cons for you!, but only you can. Your sister has given you her opinion, but she doesn't live in your body. You must know through your mom, the surgery is only one aspect, to keep the weight off, you are going to change your lifestyle and eating habits. I am one year out and find that the summer season it harder to follow the nutritional guideline while everyone else is eating hamburgers, hotdogs, pasta salad... If you know you have the will power to fight off high sugar, high carb foods, medically you will fell 100% better than you do now.

You can get a premixed whey protein drink (Walmart sells Protein Premier )or whey powder protein, which you can mix with milk, coffee, sugar free pudding, cottage cheese...I personally liked the Isopure zero carb whey protein. It comes in a variety of flavored. I chose the unflavored so I could easily mix it with liquids and food. I had my surgery May 2015 and still drink it. They also have an isopure flavored grape drink, and they are great because they taste like grape kool aid and right after my surgery I lived on the grape drink. Look online at Amazon or if you have a GNC near you they sell Isopure and other brands, they helped me a lot.

Don't stress,my hat only makes it worse. Try focusing on eating protein and veggies ONLY for awhile. It will get you through the carb craving phase and should jump start the weight loss. Eat eggs, cottage cheese, cheese sticks, chicken, turkey, lean red meats, beans, carrots, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, low fat Greek yogurt... Do you have a mandatory weight loss amount before surgery?

I hate to break it to you, but there really is no LAST meal. I have not restricted myself from anything, because the more your voice says no, the mind says yes. I eat steak all the time, just has to be med rare, I have eaten Taco Bell, off, and Dairy Queen. It is not about removing food you like, but being cautious and reasonable about how often and how much you eat. By about your 6-8 month you will find yourself testing foods. Just know that the nice 8oz steak you used to be able to eat may now only be 2 oz, and that ice cream you loved, will still taste great, but may make you RUN to the bathroom. The only food I really cannot eat is bread and I think that's because it clumps together and is too heavy for my stomach.

After I completed all the steps, met with the surgeon the final time it took six weeks from approval to surgery.

You really won't feel very hungry for a few months, but by your first month some easy digestible foods are Yogurt, scrambled eggs, shredded chicken, turkey with a broth (moist is the easiest to eat), peanut butter, protein shakes, sugar free pudding, sugar free jello. You basically will work on eating protein and very little 2-3 ounces will fill you, I know it sounds crazy, but I am a year post mop and 4 ounces of chicken fills me up. Also remember natural sugars versus processed sugar foods are very different. I haven't had bananas yet. Remember the majority of weight you lose will be during the first 5-6 months and the. It really starts to slow down, so enjoy the not feeling hungry and just focus on proteins, and keeping hydrated. I live on chickens, Powerade zero and coffee

I had ulcerative colitis before my surgery and had no problems getting cleared. A month after being able to come off the Prevacid ( I think 4 months) I developed an ulcer and was told I would need to take Prevacid for life to reduce the risk, no problems sinceI have been on it. I celebrate my 1 year anniversary the 28 of May.

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Take a picture of yourself in a tight shirt and leggings or shorts, the go online and look at before and after photos, and remind yourself how much you want this. I was a size 20 almost one year to date and I am now a side 2 or 4 depending on the style.

The first 2-3 months are the hardest, but yet the easiest because you really do not feel hungry. It is a chore to eat and drink. Then For the next 3-4 months you will be very wary knowledgeable of what you are putting into your stomach. You can say you will not eat sugars, but so many things are made with it, it's impossible to avoid it. I will be 1 year post surgery May 28th and am still figuring out what works and what doesn't. The good thing with dumping is, it will happen almost immediately., but generally with a 1/2 hour. i find the foaming a lot worse than dumping. This is where you eat too fast, or too much and the salvia/ acids in you stomach starts working over time to settle things and before you know it your. Out his watering, you start having I g a lot of salvia you are spitting out and then vomiting foam. you feel,like death is near until you manage to start vomiting mucus and finally the food you ate. After you feel absolutely fine. The only other problem I have had is a sugar hangover as my husband calls it. Because we are so concerned at the beginning I got we really restrict our sugar intake that if I think I can cheat and have a piece of pie , sugar candy or ice cream I pay for it. Instead of the wonderful hyper sugar effect, it is the opposite a crash! Light headed nauseous, and literally unable to function for a good 30 minutes. Forcing in some protein like a cheese stick does help reduce it. I was craving a blueberry muffin one morning before work (I teach) I ate about 1/2 of it thought I was fine and the minute I got up to greet the kids it hit me. I found coverage and had to go to the nurses office for 20 minutes.

You will. It be able to do this for the first few weeks. Your goal is to get in as much as possible because you do not want to dehydrate. NOTHING will taste good or seem appetizing the first few days, then you will think you are hungry, but a sip of something fills you. I bought the small bottles of isopure protein drinks in grape in case of vomiting on Amazon (also at GNC) and combined my protein and liquid with that. I could not drink water for the first two months after surgery and even at 11 months I find it hard to tolerate at times. My surgeon also said I could drink Powerade Zero, which I now live on.

You will. It be able to do this for the first few weeks. Your goal is to get in as much as possible because you do not want to dehydrate. NOTHING will taste good or seem appetizing the first few days, then you will think you are hungry, but a sip of something fills you. I bought the small bottles of isopure protein drinks in grape in case of vomiting on Amazon (also at GNC) and combined my protein and liquid with that. I could not drink water for the first two months after surgery and even at 11 months I find it hard to tolerate at times. My surgeon also said I could drink Powerade Zero, which I now live on.

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I was so worried about pain and the gas. I would highly recommend that you bring some of the dissolvable (under the tongue) Gas X and begin to take them a few hours after surgery, and walk, walk, walk. I was up and walking the hall about 7 hours after my surgery and did so every 2-3 hours (about 45 minutes after pain pill) The only time the pain sucked was coughing. have a pillow that you can hold against your stomach when you cough. The skin didn't really bother me until now, knowing that summer is coming. I can hide my saggy belly skin, but the thigh skin is harder because it droops to the knees, but I know the difference so it looks worse to me. The I have to laugh because I am so vain now, when before the surgery I was a size 20 and right now I am a size 4. However, I cannot wait for my 18 month post op, so I can see about removing some of the extra skin.

You will be in the hospital few at least 2 days. I was fine when I came home because all I wanted to do was sleep in my recliner. I could not sleep in my bed for about a week. The main thing you have to make sure you do is sip, sip, sip, and continue to sip on Water or other approved liquids. Thank GOD my surgeon allowed Power Ade zero, because water was soooo difficult to get down. I also bout Ispoure Protein drinks (avail at GNC) because I could not stand the Protein powder at the beginning. You do not want to dehydrate because it will make you feel like your dying. I did great the week after surgery and then stopped drinking the required amount and found myself sick, at the hospital getting IV fluids. SO to directly answer your question, YES you can go home and will do fine as long as you follow the doctors orders. BESY OF LUCK