I'm still here

Look at you Karey - smiling !!! I did NOT smile while I had the drains - in fact, I didn't even think about smiling while I had the drains . . . How many do you have ??? You look great !!!

LJM - Wow. Wow. You (and DH) must be THRILLED! You look amazing!

Cindi - on my last un-fill, I needed 'so little' taken out, that they didn't even withdraw all of the fluid and then fill me back up. They just inserted the needle and removed about 3-4 DROPS and that made all the difference in the world! It is CRAZY how such a tiny amount can matter so much. I am really tight this morning and was yesterday too. I go back to see my PS tomorrow and may have to swing by my wonderful band doctors office and have a couple more 'drops' taken out . . . Grrrr! I don't want to because I know when the swelling goes down I'll be too loose again. About the pics - I don't have any yet, sorry. I am such a doofus that I didn't take any 'before' pics and haven't taken any since the tummy tuck either. My PS took enough to make me cringe and hopefully I will be able to get a copy of those. I will post those if I do. I am really wishing I had taken some (pictures) at this point because it would be nice to have them to compare to . . .

Wishing you the speediest of recoveries Karey . . .

Glad to hear everything went well Karey - wishing you speedy healing!

I also wanted to ask if any of you think your band is tighter now than before your surgery? I opted not to get an un-fill before my TT because it had taken me a full year to get to my 'sweet spot' and I didn't want to mess it up, but WOW! - I am pretty sure this little sucker has tightened up and I am really restricted right now. I am hoping that it gets better as the swelling goes down; I really don't want to have to get some of my fill taken out . . .

Thanks LJM - after looking at those pictures, I guess my scar doesn't look alot worse than some of those . . . It is just higher than I expected it to be and looks 'rolled up' on the left side - is that a 'dog ear?' How are you feeling today? I hope your headache is better. I have had migraines since I was 11 years old, so I am very sympathetic to someone with a headache.

I agree with Neal - I'd rather have a 'dog ear' than the bulge I had before . . . I think - ??? Can somebody tell me exactly what a 'dog ear' is and what one looks like? Maybe that is what I have - ??? If so - it is a big dog though . . . :thumbdown:

I just called and made an appt to see my PS on Friday for him to look at my incision. I finally talked my husband into looking at it last night and after he almost passed-out (the big weenie!) he confirmed that the left side looks much worse than the right side. I really hope I am worried about nothing and that it is going to heal beautifully, but at this point I think I need to hear it from my PS to believe it.

I feel ya Cindi - I had a tummy tuck two weeks ago and opted not to get an un-fill before. I was fine for the first few days, but as the swelling intensified, so did my restriction. As I type this, my tea is 'gurgling' back in my throat . . . What to do ??? I am going to try to 'wait it out' because - my restriction was perfect before the TT, and because it took an entire year to get to that 'perfect' spot. (That is why I decided not to get an un-fill, despite the warning from both my band doctor and PS.) Did I mention I am a little hard-headed? I guess if it stays like this for another week or so, I'll have to get a little taken out, but I sure do hate to do that. I am hoping that as the swelling goes down, then my restriction will return to the wonderful, pre-PS state . . . The wierd thing is I can eat almost a regular size (bandster size) meal late in the day - ??? Oh, and for the record - I'm not losing a ton of weight either, and that sucks . . .

Hang in there LJM - I am two weeks post-op today and mid-day yesterday I realized my back wasn't hurting nearly as bad . . . It gets better, I promise.

Me too Karey - hope all is going beautifully!

Oh LJM - I feel your pain. My husband was totally against me having the TT and I knew that, yet I still thought he'd be a l-i-t-t-l-e compassionate, helpful, etc. Wrong. I had my surgery on Tuesday and a dear friend stayed with me at the hospital (husband left as soon as I got out of recovery - our son had baseball is his story) and she came home with me until Friday night. Saturday morning everyone was out of the house by 8am for various activities and I had the most GLORIOUS weekend - free of my annoying, irritating and loud family. Now if they'd just go away again . . . ha. As long as you can get up and down by yourself, you'll be fine. My advice is don't attempt to shower while your home alone though - that is what really wore me out the first week.

That is GREAT !!! :drool:

Hi Karey ~ I just found your thread . . . I'll be thinking about you tomorrow and sending positive thoughts. I am 13 days post-op today and am still amazed that I have had basically NO pain . . . I even had a laughing attack last night with my kids and survived it just fine - a few days after surgery that was impossible. Try to relax - I was a nervous wreck before my surgery and it all turned out just fine. I was such a mess, I didn't even take any 'before' pics - which sucks now because I would love to see the comparison. Luckily, my doctor took a bunch so I will enjoy seeing those when I go back for my 'afters.'

Oh CRAP! I hadn't even thought of that . . . But really, it only happens after I eat or drink and I am feeling alot of restriction right now . . .

Do you guys think it is too soon to be worried about the way the incision looks??? Mine is higher than I expected (it's going to be harder to cover in a swimsuit than I thought) and the left side of it looks like it has a 'roll' in it . . . I don't want to start worrying about it already, but after taking a close look I'm a little freaked out.

I have a question - I have started experiencing 'heartburn' in the last few days . . . Not like reflux where something comes up, just a burning in my chest, particularly when I lay down. I have never felt this before. Any ideas? Has anyone else had a similar experience since their surgery? Thanks friends,

HOLY MOLY LJM !!!!! I wish my results were that dramatic! You look amazing already . . . I know what you mean about questioning the lipo - he did a little on my inner thighs and they are the only thing that hurts, and did I mention the bruising??? OHMYGOSH! I looked like I had been beat with my son's baseball bat! I am pretty sure I could have saved myself that pain and money and would have never known the difference - that is what I get for being hard-headed . . . HarleyNana tried to tell me! I used the breathing thing-y one time in the hospital and it started an unbelievable coughing attack that I was certain ripped open all of my stitches - I never picked it up, or even thought about picking it up again. Coughing is not your friend at this point - avoid it if at all possible. I hope you continue to feel well - take it easy and don't over-do it.

The best thing you can do for yourself right now LJM is rest - I am not good at taking my own advice, but know that it is true . . . You will feel better each day! I have found if I roll onto my side and push with a leg, that is the easiest way to get myself up, at least for now. Take care ~

allykat ~ I feel for you because in alot of ways I was in the same situation with my husband. We have been married 18 years, have 2 beautiful kids and I was 80 pounds heavier than when we got married. I hated it but he said he loved me the way I was . . . I had the lap-band surgery for ME. No one else. I wanted to lose the weight to be healthier and also to look better. I realize I am lucky that my husband loved me fat, but I didn't love me. It has to be about YOU. I recently had a Tummy Tuck and he was beyond opposed to it . . . Again - I did it for ME. I love my husband and would love his support, but have learned over the years that we are not going to agree on everything and sometimes you have to just 'agree to disagree' . . . I pick my battles with him and will continue doing what I NEED to do, with or without his support.

I am so happy to hear that everything went well with your surgery and that you are doing well. Enjoy the extra night in the hospital - I would have loved one more night!

I just got home from seeing Dr. Heller and my last drain is out and he said the stitches will dissolve . . . YAY !!! I feel like a new woman ! :confused:

Okay - now I would recommend this . . . ha I just came from my appt to remove my last drain and I feel like a new woman!:confused: