StephC

WTH! We're too big to get around in? LOL too funny! Girlfriends? Don't leave me now.

Well it looks as if our steadies have abandoned the forum. I guess I'll have to share my HUGE HUGE HUGE nsv with anyone else who may happen upon our abandoned thread. I hit my goal last night. My ultimate goal that I told the dr about. It wasn't about how much weight I needed to lose but I needed to lose the weight to get to my goal. Did that make sense? Ok so last night for the first time in 30 years..... I Water skied! :confused::sleep: On one of my very first visits to my band doctor I told him I just wanted to get healthy and to be able to do the things I haven't been able to do ... like waterski. So last night we were out on the boat and the kids were wakeboarding and kneeboarding and I said I think I want to ski. They all looked at me like :eek: I said really and with 100% support from my sweet family I jumped in the lake. I said I'm going to try 5 times. I was up and down the first 5 trys but finally on the 6th time I did it. I got up and I stayed up and I skied around the lake. I'm very happy and proud of myself. My hubby said you could have done it before and I said no I couldn't have ever pulled all that weight up out of the water. He was also proud of me. And I inspired my dd's boyfriend to give it a try. He had tried a couple years ago and couldn't get up and just gave up trying. But after seeing me do it he decided to give it another try and he not only got up he LOVED it. Yep - this is it - this is what the lapband has done for me - I love it.

Not everyone needs plastic surgery. Mine was as much medical as cosmetic. I had lost 80 lbs before surgery but I'm up 10 so I'm at 70 lbs gone. Of course my boobs hang low and swing to and fro but I also nursed three babies so whether that has to do with weight loss or not is yet to be determined. My belly was horrible, stretched out from pregnancys too, but my arms and thighs arent' too bad, they arent' tight and nice like when I was young but for a 46 year old woman they aint' bad. :thumbup: I see the imperfections of the rest of my body but I don't feel like they are bad enough for more surgery. I know some people think that after the tummy is nice then they need to get the girls done and then that will lead to the arms... so on but I don't. I'm just happy to look good in my clothes and feel "normal".

I asked at the hospital when I went in for my pre-op tests, a week prior to my tummy tuck, and they didnt' know anything about skin donations. I mentioned it again the day of surgery and they had never heard of such a thing.

I had my surgery on May 1st - honestly the first 2 days were bad - like why did I do this to myself bad - but then each day got better. The surgery was on Thursday, I went home on Sat., Sunday I had my dd wash my hair and that perked me up quite a bit, Monday I went into work to do the payroll - on drugs - totally screwed up the checks, wrong date and pay periods - hahaha - I had my dd take me in for the half hour or so that it took - then that same day I had my drains taken out - that also was a bit painful, but the pain only lasts a minute. Thursday I was driving myself, and also went into work for a few minutes to deposit checks, with a run to the bank. I went back to work the following Monday with the thought that I'd only work half days, that was just a thought. I ended up working full days and I felt great. So I was actually off work 11 days if you count the weekends that I have off anyway. I had the stitches taken out on the 16th of May. I feel great! I love having a flat tummy and for the first time in 20 years I'm wearing my shirts tucked in. I have actually gained 10 lbs - go figure! But everyday someone says something to me about my weight loss. Its the strangest thing bc the first year of my banding I had lost 50 lbs and few people said anything to me, and I wondered why, like they would make comments about my hair looking good or something like that but never say wow you've lost weight. Now this past month since my tt I've had tons of people say things about my wieght loss. Everyday. Church is a big compliement day for me. I had a new top on and one lady asked me if I'm stealing clothes from my daughters now. I said no, they are alot smaller then me - well actually yes I do wear some of my oldest daughters old pants. It just suprises me when I get something like that. Then my neice said you look like your still losing weight, I said no, I'm up 10 lbs. She said well your weight must be shifting bc you look smaller today. I'm in a size 8 or 10 - pants - but my top is still med - to large - I'm busty - size 38D. Anyway - the tummy tuck is something I'd always dreamed about but never thought I could get - or afford - but my insurance paid 100% for a full tummy tuck. I really feel blessed. As far as the weight loss, I'm still considered overweight and need to lose another 25 lbs to get in the "normal" weight on the bmi chart but so many people have told me I look good right where I am now that I don't think its a priority, I'm happy with the size I am.

hi all! I haven't popped on lately - my summers are always crazy. I work at a golf club so its my busy season. I'm feeling great since my tummy tuck. I LOVE IT! Love my band love my tt - all is good. Good luck to all you newbies - its a journey and to be taken one day at a time.

Life has FINALLY calmed down. All is well - loving my tt - feeling healthy and sane - Haven't had a period since APRIL! YES! I'm hoping this is it - menopause has one good thing going for it! Weight is up and hovering around 160 - but for some reason I dont' care - just happy where I'm at. My new fill seems to be working but I haven't been making good choices - today I ate a VERY small cheese danish for bk - one slice of bread with 3 strips of bacon - and coffee - yeah I'm really into the health food nowadays. Work is good and the weather sucks. What happened to summer? Booo -fill me in. Whats going on with ps?

Geesh I can't believe no one is checking in! We must all be busy with summer. I had my youngest daughters graduation party Saturday evening - so needless to say I was rushed and stressed - but it was great, we had about 60 people show up and she made out $$$ like a bandit. I got up at 6:30 Sunday morning to clean up my kitchen and get all the big stuff washed, went to church then dh and I spent 2 hours taking down the tents and tables and cleaning up the yard. We just got done in time to run to my nephews 30th birthday party. I got home and had laundry to do, at this point I was in a complete state of exhaustion but knew if I napped I wouldn't sleep last night so I didnt' - this morning I had to get up and take the tents back to the rental place and be to work by 8 - I'm so tired! Aside from all that I have NO restriction and cringe when I step on the scale. I'm up about 5 lbs. I go in for a fill tomorrow - THANK GOODNESS!!!! Tummy tuck is healing up - I'm regaining feeling in my tummy and yesterday it had me freaked out bc it felt like I was being jabbed with a needle. I kept pulling up my shirt to see if something was sticking me and when I'd run my finger across that spot I'd feel the pricking again. Crazy. And itch! My belly itches from the inside out! My sister said that happened to her too. The weather here is great - hot and humid. LOL I'm not complaining after 20 days of rain in May. Have a good day.. week... month (for all of you who don't check in)!

Boo I hope the belly button heals soon. I'm a month out and last night I was looking at the one spot where it looked as if there was a stitch sticking out so I got the tweezers and pulled it, I got a old stitch, and then I had another spot that looked like a little scab so I pulled what looked like a hair - I got another chunk of something that looked like a stitch. I'm hoping that it'll all heal up now. Kinda gross but I think that was preventing it from healing. I'm also itching like crazy by the end of the day. Not on the scar but around it - I wonder if its the inside healing. I'm still swelling at the end of the day and I've stopped using any compression or binders. It feels better without it. well I better get to work, its been piling up on me. have a good day ladies!

Hey! Good to hear from all of you! BK - enjoy that little bundle of joy! I can't wait for my grandbaby! They are so sweet and fun. I understand how he takes up all your time. VA - I hope the job comes through for you. Its hard getting back into the swing of work, especially when you have kids to take care of. Time does fly by - wow does it ever! Like BK said its already been a year and a half since we were banded. My youngest is staying home, I don't see her leaving the nest anytime soon. Claud - good to hear from you too! Good luck with the men - sounds like you are a busy woman. Yes I do have life insurance - not as much on me since he makes alot more then I do, but enough to take care of things - but I took out a pretty big policy on him a couple years ago and we also have life on all our loans. Why? Because I was waking up in the middle of the night with panic attacks! We lost 4 good friends in one year - all under the age of 55. It just hit home hard and I started to worry about what would happen to me if something happened to him. I make about 1/4 of what he makes so that means I would have to sell my house and downsize - which I'd like to do anyway, our house is way too big for the 2 of us. But I just saw all these things that I would have to do away with and - big and - I would have to get a full time job (meaning work ALL year not just during golf season) I am getting used to my size. It seems I get told all the time that I shouldn't lose more weight. I still would like to lose another 10 just to get in the normal bmi range but I'm actually at my origional goal of 150ish. But other people tell me I'm fine at where I am. I'm in need of a fill, I find myself eating more junk then I have in a year! I just really want to maintain and I'm afraid that where I am now I could start to regain. Work has been CRAZY! I am so busy and feel like I can't catch up. Our credit card machine was down for over a week and let me tell you what a fiasco that was! Then we had the whole graduation stuff going on, which I'm not done with yet. We are having the party this Saturday so I'll be busy until Sunday then I hope things will take a sudden turn to boredom. Keep in touch girls, even if you dont' think you have anything to say we still miss you when you don't write.

Yeah where is everyone - I guess they'll have to take our name away cuz we sure aren't STEADY anymore! Remember way back when Nat called us her steadies - humpf! Boo I hope your belly button heals - does it hurt or are you numb there? Mine is numb. BTW I saw your pic in the shorts and halter -wow you look so good! Gingerbug - I know what restriction is too! I was flipping out when I was throwing up liquids! After not having good restriction you really need to teach yourself to eat slowly, little bites and chew very well. Right now I don't have much restriction but I'll go back in for more in a week or two. My baby graduates tomorrow night. We were at Bacularia ...lol.. or however you spell it! Its been a crazy month! Busy with something every night. One of these days its gotta calm down.

Boo - I haven't had any problems with my belly button but it is the last to heal. I still have a couple little scabs on it and its ugly. The ps said it'll go in when the scars soften so I'm hoping they soften soon. When I went to my band dr he looked at it and said - ew that looks angry. LOL I think he was meaning that it was still tender looking but I think it looks angry cuz its so ugly! I'm rubbing cocoa butter and vit.E on it several times a day - trying to get it to look nice and pretty.

I feel for ya Kat! On day 6 I started sneezing - thought I would die! I went to ps on day 8 and he checked everything out and said all was fine with the muscle repair but dang did it hurt! I went to get refilled three weeks out and wow what a fiasco that was. I had 7.5 before being unfilled and I knew I was a little too tight so I had band doc put in 6, I was throwing up 3 sips of tea. It was awful. I don't know what was going on, if the swelling from tt made the band swell too, so he took 4 out and I'm left with 2 - needless to say I don't have enough restriction but I'm so afraid of throwing up or even just pb'ing that I haven't gone back yet. All that said... I'm a gabber... just to say I know the pain and fear you were going through, I hope all is much better now. Deep breaths are important for healthy lungs so try. I'm a firm believer in pain meds, if you are hurting take something. Seriously. If you can take a med and a deep breath then do it. Its better then going with out pain meds and getting sick.

I'm sooooooo excited! I called the insurance co this morning and they said I was approved! Yippee! So then I called the doctors office - I'm really trying to push everyone along so I can get it all done before April 1st - the dr's office said they had me in their pile to set up the surgery date and they would be calling me with a date. I said I hate to be pushy but... and I also know its really crazy to think they can get to me so soon but she said it all depends on the hospital schedule. Actually I am very hopeful because the hospital I'm having it done at is a small hospital and its very possible they'll be able to get me right in. Pray for me!

thanks everyone - I feel great! Biggest suprise is after I shower I used to have to pull the flab of skin up and dry underneath, now I go to pull it up and its not there! After almost a month and I'm still shocked when I feel down there and its not there. Kinda like what Kat said, we've lived with the belly for so long that when we catch a moment like that its just like WOW is that me? I don't think it affected my thighs except that I notice the loose skin on them more. I think thats only bc my belly used to be the worse feature and the rest I always felt like they weren't that bad (like the arms and thighs and LONG boobs) but now that the tummy is tight the rest seem to pop out a bit more. But oh well - I got the flat tummy I always wanted so I guess I'll live with the rest of my imperfections.

I can't pinch any, its tight as a drum! My upper abs, under my ribs are fatty tho, but I'm still not able to pinch any fat. Maybe a little on my hips where the scar is but not enough to worry about. But I still swell like mad at night. I've stopped wearing my binder or spandex during the day, it drove me crazy. So when I get home I throw it on while I puttz around the house and sleep in it too. I think it helps with the swelling. I noticed that the more swollen I am the more I notice the numbness.

thanks Becky! I have UPMC (western PA) - I got approved on my first try but really feel it had alot to do with the doctor. My friend from support group has the same insurance and different ps doctor and she only got the panney. So I think it has alot to do with the doctor and how well they submit it. Don't give up, its gonna happen for you!

Boo you look wonderful! How's the belly button? ooohh owey!

Yes it does get better. Take your pain meds regularly! they will help you heal. I went a bit stir crazy too but time flies and before you know it you'll be feeling much better. I'm almost 4 weeks out and I'm still swelling. I come home from work and put my binder on for the night, it seems to help. I also have the upper ab fat but I don't even care, I love my tummy tuck and would do it again tomorrow. I posted a pic of me on my thread that I took this morning. Anyway I'm thinking of you, take it easy and heal.

Thanks Fran! I was the same way about tucking my shirt in. Even in my "thin" days I never felt I could tuck in my shirt but I'm happy to do it now!

Well my coffee and broth full feeling should have been a BIG red flag. I went home and at about 6pm had some broth, at 8 I was throwing up. No pb'ing, it spewed out- ewww! I threw up a couple more times, and I'd only had broth. I also caught a horrible cold that very same night, so I wasnt' sure if I was sick from nasal drainage or from my fill. At 6:30 the next morning I made some hot tea, which usually settles my stomach but after 3 sips it came up, that and last nights broth! So I went in to the band doc and had him take some out. I went from 7.5 pre-surgery to 6 and now I'm down to 2. I don't have much restriction but I'm trying to keep control. I figured I'll wait another week or two and then go up another 2 cc's. The good news? I'm loving my new look. I posted on the before and after thread but will insert it here too. All you pre-tummy tuckers - get excited bc its the best!

Hi girlfriends - BUSY here! Work, family and everything else inbetween. I took a pic this morning so thought I'd do a before and after pic. I love my flat belly! The before pic isn't my heaviest, that was Dec of 05. I think I was around 210, my highest being around 230 - today I'm around 152. Jill - go PINK! YAY! I love babies! I bet you are excited. Clarissa is a beautiful name. I'm so happy for you. Work has been crazy - I've been sick with a horrible cold - and my dd is graduating - tomorrow is her graduation from Vo-tech - Friday is High School graduation - plus dh is set on having a big garden this year, woohoo. so far he's done all of it but I've been trying to get in my flowers and do my own gardening too. I had a horrible bout of "too tightness" - threw up 3 sips of tea. Its just been crazy but I'll get back on soon. Love ya girlfriends!

Its been a while since I posted before and afters, just had a tummy tuck on May 1st so I thought I'd post an updated pic.

I only had the tummy tuck with muscle repair and it took about 3 hours. I was in the OR around 7:30 and in my room around 11am.

Ok Kate we'll be the 4 musketeers! How much do you have in your band? I was up to 7.5 in a 10cc band but when he took it out all he got was 6cc's. I think I was too tight at 7.5 so I told him I wanted 6 today. Thats where I'm at now. I don't remember ever feeling this much restriction the first day of a fill. But then it was done a few cc's at a time over several months so this is the first time I've gone from nothing to restriction. Anyway its different and I'm hoping I'm not going to be too tight. I only do liquids today and tomorrow I'll do soft foods, after that I can eat whatever I want.. or whatever my band decides to let me.