September Bandsters

[MimIN 19]

3lbs Karey, WOOHOO!!! :cool:

I've been waiting for my pants size to drop but man alive it's taking forever! I am swollen right up today, some days are worse than others. One of these days it will stop (I HOPE!)

I am going to Las Vegas Jan 25th, I want to lose 5 more lbs by then!

[TheGh0st 9]

Mimin - Did you go down any pant sizes after you PS? I'm just over 3 months post-op and still wearing the same size pants as pre-surgery. I can tell my jeans look better without the pouch tucked in them and I sure look better out of them. But darn it's annoying to still be wearing the same jeans I was wearing before all that skin was chopped off. GRRR...

[MimIN 19]

Mimin - Did you go down any pant sizes after you PS? I'm just over 3 months post-op and still wearing the same size pants as pre-surgery. I can tell my jeans look better without the pouch tucked in them and I sure look better out of them. But darn it's annoying to still be wearing the same jeans I was wearing before all that skin was chopped off. GRRR...

No I have not gone down any sizes unless you count getting back into my clothes, lol. At one point in time after surgery my waist was measuring 36"! Now it measures 30" first thing in the morning when the swelling is not as bad but day end I am pretty round. My swelling is out of control BUT it is better today then it was 5 weeks ago, I guess patience is required whether I like it or not:mad:

[kareyquilts 1]

This swelling thing sounds extremely frustrating. I don't know if I can handle it! Does the swelling add Water weight as well? Doesn't the compression garment help this? I don't blame you guys for being impatient. The nurse told me yesterday that I would go down 2 pant sizes. Is she full of it or what? I don't want to get my hopes up. Are you both glad that you did the surgery even with all the complications? This is getting me worried!

[MimIN 19]

Hey Karey! Relax and don't worry about it. Don't expect to go down 2 pant sizes out of the gate, it takes time. The swelling does add Water weight and they say it can take upto a year and sometimes longer before the final result. Everyone is different though! I am glad I did it even with all the complications, tears and frustrations!

[kareyquilts 1]

Okay, I'm taking a deep breath! I may just need reminding every so often!

[MimIN 19]

Karey you are too cute! It's normal to panick a little. My best advice is to keep your expectations as 'realistic' as possible. I let myself down because my expectations were unrealistic, I really thought I'd be 'perfect' after this surgery and I have learned that it is BETTER but not perfect.

I watched a Maury episode Monday on extreme plastic surgery and there were women on there that had spent a heck of a lot of money on surgery, one was over 500k and another over 100k and they still are not happy. I don't want to be that person!

[TheGh0st 9]

Don't worry Karey I think we are all just whining a bit. I am 150% happy with the way my body looks in the mirror since having the TT. Whenever my DS is in bed my DH keeps finding me wandering the house in just my undies (or not ).

My PS' nurse kept telling me it took her 3 months before her swelling had gone down enough that she needed to buy smaller sizes. She also said that for the rest of the year she found that the swelling would creep back by late afternoon so that what fit in the morning was snug by night. Still it's just so frustrating to seem to look so much better/flatter in the mirror but still not be wearing smaller clothes no matter what I was told pre-surgery. And it is just as frustrating to not see any difference on the scale. But I know it will only get better.

And the swelling doesn't hurt or anything, it's just there.

[TheGh0st 9]

I got on the scale this morning and I was shocked to see I had lost 4 pounds!

I found a thread last Friday called "Say No To Carbs 2 Day Challenge...come Join Me" So me and a couple others decided to give it a go Monday/Teusday. And other than a couple cashews I managed to stick with it both days. It really helped me refocus on what I am eating, and it has also helped motivate me into getting back on track with my drinking Water.

Now if I can only knock off the remaining 17 pounds I'll really have something to Celebrate on my 15th wedding anniversary.

:eek:

[kareyquilts 1]

Miriam and Diane: Thanks for the encouragement. I'm trying to have realistic expectations. I'm not aiming for perfection and I don't want to get carried away with working on everything. My PS wants me to do the back side and arms in 6 months and I would like to, but we'll see. I may and I may not. I'm going to take it 1 surgery at a time. I can see the allure when they tell you that they can fix this and fix that. I wouldn't mind getting my neck wrinkles taken care of, but at some point I guess you have to accept and love yourself for who and what you are. That being said, the tummy and sagging breasts are going to go! I will deal with the swelling and work on my patience. Oh, I do have one question for you guys. My husband wants me to go on a business trip to Puerto Rico with him in April (5 weeks post-op). Do you think I can handle a 9 hour plane trip? I know I can handle resting by the pool! LOL! I guess we can buy trip insurance in case I have any complications. I'm just not sure what my expectations or stamina will be. Opinions welcome.

[TamifromAL 1]

Miriam and Diane: I'm trying to have realistic expectations. I'm not aiming for perfection and I don't want to get carried away with working on everything.

My husband wants me to go on a business trip to Puerto Rico with him in April (5 weeks post-op). Do you think I can handle a 9 hour plane trip?

Karey, I think that's a wonderful attitude. Having gone through this before, I know the best you can hope for is a *better* version of *you*! (But, we can still dream of having a body like Jessica Alba!)

You should be fine by then, unless you have complications. (And ya just can't plan for that!)

Tami

[TheGh0st 9]

Karey:

"Miriam and Diane: Thanks for the encouragement. I'm trying to have realistic expectations. I'm not aiming for perfection and I don't want to get carried away with working on everything. "

That's a great attitude to go in this with. I've tried to have the same attitude. And I think once some of this Water weight comes down I'll feel a little less hyper-critical about the whole thing.

"My PS wants me to do the back side and arms in 6 months and I would like to, but we'll see. I may and I may not. I'm going to take it 1 surgery at a time. I can see the allure when they tell you that they can fix this and fix that. I wouldn't mind getting my neck wrinkles taken care of, but at some point I guess you have to accept and love yourself for who and what you are. That being said, the tummy and sagging breasts are going to go! "

We could be sisters. I feel the same way. My flabby fanny pack and Sock in Rocks are a MUST FIX and I'd love to have the time/money to spend on my arms and of all things my eyelids, not eye wrinkles just excess skin in my eyelid. Crazy I know. But unless I win the lottery it is nowhere in my future. Like you said at some point you just have to love yourself for where you are and not where you might get to.

"I will deal with the swelling and work on my patience. "

Good Luck on this one keep us posted

"Oh, I do have one question for you guys. My husband wants me to go on a business trip to Puerto Rico with him in April (5 weeks post-op). Do you think I can handle a 9 hour plane trip? I know I can handle resting by the pool! LOL! I guess we can buy trip insurance in case I have any complications. I'm just not sure what my expectations or stamina will be. Opinions welcome."

I agree complications aside. If all you have to do is lay around a poolside once you get there you should be A-OK. How long a flight will it be? I'd try to get up and move around once in a while if you can, or at least move your legs around. With all the swelling you wouldn't want to risk some kind of blood clot. Oh and one other minor problem I don't know how comfortable you will be poolside in a swimsuit unless you can find some kind of binder (maybe a Spanx with the legs cut off?) I know that only now am I starting to feel quasi normal without mine on for short periods. It doesn't hurt it just feels TOO WEIRD, very hard to explain.

[kareyquilts 1]

Diane: Thanks for the feedback. You're a sweetheart. I hadn't thought about the swimsuit thing. I guess I'll look into a Spanx thing. I've never been one to lay around a pool and can't imagine that I'll feel any better about it without the pannus, but we'll see.

[TheGh0st 9]

.... I've never been one to lay around a pool and can't imagine that I'll feel any better about it without the pannus, but we'll see.

Sisters I tell you, Sisters. Even now without my pannus I still can't imagine just lying around a pool in a swimsuit. After all the TT didn't do a thing for my legs. Maybe if I didn't feel to out of place I could see lying next to a pool in a 1-piece suit and some sort of wrap around my waist. But then I'm so pale skinned that I swear I can get a sunburn from just looking at pictures of the beach and like many other pale skinned red-heads my eyes are overly sensitive to even normal light. I'm most happy on hazy overcast days. Pre-banding I wouldn't have even thought your husbands trip sounded remotely fun. The idea of going somewhere sunny and hot where everyone was walking around in shorts or a swimsuit with sunglasses & sunblock on would have been absolutely repugnant to me. Now I'm just a little bit jealous. Still think I prefer the climate of good ole Scotland but yes I am a bit jealous of you and your husband.

I say go for it! Take the risk and have some fun for us all!

[BJean 16]

kareyquilts: Haven't been here in quite some time. Your photo is fantastic. You look awesome! No wonder you have been so supportive of everyone else - you've done so well yourself!

My DIL had that surgery last year. It took her at least 6 weeks to be pretty mobile. She is one of those folks who almost never feels or gives into pain so she was surprised that she wasn't vacuuming and carrying loads of laundry before then. Her progress for healing has been great otherwise. She looks absolutely fantastic. She's lost more lbs. since the swelling has completely gone away. But it has been quite a long haul getting to feel normal again.

As for the trip, I'd hate for you to miss it. My suggestion is first of all to clear it with your doctor. Second, get some of those hose that keep you from getting clots and wear them on the flights. Third, spray on tan. Have someone do it for you professionally and you will blend in with all the other super-tanned folks instead of getting lost on a white towel.

I know it was a girl from the U.K. who complained about her lack of tan, but I figure this time of year most of us are pretty peak-ed.

Congratulations on your fabulous success. I am very proud of you and very happy for you! I know your surgery will go well and you will be very happy to be rid of that all that stuff you don't need.