Hernia Repair, Anchor TT, Breast Lift and Arms Oct 24!
I've been reading everyone's posts for several months and gained so much information, courage, and helpful hints -- thank you! Where do I begin? I had RNY in 2006 and lost over 100 pounds, going from 258 to 254. Then came fertility treatments, three pregnancies, two incredible children (both C-sections) and almost 50 pounds of weight gain. Since Feb or Mar, I joined the Back on Track
Together forum (wonderful support), exercised hard for an hour every day, did MFP, stuck to 1200 calories, focused on protein and veggies, and eliminated sugar and refined carbs. I'm now down to 151, in excellent health and shape again and ready for the final transition in my weight loss journey.
Dr. Jeffries in Traverse City, MI will start with the fleur de lis tummy tuck. I've had 8 abdominal surgeries plus obesity and pregnancies so my muscles are shot and skin over stretched. Thankfully, insurance is covering the pannus removal because of rashes, etc. Once I'm open and before the TT, a wonderful general surgeon will repair a large hernia hopefully without mesh. They'll try to remove the mesh from a previous hernia, remove adhesions, and look for other hernias. Once the hernia repair and tummy tuck are done, he'll do a breast lift. I was once a DD-F (breast feeding does wonders) but now I have the outside of a C and not much on the inside so I'll end up a B. I'm good with that. I'm not so concerned about fullness, I just would rather they be roundish, normal looking, pointed in the right direction and up where they're supposed to be rather than looking like two skinny dachshunds running down my belly. He'll make a cut along my sides or flanks to pull up the loose skin there. Then he'll remove the excess skin under my arms. I I shouldn't need lipo, except maybe a bit in the mons after it's lifted. He thinks he'll remove about four pounds of skin. It will be about a 5 hour surgery. I will gladly trade my shar pei body that flaps and makes noise when I move for some scars.
I'm excited, nervous, frightened, anxious, apprehensive, determined, elated...so many mixed emotions. My husband is so supportive but he's afraid...that I've been too lucky with surgeries (except my first c-section, he was there when things went quickly downhill after my son was born) and this time something could happen and life for him and our children (just turned 5 and 3) will be forever tragically altered. Makes me want to pick up the phone and cancel!!! I won't though.
Any words of advice, encouragement, suggestions, anything about preparations, recovery...anything you have to share will be appreciated. And sorry for the long post
Thanks!
Jennifer
Together forum (wonderful support), exercised hard for an hour every day, did MFP, stuck to 1200 calories, focused on protein and veggies, and eliminated sugar and refined carbs. I'm now down to 151, in excellent health and shape again and ready for the final transition in my weight loss journey.
Dr. Jeffries in Traverse City, MI will start with the fleur de lis tummy tuck. I've had 8 abdominal surgeries plus obesity and pregnancies so my muscles are shot and skin over stretched. Thankfully, insurance is covering the pannus removal because of rashes, etc. Once I'm open and before the TT, a wonderful general surgeon will repair a large hernia hopefully without mesh. They'll try to remove the mesh from a previous hernia, remove adhesions, and look for other hernias. Once the hernia repair and tummy tuck are done, he'll do a breast lift. I was once a DD-F (breast feeding does wonders) but now I have the outside of a C and not much on the inside so I'll end up a B. I'm good with that. I'm not so concerned about fullness, I just would rather they be roundish, normal looking, pointed in the right direction and up where they're supposed to be rather than looking like two skinny dachshunds running down my belly. He'll make a cut along my sides or flanks to pull up the loose skin there. Then he'll remove the excess skin under my arms. I I shouldn't need lipo, except maybe a bit in the mons after it's lifted. He thinks he'll remove about four pounds of skin. It will be about a 5 hour surgery. I will gladly trade my shar pei body that flaps and makes noise when I move for some scars.
I'm excited, nervous, frightened, anxious, apprehensive, determined, elated...so many mixed emotions. My husband is so supportive but he's afraid...that I've been too lucky with surgeries (except my first c-section, he was there when things went quickly downhill after my son was born) and this time something could happen and life for him and our children (just turned 5 and 3) will be forever tragically altered. Makes me want to pick up the phone and cancel!!! I won't though.
Any words of advice, encouragement, suggestions, anything about preparations, recovery...anything you have to share will be appreciated. And sorry for the long post
Thanks!Jennifer
May be long but how else wi we get to know you!
One typo in your weight-loss at the top but we understand it was 100lbs loss.
WOW!
I've had hernias after WLS but I also had Ring (befor the Band was invented) in 1992 in open surgery (before lap was done in Israel) and in 2008 I had my Rny.
I had TT in 2011 and had complications and a BL in 2012 and one breast opened a bit.
It is good you know the risks so as not to be surprised.
Any surgery is scary.
Plastics are more painful as the skin is removed and the muscles tightened taut.
I suggest you up your protein already now and if you do shakes,add one more a day but if you don't do shakes, consider doing them after the surgery for the first two weeks as many say that eating is hard as it puts pressure in the abdomen. And shakes give you liquid.
Try to prepare and freeze now meals for you and your family for when you get home - unless your hubby is a cook or a relative is coming to help out.
Think of things in your bathroom and kitchen that will affect your arm movements and move items onto lower shelves (soap shampoo coffe tea) for easier accessibility.
Ask your GP or buy stool softener or dried prunes as often after surgery from anesthesia and pain killers we can get constipated. Pain killers done recommend you take every four hours so you do not get to PAIN levels that are unbearable. Some of us do not suffer pain that often or that severely.
I did have pain but only took it twice a day however I was in hospital and if given a choice I would have taken at Leary one other dose a day.
How many drains will you have? How many days will you be in hospital?
When you go home wear roomy clothes that can accommodate the drains and binder you will be wearing.
Swelling is normal for the first three months. Do not be alarmed. Stitches cann and do sometimes open and it is in the realm of normal if it happens but each ps has their own protocol on creams or gauze. If you get concerned just get hubby to take a pic and email your ps.
I hope I am helping you and not frightening you.
Best of luck on your continued journey to a more normal and healthy body. Healing energy for a smooth and uneventful surgery and recovery.
Mikimi in Israel
One typo in your weight-loss at the top but we understand it was 100lbs loss.
WOW!
I've had hernias after WLS but I also had Ring (befor the Band was invented) in 1992 in open surgery (before lap was done in Israel) and in 2008 I had my Rny.
I had TT in 2011 and had complications and a BL in 2012 and one breast opened a bit.
It is good you know the risks so as not to be surprised.
Any surgery is scary.
Plastics are more painful as the skin is removed and the muscles tightened taut.
I suggest you up your protein already now and if you do shakes,add one more a day but if you don't do shakes, consider doing them after the surgery for the first two weeks as many say that eating is hard as it puts pressure in the abdomen. And shakes give you liquid.
Try to prepare and freeze now meals for you and your family for when you get home - unless your hubby is a cook or a relative is coming to help out.
Think of things in your bathroom and kitchen that will affect your arm movements and move items onto lower shelves (soap shampoo coffe tea) for easier accessibility.
Ask your GP or buy stool softener or dried prunes as often after surgery from anesthesia and pain killers we can get constipated. Pain killers done recommend you take every four hours so you do not get to PAIN levels that are unbearable. Some of us do not suffer pain that often or that severely.
I did have pain but only took it twice a day however I was in hospital and if given a choice I would have taken at Leary one other dose a day.
How many drains will you have? How many days will you be in hospital?
When you go home wear roomy clothes that can accommodate the drains and binder you will be wearing.
Swelling is normal for the first three months. Do not be alarmed. Stitches cann and do sometimes open and it is in the realm of normal if it happens but each ps has their own protocol on creams or gauze. If you get concerned just get hubby to take a pic and email your ps.
I hope I am helping you and not frightening you.
Best of luck on your continued journey to a more normal and healthy body. Healing energy for a smooth and uneventful surgery and recovery.
Mikimi in Israel
Thanks, Mikimi! I've always done one serving of protein of powder a day, I have a brand I really like, and I've been aiming for 100 grams of protein a day so now I've upped it to two a day. I didn't realize the muscle tightening might make it more difficult to eat and drink after surgery for a bit.
I made chili yesterday and tomorrow I'll make beef stew, beef veggie soul, eggplant Parmesan, and mini quiches. Things with protein and veggies that freeze well. My husband and mom will be able to cook but with taking care of me and our 5 and 3 year old I want to do as much as I can to help them beforehand.
Didn't think about not reaching either so I've moved necessities to the counter too and lower shelves.
I'll keep up with fail Miralax but have stool softeners on hand. I've already filled my antibiotic and pain med.
I'll have one drain that will go across the horizontal TT incision. I'll be in the hospital one night, maybe two depending on the extent of the hernia repair, pain, and nausea.
I appreciate your honesty and your advice, thank you!
Jennifer
I made chili yesterday and tomorrow I'll make beef stew, beef veggie soul, eggplant Parmesan, and mini quiches. Things with protein and veggies that freeze well. My husband and mom will be able to cook but with taking care of me and our 5 and 3 year old I want to do as much as I can to help them beforehand.
Didn't think about not reaching either so I've moved necessities to the counter too and lower shelves.
I'll keep up with fail Miralax but have stool softeners on hand. I've already filled my antibiotic and pain med.
I'll have one drain that will go across the horizontal TT incision. I'll be in the hospital one night, maybe two depending on the extent of the hernia repair, pain, and nausea.
I appreciate your honesty and your advice, thank you!
Jennifer
I had my TT with Dr Jefferies!! He is wonderful. I had no drains, minimal swelling and so far a terific result. Look at my pictures in my profile if you want. Still have some dents and a wrinkle but I think they will go away, it has not quite been a month (9--13-13)
RNY 9/12 TT 9/13 HT 5' 4" HW 250 SW 242 CW 125
Come keep it real in R&R 3.0 Want a group invite? Send a PM 
Good luck Jennifer! I know you have been working hard this year to get your weight back down and you have done awesome! When you get all the skin removed you will feel awesome and look great without the clothes. Keep ahead of your pain meds and you can take benedryne to help extend them and get some much needed sleep. My first 4 days were rough but the fifth day I knew I had may the right decision. Three things I found that I was thankful that I had: Lift Recliner-rented from Rent-a-Center, Potty Chair for over the toilet, and a walker-you need something to lend over while you walk cause your back will be killing you on day 2. I drank a lot of protein shakes after surgery to keep my proteins up for healing along with eating anything that I felt I could, not much of an appetite for a few days though. Let me know if I can answer any other questions you might have. Congratulations again!
Tess
Starting Wt 306; Losing Wt 155; Goal Wt 145: Regain Wt 225; Current Wt 157
PS: FDL Tummy Tuck, Hernia Repair 5/17/12, TT Revision, Butt and Thigh Lift 4/18/13
Thanks, Tess! Great advice, thanks! I look at my body now and pull away handfuls of skin and i'm i having a hard visualizing what I'll look like after the bandages and swelling are gone. I've had this panni for years and in an odd way will miss seeing it and hearing it. Strange, I know. I already filled my antibiotic and pain meds and picked up some Benedryl. I found a durable medical equipment place that rents all three items you mentioned and we'll pick them up Monday. I never realized how low the toilet seat was until you mentioned this ☺. I placed a huge order with Netrition and now have six boxes of Quest bars and a couple more containers of protein powder. I'm lucky I love my protein powder, I added a second shake a day on Mimi's advice. Thanks again!!!!
Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you! The hardest thing for me after my TT was waiting for the swelling to go away so I could finally see my results. I got very discouraged for a little while thinking my tummy would never be flat. Then finally at 3 months after the swelling was just about gone and now I'm thrilled with the way my new tummy looks. Although I will be getting a minor touch up revision because there is a small roll of skin on my left side just above my scar. I think touch up revisions are fairly common and usually are done at no extra charge. My PS is not charging me extra and it will be done at his office.
I'm so happy for you! The hardest thing for me after my TT was waiting for the swelling to go away so I could finally see my results. I got very discouraged for a little while thinking my tummy would never be flat. Then finally at 3 months after the swelling was just about gone and now I'm thrilled with the way my new tummy looks. Although I will be getting a minor touch up revision because there is a small roll of skin on my left side just above my scar. I think touch up revisions are fairly common and usually are done at no extra charge. My PS is not charging me extra and it will be done at his office.
Good luck with your revision! Thanks for the reminder about swelling and revisions. I'll keep reminding myself that there will be swelling but the reality is probably going to be a shock. It will HAVE to be better than the huge handfuls of skin I can pull away right now. When I bend over it hangs about six inches away from my body. I cannot in any way envision not having this huge pooch, either. I've kept larger yoga pants and shirts so hopefully they will work when the swelling really kicks in. I'm so happy for you too and that you are so happy with your results. I've followed your posts here and it's good to see you on BOTT too 😀
Jennifer
Jennifer
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