Kick around thought? Sophomores?

You're too kind..... I remain in swell hell daily and it's been 2 months.... My PS said that I would see swelling for up to 6 mos!!!! But at least in the morning, I can see a waistline and I am thrilled about that!!! I still can't run tho, and that is making me anxious.... in oh so many ways.... I hardly wear my binder anymore unless I am working in the yard... or are particularly swollen on any given day.... Good luck to you on your ps..... it's worth it for sure.. you'll be amazed at how good it feels to not have all that skin just flappin' around!! Don't be surprised how much time you'll spend gawking naked in front of a full length mirror... Your wife will be surprised too, gawking right along with ya.... enjoy yourself... Good Luck, and remember when it comes to swelling... patience, Grasshopper.... Laurie, aka "Slim"

Slim, Thanks for the swelling info! I already had in my head the 8 months thing So It won't hit me as too much of a shock. A bother!!! And frustrating, just not surprise! I've been "shopping" around the internet For a good Male-Compression garment And getting input from some of the recent PS men. A lot less options in the "girdle dept" for us! I'll have to go out and buy a mirror. After a life of MO? We don't actually have a "full-length" Mirror in our house. So when my wife is asking- "How does this look?" She's never fishing for compliments! Have a Great Weekend! Best Wishes- Dx

My surgeons office furnished the compression garmet when I had my tummy tuck and upper body lift. It would have fit a man fine because it was straight from under the breast to the bottom of the hips. On me the top worked it's way to the waist and the bottom rode up to the waist so nothing was compressed but the waist. It was very aggrivating. The surgeons explanation was it wasn't made for a person with an hour glass figure. Who me? Well only AFTER plastic surgery did I know that figure was hiding under the skin. She told me at two weeks to tra**** if it wasn't comfortable and that it was basically a security thing because patients thought they were going to split open without something holding them together. I dropped it in the trach can in her office an never wore anything after that. She did say if I'd feel more comfortable I could buy a compression garmet but it wasn't necessary. At 8 months out my scars are almost invisable. I was very conscious of the swelling for about 2 months after surgery, but thought it was gone at that point. I did drop another size between 2-6 months with no weight loss, so obviously there was still some swelling during that time but nothing serious. My surgeon had told me there would be swelling for about 6 months but it would get better every month. The recovery wasn't nearly as bad as I'd anticipated. I walked 3 miles (one mile 3 times that day) on the 8th day after surgery. My incisions totaled 60" but I was back at work on the 10th day after surgery feeling good. Not healed completely but feeling good. Yeah my body looked like a road map, but I recovered quickly and never experienced the exhaustion many people talk about with plastic surgery. My surgeon did tell me on day 9 that I should not have been exercising so soon. She had not told me earlier because she didn't expect me to be standing straight much less exercising at that point in my recovery. She said she'd never had a patient who was able to get active that quickly. My drains stayed in for 8 weeks which is longer than most peoples. She said was probably due to the tremendous amount of skin/fat removed (22 lbs) and my being too active too soon. Don't exercise too soon is the moral of this story. Hope your plastic surgery experience will be as good as mine.

I know what you mean. Sometimes I have the time, energy and emotional state of mind to cruise the main board and sometimes not. There is alot of misinformation out there, that's for sure! And, not that I'm perfect at this whole thing by any means~I feel just like you said "this is what has worked for me" and that's all I know. That being said, there are days when I even question myself and wonder what the he!! I'm doing, LOL! I try my best to be helpful when I can and keep my mouth shut when I have nothing nice to say b/c some of it drives me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!! Interesting post and thoughts as always Dx! Tracy B 328/153 5'9"

Hey Tracy, Just here "picking brains" for new ideas, approaches Or good reasons to "Forget About it!" completely. I did more avoiding over the last 3 months And feel a touch, Just a touch, guilty for "getting" stuff here And not "giving." So often what I "think" is giving is just "rant-food." Best Wishes- Dx

Dx, I do have to say that you've given me some great advice as of late! I truly appreciate what you have to say b/c I think you have such a great grasp on this whole wls thing! Thanks again! Tracy B

Tracy, That's just it, It's rarely if ever "my advice." A little 'Patty Butler' mixed with some 'Diane Cox' Dipped in some 'John Rushton' and fried up with some 'Dame T!' That's my recipe, and I'm stickin' to it! Best Wishes- Dx

Well here is my 2 cents... I'm just a year out but do feel that I have a grasp on the whole WLS thing. I am an educated well read person *****searched for several years before taking the plunge. From the get go, even pre-op, I had trouble with many questions that people asked. It was almost like they were looking for an answer that no one should or would give. So they just kept asking till they got the answer they wanted to hear. I even answered some only to be told I was too mean or not understanding. I think I am just matter of fact and honest. Why tell someone that its okay that all they ate all day was mashed potatoes and macoroni and cheese? So I just chose to steer clear of the main board. And now with this new layout I find it even increasing irriating! I think those who "seek out the truth" will find a board that works the best for them. Oh Well...I'll be checking in here more often Jen

Jen, Do drop in when you can if only to say- "Step away from the Mac & Cheese!" Best Wishes- Dx

Hello Dx! I applied with my insurance carrier three times (backed out all three times) before even joining OH; so, I have researched/looked into WLS for quite a while. Looking back, I wasn't a Freshman when I joined OH; I was a Preschooler. LOL I like to think that I have played 'catch up' quite well; but, I do not consider myself to be anywhere near the be-all and end-all for advice and/or motivation. As you may or may not know, I have been MIA for a few months now, due to my computer going to its final resting place and not having the finances until recently to replace it. During that time, many changes have taken place. Some that seem to be great...and, some...well...let's just say, I haven't quite gotten the knack of them yet or have not yet 'seen the light'. I've noticed that there seem to be a lot of new people that seem very sweet; and, I also have noticed a LOT of people either MIA or posting a LOT less often. Then there also seem to be a few that do not want to receive advice even when they ask for it (though, it always has been like that since I have joined, to some degree). Just last night I answered a post with please call your surgeon. She responded with (something along the lines of)...Is that the best you got? Thanks for nothing... To try to answer your question: I will stick around for as long as I can because if no one had been here when I needed them, I would still have the knowledge of a preschooler in a post-op body...NOT a good thing at all. I am just more selective as to which posts I answer...meaning that I usually wait a while to see who answers what. If it is a valid answer, I don't usually reply...if it is an off-the-wall answer, I will usually step in and, if not to correct the reply poster, than at least to TRY to steer the original poster in the right direction. OR, if it is of a topic that I actually have experience in, I will answer immediately...PCOS, pre-Diabetes, Insulin-Resistance, post-op pregnancy, etc. Oh well...hope this made sense...been a long week and I just found out that I lost my job for missing work this week while the kids were sick. ~~Sherry AKA The Calamine Goddess