official

Hi all, Found out I will be having my hernia repair/panniculectomy on Wed. Nov.16 at 11am. Its at a Same Day surgery with possibility of 1-2 day stay. My wls is doing the surgery. He is a wonderful general surgeon but I am a little worried about how I will "turn out". I am paying privately for the panni so anxious about making the loan payments. Planning on cutting some expenses in January and maybe taking a second job once I am physically able. I am still about 25 pounds from goal. He figures the surgery will take about 10 pounds of skin and I am hoping to be more motivated once the belly lop is gone. Do you think losing another 15 after will cause much "droopage". I think I am prepared as I can be. I live alone so am trying to make arrangements for folks to check in on me. Tell me your stories about recovery especially if you were alone. Also I have a more physical job than I had with my wls and hope I can go back to work at least partime after 2 weeks. I handle books at a library-- carts to push, lifting, checking in, bending, stooping etc. How was your experience at work. Love to hear from Ya'll. Lucy

I had an abdomioplasty in March & my surgeon limited all my physical activity to as little as possible for 6 weeks. He didn't even allow me to walk for exercise, just the walking I had to do to exist, no lifiting over 10 lbs either. I went back to work at 2 weeks with the same lifting restriction. My job is about 1/2 physical, and had no problem but experienced lots of swelling before the end of my shift. My husband is not much of a nurse so I was pretty much on my own after I came home from my surgery. I was able to get up & down from bed ok & even made supper the night I came home. You can do it on your own if you have to but it really isn't a good idea to be all alone at first. My husband & sons are farmers & were in & out all day so they did check up on me. About losing more after & getting droopy, my plastic surgeon said I could lose another 25 or so lbs & it wouldn't affect the way my tummy looked. I have pretty much quit losing so I am only down 8 lbs since surgery so haven't tested it. Don't be disappointed if you don't end up losing 10 lbs of skin. Most regular surgeons tend to overestimate what they think they will be removing. I have heard of some that claimed 20 lbs would be removed & actually it was only 5-7 lbs. I was pretty much the same weight as you when I started this wonderful journey & my excess skin was just 6 lbs 2 oz. I also ended up gaining it back because of the lack of exercise. I hope in your case, that your surgeon is right & you lose 10 lbs & keep it off. If you would like to see my scrapbook from my plastic surgeries, click on the WWW below. The password is dixie. This shows both my TT & my tushie lift. Dixie

The panni recovery should be lots eaiser than the TT has the muscles are not being worked on. But you are having hernia repaired. My surgeon is a great surgeon also, but I am really sorry that I opted to let him do my TT. I told him from the start, NO DOG EARS.....well, I have hideous dog ears. Clothes look terrible on me and I have to wear things that go below my hits. I always suggest to people that if you can get into a plastics office, do so. They are trained for patching us up and contouring us. Good luck and keep us posted. Darlene