Hey Everyone...I'm back from the land of Nod!!

Hey Marchers!! Well I got my drains pulled today and just let me say that was a welcome pain in the you know where!!! Having the stitches cut loose was the worst part on the 1st one. The second one, was another story...apparently some of the tissue inside (up just below my ribs) had begun to bond to the tubing. Just let me say, that it was a bit painful for him to pull that 2 feet...NO JOKE!!...of tubing out my private parts!! Zooweee!!! Over all, the pain hasn't been all that bad...Demerol is a wonderful thing!!! The biggest PAIN over this last week was the drains and where they were positioned. Walking..sitting...sleeping... everything was painful because of the drains. I got through the last couple of days with ice sitting in my lap. Real good mental picture for my 18 year old son to deal with.... My "new" belly button was unveiled today and it looks pretty good. Doc wanted me to give it some special attention so he pulled the steri-tape off during the office visit. I don't remember ever having a belly button that high on my stomach but it's cute!! As of this morning (drains included) I weighed in at 129. Dr. Tu removed 5 lbs of excess skin and sub-cu belly fat. So that puts me at 103 pounds lost. Va 5' 3.5" 232/129/??? -103 pounds 6 days post-op TT

Welcome home, Va! Sounds as if everything has gone well for you, except the pain, sorry to hear about that. I understand the TT is every bit as painful as the WLS. It's hard to believe we're at this place after only a year. I have my consult scheduled for April; am hopeful to be in the 150s by then. Keep us posted on your recovery. Take care! Maureen

Wow, small fry! Congratulations! You are just rolling back those years along with the pounds! Glad that you are doing well. Congratulations on making the century club! Joy

Welcome back! Glad to hear it all went well, but it sounds rather painful...was it more painful than the WLS? I also have a consult in March...I'm hoping it brings me down to the 135 mark...being 5'6, I don't want to lose more than that. SOOOO...now that you have this cute, perky belly button...now you can....have it.....PIERCED!!!! YAY! well, one step at a time. Glad you're doing fine and keep us posted of your progress. I'm heading for ***** Cana tomorrow night, so will be out of touch with reality for a while. Take care, all! Joan

Joan, I had Lap RNY, no real bad pain there just soreness. The TT, definitely more pain, but most of it came from the drains. I don't really have much feeling in my "skin"...but still have a lot of soreness...achiness...in the muscles. I'm now 24 hours without drains and feeling much more human!!! Have fun on your trip!! Va

Va, You're our pioneer. I'm so glad that you are doing well. Keep us posted. Connie

Wow VA you are tiny! How awesome is that!!!! Congratulations on your surgery! I bet its thrilling to see a cute little belly button! I'm so happy for you! Elizabeth M

Hey do you think if you brought your own jewelry that the plastic surgeon could be talked into putting a belly ring in along with the rest of it? If I'm going to get a TT and look hot, may as well show off, but I'm chicken about the piercing pain..

Not to worry about the piercing pain...I'm told it will be a few months before the feeling returns there...I can vouch that it's numb...feels very strange!! Va

Welcome back!!! I have to say you are one brave woman! I am way more afraid of the TT than the inital Gastric proceedure. I hardly had any pain from that. I keep telling myself tha the extra loose skin is kinda cute! I know I know I am one sick puppy. Keep us posted. Leslie