Hi Maysters, I have been continuing to stay off the computer during recovery, don't know why, except I still don't like to sit upright for long periods of time. It's now 4 1/2 weeks post tummy tuck, and recovery is progressing slowly. The second drain didn't come out until 5 days ago, and boy-oh-boy, was that ever a pain while it was in. My weight had dropped down to 153, but now as soon as the drain is out, it's gone up three pounds, all of that fluid. My abdomen is like my waterbed. I can literally push on one side of my tummy and watch the fluid move across to the other side. As a result, my stomach, abdomen, and thighs are all bigger (I measured with a tape measure). The day after my drain came out, I went shopping with my youngest daughter who came home from college for the weekend. This was her first time home since leaving in August, and the first time to see me since surgery. All she kept saying was, "you're so tiny." I haven't bought any clothes since June, so I had no idea what size I would be in. The last pants I bought were a 16, and they were getting pretty loose before the TT. Well, I tried on a pair of Liz Claiborne jeans in a size 10, and they were too big!!!! I wanted to cry, except I was too tired from trying on the clothes. I have been getting by, by wearing some size 12's my older daughter left behind this last year, but they are too big. All of my clothes, from underwear to shirts are too big. I want to wait until some of this swelling goes down before I buy anything, but I have to return to work and have to find something to wear. I am feeling good during the day, but by evening, am swollen and really tired. It is also harder to stand up straight at the end of the day, as the top of the incision and muscle repair area start talking to me. I am not trying to scare anyone before their plastics, I just want to let you know how it's been for me. I've come to the conclusion that maybe my pain tolerance isn't as high as I thought it was, lol. Plus with no kids left at home, I've probably been letting my hubby baby me more than I should. In spite of all of this, I still feel fat when I look in a mirror, and have come to realize that it may be years before I get used to this new body. When I was looking at the size 10's at the store, I kept waiting for someone to come along and ask me what did I think I was doing looking at that size. My eyes kept going over to the larger size clothes. It's good to read about all of you Maysters. Lori, sorry about the loss of your kitty and coworker. Laurie, I hope you get some results on your blood work questions. Debra M.

All my vits are from vitalady. I got them after my stroke last year. Multi vit. - 2 childrens chewables per day (sometimes I think to take a double dose) Iron - Tender Iron, I take 3 with Vit. C chewable 2 times per day Vit. A and D are dry form and have to be poured into something. B12 is sublingual, but 1/2 of the time it doesn't dissolve. B6 is another neurological damaging thing, when deficient. Last time I had neuropathy in my right leg and foot (that was B1 and Beri Beri) this time I have numbing in both arms, especially in the elbows!!! Strange huh? My research also says that this can cause irritability, confusion, and DEPRESSION......hhhhmmmm???? That's good to know, so I'm not really crazy it's a deficiency in B6. lol It also says that the higher your protein intake is the more B6 you need. This is probably where I went wrong. I upped my protein last year to 100 grams per day but I never upped my b6. Need to research this one more. It's so good that you have a hospital that is up on the vitamin needs of wls patients!!!!! Just keep passing along the infor. Hugs, Laurie

This sounds horrible Tracy - but I have no idea what I had done. I know I was under 300 pounds and so I should have had the lesser bypass done. I've never asked to see my surgical records, perhaps I should find out though. Laurie

AM - cup of coffee, 2 cups tea B - protein shake, apple L - raw salad greens with 3 oz grilled chicken, s/f pudding for dessert S - not sure but it will definitely involve raw baby carrots and raw yellow peppers (I love those things!!!) D - I took a slice of turkey meatloaf out of the freezer, so I'll prolly have that with more steamed veggies. I have a hankering for a 100 calorie pack of microwave popcorn, so I'll prolly have that for dessert Water - will get in over 100 oz of liquids (will make sure at least 60 of that is water). meds and vits - done exercise - about an hour of some form of either cardio or interval training followed by (or including if I do intervals) upper body toning.

AM - cup of coffee, 2 cups tea B - protein shake, apple L - raw salad greens with can of tuna ff dressing mixed in, 1/2 cup of steamed cabbage S - Atkins snack bar, raw baby carrots Misc - my mother sauteed sockeye salmon and onions and I stood at the stove and had 2 or 3 forkfulls of that. It was soooo good. D - a cup of my famous 5-bean vegetarian chili (YUUUUUM), steamed veggie medley (no butter), and 3 s/f cookies for dessert Water - did good today. 68 oz of water and about 50 oz of other beverages meds and vits - done exercise - 50 minute step aerobics class followed by lower body toning and ab work.