kathie was so nice to invite me to this board

thank u so very much. vick

WELCOME Vickie.....so glad you have decided to join us!!!

I look forward to getting to know you better and you us!

Hugs.....connie d

thanks so much for the kind welcome. vick

 Welcome over here Vickie.  Good to see you.  This is a good board.  

Congrats on your success.  17 lbs to go!  Sorry about the knees, wish I had an answer.  I know mine are a lot better since my RNY, but I did not have any surgery on my knees.

thanks, george. everyone seems real nice here. vick

Hi Vickie,

It's so good to see you here. I think our problems as we age (especially the joints) are something younger people don't need to concern them with as much. 

I had a total hip replacement last year after living with extreme pain. My goal for losing weight was to regain my life and get rid of my pain. Today, I'm very happy to say that I don't have the hip pain (just shoulder pain) but at least I don't walk on my arms!

I wish you lots of success with your upcoming surgery and hopefully something will come along to help with live with our arthritis pain better. Until then, it's nice having people around us that understand what we're going through.

All the best to you!

thanks, kathy.   vick

Aloha Vickie.....Living in the middle of the ocean, and six hours earlier than east coast peeps, and 3 hours from the west coast, I often bring up the rear in here......Ha! ( right now it's 2:45 p.m. so on the east coast people are way past dinner time!!)

Anyway.....welcome to the OFF and congratulations on your wonderful success with WLS. I am sorry about the hernia and knee problems, but hey you are getting a panniculectomy out of it!! I had a panni removal seven months ago and am so happy with it. I have a flat, flat belly and a light scar from hipbone to hipbone which I like to call my "belly chain!" It's not like I'm going to be wearing a bikini anytime soon....but I do wear crop tops with shorts a lot!!

Life is good.....glad to have you join us.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

karen, how long did it take u to get over your panni?  how much did they remove, if you don't mind  me asking?  my doc says he should probably get 5 to 8 pounds off of me.  i  just want to get it over with. vick

Aloha again, Vickie......I flew from Maui to Honolulu for my panni. I was in the hospital 2 days, and flew back alone with a friend picking me up. I had just one drain (the worse part of the whole process.) I had that drain for about 2 weeks.....and a friend came and changed my dressings.

I had steri strips over the incision, and they just fell off as I began showering and I was so OUT OF MY MIND DELIGHTED when a visiting surgeon took out the final drain at 2 weeks. The mind has a wonderful way of blurring the details....and it seems like it was just yesterday I had the surgery and that I was up and about in a week or so. I wish I had taken pictures of the whole process......but it came and went so quickly that it almost seems like it didn't happen.

Take pictures!! I just changed my clothes and looked at my belly and it seems like I had that scar from hipbone to hipbone forever........and if it weren't for that......my belly would look like it did when I was 15!! Ha!

Follow your doc's orders....and just think that a year from now....you will barely remember this experience.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen