Re: After surgery

April 19, 2005

I found that everything was pretty easy I just had someone around so I wouldnt

be so lonely. The ONLY thing I found hard was, dealing with food. Make sure you

buy a good blender or processor now. And it takes forever to prepare something

at least for me it did.

squiggles_bug wrote:

I am getting surgery later this year, and was wondering how difficult

it is after leaving hospital, being back at home, having to remember

to take all the medicines etc. and prepare food to eat? Am from UK,

and think that patients are usualy kept in longer after the op. so may

be will be slightly easier to cope on my own, (although will have

friends around to help me if needed)

---------------------------------

April 19, 2005

It can be done on your own, but folks here usually suggest you have

someone around for the first few days to help out. You might want

help in the shower, for example, to make sure you don't fall (you'll

be weak for the first few days to a week). My husband stayed off work

for 2 weeks and cooked for me (he's the cook anyway, so he made sure

I was well fed) and also made sure I got my meds on time. All I had

to do was sit back and heal. It was wonderful.

>

> I am getting surgery later this year, and was wondering how

difficult

> it is after leaving hospital, being back at home, having to remember

> to take all the medicines etc. and prepare food to eat? Am from UK,

> and think that patients are usualy kept in longer after the op. so

may

> be will be slightly easier to cope on my own, (although will have

> friends around to help me if needed)

June 21, 2006

Jenni: There are many ways to get rid of excess skin. Surgery if you have a lot and it causes health issues kaiser will do it. If you are young and you start water aerobics early on sometimes that will take care of most of the excess skin. If you are young I think your skin will get more of the elasticity back the biggest problem is when you loose weight so fast the skin can't go back in place as fast as we like it to I believe Kaiser weights two years after goal weight to do surgery so that the skin has a chance to catch up that is what I have been told but each case is different. If you weigh the health benefits against the excess skin the health issues will win out I think. Take care I know you will make the right decision for yourself. TJenni wrote: Is there any way to reduce the amount of excess skin I will have? Do people always have alot of excess skin?

June 21, 2006

Hi Jenni,

Like with most everything about this journey, we are all different. A

number of factors will affect how much excess skin one ends up with -

these include heredity, age, your overall general state of health

(which is probably where exercise can do you the most good), how long

you carried that excess weight and how it was distributed.

I've met very few post-ops who felt satisfied with how well their skin

recovered. However, I have met lots of post-ops with really nice arms

and legs because they carried all their excess weight in their

abdominal area. For them, a tummy tuck or possibly even just a pannus

removal is all they need to feel completely "snugged up." For folks

like me, who carried the bulk of their weight in their arms and legs,

it can get a lot more complicated.

Ultimately, whether or not reconstructive surgery will be in your

future will depend on what you are satisfied with. For some, a bit of

laxity in their upper arms may be no big deal, but they may find some

slight droopage under the chin really bothers them. For others, it may

be the reverse or some completely different scenario.

Please, don't let the possibility of excess skin deter you. All the

benefits so far out-weigh the negatives that it isn't even a close call

in my book. I have lots of droopy skin on my legs, not just my thighs

but my calves as well, which isn't surprising since each of my thighs

used to be bigger than my hips are now. I'd love to get it fixed, but

I might never have it done. Luckily, clothes can hide an awful lot.

By the way . . . have you decided to approach your doctor about the

surgery? I do so hope that you will. I was very nervous about

bringing it up with my PCP - I went in with a long letter ready to give

him which outlined all the ways my life was being affected. I didn't

need it - as soon as he realized that I was willing to address the

issue of my weight, he brought up the possiblity of surgery. Not all

doctors are as supportive, but it sure seems like most Kaiser PCPs

are.

Please, let us know what you decide and how it goes with your doctor

(assuming that you decide to broach the issue).

Geez . . . I've been long-winded. Hope you don't mind. I don't post

much these days . . . seems like when I do, I may not know when to shut

up.

On that note, I'll go now.

Take care,

Kay (in San Leandro)

Open RNY 12/1/03

Jenni wrote:

Is there any way to reduce the amount of excess skin I will have?

Do

people always have alot of excess skin?

June 21, 2006

Thank you so much!

I really appriciate you telling me your experience... I hae decided to

discuss it with my PCP on July 3rd.... Please pray for me, this is

really hard... I have been thinking about WLS for two years now and

have researched it and have spoken with many people. I think it is the

best route for me. I have just switched insurance due to an employment

change so this is my first experience with Kaiser... I am glad to hear

that it seems like most everyone has had a good experience. I am

ready for surgery, I know the cost and it definitely worth it! I dont

want to be tiny I just want to be healthy and have a happy life.

Thanks again, I will keep you posted

June 21, 2006

I had only 2.5 pounds of skin when I had my tummy tuck

done on April 19th 2006. It just depends on how much

you lose and also exercising helps. I know that my

skin had always been tight at 250 pounds. I am down

to 138 now and I am almost a year and a half out.

During the losing phase, working out helps SOME with

tightening up things but not always.

Pam Marsh

--- Jenni wrote:

> Is there any way to reduce the amount of excess skin

> I will have? Do

> people always have alot of excess skin?

>

__________________________________________________

June 21, 2006

, what you said is correct about the time frame.

You have to wait until your one year mark then hold at

that weight for six months. They will refer you once

you have been stable for six months to the plastic

surgery dept. Then you are waiting so therefore, it

could take 2 years plus. I chose to self pay because

I have heard that they do not tighten the tummy

muscles and the plastics are not that expense

depending on who you go to. I had breast lift with

implants and a tummy tuck with the tightening of the

muscles and it cost me $11,700. The 700.00 was for

the overnight stay (had to spend the night).

Pam Marsh

--- mary turnage wrote:

> Jenni:

>

> There are many ways to get rid of excess skin.

> Surgery if you have a lot and it causes health

> issues kaiser will do it. If you are young and you

> start water aerobics early on sometimes that will

> take care of most of the excess skin. If you are

> young I think your skin will get more of the

> elasticity back the biggest problem is when you

> loose weight so fast the skin can't go back in place

> as fast as we like it to I believe Kaiser weights

> two years after goal weight to do surgery so that

> the skin has a chance to catch up that is what I

> have been told but each case is different. If you

> weigh the health benefits against the excess skin

> the health issues will win out I think.

>

> Take care I know you will make the right decision

> for yourself. T

>

> Jenni wrote:

> Is there any way to reduce the amount of

> excess skin I will have? Do

> people always have alot of excess skin?

>

__________________________________________________

June 21, 2006

do you love the breast implants? and the tummy tuck? let me

know....damaris

> > Is there any way to reduce the amount of

> > excess skin I will have? Do

> > people always have alot of excess skin?

> >

>

> __________________________________________________

>

June 21, 2006

Good luck. It seems to be a long process but every time I reach the

next stage in the process it continues to give me hope. I'm excited

too.

>

> Thank you so much!

>

> I really appriciate you telling me your experience... I hae decided

to

> discuss it with my PCP on July 3rd.... Please pray for me, this is

> really hard... I have been thinking about WLS for two years now and

> have researched it and have spoken with many people. I think it is

the

> best route for me. I have just switched insurance due to an

employment

> change so this is my first experience with Kaiser... I am glad to

hear

> that it seems like most everyone has had a good experience. I am

> ready for surgery, I know the cost and it definitely worth it! I

dont

> want to be tiny I just want to be healthy and have a happy life.

> Thanks again, I will keep you posted

>

June 22, 2006

Hi Jenni,

Please excuse me if you have already mentioned this - but where do you

live? I ask because I'd like to suggest that you consider attending an

in-person support group - even prior to seeing your pcp. I think that

meeting other folks who have gone through the process would be

encouraging. Also . . . when you talk with your pcp, it will certainly

show how earnest you are and how much you are doing to be well-informed.

There is a meeting in Fremont this Friday - from 6:00 to 8:00pm. I'm

not sure what else is scheduled in other locales - but I am sure that

the wonderful, helpful folks here will know.

Take care,

Kay (in San Leandro)

open RNY 12/1/03

Jenni wrote:

Thank you so much!

I really appriciate you telling me your experience... I hae

decided to