The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Tawanda]

Grayson, glad you feel good enough to give us an update! I hope your recovery will be quick. Those drains are a drag.

[Grayson]

Another update:

I did a lot of sleeping over the weekend, but started getting up and around by Sunday afternoon (go Cowboys!). I've been drinking a lot of shakes but have had solid food on Sat and Sun nights.

I've been keeping up with my medication (pills for pain and nausea, and an injectable drug that goes into a drain in my abdomen for local pain), and most of the direct pain is gone. I did have some pretty bad pain the other day when I almost pulled one of the drains out--OUCH!. Mostly all I'm feeling is soreness and tightness. I still feel like I can't stand up straight all the way, and I haven't straightened out on a bed yet. I've been sleeping in a recliner.

Went to the Dr today and there was a concern about drainage, but overall they say I'm doing really well. The binder I'm wearing is uncomfortable and the drains are indeed a drag, but other than the soreness/tightness I mentioned above I feel pretty good. Still working from home but I should be able to go back to the office on Monday.

[bikipatra]

Oh, I hope you start feeling more comfortable, especially before you return to work.

[Tawanda]

Grayson, you sound like you are doing well! Thanks for the update.

[Unca_Tim]

Hi Grayson,
Just wondering how you're doing?

Hope all is well.

[Grayson]

Unca, thanks for asking.

Let's see if I can summarize: the first week was pretty terrible in terms of pain, inability to move, drainage, swelling, etc. The second week I really started to feel pretty good, then that weekend I went on a long (6 hours each way) road trip that I had previously scheduled, but which I probably shouldn't have taken. Sitting in the car for so many hours, I experienced terrible swelling, pain, fever, etc., and became seriously worried about my condition. I feld like I feld the day after surgery. I went to the Dr. the next day, completely prepared to apologize for my behavior, and he said, "oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, patients always experience their worst swelling/pain/etc. during the third week of recovery." So, bottom line, what I thought I'd done to myself by going on the road trip was actually "normal."

So that third week was bad (at that time I still had 2 of the original 5 drains in), and the next week after I got my remaining drain tubes out, I developed a pretty bad infection that led to one of the drainage holes basically turning into a spigot. It was a gusher for a few days, but I went back on antibiotics and got better quickly. This was good, because there was concern that I'd have to go back under to get drain tubes reinstalled.

Today marks the end of week 5. I am nearing the end of this cycle of antibiotics, with only a few days left, and I feel better than I have at any point since mid November. Actually, I feel great. The scar looks good, the drainage holes are closing and hardly draining at all, and my swelling around the scar is going down daily. I can function basically as I normally would, but I still haven't exercised at all. I'm looking forward to that. A word to the wise here: if you plan on having this surgery, keep some bigger pants from your former life handy. I was in a 32/33 before the surgery, and with the swelling I was wearing 38's for a couple of weeks, and sweaters over the top (because it was easier to hide and adjust the drain tubes). I'm back to 34/36's now, with still a little swelling to go.

Am I happy I did it? Yes, and I can say that with probably a few more weeks until I look "normal." Has the recovery been tough? Absolutely. Tougher than I thought, without a doubt. But it will be worth it in the end, I'm sure. The only thing I would change would be to have been better prepared for the reality of recovery. My professional life suffered due to some of the physical problems I had, and I could have done a better job of planning ahead.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

[Tawanda]

Hi Grayson, I'm so glad you've checked in---I just posted yesterday, in one of Lauren's threads, that I was hoping you were doing well and would check in soon.

What a time of you've had......but I'm glad that you are feeling better and that you are still happy that you had the surgery. I think it is very kind of you to share what you've gone through with the surgery and recovery.

[bikipatra]

Hopes for a great recovery!

[Lauren]

Wow, crazy, Grayson, I just replied to Tawanda that I wanted to hear your scoop!

My surgery is Jan 7th, so obviously I wanted to know your experience. I am sorry it's been a tough road, but I already mentall and logistically prepared for that tough road (including taking short term disability from work). The drain thing sounds rough, and I am surprised you had them in so long, as my surgeon said he expects to have them out within 10 days. Hmmm. Hope that still will hold true!

Anyway, please do keep us in the loop, I want to hear the good, bad and ugly (sorry!).

But I am thrilled to hear you don't regret it, and I am very very happy that you seem to be totally on the mend...

Cheers to you, Grayson!

Lauren

[Grayson]

Lauren,

First of all, congratulations on your weight loss. That's incredible.

I don't know if there's a PM function on this website, but feel free to send me a PM if you can, and I'll send you my email address if you have any questions you don't want to ask here.

Regarding the drains, I started with 5 tubes. 4 were drains, one was a pain injection tube. Two of the drains (the ones for my front) and the pain medication injection tube came out within about 10 days. I guess the other two drain tubes (for my back) came out in about 17 days.

Honestly, my preference, were I to do it over again, would be to leave the back drains in longer (versus having the tubes removed and a bunch of crap draining out of a hole in my side, and having to change gauze and other pads every hour). Then again, the draining out of my side was likely caused by the infection I had and may not have had anything to do with getting the drains out early.

I'm sure your doctor will do what's best for you.

[Mike]

Sounds like you are doing better. Good luck with the remaining recovery.

The PM and E-mail buttons are at the bottom of the reply screens.

[Grayson]

I'm back....been gone for quite a while, I know...

Does Lauren have a surgery thread? Can someone post a link? I wanted to check in and see how it went/how she's doing.

[Lauren]

You still around, Grayson? Haven't heard a peep from ya...

Hope all is well!

Lauren

[Grayson]

I am! The board was down for a few days, and I just finished a big project, hence the delay. Sorry.

Before I begin, I must say that I checked out your pictures, Lauren, and you look fantastic! You're a hottie! Amazing transformation, and I'd like to think mine has been that dramatic as well. I'm still amazed at how bad I looked before Medifast.

As for my surgery update...

Today is basically the 5-month mark since my surgery. I was released to exercise on my last visit about 8 weeks ago, and I have been hitting it hard since. I must confess that I did gain some weight in the couple months after surgery/during the holidays, but since I was released to exercise I've lost about 12 and am in the best shape of my life. I've been lifting quite a bit, running up to 4 miles a day (not even in Lauren's class, apparently!), etc. When I originally lost the 125 lbs, I was really underweight (not according to the stupid BMI charts, but just based on appearance) because of the loss of muscle mass. Now I'm a bit heavier than last year because of the weightlifting, but in much better physical condition and I think I've filled out nicely. This has all led to my desire to make a dramatic life change, I'm an attorney but I hate sitting behind a desk all day so I'm looking into other options that will challenge me physically and mentally. I'm 30, but I feel 10 years younger!

The only lingering problems I still have from surgery are a bit of swelling in my lower back, and I still have quite a bit of swelling in the lowest part of my front abdomen, directly above the scar. I have been assured that it should go away by 6 months out, and my family is going to the beach on vacation in late May, so I want to get rid of it by then. I have an appointment in the second week of May, and my Dr. tells me that if the swelling isn't gone by then, he can give me a steroid injection that should clear it all up in about a week. I'm ready to get the injection now and "move on with my life," but I've always been somewhat impatient.

As far as appearance goes, I'm still not comfortable with my shirt off in public due to the lingering swelling, and in a t-shirt I can still see a little bulge in the lower front abdomen. Everything looks great in work clothes, though (business casual/suits). My goal is to have everything looking smooth by our family vacation--I haven't been to the beach in literally about 12 years! I've never posted a pic on here, but if everything goes well maybe I'll post a beach pic when we get back. I spotted a hint of a 6-pack the other day...much better than the keg I used to carry around!

[aquarianskye]

Wow. I love getting the updates. I'm still in the weight loss phase of this whole thing so I've got awhile to go. I'm already thinking about the whole abdominalplasty thing cause I've got an apron. I know that I was obese for far too long in this body and even though I'm toning up everywhere else my stomach has refused to come "back up" again.

I check this post every time I get on the board to see if you've given us more updates. I'm glad you've decided to share this part of your journey with us. Thank you so much for sharing this.