Re: complications from TT

June 28, 2002

Ohhh Kathy,

So sorry to hear this, especially for your hubby and kids to experience it

right along with you! How worried they must've been!!

When did you get your drains out? I had mine removed 2 days after surgery. I

figured I'd be one who had them for 2 WEEKS after, since I normally

accumulate and hold onto fluid! I did not have any trouble afterward though.

I am swelling in the TT area quite a bit with the heat and humidity but

that's normal for me (to swell), just really annoying.

Please keep us informed of your recovery. Take it easy in the meantime and

continue your protein and water intake to help your body heal.

Sending a cyber hug your way,

Tricia in IL

In a message dated 6/28/02 12:53:44 AM, kacherra@... writes:

<<what happened with my tt is that dr cohen could not continue

to pull bc of the loss of blood and my old belly button is above my scar

and it had opened back up slightly...now we understand why....to serve as a

drain after my drains were taken out....which i think was too soon...so for

a few days i have been walkin round with pressure in my stomach and swollen

as if u would stick a pin in it it would explode well it finally did

2nite........>>

June 28, 2002

In a message dated 6/28/02 10:41:28 AM, kacherra@... writes:

<<.....my tummy is a site

but im sure it will get better.......not gonna worry bout it thou since

its got to be redone.....just ready to work out ....killin me to not do

much of anything.......especially since this summer is flying by and school

will be starting bck soon >>

Good to hear that you're not worrying about it. It WILL get better and yes,

you will be having it redone. Do you know when yet?

I hear you about wanting to work out. I have been off for 2 weeks since I

have Bronchitis and Pneumonia. Any exertion sends me into fits of coughing

and is DRIVING ME NUTS! That's what happens when I quit being diligent about

my protein shakes and vits/supps. When I do them as I should I'm healthy as a

horse and never get sick.

As for the comment about me not being happy with my TT...I actually had a

LONG discussion with Dr. Cohen prior to my surgery about what my results

could be. I'm a perfectionist BIG time. And I was having a hard time settling

for less than that. I had a really, really bad hanging " sack thing " from my

lower abs to my breasts that would collect, hang down and swing when I bent

over at the waist. I wanted him to tell me that would be *completely* gone

after he operated on me. He couldn't and wouldn't assure me of that. I

understand now that there is no such thing as a perfect body and that it

really is out of his control to get *all* my loose skin cut off. (They need

to invent something that " shrinks " skin like clothes shrink in the dryer.

LOL) Even thin folks who've never had a weight problem have a roll or a bit

of bunchie skin when they bend over. I needed to be realistic, not perfect.

And when I look at it that way, I'm happy with things. I have battle scars, I

have things that aren't perfect. But so do alot of other people, if not all!

The reconstruction surgeries I had were to make me more normal...and they

have done that! I would never, never want to go back to what I had before!! I

am SO VERY thankful for this part in my journey and thank my husband and God

almost every day that I was able to have the reconstruction and have such

good results. I just occasionally have to sock that perfection-monster in the

mouth!!! Anyway, enough rambling from me..sheesh!

Tricia in IL

June 28, 2002

Kathy

Are you saying Dr.Cohen didn't do something correctly or was this just " one

of those things " ? I have been considering going to CR for plastic surgery

but am a bit scared to be so far away if there are any complications. Anyone

want to jump in on this?

Joni

12/22/00

231/150...size 10

June 28, 2002

2 days????????? u lucky thing....mine stayed in the whole time i was

there and apparently needed to stay in longer he didnt take them out till

9pm the nite before i left so that was 8 days.........my tummy is a site

but im sure it will get better.......not gonna worry bout it thou since

its got to be redone.....just ready to work out ....killin me to not do

much of anything.......especially since this summer is flying by and school

will be starting bck soon

dr rashi wanted to use u as an example and show me pics of you that at

first u felt like there was too much loose skin and was not satisfied iwth

the tt and i told him i had seen the b4 and after pics and thought it all

looked good.....however dr cohen knew he did not pull like he was suppose

to bc of the blood loss....dr rashi was on vacation at the world cup soccer

match...boy those costa ricans love their soccer!!

At 11:03 AM 6/28/2002 -0400, you wrote:

>Ohhh Kathy,

>So sorry to hear this, especially for your hubby and kids to experience it

>right along with you! How worried they must've been!!

>When did you get your drains out? I had mine removed 2 days after surgery. I

>figured I'd be one who had them for 2 WEEKS after, since I normally

>accumulate and hold onto fluid! I did not have any trouble afterward though.

>I am swelling in the TT area quite a bit with the heat and humidity but

>that's normal for me (to swell), just really annoying.

>Please keep us informed of your recovery. Take it easy in the meantime and

>continue your protein and water intake to help your body heal.

>Sending a cyber hug your way,

>Tricia in IL

>

>In a message dated 6/28/02 12:53:44 AM, kacherra@... writes:

>

><<what happened with my tt is that dr cohen could not continue

>to pull bc of the loss of blood and my old belly button is above my scar

>and it had opened back up slightly...now we understand why....to serve as a

>drain after my drains were taken out....which i think was too soon...so for

>a few days i have been walkin round with pressure in my stomach and swollen

>as if u would stick a pin in it it would explode well it finally did

>2nite........>>

>

June 28, 2002

Kathy,

I have been working out 6 days a week to be in the best shape possible before

my PS !!!!! IN CASE ANYONE DOESN'T KNOW IT IS ONE WEEK FROM TODAY !!!!! I

cannot tell you how TOTALLY EXCITED I am. How long did they tell you to lay

off the workouts? I have always hated exercise of any type all my life but

found a gym that has CD/Tape/TV/Radios on every Cardio machine and just knew

that would help me take my mind off working out. Well, that was 6 months ago

and now I realize I feel 150% better when I work out for 1 1/2 hours at 5am

then if I sleep until 7am and then go straight to work. When I don't workout

I am sleepy and tired all day long and have NO energy. So, for me I would

rather feel tired during the first 30 minutes of waking up early then 16

hours a day. Anyway, hope your on your way to recovery and feeling better.

Take care,

Debbie

Tallahassee, FL

DR R mgb 9/99 PS in Costa Rica NEXT FRIDAY!!

June 28, 2002

In a message dated 6/28/02 11:55:11 PM, kacherra@... writes:

<<Dr rashi told me to wait at least 6 weeks dont know if that is the norm

>>

6-8 weeks seems to be the norm.

June 28, 2002

Joni,

Dr cohen had to stop pulling my tummy bc of hte blood loss and my low

hemoglobin to begin with he was originally gonna just do my arms bc of my

low hemoglobin but said he felt bad that i had came all the way...it was

not that he didnt do anything incorrect it was that my hemoglobin was too

low for him to finish properly so i will be going back nd they will fix it

free of charge....only complaint i have is the care when u get back home u

mite have more expenses added on for going to see local surgeons if there

are any complications...such is life!

the experience of going to costa rica and meeting my retreat center mother

i wouldnt change for the world thou...she is a gem!!

At 01:40 PM 6/28/2002 -0400, you wrote:

>Kathy

>

>Are you saying Dr.Cohen didn't do something correctly or was this just " one

>of those things " ? I have been considering going to CR for plastic surgery

>but am a bit scared to be so far away if there are any complications. Anyone

>want to jump in on this?

>

>Joni

>12/22/00

>231/150...size 10

>

June 28, 2002

Debbie ,

Dr rashi told me to wait at least 6 weeks dont know if that is the norm

but that was it for me and since im having this healin difficulty it will

prolly be longer ........grrrrrrrrrrrrr

At 05:04 PM 6/28/2002 -0400, you wrote:

>Kathy,

>

>I have been working out 6 days a week to be in the best shape possible before

>my PS !!!!! IN CASE ANYONE DOESN'T KNOW IT IS ONE WEEK FROM TODAY !!!!! I

>cannot tell you how TOTALLY EXCITED I am. How long did they tell you to lay

>off the workouts? I have always hated exercise of any type all my life but

>found a gym that has CD/Tape/TV/Radios on every Cardio machine and just knew

>that would help me take my mind off working out. Well, that was 6 months ago

>and now I realize I feel 150% better when I work out for 1 1/2 hours at 5am

>then if I sleep until 7am and then go straight to work. When I don't workout

>I am sleepy and tired all day long and have NO energy. So, for me I would

>rather feel tired during the first 30 minutes of waking up early then 16

>hours a day. Anyway, hope your on your way to recovery and feeling better.

>Take care,

>

>Debbie

>Tallahassee, FL

>DR R mgb 9/99 PS in Costa Rica NEXT FRIDAY!!

>

June 28, 2002

Tricia,

I understand what you are saying. when i look at ur 2 ms post op i say

there is no way my skin will be like that dr rashi wants to keep my spirits

high but i think dr cohen(since he did my surgery) knows the amount he was

able to pull etc...so i will hope for the best but be prepared for another

trip at the tummy....only if my hemoglobin is 12 plus thou they told me so

im working on that as we speak......

><<.....my tummy is a site

> but im sure it will get better.......not gonna worry bout it thou since

>its got to be redone.....just ready to work out ....killin me to not do

>much of anything.......especially since this summer is flying by and school

>will be starting bck soon >>

>

>Good to hear that you're not worrying about it. It WILL get better and yes,

>you will be having it redone. Do you know when yet?

>I hear you about wanting to work out. I have been off for 2 weeks since I

>have Bronchitis and Pneumonia. Any exertion sends me into fits of coughing

>and is DRIVING ME NUTS! That's what happens when I quit being diligent about

>my protein shakes and vits/supps. When I do them as I should I'm healthy as a

>horse and never get sick.

>As for the comment about me not being happy with my TT...I actually had a

>LONG discussion with Dr. Cohen prior to my surgery about what my results

>could be. I'm a perfectionist BIG time. And I was having a hard time settling

>for less than that. I had a really, really bad hanging " sack thing " from my

>lower abs to my breasts that would collect, hang down and swing when I bent

>over at the waist. I wanted him to tell me that would be *completely* gone

>after he operated on me. He couldn't and wouldn't assure me of that. I

>understand now that there is no such thing as a perfect body and that it

>really is out of his control to get *all* my loose skin cut off. (They need

>to invent something that " shrinks " skin like clothes shrink in the dryer.

>LOL) Even thin folks who've never had a weight problem have a roll or a bit

>of bunchie skin when they bend over. I needed to be realistic, not perfect.

>And when I look at it that way, I'm happy with things. I have battle scars, I

>have things that aren't perfect. But so do alot of other people, if not all!

>The reconstruction surgeries I had were to make me more normal...and they

>have done that! I would never, never want to go back to what I had before!! I

>am SO VERY thankful for this part in my journey and thank my husband and God

>almost every day that I was able to have the reconstruction and have such

>good results. I just occasionally have to sock that perfection-monster in the

>mouth!!! Anyway, enough rambling from me..sheesh!

>Tricia in IL

>

June 29, 2002

Tommy, these are drains after a Tummy Tuck, not after the MGB! And not a

female thing' - guys with TT's also get drains. . . PhillyJude

June 29, 2002

Your insurance may very well treat your complications as something entirely

different and cover it. My insurance wouldn't pay for the mgb but did

promise to pay if there were any complications. I would submit any bills

and see.

Re: Re: complications from TT

Joni,

Dr cohen had to stop pulling my tummy bc of hte blood loss and my low

hemoglobin to begin with he was originally gonna just do my arms bc of my

low hemoglobin but said he felt bad that i had came all the way...it was

not that he didnt do anything incorrect it was that my hemoglobin was too

low for him to finish properly so i will be going back nd they will fix it

free of charge....only complaint i have is the care when u get back home u

mite have more expenses added on for going to see local surgeons if there

are any complications...such is life!

the experience of going to costa rica and meeting my retreat center mother

i wouldnt change for the world thou...she is a gem!!

At 01:40 PM 6/28/2002 -0400, you wrote:

>Kathy

>

>Are you saying Dr.Cohen didn't do something correctly or was this just " one

>of those things " ? I have been considering going to CR for plastic surgery

>but am a bit scared to be so far away if there are any complications.

Anyone

>want to jump in on this?

>

>Joni

>12/22/00

>231/150...size 10

>

June 29, 2002

Hi Gang,

Is having drains in your tummy after MGB a lady thing ??

I don't remember having drains.

Warmest Regards to ALL my MGB Pals.

TommyB

Re: complications from tt

> Ohhh Kathy,

> So sorry to hear this, especially for your hubby and kids to experience it

> right along with you! How worried they must've been!!

> When did you get your drains out? I had mine removed 2 days after surgery.

I

> figured I'd be one who had them for 2 WEEKS after, since I normally

> accumulate and hold onto fluid! I did not have any trouble afterward

though.

> I am swelling in the TT area quite a bit with the heat and humidity but

> that's normal for me (to swell), just really annoying.

> Please keep us informed of your recovery. Take it easy in the meantime and

> continue your protein and water intake to help your body heal.

> Sending a cyber hug your way,

> Tricia in IL

>

> In a message dated 6/28/02 12:53:44 AM, kacherra@... writes:

>

> <<what happened with my tt is that dr cohen could not continue

> to pull bc of the loss of blood and my old belly button is above my scar

> and it had opened back up slightly...now we understand why....to serve as

a

> drain after my drains were taken out....which i think was too soon...so

for

> a few days i have been walkin round with pressure in my stomach and

swollen

> as if u would stick a pin in it it would explode well it finally did

> 2nite........>>

>

June 29, 2002

Hello, Tom

I think they are discussing plastic surgery, not the MGB. I haven't

heard of anyone having drains after the MGB.

F. Potter

Re: complications from tt

Hi Gang,

Is having drains in your tummy after MGB a lady thing ??

I don't remember having drains.

Warmest Regards to ALL my MGB Pals.

TommyB

Re: complications from tt

> Ohhh Kathy,

> So sorry to hear this, especially for your hubby and kids to

experience it

> right along with you! How worried they must've been!!

> When did you get your drains out? I had mine removed 2 days after

surgery.

I

> figured I'd be one who had them for 2 WEEKS after, since I normally

> accumulate and hold onto fluid! I did not have any trouble afterward

though.

> I am swelling in the TT area quite a bit with the heat and humidity

but

> that's normal for me (to swell), just really annoying.

> Please keep us informed of your recovery. Take it easy in the meantime

and

> continue your protein and water intake to help your body heal.

> Sending a cyber hug your way,

> Tricia in IL

>

> In a message dated 6/28/02 12:53:44 AM, kacherra@... writes:

>

> <<what happened with my tt is that dr cohen could not continue

> to pull bc of the loss of blood and my old belly button is above my

scar

> and it had opened back up slightly...now we understand why....to serve

as

a

> drain after my drains were taken out....which i think was too

soon...so

for

> a few days i have been walkin round with pressure in my stomach and

swollen

> as if u would stick a pin in it it would explode well it finally did

> 2nite........>>

>

June 29, 2002

Drains.

AHAAA !!

Thank You

TommyB

Re: complications from tt

>

> > Ohhh Kathy,

> > So sorry to hear this, especially for your hubby and kids to

> experience it

> > right along with you! How worried they must've been!!

> > When did you get your drains out? I had mine removed 2 days after

> surgery.

> I

> > figured I'd be one who had them for 2 WEEKS after, since I normally

> > accumulate and hold onto fluid! I did not have any trouble afterward

> though.

> > I am swelling in the TT area quite a bit with the heat and humidity

> but

> > that's normal for me (to swell), just really annoying.

> > Please keep us informed of your recovery. Take it easy in the meantime

> and

> > continue your protein and water intake to help your body heal.

> > Sending a cyber hug your way,

> > Tricia in IL

> >

> > In a message dated 6/28/02 12:53:44 AM, kacherra@... writes:

> >

> > <<what happened with my tt is that dr cohen could not continue

> > to pull bc of the loss of blood and my old belly button is above my

> scar

> > and it had opened back up slightly...now we understand why....to serve

> as

> a

> > drain after my drains were taken out....which i think was too

> soon...so

> for

> > a few days i have been walkin round with pressure in my stomach and

> swollen

> > as if u would stick a pin in it it would explode well it finally did

> > 2nite........>>

> >

June 29, 2002

I've had complications with both of my mutlitprocedural cosmetic surgeries.

My insurance in the states has covered all the surgical and medical supplies

with them both. Everyone needs to know that just like the MGB, there are

risks that come with any surgical procedure. We are at greater risk due to

our MGB surgery. I don't feel my doctors were at fault for any of my

complications. I am thrilled with the results even though I am still

dealing with a wound.

Blessings.

Betty Pappas

MGB: 3/13/00

June 29, 2002

To PhillyJude & all my MGB Pals.

Thanks for the info and straightening me out.

My GAWD, if I need a TE, what will they use - Sewer Pipes??.

TE = Tummy Excavation.

Warmest Regards to ALL

TommyB

--- Original Message -----

From: <Judyh1022@...>

< >

Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2002 9:12 AM

Subject: Re: complications from tt

> Tommy, these are drains after a Tummy Tuck, not after the MGB! And not a

> female thing' - guys with TT's also get drains. . . PhillyJude

>

July 9, 2002

I just returned from Costa Rica yesterday. I had a TT and Breast Lift with

Dr's Cohen and Rosenstock. I had about a 5 pound sag of skin around my waist

and so the drain had to be left in for 8 days. Since I am an RN I understood

that with more excess skin to remove, there would be more drainage. Another

MGB'er was there at the same time and her drain was only in for 2 days, but

she had very little weight left so the skin removal on her tummy was much

less compared to mine. I think that this is why the drain had to be left in

longer for me. I am glad that I stayed a few extra days in CR and I would go

to these doctors again in a heart beat. The quality of care and the surgical

practice was superior. I very highly recommend them. They did a wonderful job

on my breast lift too. I decided not to have the implants because of back

pain, so they had to be more creative to use what little breast tissue that I

had left after losing 150 pounds. I am very satisfied with the results, and

when my husband saw them and smiled really big that helped too.... )

So if anyone needs a reference for Costa Rica and the Rosenstock Clinic

please write me... I am very happy with the results.

Take care,

Lori Hankins

MGB 3-1-99

July 9, 2002

Lori ---- Sorry I missed seeing you there. I was just down the

street at the Ambassador. Hope you got my flowers. Today is my

first day home and I already have absolutely NO bruises ... nada.

This time I had the face lift and the fat removed from under my eyes

and liposuction. Feel great and am back at my desk today. Tired

from the flight though. While I was there they decided to correct

for free a little bunchy thing I had on my elbow from the last

surgery and they thought one of my eyelids sagged more than it should

so they re-did that also. I hadn't really noticed. The lipo didn't

hurt this time at all for me maybe they weren't using tumescent the

last time I was there. Saw Jen and Debbie (both also from FL) on my

last day. They are looking good. Jen said she thought I looked no

older than 40 so I'm sure of two things --- the face lift worked and

Jen & I will be friends for life!

I got them down to $32. per night at the Ambassador then when I was

checking out I mentioned that I would be back in October but the La

Amestied (God I wish I could spell) was only $25. so I would probably

be staying there. Then the guy says, " Oh well we can get you a

better deal! " Shoot, I though I was doing darned good to get them

down from 50 to $32. Still it was nice being close. When I wasn't

in the dentists office I could walk the one block to the clinic or

Pizza Hut or KFC.

My teeth are beautiful and as a side bonus I no longer have TMJ!

Bothered with that for years and no dentist ever had any solutions.

Well this dentist puts my face on a computer looks at my x-rays and

says, well, we need to correct your bite, your teeth need to be

longer, and for your skin color should be whiter; you will only need

2 implants and by the way, we will save the rest and the higest

quality crowns for all of the rest. Gee, I thought my birthday

present next month would be a set of dentures!

The one bad thing about the surgeons is that the more work I have

done ... the more I want. With lipo in my hips --- they are great

but now I think my waist needs work. Is this an addiction? :-)

Cyndee

> I just returned from Costa Rica yesterday. I had a TT and Breast

Lift with

> Dr's Cohen and Rosenstock. I had about a 5 pound sag of skin around

my waist

> and so the drain had to be left in for 8 days. Since I am an RN I

understood

> that with more excess skin to remove, there would be more drainage.

Another

> MGB'er was there at the same time and her drain was only in for 2

days, but

> she had very little weight left so the skin removal on her tummy

was much

> less compared to mine. I think that this is why the drain had to be

left in

> longer for me. I am glad that I stayed a few extra days in CR and I

would go

> to these doctors again in a heart beat. The quality of care and the

surgical

> practice was superior. I very highly recommend them. They did a

wonderful job

> on my breast lift too. I decided not to have the implants because

of back

> pain, so they had to be more creative to use what little breast

tissue that I

> had left after losing 150 pounds. I am very satisfied with the

results, and

> when my husband saw them and smiled really big that helped

too.... )

>

> So if anyone needs a reference for Costa Rica and the Rosenstock

Clinic

> please write me... I am very happy with the results.

>

> Take care,

> Lori Hankins

> MGB 3-1-99

>

July 9, 2002

WHY ALL THE WAY TO COSTA RICA? JUST PERSONAL CHOICE OR BETTER SURGERENS ? JUST

WONDERING. BONNIE

BypassBuddy@... wrote: I just returned from Costa Rica yesterday. I had a

TT and Breast Lift with