The topic I didn't want to discuss - loose skin
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Bit late reading this, but I'm pretty sure the guy is me.You don't think about it but I know a guy whose biggest problem is the loose skin on his rear. It makes it uncomfortable for him to sit and very uncomfortable to try and get in a car. He has not gone into details but I imagine it is getting pinched a lot and probably abrased often. It is not a concern for me because I gained next to nothing back there but that would be challenging I imagine.
I don't go into detail too much because I worry about it making others uncomfortable more than it is about me. I'm not the most chatty person or necessarily open, but I don't have much of a censor or reserve if people ask me either.
The pinching was a big problem that I've reduced some with tighter underwear that's mostly polyester. I still have discomfort sitting because my tailbone and I guess my ischial tuberosity will press into the skin. The way the skin is excessive so the fat is distributed, it is kind of like if you had a 50 lb sack with but only 20 lbs of packing materials, and then you're trying to keep something heavier from pressing on the sack.
For the car, it isn't getting in and out, it is just the sitting - I think when I sit in a normal chair I'm a little better because I unconsciously distribute a bit of weight into my leg, but with my foot on a pedal and how low the seats in a sedan are, I can't redistribute things that way.5 -
magnusthenerd wrote: »
Bit late reading this, but I'm pretty sure the guy is me.You don't think about it but I know a guy whose biggest problem is the loose skin on his rear. It makes it uncomfortable for him to sit and very uncomfortable to try and get in a car. He has not gone into details but I imagine it is getting pinched a lot and probably abrased often. It is not a concern for me because I gained next to nothing back there but that would be challenging I imagine.
I don't go into detail too much because I worry about it making others uncomfortable more than it is about me. I'm not the most chatty person or necessarily open, but I don't have much of a censor or reserve if people ask me either.
The pinching was a big problem that I've reduced some with tighter underwear that's mostly polyester. I still have discomfort sitting because my tailbone and I guess my ischial tuberosity will press into the skin. The way the skin is excessive so the fat is distributed, it is kind of like if you had a 50 lb sack with but only 20 lbs of packing materials, and then you're trying to keep something heavier from pressing on the sack.
For the car, it isn't getting in and out, it is just the sitting - I think when I sit in a normal chair I'm a little better because I unconsciously distribute a bit of weight into my leg, but with my foot on a pedal and how low the seats in a sedan are, I can't redistribute things that way.
Thanks for sharing. It is an uncomfortable subject and not just because it is uncomfortable to live it. What you describe is more of a challenge than I imagined.2 -
Time for an update I suppose. This is day 12 since the surgery I believe.
1 week after the surgery I had the drainage system removed. That was a welcome relief. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but it did add to an already bad situation.
I was put on antibiotics for infection prevention and a blood thinner because of the increased risk of blood clots. I have finished with both of those now.
I am allowed to walk a mile a day which I now really enjoy doing. I can move briskly which is such a thrill. I really just want to keep going but I know if I overdo it I could create a complication.
I am more comfortable wearing the compression garment than out of it. It provides support that keeps me more comfortable. The compression socks are what I do not care for but they are necessary for now.
What I did not expect is how much better I feel. That whole area was really taxing my system more than I realized. I am still in pain but I feel a boost in my vitality.
Getting way ahead of myself here because I still have a long recovery and there are still risks... this was a GREAT decision. Much like weight loss it is a matter of enduring a hardship for the promise of a better tomorrow. For the rewards I already feel myself reaping I am not mentally bogged down by this process. I have had bad days, yesterday was one of them, but it hasn't been as bad as some have it.9 -
Wow! you got the drains out at week 1? I'm so happy for you. I had them in for 5 weeks. So happy to hear you are walking so well. I know it's hard not to just go longer but it's not worth the complications trust me. Sounds like you are doing amazingly well. Congratulations.3
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cheryldumais wrote: »Wow! you got the drains out at week 1? I'm so happy for you. I had them in for 5 weeks. So happy to hear you are walking so well. I know it's hard not to just go longer but it's not worth the complications trust me. Sounds like you are doing amazingly well. Congratulations.
I hear a "sloshing" sound so I do believe tomorrow when I visit the doctor he may have to drain me with a needle. I prefer that to having the drains in full time. I would hate to have had them in for 5 weeks but if that is what it took I would just have done it like you did.
For the others I didn't mention my recovery diet. I am currently eating my calculated TDEE + 10 percent. I am eating a very high protein diet and I am distributing my protein intake during the day. I am drinking protein shakes to help accomplish this because I normally eat in a pretty small window of time. I am eating a lot of jello because gelatin is good for your skin and I am supplementing vitamin c because @magnusthenerd did some research and said that it might be helpful. He is pretty smart about these things. I am also taking a collagen/biotin supplement that is more of a gamble but if it is a waste of money so be it. I am back on my fish oil supplement that I was not allowed to take before the surgery.
I am looking forward to tomorrow because I get to have coffee again. I was told not to have caffeine 2 weeks before or after the surgery. Except for probably a little more activity on a few days than the doctor may have wanted me to have I have followed their directions to the letter.
I believe tomorrow I will be released to have "light" exercise.4 -
You are doing fantastic....I envy your reduction in skin....I hope if and when the time comes that I can have some skin removed from my upper arms and anywhere else necessary....I am older but I heal very quickly from surgery....
So jello is good for your skin?....I am not crazy about jello but maybe I should start eating it!....
I hope your recovery continues to go as planned and you get to enjoy everything you have been wanting to do!...1 -
I am not crazy about it either. It is not that it tastes bad but I just have very little interest in eating it most of the time. I am not sure how much it helps but I have extra calories to fill right now so I might as well invest a few of them in skin health. I am not a great idler so doing this stuff at least helps me think it is pushing me along faster.2
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conniewilkins56 wrote: »You are doing fantastic....I envy your reduction in skin....I hope if and when the time comes that I can have some skin removed from my upper arms and anywhere else necessary....I am older but I heal very quickly from surgery....
So jello is good for your skin?....I am not crazy about jello but maybe I should start eating it!....
I hope your recovery continues to go as planned and you get to enjoy everything you have been wanting to do!...
Gelatin is made out of collagen that has an amino acid profile similar to soft tissues like skin and tendons. Vitamin c is used in the metabolism of laying down soft tissue. It might work as well to use a whole protein like whey, but gelatin is generally cheaper and it might be more effective because having fewer amino acids, it might reduce competition for transport and might encourage the right kind of protein synthesis for those connective tissues instead of pushing muscle protein synthesis like whey will.5 -
@magnusthenerd woohoo biochemistry! I was just about to do some digging into this topic, but that's useful info. I'm not sure how consumption of gelatin would promote collagen synthesis per say (as that's a somewhat involved process), but maybe having gelatin around makes cells think they need to make more collagen--since they're responding to fragmented collagen essentially. neat!
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I am going to make low calorie jello tomorrow!....I have had both knees replaced over four years ago and because of excess weight I still have soreness in them...they both work and the scars are minimal but maybe jello would help the tendons surrounding them....knee replacement is brutal to say the least and in retrospect I would have tried to avoid it....I have also had shoulder spurs removed and a tear in biceps repaired....after two years I have full use of it....I probably should consume a gallon of jello a day lol1
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For tendon issues the protocol is gelatin (10-15g of protein)+ vitamin c (50mg), 10-30 minutes before a regiment of light, high repetition loading of the tendon. Like for the Achilles, it might be right before walking.2
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So you would eat jello before walking?0
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My 2 week appointment was yesterday.
I had about 40 ounces of liquid drained by needle from my abdomen. Much prefer that procedure to having the drains in full time.
I am cleared for non cardio and non lifting exercise so I can walk more and I can resume walking the dog which I did this morning.
The 2 weeks of wearing compression socks during all waking hours is started to have an impact on my cankles. The right one is nearly gone and the left one is getting close to the same. I was wondering if I would have them forever because they have only slightly improved with weight loss. They might return though when I stop wearing the socks next week. It is interesting though.2 -
@NovusDies Human bodies are such amazing things! Do you plan to wean yourself from the compression socks or go cold turkey and toss 'em aside once cleared by your doc?0
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hansep0012 wrote: »@NovusDies Human bodies are such amazing things! Do you plan to wean yourself from the compression socks or go cold turkey and toss 'em aside once cleared by your doc?
That is a good question. STOP ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS!!
Now I have to think about it. If I am going to wear them past doctor's orders I am going to need some that fit better. I am in endurance mode at the moment because they hurt me after they have been on for awhile.0 -
hansep0012 wrote: »@NovusDies Human bodies are such amazing things! Do you plan to wean yourself from the compression socks or go cold turkey and toss 'em aside once cleared by your doc?
That is a good question. STOP ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS!!
Now I have to think about it. If I am going to wear them past doctor's orders I am going to need some that fit better. I am in endurance mode at the moment because they hurt me after they have been on for awhile.
Right?
And yes, I was that kid at school that drove many teachers to distraction with asking questions....
A good ponder is a lovely thing, as are shapely ankles but let's not go down the path of women's stockings, lol.
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hansep0012 wrote: »hansep0012 wrote: »@NovusDies Human bodies are such amazing things! Do you plan to wean yourself from the compression socks or go cold turkey and toss 'em aside once cleared by your doc?
That is a good question. STOP ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS!!
Now I have to think about it. If I am going to wear them past doctor's orders I am going to need some that fit better. I am in endurance mode at the moment because they hurt me after they have been on for awhile.
Right?
And yes, I was that kid at school that drove many teachers to distraction with asking questions....
A good ponder is a lovely thing, as are shapely ankles but let's not go down the path of women's stockings, lol.
I was the one making them laugh.
The fact that I am even considering wearing them longer to improve my ankles is noteworthy though. Other than not liking the way they looked they really have not been on my radar. My belly skin (figuratively and often literally) overshadowed things like that.
It may take me a long time to fully realize how many ways this surgery has impacted my life.2 -
conniewilkins56 wrote: »So you would eat jello before walking?
If it was a leg tendon one was trying to heal, yes.
Having gelatin for healing skin, it is harder to say when would be a time right - I'm not sure what, besides the injuries, elicits repair signals. I would tend to think any time is fine because I think skin is under rather constant regeneration.0 -
Anecdotal:
I do believe my fingernails are growing faster than before. Seems like I am 2 days ahead of schedule on clipping again. I am not sure if it is eating more calories (which means more protein), the vit C/gelatin regimen, or a combination of both. It could also be unrelated.1 -
@NovusDies I wear compression socks at work everyday almost. As you know I walk alot at work. I dont wear them much at home but they do help with foot pain, and cankle swell ups. I have found a couple different kind on amazon that are still effective while being comfortableish, and not extravagantly priced.1
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@NovusDies I wear compression socks at work everyday almost. As you know I walk alot at work. I dont wear them much at home but they do help with foot pain, and cankle swell ups. I have found a couple different kind on amazon that are still effective while being comfortableish, and not extravagantly priced.
I would not mind a link.
I am going to wear them selectively. Tomorrow night I am going to a football game and that is a lot of sitting so I will be wearing them then.
I am out of them now and enjoying the freedom but I should probably also consider wearing them as my walks get longer.1 -
https://www.amazon.com/CAMBIVO-Pairs-Compression-Socks-Women/dp/B075JMB62P?ref_=ast_sto_dp
Those are the ones that I have the most pairs of currently1 -
https://www.amazon.com/CAMBIVO-Pairs-Compression-Socks-Women/dp/B075JMB62P?ref_=ast_sto_dp
Those are the ones that I have the most pairs of currently
Thanks. I put them in my wishlist for now. Still waiting for all the dust to settle on the medical front...1 -
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I have a lot of excess skin (went from 400 to 199 then back to 250 going back to 175 as my goal weight). It has made me very self conscious. This year I have decided that when I hit my goal weight that I am going to have surgery to remove it! My niece calls it my front butt. I know it's going to hurt but for me it will be worth it to be able to wear clothes that fit better.2
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I have a lot of excess skin (went from 400 to 199 then back to 250 going back to 175 as my goal weight). It has made me very self conscious. This year I have decided that when I hit my goal weight that I am going to have surgery to remove it! My niece calls it my front butt. I know it's going to hurt but for me it will be worth it to be able to wear clothes that fit better.
I think it comes down to trading the pain and recovery to further the outcome that all the weight loss was meant to achieve. Choosing not to have it, for me, would have left a pretty grim outlook for the rest of my life. It doesn't have to have that level of implication though. We all want to look good and feel good. Some people can do that while living with some excess skin. That doesn't mean that decision is right for everyone. The person who chooses to live with it may have far less in any one spot to deal with.0 -
I had that surgery done. I wish I had waited. I was at goal for 2 years before I had it done. Then 5 years after the surgery I gained a lot of weight back. Let me be a cautionary tale - if you have that surgery done, you have got to keep the weight off. I wish you the very best.4
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CharlesScott78 wrote: »I had that surgery done. I wish I had waited. I was at goal for 2 years before I had it done. Then 5 years after the surgery I gained a lot of weight back. Let me be a cautionary tale - if you have that surgery done, you have got to keep the weight off. I wish you the very best.
I will be at goal for a couple of years before I have the one done that is more optional. This one wasn't.
Your story is definitely a tale worth taking to heart and mining for any insights. It frightens me to think that I can't allow a large regain to happen but you probably thought and said the same thing.
As you continue to learn from your own experiences I hope you share what you learn.2 -
Thank you CharlesScott78 that is a good thought to have.
NovusDies I know it won't solve all the problems and I have lived with the skin for many years but for me, like you, feel like it will greatly improve the quality of my life.1
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