Anybody with long term discomfort problems after a tummy tuck?

Hi Hayley. The last time I saw my primary care MD for the TT ongoing problems, he referred me to the Duke GI clinic, where I was recently seen. The practitioner in that clinic after examining me wanted to know if I was aware of any food allergies. My primary MD had already given me a handout of a guide to stopping certain foods, then slowly adding them back in to determine that. I never did that as it seems to me too much of a coincidence I would develop food allergies I never have had, right after a TT. The specialist examined my stomach area above my belly button, saying it felt fine and when I tried to get her to feel the area under my belly button where the discomfort is, so she could feel how tight it is, she just blew me off, telling me everything feels perfectly normal. She then referred me to a dietician. I will go, but I do not expect anything from it. My stomach is not perfectly flat (mostly because the surg did not do the liposuction which she said she was going to do), but it looks good as it took care of the waviness which had been increasing due to age related skin laxity and the liposuction done in 1986. Like you, my issue is the discomfort, and I know exactly what you are talking about when you refer to wearing a band around your middle. That sounds like the very same thing as every night when I take a pile of 3 or 4 cotton squares, put them under an elbow size nexcare bandage and pull tight. I started out using an ace type wrap but wrapping it around in back bothered me-that would be much cheaper as I go thru many boxes of nexcare bandages using a new one each night. I think it would be perfectly reasonable for you to ask for an ultrasound. I had both an abdominal ultrasound and also an internal pelvic, which was new to me but was tolerable. The abdominal scan was normal, the only notable thing with the pelvic was an unusual amount of air showing. I was never told a cause, but at least it confirmed the feeling of air build up I had been describing. Have you tried using Metamucil at night? I use the original coarse texture mixed in water and it helps to ensure you get enough fiber for regularity. My mother who I cared for in my home the last 8 years until she passed away at 94, spent half her lifetime sitting on a toilet, and that is not a behavior I want to emulate. The Metamucil doesn't taste great but if it helps it is worth it. I have thought about getting a 3rd opinion since my surgeon is mute & the 2nd pl surg after initially seeming like he was going to help, shut me down after talking to the 1st. I am in between Duke and UNC Hospitals so distance is not an issue I have to deal with. You say you have 2 hrs to your surgeon, have you talked with him/her in the intervening time since your surgery or been seen since the usual post follow-up? One kind of reassuring thing I can tell you from my experience is I mentioned the numbness to my 2nd surgeon (and that symptom doesn't make my "top ten hits" compared to the other symptoms), and he told me that is not unusual and could be permanent. I don't think there is something blocked inside you, but I know what you are referring to. I also feel like my now flatter stomach is full of something underneath. When you think about the procedure though, skin above & below the incision is stretched, I think muscle is cut into, tightened, and closed with a series of vertical line stiches, and all over the same amount of intestines which now has less room? I honestly do not understand why on this internet day age I have not come across others complaining of long term difficulties. I feel like there should be some site that is easily accessible that people considering a TT could be forewarned that this is NOT the same thing as say, having a facelift, which I also had ~ 5 yrs prior to the TT, with absolutely no long term problems.