TexasBecky

Salsa, I'm sorry you are still having troubles. Hopefully you can get your meds adjusted tomorrow and will start feeling like yourself again. Of course you are only 10 days post op so you have to keep taking it easy. Just because you feel pretty good doesn't mean you are able to return to your regular routine. Practice patience. Its good for you. Thanks for posting your pictures. What a remarkable difference! You should put a before and after side by side so everyone can see the incredible transformation. It keeps getting better and better too!

Thanks girls! I am really grossed out by my before, but I'm feeling pretty pleased when I see them side by side. No bikini's for me BBK, at least not in public! Cori, I love your new bike! I've been thinking about getting a bike and your Trek is exactly what I had in mind. I'm going to check them out at my local bike shop.

Great advise from Karey (as always). When I got close to my goal I started doing intervals on the treadmill and my weight loss really picked up. I'm afraid to run outside on a hard surface, but my treadmill has shocks that absorb most of the impact, so I haven't had any problems. Good luck to all of you. Y'all are doing great!

Ok, This is hard but I'm attaching a before and after shot so that you can all see that it was so worth it. Before & After.doc

Whosya and Cera, you guys just amaze and motivate me! Frangi, glad you're back. Keep it slow and easy for now. Lulu, I'm jealous. Take me with you. I need out of this heat too. I got in another 45 minute walk today. JULY EXERCISE CHALLENGE - 22 DAYS OF WALKING 8/22 COMPLETED

Karey, Somehow I missed your post. I just want to add that I like online shopping too. Love to be able to shop in the middle of the night if it strikes me and getting packages delivered is great fun! Also wanted to add congrats on your success with the diet. You are really dropping the weight girl! I'm glad its working for you and sounds like your body is adapting very well. Keep it up.

Hi Ladies, thanks for the feedback on your thighs Steph. At least I'm not alone. I can't help but believe that the vertical incision would be easier to deal with, but I am glad to not have that scar. God knows I have plenty of others now and more to come. I'm also glad to know that everyone is experiencing the numbness. It is very weird, but at least that too will eventually subside. Karey & Kat, how is your numbness now that you are a few months out? Just how long does it take to improve? Frangi, amazing how men behave around nice breast isn't it? I think you should get a few more low cut tops. I know you'll get better service at the bank, post office, hardware store, dry cleaners, car wash, etc. Basically anywhere that men are working. OMG, can you imagine what will happen when you take the car in for an oil change, LOL? If they are dumb enough to be so easily influenced you might as well take advantage of it. I guess I'm stereotyping all guys, but they've done that to us for years, so...... BTW, I am jealous of all of you who can wear sleeveless tops. I carried most of my weight in the upper body and I'm appalled at what it did to my arms. I know many of you have already read where I complain endlessly about my arms, but they really are so ugly. They have actually taken on a nice shape from weight lifting. You can see my muscles, but the hanging skin just ruins it all. I'm actually more anxious to get the arms done, than the breasts. Even if the scar prevents me from ever going sleeveless in public, I'll be happy when I look in the mirror. Cori, I am a lover of shopping, but I do try to avoid the mall whenever possible. I think more and more people are beginning to feel that way because all kinds of little shopping centers are popping up around the Dallas area with great freestanding stores. I am a fan of Coldwater Creek and Ann Taylor Loft. There are so many places that I can shop now that I don't need the plus sizes. For example Chico and White House Black Market were not options for me before my weight loss, so I've recently been enjoying them too much, LOL. It is a real adventure for me. I also love TJ Maxx & Marshalls. They are similar to Stein Mart in that you can find great bargains on some very high quality items. I know its not for everyone, but I love the treasure hunt! I had literally gotten rid of almost all of my clothes during my weight loss and bought only a few basics to get me by as I was losing. My closet really was practically empty. Now I feel completely justified in replacing my wardrobe and I'm having a blast doing it. Even shoes! My feet are a full size smaller now and I can wear heels again. Woo Hoo! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Becky

Frangi, I'm glad you're starting to feel like your old self. We're coming up on one month now, so I'm thankful that things are improving for both of us at long last. My only remaining complaint is about the thigh incisions. Because of where they are located they continue to be an irritation. They are healing well, but I know it is going to take time. The swelling is finally not so bad. It too is going to take time to completely subside, but I can live with it now. Frangi, how much numbness do you have? I still feel pretty numb around my incision, mainly on the front side. I wish my thigh incisions were numb, but no such luck. Jody, you will get through ps just fine. Ditto to everything Frangi said. Be prepared for it to be an ordeal and it will probably seem easier than you expected. I would definitely do it all over again and I plan to! I think the second round will be easier anyway. Stein Mart needs to start paying us for all the advertising we do for them, LOL. I have one within five minutes of my house, so they see quite a bit of me. I could walk there, but then I'd have to lug my heavy bags down the street.

I'm up to 45 minutes today. Starting to feel like I'm making progress. JULY EXERCISE CHALLENGE - 22 DAYS OF WALKING 7/22 COMPLETED

Holy Crap Salsa. I'm so glad you didn't break something or bust your head open. It sounds like you need a shower bench or even bring in one of those plastic lawn chairs so you can sit in the shower. Do everything your doctor advises and eat, eat, eat. Your body burns a lot of calories when it is healing. Take advantage of this time to eat some of your old favorites. I hope today is a better day. Let us know what the doctor says. Becky

WooHoo Frangi! Here come the dancing bananas! :redface::Banane42::smile2::Banane42::thumbup::Banane42::ohmy::Banane42::eek::Banane42::drool::Banane42: Congratulations on your commitment, the hard work, and the resulting success.

Karey, don't worry about a bite of a cookie. That isn't enough to do you any harm. You're doing great with the exercise and following your program. Give yourself credit for all the days you've been "perfect". Laura, I've heard of sandals called Fit-Flops. Sounds like the same thing. Let us know how they work for you.

Frangi, you are hilarious! I do understand the value of getting it all over with this summer. We'll all be jealous when you are finished and we're still whining about needing to have more surgery.

This is a dedicated bunch. Great job everyone! I got in a 40 minute walk today. JULY EXERCISE CHALLENGE - 22 DAYS OF WALKING 6/22 COMPLETED

Pizzi, so good to hear from you. How are things going? Please give us an update.

Hi Steph, I'm sorry to hear you are having troubles. Hang in there. I'm sure it will clear up in no time. You are looking great. I'm hoping for a size eight too. I can finally get back in my pre-op 10s and I'm down several pounds since surgery, so when the swellling finally goes away completely, surely I'll be an eight. Hope you feel better soon. Keep us posted.

Salsa, Karey posted some very good info a couple of weeks ago about the hormonal changes your body goes through after plastic surgery. I'd never considered that, but it may be a factor for you too. Listen to your body. If you feel like sleeping then sleep. You must need it. Check with your doctor if you have any concerns. You've been through a huge trauma and you need to watch for anything odd. Hope you feel better soon. Becky

Hello to everyone. It has been another good day for me - feeling better and better and, I hope I'm not speaking too soon, there seems to be less swelling than usual this evening. I am approaching a month post op now, so maybe things will begin to improve. Fingers crossed. I'd really like to be able to get some decent pictures posted. Cori, I didn't realize that you are that close to your own PS. I agree that finding a doctor you really feel good about is the most important thing. Good luck on your search. Nice to know that you enjoy gardening too. I don't have that much edible stuff, just herbs and tomatoes, but I have a wonderful variety of perrenials and native Texas plants. Gardening is therapeutic for me and I love the exercise. Frangi and Jody, all that talk of Stein Mart got me itching for a Stein Mart fix. You girls are a bad influence! I killed two hours in there today and came out with a couple of bags full of goodies. All the summer stuff is on clearance already. Here in Texas we've got three more months of scorching temperatures ahead, so I got some great bargains and more new panties too! I agree, PS recovery is definitely not for sissies. I think Frangi, Salsa, and I are doing really well, but I don't want anyone to be mislead into thinking that it is a snap. Everyone going in to it needs to be prepared to deal with a number of difficult issues and sometimes even serious complications. Remember BBK got pneumonia, Kat had an infection, JulieNYC developed seromas. I'm not trying to scare anyone, but it is serious surgery and I think people should do their homework, be in the best shape possible, and find the best doctor they can. Karey, as for the second round of surgery, I'm feeling like you are. I want the results of the next surgery, but I want to feel good for a while before I start this all over again. I had thought I'd want to go again as soon as the doctor gave the ok, but now I'm thinking I need a little more time to get past this one. The only reason I was able to get my thighs done at the same time as my LBL was because I did have two surgeons. Before I started researching PS, I assumed I was going to be able to get everything done at once. I guess I've watched too many episodes of Extreme Makeover, LOL. Frangi is from another planet. That's why she is ready to go again, LOL!! Like Frangi said, I really enjoy chatting with all of you and I so appreciate you all taking the time to check in and post your comments. Have a great evening everyone.

I've had the same experience! The little NSVs everyday add up to a changed life don't they? Congrats on all the great changes ladies!

Wow, Karen. You've had great success too. Keep up the good work and you will have those last few pounds off in no time.

Nana, its so good to hear from you. Congrats on your continued weight loss success. You are doing great. There is another "book" documenting mine and Frangi's surgery and post op recovery, with pictures no less, at the link below. Also on the main plastic surgery page you will find a whole thread dedicated to Salsa's surgery. We are all doing great! Please check in more often. We love to know how our fellow Crazy Ates are doing. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f12/frangipani-texasbecky-get-reconstructed-64956/

Karey, It sounds like the diet is working. Six pounds already! The first few days of any diet are always the hardest. I bet you will start feeling better any day now. How is the energy level? Hang in there. You'll have that 20 pounds off in no time. Becky

Frangi, I had forgotten that you are still dealing with that damn drain. Poor thing. I know that has got to be getting old. You are wise to wait on the exercise though. I remember JulieNYC developed a couple of seromas when she returned to running a little too soon. Definitely not worth risking something like that. And if that drain is sparing you from swelling any worse, then it is worth the extra time. I have been very active (several hours in the garden the last couple of days) and I can't see that it makes me swell any worse than I do when I'm just sitting around. By late in the day I swell up like a balloon no matter what I've done during the day. Candle, thanks for checking in. It sounds like you've got a good plan for future PS. If I lived in NY I would see Dr. Schulman for sure. He seems like an excellent surgeon and a great guy. I'm glad you are having such a great summer. Isn't life so much more fun minus 100 pounds? Keep us posted on your consultations. Kat, glad everything is just about back to normal. I've got a few of those internal sutures poking out here and there too. There are a few aspects of this PS that I could do without, but the flat stomach makes it all worthwhile.

Salsa, you're looking fabulous! You are going to feel like a new woman when you get to run again. Thanks for posting the pics. I guess she didn't take out a drain today. When do you see her again?

Hi Salsa! Good news on the pain, appetite, and drains. It sounds like everything is going really well for you. I hope you are sleeping better now too. I didn't sleep very well for the first couple of weeks. I hope you're having better luck with that. I didn't have the terrible itching that you describe, but I remember LJM wrote about awful itching problems. I'm sure it is normal but be sure to mention it to you doctor tomorrow. I did have the bowel troubles. That was the main reason I stopped taking pain meds. Even with stool softeners I had a terrible time "going" while I was taking the pain pills. Try drinking the 4 ounce bottles of Gerber apple prune juice (on the baby food aisle). I was walking upright from day one. Like Karey said, it might have something to do with your vertical incision or the kind of sutures your doctor used. I've read other people's comments about not being able to walk straight for the first week or so. I bet that does make your neck and back sore. I'm glad you are doing so well and that your DH is able to help you. I know how happy you must be to move beyond the weight loss and PS stages of your journey. It is a wonderful and exciting time isn't it? Good luck with the doctor visit tomorrow. Keep us posted. Becky