Chickie

Congrats on the 130lb weight loss!

Now that my son is a "tween" I have never been so glad to have a boy. Girls clothes are scary.

Wow Scout! Sounds like you had a real time of it! I am sorry you have had such a hard time. And I agree, that whole, un processed foods are the way to go. Real food beats non fat / low carb / low sugar stuff any day in my opinion!

HarleyNanna ~ My sig is not really any bigger than anyone else's, but if it bothers you feel free to ignore me! DonHoll1 ~ If you click the link in my sig line, there are plenty of pics in my blog. Everyone else, thank you all. I was worried that I was offending people by being here, silly, I know, but it is a legitimate concern, don't want to offended anyone, or make them feel bad about their loss.

Oh, Brandy! I am so sorry! I know you had your heart set on the PS. Huge ((hugs)) for the beautiful lady.

I am not in the UK either, but I lost 13.5 stone in about 17 months.

I have been home since yesterday. I was operated on at 3.30pm on August 15th, and got home at about 1pm on August 17th. The whole thing was not nearly as bad as I had expected. I am managing the pain with panadol, and exercise (walking laps of the hallway) I am pretty swollen, and still have my drains in (they will be removed Monday) It is kinda odd, feeling this flat tummy. But I am starting to accept it as my own :biggrin1: I am not too sure how much they took off, I know it was a fair bit of skin, and some fat, but I don't think it was too much weight wise (I went in at 63kg / 138lbs and I am still that weight, even with swelling, fully clothed, and a full bowel) But the main aim was not to lose weight, it was to get rid of that flap of skin that was bothering me. And that I did. Now, the pics! (Forgive the goofy looks, DH was having a hard timewith my camera "Yes dear... The flash will go off... Just push the button")

Thanks everyone, the sig stays. I think Jacqui hit the nail on the head. I am being made to feel as though I am bragging in my sig line. I'm not. And if the majority had voted I take my info out, I would have happily. Why? Because while I am proud of myself, I would never want to make anyone else feel bad. I am proud of all my fellow losers because I know how flipping hard it all is. Wheetsin, I posted nude before and afters to my blog, and photobucket took down the before but not the after (the nipples and, uhm, bushy bits had been blacked out on both pics). I really don't know what to make of that. Like somehow my "before" is more offensive than the after.

It has in a very round about way. I was told that by mentioning my weight and clothing size, that I make others feel "less successful". And honesty, I really don't want anyone to think that because they are not a certain weight or size that they are not successful. And if taking pics and info out of my signature line helps to prevent that, I will do it.

#1 People NOT watching me as I eat (or at least being less self conscious about eating in public) #2 My stomach not touching the steering wheel in the car. #3 Running. #4 Paying less for my clothes (plus sizes being twice the price of "normal" clothes) #4 Not having to think about if the chair I am about to sit on will carry my weight, or if I will fit. #5 Being able to sit like a lady. #6 My husband being able to pick me up, and sweep me off my feet (I love that one) #7 Being able to wear really high, thin heels. #8 Being able to shop just abut anywhere I want (and being able to buy designer samples, and runway stock is a HUGE bonus)

I am sorry, but what you posted came off as really, really bitchy, and calling someone "skinny" is as hurtful, and nasty as calling them fat. I don't tell people that they need to be as little as me, I never have, and I don't enter into the "what weight should I be" threads. Only you, your doctor and your body can decide what weight you will be. And it's not about just "felling" like I am healthy at this weight, I am. I am not ill, in danger of becoming ill, or anything like it. I am totally unfilled, eat like a horse, and run 5km a day. My doctors all agree that I am perfectly healthy, and while I do not want to lose any more weight, I am fine as I am.

My goal weight picked me. I didn't try to get down to 107lbs, but through a good healthy diet, and daily exercise that's where I ended up. And I don't look ill, or sick at all. I am not skinny, nor do I feel pressure from anyone to be thin. At an 8 or a 10, I am still fat. I am tiny. I have tiny feet, tiny hands, and and am just a little person. So my current weight suits me just fine. Skinny is not actually a word I would use to describe myself. I look athletic, and healthy. Not skinny. My weight does not define me at all. Nor does the tag on my dress. And I am sorry that you get the impression that it does, but you are very wrong about that.

Who were you asking? I know a few of us have had reconstructive surgery.

It's ok! I wasn't worried at all. I just realised that a lot of my surgery pics were not viewable by anyone but me for some reason (It's odd, really) I am glad I was able to be of some inspiration. Thank you! I lost about another 30lbs in the first few months after the tuck. I haven't lost anything lately. And I do get some very surprised looks when I tell people that I was overweight, I have had people gasp, and say "No way!!" at times too.

It's not painful really. Just funky. Its weird. Because they have the drain sort of snaked all around your belly, it feels kinda like they are pulling intestines out. It doesn't hurt as such, it just feels so very, very wrong. And you had a pain pump? All I got was one shot of Pethadine when I came out of theatre, and then all I got after that was Panadol (the Aussie version of Tylanol) Oh, and do something about getting your bowel moving before it's too late (laxatives, enema, whatever). Trust me. You do NOT want to be straining on a tummy that has just been tucked.

I'd say that is exactly why you are on abx. I think I was draining about 25-30cc a day total, and that's why they came out as soon as they did. I was really lucky. I hope you get those suckers out soon. Don't forget to take a deep breath when they pull them out. You'll know why afterward!

A port is a port, Heliogast, Allergan, or J&J bands. I don't imagine that finding a doc here in Oz is going to be the drama that it is for the folks in the states. Have you called a few local surgeons and asked about being filled by them?

LOL, I guess they do! I am just so glad I went with a wax beforehand rather than relying on a nurse shaving me. It made me a hell of a lot more comfortable after the fact. Just curious. Why is it taking so long for your drains to come out? Mine were out within 5 or 6 days. I did have to be draining below a certain amount of fluid a day... But I have never heard of drains being left in for weeks at a time, my doc said something about drains being an open invitation for infection if left for too long.

Thank you! I am an open book, any questions you have, I am happy to answer.

Hi Leeanne! Welcome to LBT! And a huge congrats on being banded.

Congratulations on being banded Ellemay! And welcome to LBT!

Ahh! That's why I got waxed a couple of days pre op!! I am actually surprised they didn't shave you. Looking good! :clap2:

Hi gort, and welcome to LBT. A lot of people go to Mexico because their insurance doesn't cover WLS, or they just prefer a Mexican surgeon. You might like to try having a look in your states forum, and posting this question there. Best of luck with everything, and again, welcome to LBT!

Before, and about 3 days post op About 3 weeks post op, and about 10 months post op

Hiya Mandi! Welcome to LBT!! I think you will find that there are quite a few of us Aussies about, and a handful of us are from Brissy (myself included) Again, welcome to LBT!