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I am having a terrible time finding a good man who will accept me for what I can offer them despite the weight loss. I suppose my physical disability turns them off more than the weight loss and excess skin I have all over my body. I was suppose to have the first of 4 excess skin removal surgeries but that got canceled as the test results showed something that has to be biopsied. Once the excess skin is removed the spine Doctor said he could possibly fix my back. That will not be for at least another 2 to 3 years. I have been single for the last 13 yeas and I guess another 2 or 3 more years shouldn't make that much different despite the fact that I am 61 years old now. But I sure am lonely!

I am 5' 6" and trying to visualize what I will look like at 180 and what size I will be. I have lost so much weight yet I am afraid to even go into a clothing store. You would thinking it would be exciting going to the store to buy new clothing but it terrifies me. I never felt good about shopping and always had a fight with my Mom and would start crying in the fitting room as nothing would fit me correctly. In fact I haven't been in a store to buy clothing in over 30 years. I always bought two of the largest size I could find in the catalog and make it into one. I don't have my Mom with me any more and have no fashion sense so I wouldn't even know where to begin with new clothing or how much to buy as I still have 42 pounds to lose. Having come from 10X I don't want to still be in the x's and feel I will be. Am I crazy or what? I have sewn in my clothing 3 times already and have to do it again. I was hoping to buy clothing after the excess skin was removed from my breast, arms and belly but the first of those surgeries was canceled. I guess I will be taking in my clothes again. Have you Girthygirl and everyone else bought new clothing in new sizes before you got to your goal? If you didn't fit into the size you were expecting, how did you feel? How did you know what to buy?

I had mine the day before you did. I am still not where I want to be. I am trying to get to 180. which is about another 42 pounds for me. May I ask Girthygirl how tall are you?

I use to be able to add friends on the old system. Now I have no idea where to go to add a friend. Any step by step directions would be helpful. Thanks

I had my sleeve surgery on Jan 26th 2016 2 days after my 60th birthday. After having lost 180 pounds on my own and yet still having to lose another 140+ pounds I thought the surgery would help my back problems too. Since the surgery I have lost about 100 more pounds and I am in just as much pain as before. I had tried the facet joint injections every 3 months, and they did the burning of the nerve roots years before I had the sleeve surgery. I was so hoping and praying the extra weight lost from the sleeve would make it easier to walk. However within 5 minutes of walking I have to sit down. Therefore I use the electric mobility device to this very day. The spine doctor said I had to have all my excess skin removed and be at my goal before he would do back surgery. I am about 40 pounds from goal and was suppose to have excess breast skin removed on March 21st but that surgery was cancelled 13 hours before my scheduled time. Now I am waiting for a biopsy. If you have herniated discs (4 of them) and spinal stenosis like I do I doubt the weight loss will make a difference. Would love to become friends with you but I can't figure out how to send a request. However feel free to send one if you know how. I will be following your progress and truly hope the weight loss will help you as I know how difficult it is to live with this kind of pain.

My surgery date was suppose to be March 21st but 13 hours before surgery they cancelled it. Now I am waiting for a biopsy, the results and we will go from there. I was very disappointed as I was hoping to get these humongous breasts reduced and lifted back where they belong and recovered in time for summer. So glad you were able to get the size you wanted. I too am hoping for a B cup instead of what I was an I. I have only skin now and no breast tissue. Have no idea how they were going to get a B cup from all this tissue. However the PS was sure I would love my breasts when he was done. Because of all the miscommunications with this biopsy and waiting to get approval I went to another PS to get a second opinion. This second Dr said I would need implants and would not have been happy with breasts formed from my tissue. He also said he would make me new nipples from my tissue as a FNG wouldn't take. So now I don't know if I should stay with the original Dr or try to get them done by the 2nd one after the results of the biopsy comes in. I am very frustrated at this point and will have to ask more questions and take my time deciding.

Met with PS assistant yesterday. Went over everything for pre op and post op. Got all my questions answered, got my meds and future dates for pre-op at the hospital, marking date , surgery date and time and post op appt. Will be having the boob reduction lift with FNG on March 21st at 7:30 am. Will be the first patient and will be having 2 PS surgeons in the operating room. The lead Doctor has a passion for the massive weight loss patients and extensive experience in brachioplasty, medial thigh lift, extended abdominoplasty and breast lifts. He is the President of the Florida Medical Association with its 21,000 physicians and the President of Palm Beach County Society of Plastic Surgeons. He is the President of the Florida chapter of the American College of Surgeons and is also the Governor of the college. He currently serves as the Division Chief at the Department of Reconstructive Surgery of the hospital where I will have my surgery. The other Dr is also well known for breast reconstruction, body contouring, and post-bariatric surgery. So I feel really good about both of them. Many other staff will be in the room. The list was too numerous for me to count. I am such a rare case the assistant mentioned the Doctors may ask if they can use my before and after photos. They told me growing up I probably had macromastia breasts but due to my morbid obesity no one realized it. I was once a 70 I how could they not realize it? Now that the weight is off the breast tissue hangs down to my belly button. It will be a 3 to 4 hour procedure. They are hoping to send me home later that afternoon if I recover well. However will keep me over night if they feel it is necessary. The hospital will supply one post-op bra but the assistant said I should have another one on hand for when I have to wash the one the hospital will give me. When the assistant was discussing the post-op bras she asked what I was wear that day. I told her a 48 DDD, (which is too loose on me) she was a bit surprised I was able to get all that loose skin into that bra. But when I showed her the bra she understood. She said the Doctors will try their best to get me down to a 46 C, so that is the post op bra she suggested I get. Because my breast are not dense and mostly skin she said it would only be about 3 pounds that will be removed. I found that hard to believe, but we shall see. To have the girls up where they belong will be such a wonderful thing. No more rashes, heaviness , pinched nipples when I close draws and inability to do exercise. I have been dreaming of having them done for a long time and now it is finally going to happen. I am so excited and can hardly wait for March 21st. Please send good wishes my way! Probably very few on this site have had this kind of surgery so let me know if I should continue with updates.

Wow girthygirl! 2 days post op and your arms look like that? You heal really well as they look fantastic. Those scars sure are thin and doesn't look red or swollen at all. Congratulations on the weight loss and the 1st excess skin removal surgery. I hope all your surgeries go as well as this one did. I have lost over 280 pounds and have so much excess skin it is unbelievable. My bat wings go all the way to my wrists. However I was told they do not cut below the elbow with this surgery. I gather they will pull the wrist skin up to the elbow. The bat wings will probably be my 3rd surgery. I was scheduled to have my 1st one on March 21st but it was cancelled 13 hours before the surgery. It was suppose to be excess breast skin removal and a FNG. However I am now waiting for a biopsy and the results. Who knows when the surgery will be. I was pretty disappointed as the excess breast skin goes down to my belly button. I have a lot of back pain because of 4 herniated discs. Even though all this tummy, breast and arm excess skin weighs less than the fat it hasn't cut down on my back pain. My back surgeon wants all the excess skin removed before he will do any surgery on the discs. So it looks like I will still have to use the electric mobility device for another year or two as within 5 minutes of walking I am in so much pain it takes my breath away. Please keep us informed as to how you are doing. Would love to send you a friends request so we can keep in touch, hope you will accept it.

I had 3 surgeries on Jan 26 2016. The sleeve, gallbladder removal and hernia repair. I was doing great until Oct of last year. I am about 40 pounds from my goal weight and finding these last 40 to be very difficult to get off. Since Halloween I have been bouncing back and forth with the same 10 pounds. Can't seem to get out of the 200's. I still can't walk because of 4 herniated discs but I am riding my trike. Was suppose to have some skin removal surgery but that was canceled as they found some microcalcifications and now I am waiting for a biopsy. Once I get pass this situation I hope to be able to get below 200.

Thanks yep about 88% of my excess body weight is gone. I still have another 37 pounds before I get to my goal. It is getting very hard though for me to keep on losing. I have been maintaining this weight loss for about 6 months now. I would love to get below 200 but exercise is extremely difficult for me because of all the physical issues I am dealing with. As for my breast surgery it was canceled as I have to have a biopsy done and am waiting for my insurance to approve it.

I have tried these and do enjoy them. I was wondering about the Cauliflower Tots I have seen in the stores. Are they good for us as well? Has anyone tried them? How do they taste and do you use any kind of a sauce with them?

Congratulations on your 369 pound weight loss in the last 2 1/2 years. Believe me I know how hard you worked to get to where you are today. As far as the excess skin removal surgeries. I have heard of others getting several things done at once. I think it really depends on your age and how healthy your body is to receive several surgeries at one time. My Dr is only willing to do one at a time. Perhaps because of my age (61), I really am not sure. I will see the Assistant on Tuesday and plan to ask if more than 1 could be done in the future. I would hate to have to take off 4 to 6 weeks for each of the 4 surgeries. When is your surgery scheduled for? Mine is suppose to be March 21st. However the EKG showed something and I need to see a cardiologist before I will get medical clearance. I sure hope it happens quickly.

I am still about 30+ pounds from my goal. I have lost 280 pounds. I know the pain rashes etc that you speak of with all the excess skin. I also saw a PS in Jan. He said even though I am not at goal he is willing to do a breast reduction and nipple lift and graft. He felt that the extra 32 pounds I need to lose will not really affect the breasts once they are reduced. That surgery is planned for March 21st if all the medical testing goes well for medical clearance The Dr did say I needed to be at goal before he would do my tummy, arms and legs. He felt if I had the other surgeries and lost an additional 32 extra pounds I would be very unhappy with how those parts would look. So I guess I will have to wait for the excess skin to be removed from those areas. If you can afford to have a second surgery I would take the first one now and see what happens when you get to goal.

Just got a letter from my insurance saying I have been approved for my reduction mammaplasty and reconstruc nipple areolar unil. Now what? I only met one time with the Dr and we didn't discuss hardly anything. The dates of the approval are Feb 20th to March 6th and I just got the letter today. I called the Dr and was told the lady I needed to talk with was at lunch but she was waiting to hear about co-pays. When I called insurance they said my copay would be if I had a hospital room stay. The insurance called the Dr and was told usually this is a not an over night room stay. Can some one help me out and explain more of what questions I should be asking and what the next step is? Just now got more details: Consultations Tuesday March 7th with Dr's assistant. Wed March 15th preop Tuesday March 21st surgery YIKES!

Thanks teacupnosaucer. It has been a long hard battle but one I was not willing to give up on. It took me many years to lose the weight on my own that I did. First lost about 90 pounds in a year with WW then started NS and lost another 90 pounds the second year. Then maintained around 318 for a number of years before I started to put back on some weight. In 2014 I stopped before I crossed back into the 400's but in a year was only able to lose 38 pounds so I went in 2015 to see the WL surgeon. Had to do a 6 month diet and lost another 38 pounds before I had my 3 procedure surgeries in Jan 2016. If I hadn't taken the bull by the horns and lost this weight with sheer determination, hard work and then this wonderful tool (the sleeve) I probably would have been died by now. So thanks for the "your a champ comment". I really will feel like one once I get all the excess skin removed and get to my goal weight.

Starting weight 497 Surgery weight 315 Current weight 212 Goal weight 180 sleeve, gallbladder and hernia done Jan 26 2016

This difference is only the last 100 pounds.

With the sleeve I have lost 103 pounds and I was 60 when I had the surgery. Overall in my 50's and 60's I have lost a total of 285 pounds and I can only walk 4 to 5 minutes due to 4 herniated disc and lots of other physical complications due to an accident I had in my 30's and obesity. If I can do it at this age and in this physical condition, You All Can Do It!