kareyquilts

I'm so excited for you both! My prayers and positive thoughts are with you! I did not have anxiety medication, but would have loved some on the day of surgery. I was so scared my blood pressure was 150, it's normally around 100! I also didn't have sleeping medication. I found that the pain medication made me sleeping anyway. I guess I would fill the meds and use them if you need them. My only recommendaton, is that you stay on top of your pain and use the pain meds at regular intervals for 3 or 4 days and then experiment with going off them. The pain pump is good and I'm sure you're going to be fairly comfortable. Flatlands here you come!

Becky: My heart goes out to you! I know how a hanging pannus can make you feel that you are still fat. Don't get depressed, you are tough or you couldn't have lost so much weight. Appeal to the insurance company and document like Dr. Schulman recommended. Check out the teaching schools, that sounds like a great suggestion. Personally, I would beg, borrow or steal (not really, but you get the idea), the money to get the surgery. Don't let anyone intimidate you and make you think that it's only cosmetic. This is your life and believe me, getting the pannus off will change the quality of your life. When I had my abdomiplasty and breast lift, I could finally see the results of all my hard work. I didn't look in the mirror and see hanging flesh and still feel fat. I want to finish the process with some other procedures, but I can't tell you how much better I feel about myself. Fight for this!

Walked 2 miles today with my friend. Worked with my trainer for an hour. I was able to do reverse lunges with 50 pounds and squats with 50 pounds dead weight. Today I almost felt that I might get back to my former self! It sure is a struggle after surgery and a big break!

Gerio: I'm going to check out that website. Sounds interesting! Indigo Girl: I had a tummy tuck, breast lift with augmentation and lipo of the flanks. I do have a thread in the cosmetic section. I really want to get my arms done. My doc said it was too much at once, so I'm trying to be patient. The plan is to do the back side, legs and arms next with some lipo for conturing. I want to lose the rest of my weight and feel better before I disrupt everything again. Plastic surgery can help get your body back, but it has it's down side. Like pain and not being able to exercise. I didn't get cleared to go back to exercise for 10 weeks. Then when I started back (only 3 weeks) I've had lots of new little pains around my incisions, abs, etc. Lost a lot or strength so I'm down on my weights, etc. My body remembers how to do everything so that is the good part and this week, I'm finally feeling like I will get back to where I was and get back into everything. It's just a long process, with a price to be paid. Like everything I guess. So, yes, I want to do more ps and get my body restored, but I'm more interested in feeling better right now. Anyway, when you get ready PM me and I'll be there for you!

Becky: I had an unfill after my plastic surgery because I had terrible swelling on my upper abdomen which caused pressure on the band. Then I got a pain pill stuck and threw up for several days. I couldn't even hold down water. It was not fun. I did enjoy a few sandwiches while I was unfilled, so it wasn't all bad! Actually felt good to get some restriction back. I have come to rely on feeling full sooner. I was self-pay for my ps sugery, but I know that many get their insurance to kick in some or all because of skin rashes or hernias. I had neither, just lots of loose skin. It's all a journey and it's all good!

Whoseya and Ceradad: You guys are awesome. Great goals! I'm just limping along (literally with my bad knee) and trying to get back to my previous exercise level and then maybe I'll sent some harder goals. Way to go!

Amy: You're smoking hot! Do you exercise? What are you doing for your diet. I am going to hit it hard to get the last 20 pounds off and I feel like I need to shake everything up a bit. Suggestions would be appreciated! Kudos on your success!

Tess: Keep it up and you won't have to imagine what it feels like to be thinner! Congratulations! We're all in the same boat, trying to work and get it together!

Becky & Frangi: You are both going to be glad you've been exercising. It will make things lots easier. You're going to heal better, because of your great blood circulation, etc. You're going to do well and be smoking hot! I'll be thinking of you this week!

Charlene: I have been a quilter for years, but lately, it seems all I do is work, exercise and family and church stuff. I love fabric and design. My sewing room is a big fat mess and I don't see it changing for a while with gardening and vacations here. Oh well! Priorities, I guess!

Dr. Schulman: Your enthusiasm for what you do is really admirable. Thanks for the great pictures and equally good explanations. I'm really trying to decide if the results will be worth the pain and expense. This helps, but I'm still not sure about the buttock's volume. I guess I'm a little concerned that it might make me look bigger and flatter would look thinner. Your pictures make me think that some round is normal and probably pleasing. Just not sure. Does the belt lipectomy decrease size overall and the augmentation just add some roundess and not a lot of size? It's hard to grasp the proportions from the pictures.

I had a pain pump and it was worth every penny. Very helpful! By the time it was empty I really didn't need it, but it helped when I needed to get up and down. Either way you get through it!

DD= Dear Daughter DH= Dear Husband DS=Dear Son ETC.

I'd like to join this thread. I was on a thread for 50 year olds, but it died. I had a tummy tuck 3 months ago and have not lost any weight since then. Even though they took 5 pounds of skin and 3 pounds of fat with lipo. I'm actually 2 pounds heavier! I just started back to exercising 2 weeks ago. Have had a lot going on with a DD's wedding that just got over and a family party for my daughter yesterday. We're going on vacation in a week and when I come back, I want to start the last big push and get the last 20 pounds off! I need support! Looking forward to getting to know you all better!

Dr. Schulman: The autologous buttock augmentation looks very interesting. Is it hard to decide how large the buttocks should be. I would imagine part of the size would be determined by the amount of fat that could be grafted (not sure that's the right term). I already have a very small and somewhat flat bottom. I've had a tummy tuck and lipo to the flanks. The back side would be next. How can you tell if you are a candidate for this procedure?

Worked out with my trainer today for 60 minutes. My abs are still weak and my knee hurts. Boy do I feel like a whimp! I guess I will just plug along!

Dr. Schulman: What about lipo on the upper stomach? I don't know my anatomy well enough to know if the actual band around the stomach could be bothered by lipo?

Julie: This seems like a good question for Dr. Schulman since he specializes in body conturing after massive weight loss. Maybe you should pose the quesiton directly to him. I would be curious what he has to say.

Checking in- ellipitical= 30 minutes, pilates-60 minutes.

BBK: It's hard to decide on a fill, but you don't want to gain weight after all your hard work and pain! I've gained 3 pounds. My appetite has picked up a little, but I'm having a hard time, finding the sweet spot, because I was too tight a few weeks ago. Anyway, good luck with your appointment.

Worked with my trainer today. Weight training doesn't seem to bother my knee as much as walking. Go figure! Still don't have all my strength back but it is getting easier.

JT99: Thanks for the advice. I just started back on the glucosomine this week. Had some band issues with pills, so I cut out all that stuff and then I forgot about it! Glad to know it made a difference for you and hope it will help me!

Will be thinking of you on June 20th and wishing you much success!

Godshelp: That looks pretty cool. Thanks for the info. Have you ever used the Stott's pilates reformer? I'm wondering how they compare. I think I will check it out. I wish you the best on your weight loss journey!

I had a breast lift and was prepared for the anchor scar, because I felt it would be an improvement over the dropping. When I got out of surgery, I found out that my ps was able to do the lift without the anchor incision. I only have the scar around the nipples. When he put the implants in, my breasts stood up well, so no anchor scar. But, I was more than willing to have the scar. From pictures I've seen, the scar really fades with time. Wishing you both, the best!