What am I thinking?!

[ssflbelle 829]

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.

[mlbdl 86]

Congrats!! You're inspiring me! We're the same size and I'd like to get my arms done and breasts lifted. Do you mind saying how long it's been since you had your Bariatric surgery? Mine was 6/30/16, and I'd be surprised if I lose anymore weight. I'm feeling pretty good where I am.

[4TheHealthOfIt 32]

On 3/28/2017 at 7:00 PM, GirthyGirl said:

It is done! I already feel like a different person. I will take some pictures in a few days. Not sure how much tissue he removed. I don't even remember him coming into my room after let alone what he said. lol. I'll ask him at my first post op appointment.

been thinking of you!!! glad you're feeling good so far!!!

[GirthyGirl 79]

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 too have breasts that reach my navel. I'm so sorry to hear that your surgery has to be postponed. How disappointing! You'll be in my prayers that everything will turn out okay. Living with constant pain is so difficult. It really wears you down.

Please send me a friend request. I would love to keep in touch!

[VSG4Mag 106]

You look great! So happy that your surgery was a success! Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[GirthyGirl 79]

Congrats!! You're inspiring me! We're the same size and I'd like to get my arms done and breasts lifted. Do you mind saying how long it's been since you had your Bariatric surgery? Mine was 6/30/16, and I'd be surprised if I lose anymore weight. I'm feeling pretty good where I am.

Thank you! I had my surgery on 01/27/16. I am satisfied at the weight I'm at. I am only losing about 1 pound a month now so will start working on maintaining.

[LivsMum 9]

InN

[ssflbelle 829]

22 hours ago, GirthyGirl said:

Thank you! I had my surgery on 01/27/16. I am satisfied at the weight I'm at. I am only losing about 1 pound a month now so will start working on maintaining.

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?

[GirthyGirl 79]

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 fro me. May I ask Girthygirl how tall are you?

Sure. I am 5'4''. 180 was my goal weight also.

[ssflbelle 829]

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?

[GirthyGirl 79]

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 used to hate shopping too. It was never a matter of finding something that looked the best on me. It was finding the least horrible thing. Now I love shopping! I am currently a size 10/12. I don't see myself getting lower than a 10 and that is perfectly fine with me. I started at a 26/28 so sometimes I still can't believe I am where I am.

I think when you are used to not being able to wear fashionable styles it makes it difficult to change your mindset. I look at some of the cute things that are out there and don't even bother trying them on. For one thing I am older and I'm not sure I can pull it off. I also don't want to be one of those people you look at and think, "She should not be wearing that". I would occasionally buy jeans 1 size smaller but that was about it as far as goal clothes went. I didn't want to buy to much as I didn't know where I was going to end up.

You have lost sooooo much weight ssflbelle! You should be so proud of yourself! If you don't know what size you currently are, and don't feel comfortable shopping in the misses department, maybe go to a plus size store and start with the biggest size they carry and work your way down. That makes it easier than trying to figure it out and then being dissapointed when has been a horrible experience for you. I bet you will be surprised how big they will be on you. It is disappointing to try something on and it is to tight but I would just tell myself I would be there one day.

I wish you nothing but continued success and we are all pulling for you! Sometimes it's harder to lose the mental weight then it is to lose the physical weight.

[Scamp 207]

I would agree with the above comment - Go to a plus size store - I remember that feeling when nothing in that store would fit me anymore - It is priceless feeling to be unable to fit anything from a plus size store - It is such a morale booster - When you know you have to go to a 'normal person' store - My goodness the smile on my face that day!!

It is hard though - To know what to wear - Even now I feel I don't deserve stuff - I tend to take clothes off my kids rather than go buy it - I don't know why - I guess I feel it is better to reuse than to go out to just buy for ME - I am 7yrs post op my first op and even now - It is weird in some ways - When you can stand and look in the mirror and you realize that is YOU - Than slim person is really YOU! You have to get to know the new you - To I guess make friends with yourself - The person you may have hated for many years as I did - And now - You don't quite hate yourself as much - I still have some bits of me I dislike..... But in the main - I am still amazed at the me I have become

Well done on your achievement. You have done well!

Edited April 2, 2017 by Scamp

[GirthyGirl 79]

It's been two weeks now and things are going really well! I am still having a little pain on my sides where the drains were. My arms feel great which is funny because that's what I thought was going to hurt. Right now they are measuring 13.25". Not sure if that will go down any more but if it doesn't I am so thrilled with it! I will be going to a bariatric reunion on Thursday that is put on by one of my local hospitals. I will be wearing something sleeveless and for the first time will not be embarrassed to do so. I'll take a couple pictures and post them at the end of the week to show where I am at.

[ssflbelle 829]

Glad to hear things are going well and your arms are feeling great. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures. I am sure they are looking even better then they were on day 2. Is this the last surgery you will have?

After 3 weeks I finally have approval for a consultation for a biopsy. Monday will be the consultation and hopefully short after that I will have the biopsy. Never thought it would take this long. Hopefully the biopsy will be nothing and I can finally get the breast reduction, lift and FNG I need so badly.

As far as new clothes I have been thinking about it and almost went to the outlet mall today but just couldn't do it. I started thinking how unfair it might be to get the sales clerk help and then maybe not even buying anything. I just didn't feel right about all the help they would need to give me because of being on the electric mobility device. So I guess I will try to take in my clothes for the 4th time and get new clothes after the breast surgery.

[Stella S 612]

Healing in time for summer. Glad things are better.