Frangipani & TexasBecky get Reconstructed

[kareyquilts 1]

Frangi: Love the breasts! You're results are amazing! It's totally normal to feel good one moment and rotten the next. I had lots of little pangs and twitches and at one point thought I might have pulled a muscle too. You probably need to slow down, just a mite! This was a major change and insult to your body and it needs to recover. Enjoy the excuse and the new body!

[luluc 6]

Becky - 121lbs!! that is a fantastic accomplishment - hope your feeling a bit better today w/some rest.

Frangi - the GIRLS look GREAT!! glad your back home! I'm in Tampa for some of Aug - visiting parent's - could "escape"..LOL to miami for a meet up...:thumbup:

[Frangipani 1]

Wow! How lovely to wake up to all of these wonderful compliments!!

Wow Frangi. You look great! You don't even look swollen. Think how totally fabulous you are going to look when the swelling is all gone. That must feel soooo much better. Congrats, and thanks for posting pics. I can't wait to get to my goal weight so I can get made over.!

Foofy, thank you very much, I can't wait for you to have your makeover either -- it is such an awesome thing. I am simply amazed at what plastic surgeons can do!!!

I honestly never believed I would come out of surgery with a flat belly and I kept asking my Dr. over and over if this was really going to happen. When I asked him about this for the umpteenth time just before surgery, he said to me very emphatically "Yes! You will have a flat belly, what do you think you're paying me for?!!!" (which made me LOL :thumbup:)

BTW -- where are you in Montana? Are you anywhere near Glacier National Park? Love Montana -- what stunningly gorgeous country!!!!

Frangi.... wow. Just wow. You look FANTABULOUS!!!!!! Bet it feels really, really good to see your husband pant and drool as he eyeballs you :w00t: happy panty shopping to you too! I agree, the SE folks should visit with you in Miami (though I don't see where ANY more improvement is needed!!!) and you can all go panty shopping together... and maybe do happy hour at one of those places where you have to remove your bras and hang them on the wall :tt2:

Becky... you are also truly amazing! That weight loss is outstanding... bet you are (rightly so!!!) very proud of yourself.

Thanks again to both of you (and Kari and LJM and Julie and Nurse Amy and so many others) for blessing those of us who are eagerly looking forward to our own improvement dates. The insight, information and advice you share is more appreciated than you can imagine.

Cori, Thanks as always for your incredibly sweet comments.

I am LOL however, at the idea of my husband drooling and panting and eyeballing. He's a wonderful man, but he's very reserved and low key (total opposite of me :crying:), and I don't see him drooling or panting anytime soon (LOL :laugh:)

Frangi you look AMAZING. I truly hope my results are that good! Well your breasts will look better. Mine are going to have to wait...a long time...unless we win the lottery!

Wow...that is such a transformation!

Salsa, thank you sweetie :smile:! You will have excellent results!!!! In fact, you'll be blown away at what your surgeon is able to do!!!

Frangi, what are the dates that you'll be in Miami next? Maybe we can work something out. That would be so much fun. Why don't you PM me with the details. Jody, any chance you could get away too?

Unfortunately, I think the ongoing aches and pains are normal. I'm really tiring of it though. Yesterday I felt really rotten for most of the day. It was a bad swelling day (guess I over did on Friday) and it just made everthing uncomfortable. I feel bad complaining because I did sign up for this and everything that goes with it. I'm just hoping for a better day today.

More later.

Oh Becky, big hugs to you lady. I wish I could be in Dallas to make you feel better!!! But it will get better, and you look INCREDIBLE so just keep reminding yourself that the aches and pains will go away soon and that it's all so very worth it.

OMG That would be so much fun if you could make it to Miami. I will come up with some dates and let you know.

Frangi: Love the breasts! You're results are amazing! It's totally normal to feel good one moment and rotten the next. I had lots of little pangs and twitches and at one point thought I might have pulled a muscle too. You probably need to slow down, just a mite! This was a major change and insult to your body and it needs to recover. Enjoy the excuse and the new body!

Hi Karey,

Thank you for the wonderful compliments!!! Thanks also for the advice!!! Your feedback makes me feel so much better. I really do need to slow down. I think the first few weeks I was really numb -- now I'm becoming less so, and I'm really starting to feel everything.

Becky - 121lbs!! that is a fantastic accomplishment - hope your feeling a bit better today w/some rest.

Frangi - the GIRLS look GREAT!! glad your back home! I'm in Tampa for some of Aug - visiting parent's - could "escape"..LOL to miami for a meet up...

LuLu, thanks!!!! I've never ever been told that my "girls look great," that's a first -- Woo Hoo!!!! That would be so awesome if we could meet up in Florida, I will PM you with my dates and hopefully we can figure out a way to meet up!!!

In fact, I would love to meet all of you wonderful ladies -- maybe we should have a great big get together in Miami!!!

[Foofy 0]

BTW -- where are you in Montana? Are you anywhere near Glacier National Park? Love Montana -- what stunningly gorgeous country!!!!

Hi Frangi,

I'm in the lovely capitol city of Helena, nestled in the Rocky Mountains 8 miles east of the Continental Divide (about halfway between Glacier Park and Yellowstone). It IS beautiful. Plus, it is a great place to live. We live in the historic part of town in an old Victorian built in 1886. I get to walk to work, to downtown, and to a great trail system. I feel very lucky.

I always wanted to see the Virgin Islands. Maybe someday we should swap houses for a week? But first, I have to look good enough to wear a bathing suit in public. LOL. Thanks for all the inspiration.

P.S. I don't want to scare you off, but I don't think there is a Stein Mart in Montana....

Edited June 29, 2008 by Foofy

[LadyBugRed 2]

Hi Becky and Frangi,

I would love to get away next month and join you in Miami but....my brother called today. He has been a diabetic since he was a kid and he is older than I am. It has taken it's tole on him. He has a bad heart, parkinson's and now he is blind. He told me today he has kidney cancer. He wants to find a surgeon who will remove his kidney because he cannot undergo the chemo with his poor health. He will not survive the surgery. So, I think my summer will be occupied with him. Ken lives in North Carolina and I am in New Jersey. Our parents passed away a long time ago. Sometimes life is just not fair. :thumbs_up::sad_smile::biggrin:

Frangi, please let me know the dates that you will be in Miami. I will try my best. Lord knows I will need the break if I can do it. He is all I have left. I have aunts and uncles but not anyone who is immediate family. This just plains sucks.................:eek::frown::tt1:

[kareyquilts 1]

LadyBug: My heart goes out to you and your brother. Sometimes life really does suck! My son is in his last year of medical school, I know there are ways to find surgeons who specialize in this kind of thing. If he can help in your search or we can do anything please pm and we'll help in anyway we can. I wish you the best.

[Frangipani 1]

Hi Becky and Frangi,

I would love to get away next month and join you in Miami but....my brother called today. He has been a diabetic since he was a kid and he is older than I am. It has taken it's tole on him. He has a bad heart, parkinson's and now he is blind. He told me today he has kidney cancer. He wants to find a surgeon who will remove his kidney because he cannot undergo the chemo with his poor health. He will not survive the surgery. So, I think my summer will be occupied with him. Ken lives in North Carolina and I am in New Jersey. Our parents passed away a long time ago. Sometimes life is just not fair. :wink_smile::sad_smile::bored:

Frangi, please let me know the dates that you will be in Miami. I will try my best. Lord knows I will need the break if I can do it. He is all I have left. I have aunts and uncles but not anyone who is immediate family. This just plains sucks.................:thumbup::frown::thumbup:

Oh Jody....... I am so sorry to hear this news about your brother.

There are some amazing doctors out there who can do things that defy all odds, so I'm sending my very best hopes and wishes that your brother will find an excellent physician who will be able to treat the kidney cancer successfully.

Lots and lots of big hugs to you Jody. If there is anything at all that I can do to help, please let me know. You and your brother are very much in my thoughts.

[TexasBecky 1]

Jody, I too am very sorry to hear the heartbreaking news about your brother. His life has been a hard one and now this is just another cruel blow. It is a terrible shame. You and your family will be in my prayers. It sounds like you will need a break this summer. I hope a couple of days in Florida will be in your future.

I saw the doctor this morning. He removed the stitches from my hip and said everything looks good. As for the swelling, he says gradually increasing my activity is the best thing in the long run. Although activity does increase the swelling in the short run, returning to my normal routine will actually speed the reabsorbtion of the excess fluids. It sounds counterproductive to me, but I was glad to hear it, because I feared he was going to say I was doing too much.

He also said that ice is fine if it makes me feel better, but that at this stage it will not help the swelling. He promised me that the swelling will begin to lessen soon and that my old pants are going to be too big when it does. I think he knows what his patients want to hear!

Foofy, no Stein Mart in Montana! That's probably a deal breaker for Frangi, lol.

[Frangipani 1]

Hi Frangi,

I'm in the lovely capitol city of Helena, nestled in the Rocky Mountains 8 miles east of the Continental Divide (about halfway between Glacier Park and Yellowstone). It IS beautiful. Plus, it is a great place to live. We live in the historic part of town in an old Victorian built in 1886. I get to walk to work, to downtown, and to a great trail system. I feel very lucky.

I always wanted to see the Virgin Islands. Maybe someday we should swap houses for a week? But first, I have to look good enough to wear a bathing suit in public. LOL. Thanks for all the inspiration.

P.S. I don't want to scare you off, but I don't think there is a Stein Mart in Montana....

Foofy, no Stein Mart in Montana! That's probably a deal breaker for Frangi, lol.

LOL Foofy and Becky -- you two have my number down, for sure :tt2::lol:!!!

BUT being the avid hiker that I am, all you need to do is get me out on the trails and into that majestic landscape and I forget about shopping, and everything else. I absolutely love the west and the southwest and getting out into the mountains and the canyons -- nothing makes me happier.

Foofy, you are a very lucky woman (even though you can keep your winters :frown::tongue:)!!!! And I hope you do come to the VI -- you're welcome anytime. It's gorgeous here too with a totally different kind of beauty and offbeat charm, but quite stunning just the same.

Jody, I too am very sorry to hear the heartbreaking news about your brother. His life has been a hard one and now this is just another cruel blow. It is a terrible shame. You and your family will be in my prayers. It sounds like you will need a break this summer. I hope a couple of days in Florida will be in your future.

I saw the doctor this morning. He removed the stitches from my hip and said everything looks good. As for the swelling, he says gradually increasing my activity is the best thing in the long run. Although activity does increase the swelling in the short run, returning to my normal routine will actually speed the reabsorbtion of the excess fluids. It sounds counterproductive to me, but I was glad to hear it, because I feared he was going to say I was doing too much.

He also said that ice is fine if it makes me feel better, but that at this stage it will not help the swelling. He promised me that the swelling will begin to lessen soon and that my old pants are going to be too big when it does. I think he knows what his patients want to hear!

Becky, thanks for posting all the great info you got from your Dr. -- very good to know all of this. I actually wanted to do a short, easy walk today, but fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks today and by the time I woke up it was too late to go out for a walk.

I believe I slept more today than I have since my surgery. I'm not sure what that's all about, but I napped for almost the entire afternoon. Are you feeling fatigued like this Becky?

I'm definitely going out for a walk tomorrow, I have to get my energy levels back up. I mean, sleeping for hours on end can't be a good thing either -- right?

Jody, I agree with Becky. If you are able to get away for a few days it might do you a world of good. I need to confirm when I can make an appointment to see my Dr., but I'm thinking of traveling up to Miami from like, July 30 or 31 through August 3 or 4, but I am somewhat flexible.

Edited June 30, 2008 by Frangipani

[salsa1877 10]

You both seem to be doing well...despite some occasional bumps along the road. That gives me such hope! My surgery is so close.

As for the exercising my post op instructions tell me to do a 20 minute "brisk" walk everyday starting on week 1. My doc has said that she wants me to do this faithfully 4-6 days a week...but NO running. She said brisk is like a 2-3 mph pace that I can eventually speed up. I get to do that up until week 6. At week 6 I can then ease back into a normal regimine. I never thought I would be anxious about not being able to workout...but I am. I thnk that is the worst thing for me. I haven't been able to workout the last 2 days because of the injuries from the half-marathon and it is killing me. What the heck am I going to do when I can't REALLY workout for 6+weeks. She cut my gym privileges until Sept 3. AAAAAAHHHHH.....withdrawls!

[LadyBugRed 2]

Thank you everyone for all your thoughts. They really mean a lot. Keep me posted on those dates. I would LOVE to meet you ladies even for just a few days! Funny enough, my brother is in great spirits. His biggest fear is me giving up the weight loss battle. He says he may be blind but he knows how far his arms go around me now.

Confirm those dates Frangi as soon as possible. I will try my best!!

Becky - it sounds like you are doing fantastic!! I give you so much credit having the surgery done all at one time. Can't wait to see those pics!

[kareyquilts 1]

Okay, I'm going to be in a shameless plug for a new thread that my fellow September bandsters and I am starting for our final 20 pound weight loss countdown. We (I) need support, thoughts, well wishes etc. I'm starting a very strict program so I can get the last of the weight off. If you think you can cheer us on please visit us at: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f109/kareyquilts-mimin-ghost-bjean-final-push-67785/#post904326 Thanks!

[Frangipani 1]

Okay, I'm going to be in a shameless plug for a new thread that my fellow September bandsters and I am starting for our final 20 pound weight loss countdown. We (I) need support, thoughts, well wishes etc. I'm starting a very strict program so I can get the last of the weight off. If you think you can cheer us on please visit us at: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f109/kareyquilts-mimin-ghost-bjean-final-push-67785/#post904326 Thanks!

Hey Karey!

I'd be happy to join the thread and cheer you guys on!!! Good luck -- I know you'll do it!!!

Okay for once I will keep a post short, as you all must surely be getting sick of the long essays that I've been writing for the past several days......

Have a great night everyone :smile:!!!

[Frangipani 1]

You both seem to be doing well...despite some occasional bumps along the road. That gives me such hope! My surgery is so close.

As for the exercising my post op instructions tell me to do a 20 minute "brisk" walk everyday starting on week 1. My doc has said that she wants me to do this faithfully 4-6 days a week...but NO running. She said brisk is like a 2-3 mph pace that I can eventually speed up. I get to do that up until week 6. At week 6 I can then ease back into a normal regimine. I never thought I would be anxious about not being able to workout...but I am. I thnk that is the worst thing for me. I haven't been able to workout the last 2 days because of the injuries from the half-marathon and it is killing me. What the heck am I going to do when I can't REALLY workout for 6+weeks. She cut my gym privileges until Sept 3. AAAAAAHHHHH.....withdrawls!

Salsa, you'll do just fine, you're young and healthy and in excellent shape -- No worries :thumbup:!!!

Thanks for the feedback from your Dr. regarding exercise. That sounds like a very reasonable plan, and I think I'll do just that.

Thanks again :thumbup::smile::smile2:!

[LadyBugRed 2]

Okay, I'm going to be in a shameless plug for a new thread that my fellow September bandsters and I am starting for our final 20 pound weight loss countdown. We (I) need support, thoughts, well wishes etc. I'm starting a very strict program so I can get the last of the weight off. If you think you can cheer us on please visit us at: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f109/kareyquilts-mimin-ghost-bjean-final-push-67785/#post904326 Thanks!

Good luck Karey!