mumof2boys

Hi there everyone. Some of you may know me and some may not. As a way of background, I was banded four years ago and I have done absolutely WONDERFUL. I lost a total of 131 pounds and then proceeded with plastic surgery, which consisted of a lower body lift and breast lift with augmentation (that surgery was in 2009). In 2008 I was informed that my husband of 10 years was having an affair and our marraige ended in a divorce that became final in May 2010. I then went through a relationship which was very unhealthy with a guy who was very possessive and controlling. Towards the end of that relationship I was diagnosed with breast cancer (in December 2010). I went through surgery (lumpectomy) and 6 1/2 weeks of radiation therapy. I was extremely lucky that I did not have to take any chemo due to the fact that I caught the cancer in the earliest of stages. Following radiation I went through genetic testing which came back positive for the mutated BRCA II gene which is the breast cancer and ovarian cancer gene. Then, I went through more genetic testing which again tested positive for blood clots which eliminated me as a candidate to take the drug Tamoxifen (the decrease my risk of breast cancer reoccurrence). So...here I am...37 years old, a cancer survivor. Now...during that time of the fight against cancer I was extremely stressed and found comfort in food and packed on about 30 lbs. I am so upset with myself and need to get back on the wagon. I look at pictures of me from last summer and I get so mad at myself. I'm asking for you guys to pray for me for 1. that the cancer NEVER returns and for 2. that I have enough will power in me to get back to where I was and feeling good about myself. Don't get me wrong...I can still fit in my clothes (they are tight) but I'm so angry. I appreciate all of your support and prayers. You guys rock!

Thanks Green. I started this topic over 2 years ago and much has happened in that time. I'm very glad that you guys were able to work through your issues. Unfortunately I could not overlook the adultry and I got divorced last May 26, 2010. My life is better than ever (aside from being diagnosed with cancer). My children are happy and I believe my ex husband is too. Things happen for a reason and I believe that we were not meant to be together. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Thank you so very much for your post, it means the world to me. Life sure has handed me quite a bit to deal with but I don't think that He would give me any more than I can handle. At times I want to give up but I know that I can't and I just keep going on. I am lucky in many ways...that I found the cancer very soon and that there are medical tests to tell me the possibilities of my future so that I can take preventative measures. Thank you for your continued support and prayers. I need all that I can get.

Hi everyone, I guess I am considered an old timer. I haven't been on the boards very much lately because my life has been one crazy rollercoaster. I was banded in April 2007. I lost 131 pounds and maintained it. In April 2009 I had plastic surgery, removing the excess skin. I had a lower body lift and breast lift with augmentation...I was LOVING life. I went through a separation from my husband and ultimately got divorced in May 2010. The divorce didn't get ugly and in fact, things are pretty good between the two of us. In the meantime I had met a man who I thought was great. Unfortunately he was EXTREMELY jealous and I couldn't take it anymore. I ended the relationship and he would not leave me alone. I ended up in court and got a restraining order in February 2011. On December 7, 2010 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I underwent surgery and 6 1/2 weeks of radiation therapy. I did not have to undergo chemo because it did not spread. Things have been very crazy for me lately but I'm still pushing through. The bad thing is that I have gained weight during all of these stressful medical issues. I have gained back about 30 pounds and I'm hating it. I need to get back on track and get my eating under control. I know what I need to do but I'm not doing it. I hate that I am an emotional eater and I have to nip it in the bud before it gets completely out of control. Well, thanks for listening and please pray for me that my cancer does not return. I hope you are all doing very well. Take care!

Well, here I am...many months later and I apologize for not keeping everyone up to date. My life has been VERY hectic. As you may recall, I was diagnosed with breast cancer on December 7, 2010. I had a lumpectomy on December 17, 2010 and in February I started my 33 treatments of radiation therapy. I basically lived in the doctors office and my vocabulary has completely changed. I have been doing well, finally getting my energy back from the radiation and moving along in my life. To keep everyone up to date on the newest information, I underwent genetic testing in May to test for the mutated BRCA II gene, which unfortuantely I tested positive for. This gene is directly linked to breast and ovarian cancer, so testing positive means that I have an even higher risk of reoccurrence. The normal case of treatment following breast cancer is to take a medication called Tamoxifen for five years following breast cancer. Well, Tamoxifen has many side effects, one of which could be blood clots. I informed my doctor that my father recently learned that he has blood clots so I was again sent for genetic testing to test for the mutated gene which causes blood clots. Guess what...another positive reading, which means that I cannot take the preventative medicine for a reoccurrence of the cancer. So, the only course of action right now is close monitoring or a double mastectomy and having my ovaries removed. My choice for right now is close monitoring. So...what has been going on in my life besides many doctor visits, cancer and testing...I had to go to court and got a restraining order against the ex. He was over the top and began with threats. My peace order is good until August 22 and as of today, I have not directly heard from him. Unfortuantely, he has not made any payments to me for his car so two weeks ago I filed a lawsuit against him for the money that he owes me. My trial date is set for September 7, the day after my birthday. In the meantime, I have been very fortunate to begin another relationship with an absolutely wonderful man so I am very happy. My oldest son will be graduating from elementary school on Friday and then he is off to middle school. My youngest will start the third grade in August. Well, in a nutshell, that is how my life has been the past several months. Please continue to keep me in your prayers because I will always be living in fear of the cancer coming back. You guys sure have helped me through some difficult times and I appreciate every single one of you. I hope everyone is doing well and I would love to hear from you guys. Thanks for everything!

Hi everyone. Well, here's the latest... I had a lumpectomy on December 17, 2010. With the lumpectomy they removed 3 lymph nodes because they looked suspicious on the MRI. The good news...they did not travel to the lymph nodes and it was definately non-invasive DCIS. They got all of the mass and all of the margins were clear. I am healing well and feeling pretty good. I go next week to the Radiation Oncologist so they can do the CT Planning and then I will most likely start Radiation the following week. I have to have 33 sessions of Radiation. After that they want me to take tamoxifen for five years and they would also like for me to get genetic testing. My head is in information overload at the time. I have done a ton of research and I have plenty of books to read about all of this. I feel so fortunate that I had the best case scenario for this cancer. On Tuesday, I again registered to particpate in the Susan G. Kome Breast Cancer 3-Day. I participated in 2008 and in 2009 to honor my Aunt Debi who is a breast cancer survivor. I did not participate in the walk in 2010 and ironically just one month after the walk is when I was diagnosed. If anyone would like to donate to me for the walk, send me a message and I will give you the link to my page. Thank you to everyone for all of the prayers and well wishes. This has been a pretty tough time but I know that with all of the support that I have and the positive future that I see...I will be fine.

Hello everyone...some of you guys may remember me...I was banded in 2007, lost about 130 pounds, found out my husband cheated on me, had plastic surgery to removed excess skin, got divorced and now I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Throughout my ordeal with my cheating husband, I found lots of support from many friends here on LBT. Well, I'm in need of support yet again. The day after Thanksgiving I felt a lump in my breast. The following Monday I contacted my doctor and they got me in the office the following morning. The doctor confirmed that there was indeed a lump and gave me a referral for a mammogram and an ultrasound (I don't get annual mammograms because I am only 37). The next day I had a mammogram and ultrasound and the lump appeared "suspicious" and they suggested a biopsy. The following day I underwent a biopsy and I was informed this past Tuesday that it was positive for breast cancer. I have since had a MRI and met with an Oncologist and tomorrow I meet with a Radiation Oncologist. I am scheduled for a lumpectomy on Friday, December 17, 2010. It really hasn't hit me yet but I am scared of all of this. The way that things look now, I will not need to undergo chemo but I will have to have 6 - 8 weeks of radiation, 5 days a week. Please keep me in your prayers during this difficult time...I really appreciate it.

Well, I'm sad to report that the biopsy results confirmed that I have breast cancer. That's right...I'm only 37 years old and I have breast cancer I will have a lumpectomy next Friday to remove the cancer. It doesn't look like I will have to have any chemo because I caught it REALLY early but I will have to undergo 6 - 8 weeks of radiation. If everyone could keep me in their prayers, I would appreciate it. Thanks and love to you all.

Well, hello, hello, hello, my friends. It has been a loooooooong time and I'm sorry for that. I have been keeping myself busy. I did want to let you know the latest with me and ask for your prayers... On the day after Thanksgiving, I located a lump in my breast. Last week was full of doctors appointments, with the last of them being a biopsy. The ultrasound showed a solid mass, approximately 4 cm. and a catagory 4 (suspicious). When I left the office on Thursday, the doctor told me that if I did not hear from him by Tuesday morning to give him a call so I'm sitting here on pins and needles waiting for a call with the results. If you all could keep me in your prayers, I would greatly appreciate it. I will check in and let you all know of the results (they will be good ). Thanks to you guys for all of the encouragement and support through the years. Love you guys!

I started out in a size 22/24 pants and a 2X/3X top and today I wear a size 8/10 pants and a S/M top. I do have a couple size 6s but not many.

I used to have very regular cycles that were on time, light and about 3 days. I was banded in April 2007 and during my weight loss I switched birth control and was taking the bill where you only have a cycle every three months and that worked well. Well, I have not had a cycle since August 2008, despite the fact that I am on regular birth control and should be having a cycle every month. My gyno says it's alright but I am starting to worry a bit. When I go back in a couple of months I'm going to discuss it with him more.

Hi there and welcome. I am from Maryland too but I had my surgery at GW Hospital in Washington, DC by Dr. Fred Brody. I am 3 1/2 years out and am feeling great. Good luck to all of you guys. We should plan a Maryland lapband get together sometime. If you have any questions or anything, don't hesitate to ask and I'll do my best to answer them for you. Good luck!

I just sent you a PM too...help me look into this, would you?

I got a response...I'll PM you.

I did...I replied to his email...we'll see what comes of it. Did you email him?

Congratulations on the steps you are taking to get banded. It was the best decision that I ever made and I wish that I was your age when I did it. In regards to the lose skin...it all depends, everyone is different. I was banded almost 3 1/2 years ago. Last year I did have plastic surgery to remove lose skin. You will find others on here who didn't have to do anything at all because their skin bounced right back. Best of luck to you!!!

Hello everyone. I'm doing great and I just wanted to check in. I do, however, want to say to Mrs. Lee...I had no "signs" as you put it. He never said a hurtful word to me until we broke up and he NEVER laid a hand on me...EVER!!!! So...despite the fact that you think that I should have escaped a long time ago...there was absolutely no reason to. On another note...how are all of my friends doing? Vacation was absolutely WONDERFUL. I even went parasailing and my 7 year old went with me. I could have never parasailed before because I weighed too much. Now, however...no problems. So...I got a message yesterday from a guy from a marketing company asking if I would be interested in being featured in a major ad campaign regarding life after lap band. I'm curious if any of you guys received the same message? If you go to my profile, you will see the message that was sent to me...he sent the message on the visitor remarks part. I don't know how legit it is but I did email him to get more information. Anyway...me and my boys are doing well...life is great and I'm happy. Thanks for being so supportive of me (most of you). Can't wait to hear from you guys. Tina

Hi everyone...just wanted to check in and say that I'm alright. I have not seen him but I sure have heard from him. My cell phone blows up constantly and one minute he's calling me a whore and the next minute I'm the love of his life. He has begged for me to take him back but it's just not gonna happen. I have a very good support system and I'll be alright. He even posted on FB yesterday that I was a ho. He swears that I have someone "waiting in the wings" for me. I never thought that he would be like this. A part of me feels bad for him (although please don't even think that I would go back there because I would never). I think that he has the potential to be a wonderful person but not the person for me. He entered into counseling but unfortunately for him, it was too late to have a shot at a life with me. I appreciate your comments and concerns. I'm doing well. My boys and I are going on vacation soon and I can't wait. Life is stressful through this time but it's nothing that I can't handle. I have police on standby, if necessary. Thanks again, ladies...you guys have been here for me through some really tough times and I appreciate you all so very much.

I'm at work right now and have no way home to change the locks. My dad is home and he lives right next door so he knows to look out. My boys are not with me this weekend...they are with their dad. I probably will not go home all weekend. The alarm is set at my house so if he does happen to get in, he can't turn it off and if he does remember the code to the alarm, he doesn't know the password nor is he on the list of people to contact so when he says who he is (if he were to answer the phone when the alarm company called), the police would still go there because he's not authorized. I just can't believe all of this...after the converstaion on the phone this morning I am still getting text messages from him. I have not blocked his number from my phone because I need these messages as evidence...he has gone nuts. I have told numerous friends and family what is going on too so that everyone is aware. I have some friends that are police officers so I may have one of them escort me to my house. All of this is just so damn crazy to me...he cracked like a whip.

So....here I go again...it's been a long time since I have posted and MUCH has happened (again). Well...the honeymoon is definitely OVER with the bf. He turned out to be very controlling and I was not going to have that in my life so I broke it off. Well...he wanted no parts of breaking it off and he went NUTS. He threatened me, called me a whore and an alcoholic. He said that he has pictures and he's calling my ex-husband and he'll make sure that I never see my kids again...says that these "pictures" show me drunk and that he will prove to my ex-husband that I'm an unfit mother. I'm sitting at work right now crying and wondering how did I get my life to turn out like this? Am I that bad of a person? So...there's more...a couple of months ago I took out a personal loan so he could get a vehicle because his credit is horrible and he wrecked his car on the ice and he didn't have money for another one. Looks like I won't see that money, huh? I did have him sign a promisory note but we'll see how that works out. He has the keys to my house and the garage door opener. I'm actually scared to go home from work...how did this happen? Well friends...I sure could use some good vibes to be sent to me right now...I NEED them badly!

I had a lower body lift and breast lift with augmentation in one 5-6 hour surgery. The total costs was $19,600.

I had horrible hair experience. My hair starting thinning after I lost about 50 pounds...tried everything but nothing worked. I have read on here that some do lose hair and some don't. I have always had thin hair so you could really notice it when it was thinning. However...for the past year, my hair has been thick and curly and it's never been like that in my entire life. Plus...the thinning of the hair was well worth the thinning of my body at the same time. I can understand your concern but if it does happen to you, it won't be very long and you could come up with different styles to "mask" it. Best of luck to you!:thumbup:

WOW!!!! Lucky you...I paid for the entire $19,600 for my lower body lift and breast lift with augmentation and I would do it all over again :biggrin: Good luck!

Well...here's my story... April 30, 2007, I had lapband surgery...the best decision that I have made in my life...I was 275 pounds. April 14, 2008, received a telephone call while at work from my husband that he had been having an affair for the last year and a half. Like you...divorce wasn't really an option for me...I was determined to make my marriage work. I immediately started individual counseling and marriage counseling in an effort to save the marriage (for my children). During the time that we were in counseling, I learned some very unfortunately things about the man that I called my husband. I spoke to his "girlfriend" on the telephone and I gotta tell you...what a low class gutter rat she was...she was married with 3 children of her own but that's an entirely different story that I won't bore you with. It was also learned, through talking to her, that during their affair, he told her EVERYTHING about me. That skank new that I was having lapband surgery...knew when I lost 50 pounds, you name it...thinking about it makes me sick. My "husband" had ads on the internet seeking other women, secret email accounts, you name it...he was doing it. January 2009...asked husband to leave...I had NO feelings for him and didn't want to be with him...he was a vile human being in my eyes. March 8, 2009...husband moved out. April 2009...had lower body lift and breast lift with augmentation May 26, 2010...DIVORCED...woo hoo. Now...with that being said, I'm not suggesting a divorce for anyone, but in my situation, it was by far the best thing for me and my kids. My exhusband makes me sick. He's totally hating life now...lonely and has a HOT ex wife (:smile2:) So...in essence, having the lapband saved me...I had to self esteem to get through it all...I was able to make it through it all because I felt good about myself. I wish you the best of luck and I'm here if you need anyone to talk to...no matter what you decide...you can be happy...I'm living proof.