Mariposa Bella

I just had a tt and body liposculpture on July 4th, i am recuperating well, you can read about my experience on the cosmetic surgery threads.

Hey girls, where in South Florida are you? I am in LaBelle, I'm 35 miles east of Ft. Myers. I use Dr. Gomez in Miami. He is very experienced and reasonable as far as fill prices in the US are concerned. I tried very hard to find someone and he is the only one I found that would take Mx banded patients. He charges $300 w/ out flouru, and $600 with. I go w/out its all I can afford, but I tell you, the man is very experienced, my port was flipped and he still managed to get the port on the first shot and w/out any pain. He is also mighty fine looking. Tall, dark and very handsome. His assistant is Emilio, and he is also very nice. The good thing is that if for some reason you don't have enough or have too much fill, they will give you more or take out less for no extra charge. You do have to notify them after your fill if you fall into that situation. I am planning on getting a fill done in about two weeks, wanna meet out there??? Let me know, here is his info. Eddie Gomez 305-285-5090 3661 S Miami Avenue Suite 708 Mercy Professional Bldg. Miami, FL 33133 There are several people on this board that use him. When I signed on w/ him there was no initial consultation fee so that is good, everyone else I called here in Fl would either have nothing to do w/ me or wanted $300 for a first consult and then the fills were something outrageous like $750. So I make a day of it, head out there and see my cutie pie, get my fill.

Delarla, last night I was watching 30 minute meals with Rachel Ray (love her) and she had this huge cucumber for her salad, and the first thing that came to my mind--was you. It was so funny.. I read this post yesterday, so I probably had xxx on my mind.. he, heee... By the way pm, I want to see your catalog. Estela

Thank you Mary, I know, its so easy to blow up at the wrong person when we are stressed, usually hubby gets it, but he was out working in the yard, so I guess I chose the next best thing. Last night in bed, I felt so horrible, luckily my little boy forgot about it quick and loves me just as much as he did before I was so mean to him. One of my best friends has arranged for a sitter tomorrow so she and I can go get a pedicure and walk the mall w/ out the stress of having a ton of kids to lug around. So I'm sure looking forward to a nice, relaxing day. My mom is feeling better today, so God has answered all of our prayers. Thank you all. Penni, the medicine she took is Topomax?? do you know it?? Well, just thought, I'd share, it wasn't the medicine it was the amount of dosage that was recommended. Thank you, Love, eStela

Thank you all for all your kind words and prayers. I am so overwhelmed with everything right now, it so upseting. Last night my little boy spilled some of his food on the floor and I lost it. I grabbed him so hard and took him into his room, I was so angry at him for no good reason. I hate when I do that, but I just feel so horribly stressed by everything that's going on w/ my mom. My poor little boy. He came out of his room and told me, I want to say sorry, I want to say sorry to you for being messy. I hate myself when I do that, take it out on the wrong person. I kissed him and told him I was the one that was sorry. I tell you, I close my eyes and think of how blessed I am that my mom's tumors were benign and how lucky she was that she didn't follow the dr recommendations and take two pills, cause she would be dead now. And I am grateful to God that my kids are healthy and happy and that we have a warm bed to crawl into and that we have food and oh there is so much that I have to be thankful for.... But I get so easily overwhelmed by things like this.. I put on 6 lbs this week, isn't that horrible,, I'm hoping its just Water retention cause Aunt flo is visiting now. Well, thanks for listening to me, and as if my personal life was not enough. Here at work, I'm left holding the ball on everything that has to get done. This is usually a slow office, but at this time of year it gets crazy, just crazy and we are moving to a different location on Monday and we are not packed yet, and all the computers have to get moved, the copier, oh so much crap.. and my boss has not even volunteered to help out at all, I already told her that I cannot lift anything yet, I'm only 2 mo out of my ps and I am not risking hurting myself. We also have a business appreciation luncheon/annual dinner event in two weeks, that I've been working on and our board meeting is next wednesday, just some icing on the cake.. What sucks is that my boss, sits in her office making the preparations for her daughters baby shower, yesterday while I was struggling with final decisions and had tons of messages to give her, she stayed at her desk and printed invitations and when she was done, she played solitaire. Now I know that I goof off here at work, but when there is work to be done, I get it done... then I goof around and come online She is ultimately responsible for these things and she puts it all off on me.. THe best part of htat because she is so lazy and I get everything done, there is no way she would ever fire me, even with all the time off I take for my kids and personal time... job security.. Lazy boss, you do their work.. Well here i go on and on venting--sorry, just had to tell someone why I'm a little stressed out... Thanks for all the prayers for my mommy, she felt better last night when I spoke with her. Love you guys, what would I do without you..

Hi everyone, once again I am asking you to pray for my mom, let me explain well yesterday my mom went to her dr that is treating her for migraines and they prescribed some medication she had been on before for her migraines (previously discontinued cause of some ins. crap) well anyways, they prescribed the wrong miligrams. She had previously taken 25 mg of whatever it is and this time was given 100 mg tablets of which she was told to take two.. When she took it last night (only one, thank God, cause she thought two was too much), she started feeling wierd and her legs started getting numb and she says her heart was beating so fast, she thought it was going to pop out of her body, well instead of calling ems, she called her sister to drive her to the hospital and when she got there they told her she was very close to having a stroke brought on by being overmedicated, thank God she didn't take two tablets or she would probably be dead by now. She sounded so frail on the phone today, and I hate that I'm so freaking far away from her. Well, how can something like that be overlooked, come on 25 mg, to 200mg, she is lucky to be alive. She was so happy just yesterday and today she is so sick. I took so much time off work for my ps, that I cannot take any time right now to go see her, it sucks. She is having a nurse come in and take care of her during the day, so she doesn't have to be alone. Well, thanks for listening and I thank you in advance for your prayers for her.. Love, Estela

I'm so happy for you.

I'm glad you got to spend time with your family and that you had such a wonderful birthday. You have a beautiful family. Now I'm craving nachos, its your fault... he, heee.

Well, I have wonderful news, my mom had her Dr's appt yesterday afternoon, the mass is benign and she is okay. I am overwhelmed with emotion by all of your responses, I am so thankful for all your prayers and for sharing your own experiences with me. This was very, very scary for me, so I appreciate you getting me through this very heartbreaking time. The thought of what if, was so overwhelming. I told her last night how my lapband family all across the world was praying for her and wishing her a good outcome. I feel so blessed to have all of you and I thank God for taking care of my mommy. I love you guys.

Thank all of you, I truly appreciate all of your prayers and warm thoughts. She said she has an appt tomorrow to get the results, I will keep you informed. Thank you, so much, I feel much better knowing that if anything should go wrong, I have you guys to keep me strong. Lots of love to all of you.

I have been very depressed lately because there is so much going on, and I wasn't going to talk about this but now I realize I need to. My mom found two lumps in her left breast and had them cut out last week, so she's been really uspet and sick. She said the cuts aren't small and the first night they bled alot and she got really sick from the anesthisia, so she stayed up all night throwing up. And as if that's not enough she suffers from major migraines, so that brought on her migraine and she had to go back to the hospital the next day. She is home now, but I worry about her, she gets her results from the biopse (sp?) tomorrow and I hope that those lumps were benign (sp?) sorry I dont' know how to spell all these medical terms. Well, just wanted to share with you all, I've been staying in a constant depressed mode, I don't handle things of this nature well, and with the hurricane, that has me so upset, too. Its just more than I can handle at times. Please keep my mommy in your prayers, I don't know what I'd do without her, if she has cancer, I'm so far away, how will I be abel to take care of her and help her. Please, please pray for her. I can't bare the thought of ever losing her and my four year old little girl is so attached to her, what if something happened to her, how would I help my little baby cope with that, Oh, I just can't even imagine... Please pray that it is not cancer.

I say his pics on the before and after, and he looks awesome, I'm amazed... Congratulations on such an accomplishment, he should be so proud..

Hi Kare, well, for me it wasn't that of a difficult decision to make, I had a trusted surgeon, at a price I could afford, his office is located 15 minutes from my mom's house (she lives in McAllen, Tx) and I contaced a local ps for aftercare in my area, should I need one. I went to a couple of plastic surgeons here in Fl but to get a tt alone, was about $7000-8000. So I could never afford to have that done here. (I had lipo (in Fl) of my outer thighs done two years ago, and I paid $3200, so it was very pricey.) This time around I had the tt, lipo of my whole body. ($6000 total, including hospital (three days) and all aftercare) Inner & outer thighs, my back, (all, and I mean all the bra overhang is gone), my arms, the sides of my breasts, the little fat pad between your arm and beast area (what I called my little chicken wing), my waist, well just everywhere. It is awesome to not have pads and pads of fat on my body. And my jeans look just fabuloso ON***SIZE 10..., no fat roll, no belly, hooray!!! It was a total nightmare to go through with this kind of major surgery, but well worth it, and I'm still not quite there. It was my two month anniversary yesterday for my ps and I am already so pleased with it. I haven't been excercising lately, my moods have been really down and Oh, well, I won;t go into that. But I can honestly say that I would have no reservations about going back and getting some more ps, and two months ago, I was promising I would never ever do this again... How quickly we forget.. This is something that you cannot do alone, you must have someone to take care of you, do not think you will be able to handle this alone. I had my mom and step-dad taking care of me, and they were a true blessing.. They not only took care of me but of my little ones. My girls say they are now experienced nurses cause they took care of me too... Oh, I have to tell you this its so funny, the other night I was getting out of the shower and the door wasn't fully closed, my four year old little girl walked in there and I quickly put my towel over my naked body, and she said " Don't worry about me seeing you naked, did you forget I'm a nurse???" It was so cute, and she is very animated, so she uses her hands and body to talk, she is just great, so funny.. Well anyways, back to the ps. The hospital I was at was a private hospital (has ICU) that is located just 5/10 min from the US border and that made me feel reassured that if anything went wrong, my family could transport me to McAllen. The staff at the hospital was very professional and caring. The hospital itself was super clean and believe me I'm a clean freak, so it was up to my standards. Everytime I called the nurses they came into my room and addressed my questions or whatever I needed. I think they were glad to see me go, I'm a bit needy and always wanted them. At one point when they took off my bandages the day after surgery, I looked down and saw my huge scar and lost it, I started getting nausceated (sp?), dizzy and sobbing, I felt as if I was going to pass out and the nurse quickly brought in the doctor on call. He stayed with me until I calmed down and took all my vitals and made sure I was okay before he left. I really appreciate that kind of care. The ps came to see me twice a day and stayed and answered all my questions and was truly caring of my physical and emotional well being. So as you can see my experience was really good. The tt itself doesn't hurt, this was what I was most afraid of, I had a c-section before and it was so painful, but the tt is nothing like that, because they just cut into your skin and fat, they don't actually cut through all the insides, well anyways, it didn't hurt even though it is a big scar. The stomach muscles would hurt bad at times, but what really hurt was all the lipo, OMG--- sorry to be rambling, but I want to tell you as much as possible as i can, also you don't realize how much we use our stomach muscles, to lift ourselves out of bed, get up from a chair, after surgery you have to be really careful and walk all bent over, then your back aches from walking all scrounged over. You also have to lay like that in bed, and once your in bed, you can't really turn yourself over by yourself, you need help and it tough. I had to take a bed that was closer to the ground (so it was easier to get in and out of) and at night I would get really sore laying on what ever side I was on, and tough luck, everyone was asleep, I'd grab the sheets and gently pull myself up and turn myself over, it was quite a chore. I had to have my scars cleaned daily and had to get myself into the darn full body girdle, had to have my arms bandaged (cause of the lipo, to help the skin shrink up) and oh, it was awful. And the worst part of all was the drain thingy, that think was gross, it drained and drained and drained. I had to keep it in for 11 days, it was horrible.. Well, can't think of what else to add, but I guess by now your wondering if they messed with my brain cause I can't stop rambling?? Well, that was my experience, I stayed in Tx for two full weeks, and when I got back home I was able to return to my desk job even though I still wasn't recovered. My mom came back with me and stayed another two weeks, so that made my life so much easier... She is an Angel.

I hope you had a wonderful Birthday. So did you have fun on your 21st birthday???? Wishing you many more happy birthdays...

Kare, I just had a tummy tuck and body liposculpture in Reynosa, Mexico by Dr. Castellanos. I am too depressed today to go into details on my experience (there are several threads and posts here) But I will get in touch with you next week, when I fell better. Sorry but the Hurricane victims have a hold of my heart and I am not feeling well. I'm totally heartbroken with all the devastation.

I will no longer read this post, I just keep getting more and more angry and upset. I feel so darn guilty and useless. I just went to the post office and was bitching about how hot is is outside going from my office to the car and so on, and then I realized, OMG, I am complaining about this heat and about getting sweaty and there are babies and people starving and dying and oh, I am so selfish. Well, good bye on this thread, I can no longer bear to read.

Delarla, I am so with you. I am so upset, cried myself to sleep this morning from seeing those poor people on tv. It almost seemed unreal, we are the most powerful nation in the world, what the hell is going on. I thought I was watching a third world country face this and not our great nation. Why? Probably cause most of these poor souls are poor and the gov't doesn't give a damn about poor people. I can bet you that if something like this would happen on the Maine coast (not that I would want this too happen). It sure would be a very different situation. I spent most of my day yesterday bitching about how to get more square footage into the new home we are going to build and conform to the building boundaries and there are people starving and dying. I feel so guilty and ashamed for being so materialistic. I got up from bed and went and kissed my kids over and over again and thanked God for blessing us and keeping us safe. We are located in SW FL and have been missed by hurricane after hurricane, even after several were headed straight to my area, they somehow turned to a different path. I have always taken it lightly but not anymore, I am starting a savings account specifically for this purpose, the next time a hurricane is headed to my area, I'm going to take my kids, grab a few clothes for them and run, run away from it. I am not going to sit here and hope for the best like we always do. I am sorry that I'm going on and on, but I'm so angry and upset at the devastation, how can this be going on?? how??? why can't they get help to these people. I saw Bush in his stupid hipocrite face yesterday tell people to hang on that there is lots of help and that they will be there. When, that idiot sits at the white house with his gourmet chef, in his fine suits and those poor, poor people are floating dead in the streets. I have so much anger in me, I could punch a wall right now. Thank you for posting this thread and letting me vent here. I'm so angry and hurt, I can't stop crying, please do anything in your power to reach out to others, contact your local politicians and express your discontent with how they are handling the sitation. I think California is the only state that I have seen to organize man power for search and rescue and other help. God bless them all and take care of everyone in those areas and the people that are going there to help them.

Honey, you look wonderful. It also breaks my heart that I won't be able to join all of you at the Vegas Bash. I am so happy that all of you will get the opportunity to spend time together, but don't worry some how some way I will find a way to get to meet up with you all in the future. I now you all will have a fabulous time and think of us all the little people that didnt' get to go with you physically, but will be thinking of you the whole weekend--WISHING WE WERE THERE!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, man, why can't I be a millionaire so I could hop on a plane and come see you guys, boo, hoo..... I tell you what I will come to Vegas some day, I want to visit MESA grill and eat some of Bobby Flay's food, yummy, yummy---I saw the show where he got his restaurant started and no food has ever made me salivate so much. Well, have fun girls, drink one for me..

Well, I am 10 lbs from goal weight of 137 and since my port had to get stitched back into place (was flipped) it is hardly noticable. (My stomach is really flat except for a little puffiness on my lower abs) and after my surgery I couldn't find my port and well it lays perfectly flat and the only reason I know where its at because my port scar is there and I can feel for it. But don't be too concerned with it sticking out once at goal, it can always be repaired with some minor surgery if it is too noticable.

Is this why my band is going crazy?? I haven't had good restriction for about 1 1/2 months, and yesterday all of a sudden, I can hardly eat. My band is so tight, I can't stand it, I had gotten used to eating a tad more, actually a whole lot more. I have to go get some supplies this afternoon, I haven't been grocery shopping all week, and the refrigerator is bare, gotta go get the tuna and the water, just in case. You know what's bad, our generator got stolen out of the back of my step-dad's truck last Sat (he borrowed it) and my husband has been so upset all week, it was brand new, worth about $4000. It is so heavy, who ever took it had plenty of help, cause two people suer can't lift it alone. Hopefully we can stay safe and not need it. Well good luck to us all. Stay in touch.

Well, I'm glad to hear that everyone missed me. And no I'm not mad that you guys want pics, but I honestly haven't been able to get anyone to take any of me. I too would like to see it in a picture so that i can get a true image. You know how you really don't know what you look like until you see it on print?? Well, so glad to be back. Love you guys.

Well, I am a bit offended, that nobody noticed I was MIA, he, heee... I was unable to log on, I didn't remember the darn password and then when I entered my username it said my email address wasn't recognized and oh well, luckily I had Miss Penni's email address and she asked Alex to help me. Thank you both to Penni and Alex, my heroes. Well what's going on with all of you, actually I know, I've been reading, but haven't been able to post. You all don't know how hard its been to not be able to put my two cents worth. Well I'm here and I'm soooooooooooooo happy. I still don't have gross pics for you all of my scar, so you'll just have to wait until I can get a hold of someone with a digital camera. Sorry. I am holding my weight steady at 147, so I'm 10 lbs from goal. Yippi... I can't wait until I can get a fill in a couple of months. Well gotta run, I've been super busy I'm trying to get my dream home built and you don't know how much work it is, surveys, loan papers, land cleareres, permits, oh gosh, I hope I can survive this. But like my band and ps, it will be worth it in the end. Well sending lot of love to everyone. (((((HUGS and KISSES))))))

I'm so sorry you are in so much pain, but hey if you don't need your pain meds can you please send them my way... lol. Just think though maybe if they every bring back that beach show with David Hasselfoll and Pamela Anderson maybe we can get a job as lifeguards, too. Were going to be so gorgeous, thats what I keep telling myself, repeat, I'm going to look gorgeous, if I can just get through this damn pain............ Well hope you feel better, lot of love from my tummy to yours.

I just love you, you are so great, you sure know how to put a smile on my face. Well since I was down in Mx getting all that ps, I brought back some tequila. Hadn't had any until last night and boy it was good. And I won't be eating any more donuts, don't have another board meeting until next month, but I'm not bringing the left overs back to the office, they are going straight to the trash. Thanks and I can't wait to go home and fix me another margarita. Today, has been kind of stressful too, my little boy had to go see the ear, nose and throat specialist cause his voice is very hoarse for a three year old and next week on Thursday he'll have to go into the hospital and get put to sleep so they can do a laryngoscopy and a bronchoscopy of his throat to see if he has polyps or nodules. I hope everything goes well, I hate for him to be put under for anything. Please keep him in your prayers. He's so little, my little baby boy.

Babs I totally understand how you feel. I too questioned why I would voluntarily do that to my body. I am five weeks out of my ps and still can't get to feeling normal. You know what was worse for me, the back pain from walking all scrunged up like a 90 year old. I still can't get rid of it. Hurts like hell, especially at night. I too had a tt and all over lipo, so the tt didn't hurt, but my stomach muscles were very painful and the rest of my body was in shock from having all the fat sucked out of it. I was very fortunate to have my mom and step-dad full time to help me with the kids and to take care of me. They were so awesome, I didn't have to lift a finger. I was very blessed to have them, Sorry that you are alone and don't have extra help, that makes me sad, cause I know what you are going through. but it will get better. I too had my drain in way too long, mine was in for 11 days and I hated the damn thing, it was disgusting to have it. I don't miss it one bit. And since I'm all about comfort the wearing the all body compression garments was so uncomfortable and painful. Even had to wear them on my arms. YUKKKY!!! I still wear it at night cause I get better back support and sleep better (sometimes it comes off in the middle of the night, but oh well). How long did your dr tell you that you had to wear yours? I had mine on 24/7 for a whole month. But my moms says he told me four months not four weeks and everytime I check in w/ him I conveniently forget to ask, cause I sure don;t want to wear that for another three months. About your little boy, I am so sorry, I have a three year old and he too was very concerned about mommies boo, boo's, he still asks if my boo boo's hurt. and my girls were wonderful they were my little nurses, still are. Well, I hope you get to feeling better and everyday will get easier believe me it will. Cause I have just been there and I'm surviving. Take care and please rest up and don't hurt yourself by trying to do too much. Sending lots of love your way. Let me know how you are doing.