ms.sss

Sigh. I know, right. Planes are not in my near future either. Though I am ok to get on one AFTER we get the vaccine AND a couple months have passed once getting it, AND if the vaccine is proven to be effective against any of the new (or future) variants. So yeah, a while still. Sigh. I am, however, already planning out all the vacations I want to go on immediately after all the above conditions are met. A girl can dream.

Constipation is the WORST. Even if you don't want to eat/drink, just try to keep up with the water, it really helps. For prevention, I added Benefibre to my protien shakes. Like @Arabesque, if I hadn't gone after 2-3 days, I'd start taking more action: I'd do a dose or 2 of Milk of Magnesia, and if still a poop no-show after 1-2 more days, I'd resort to a glycerine suppository. The suppository has worked for me within 30 minutes each time I have taken it (probably 7 or 8 instances in the past 2+ years) except for 1 horrible period of constipation that lasted THIRTEEN DAYS. That time I think I had to do a suppository for 3 mornings in a row for anything to finally come out. I wasn't in pain or anything in those 13 days, which is why I let it go for so long, but if I was in pain, I probably would have gone to the hospital. Good Luck ❤️

Ugh. Yeah, the pain/soreness is a b*itch. I took pain meds for about 1-2 weeks (*i think*) and yeah, it still really hurt so I can only imagine what it would have felt like to me if I didn't! First tip: Do not push yourself to do more until you actually can without discomfort. I was a dolt and did to much too early and kept reopening my incisions. Sucked. Second tip: if you aren't doing so already, cover the incisions with scar tape. It may help to reduce the appearance of the scars, but more importantly, it provides a barrier so that when stuff rubs up against it (clothes, other body parts) it wont hurt as much. I also found that it reduced the feeling of itchiness. I have even read on here that someone tucked panty liners up in their pits for the same effect. Third tip: Try to keep your arms up higher than your heart (propped up on pillows or whatever) to keep swelling and achiness at bay. I had a tummy tuck and breast lift as well with my arm lift, and the arm lift recovery was by far the worst of them. But even with all the hassle and pain, I'd do it again in a second. Good Luck! ❤️

Oooohh...there's that butter again *smacks lips*

It really depends on the person. If you have a history of bad scarring, then you will likely have to go through what me and @2Bsmaller18 have to go through. I could have just let them heal on their own, but it would take for-EV-AH. I'm just impatient. I have lots of other scars from various other things (surgery, accidents, etc...) that have virtually invisible. It just takes time. But the majority (if not all) of the scars I've seen on here are are much better than mine.

I would, but truth be told I HATE/distrust Zoom calls (or any other video-based communication) with a firey red hot passion. I'd rather chat it up in real life. Though if I were to put it out there...would there be any interest among the BP plebs for some sort of group meetup IRL? Like pick a city, and "see ya if I see ya" kind of thing? Just wondering....

Yep, I had dizzy, eyesight-darkening, woozy episodes when I moved from sitting to standing, bending over, or just move suddenly. I had to hold on to something (or someone) to get steady. I never fully blacked out though, but came close a few times. This happened pretty regularly the first couple months, and decreased in frequency as time went on. Now (2+ years out), it happens very rarely (if at all). The last time was probably before xmas. I understood it to be low blood pressure (even though my doc was not concerned about my BP readings back then). Or that orthostatic hypotension thing that @Arabesque was talking about: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/orthostatic-hypotension/symptoms-causes/syc-20352548

YAY!!!

Tummy Tuck, Breast Lift and Arm Lift for me in Dec 2019. Yep, I have scars, and yep, I was hurting. Still one of the best things I've done, though 😎

Mine is similar...I wanted to be able to put sunscreen on my feet without contorting myself.

awwwwww...you look so purty!!! 😍

Yuuuuummmmmmmmy

Was planning on grilling some jerk pork for dinner tonite, but didn't realize it takes as many hours as it does! I've never done it on the grill before, only oven or instant pot which is way quicker. Sooooo am going to let the meat marinate another night and start grilling it tomorrow morning. Tonite was going to be the first time I broke out Mr.'s valentines day present he got me a few weeks ago: a super-cool food thermometer with a wireless transmitter. I think it was a subtle dig at my tendency to over cook stuff lol. (I haven't used it until now cuz I was intimidated by it, honestly) Anyhooo, since the jerk pork is moving to tomorrow's menu, and I had already psyched myself up to try out this toy, I decided to make some chicharron from the skin of the pork I was going to throw out anyway, using the thermometer to monitor the temp of the oil. O.M.G. I am in love with this thing. Only perfectly cooked food coming out of my kitchen from now on. Plus I like wearing the transmitter around my neck....lolololzzzz. Check out this perfectly crispy, crunchy goodness-ness (unless of course deep fried pork skin is not your thing, in which case, look away.) I ate 10 pieces (44g): 241 calories

Beef and Sweet Potato Empanadas. I ate 1 (the one in my hand!): 197 calories. I can never seem to get the dough thin and uniform enough for patty/dumpling -type applications, so I busted out my pasta roller/maker...works wonders! Am thinking I could probably use this to roll fondant too 🤔 Hmmmmm..

Ahhhh, the purée stage. Don't worry...it won't last long ❤️

How YOU doin'? (correct answer: you look like you are doing great. your weight loss stats are impressive! welcome to the thread!)

OMG, thats a bar alright! I looove your bar rags ("sh*it show, lol) and coasters, and napkins, and your painted brick wall!!! Is this in a sunroom? P.S. I didn't realize how many potential BFF's I had on here....first round's on me.

So funny, when we were a the liquor store, I saw that bottle of vodka and thought how cool it was and that we we should get one in every colour. Had no idea it was a Bill Murray one.

I knew it! I. KNEW. IT. You and i will get along marvellously IRL. 😂😇😎 When you go through your stash, you can add them to our empties collection: LOLOLOL You can see a few empties of bottles of that wine I posted earlier... (This is the accumulation since about mid-January...and no, I did not do this all by myself)

I am by no means a wine connoisseur. I have no idea what they mean when they say full/medium-bodied with hints of oak, lavender, pine, chocolate, berry or whatever. I mean, what the heck is a floral note??? I only know sweet/not sweet or metallic/not metallic (if that's even a thing), LOL. With that said, I prefer NOT sweet and NOT metallic. I also prefer red hands down over white or rose, AND I like my red wine COLD (yes, I realize this is sacrilege for most, but whatevs, I like what I like dammit). I don't mind trying out new wines, so will give those a try if I can find them (thanks for tip!)...though the boys in the house don't mind when I don't like a particular wine cuz it just means more for them, LOL. Here is the one that is a household favourite that we buy by the caseload. And it doesn't hurt that its super inexpensive compared to similarly rated reds. And since I was taking a pic inside my fridge, I'm including some fridge-contents porn for those who like to peek into other people's fridges, LOL.

I was never told to lay off the coffee pre-op (but I did anyway, sort of...i put decaf instant coffee crystals in my protein shakes...i figured since I was eating so little during those 2 weeks, I should try to to retain as much water as I could. But this was self-imposed, no one told me to). I WAS asked to lay off it for a month post-op though. But then they served it to me in the hospital so....🤷🏽‍♀️

I ate "normally" right up to the night before I started my 2 week pre-op liquid diet. I felt a little hungry the first couple days, but then it was all good from there.

Yep. My daily salad: 300 calories. But more beautiful (to me) than the salad is the absolutely gorgeous day it is today. Funny how after months of sub zero temps that a day not quite even in the double digits is a reason to rejoice. Ate about half before I got too cold and went back inside 🙄

Me too! Add a couple spoonfuls of tobiko (flying fish roe) and it'll be as close to a California roll (sans rice) as you can get! YUM.

LOL, who says you need to stop? So long as it doesn't send you on an anxiety spiral, weigh away! 😂