JulieNYC

I reached goal today. AND it's my bandiversary. Pretty crazy.

I had the opposite with each of my 3 PS -- I started TOM early -- within 3 days of anesthesia. Which was a b*tch to deal with when you're in a binder with drains! Ahh, the glories of being a woman....

Thanks LJM! What's everyone up to this week? I went to the movies last night. Saw The Other Boleyn Girl. It's one you can skip, haha. It was OK -- a little long for my tastes. Natalie Portman was great though. Can't say as I've done much in the way of exercise. I've been walking to and from work, and it's a 3 mile trek each way, so it's not been "nothing" but I haven't really been getting my heart rate up like I should. Basically, what's going on is I'm changing jobs and using that as an excuse -- like, when April 21st comes (when I start my new job), I'll get my rear into gear. I don't know if yall remember this or not, but a year ago, I left my small law firm to chase a great opportunity at a huge law firm. Well, I've done it for a year and I can now concretely say I miss my boutique practice and the people I work with and love, so I'm going back to it. I tried this and am so glad I did (and it let me pay off my entire mortgage, haha), but it's not where I want to be long-term. So, I'm going back "home."

OK, I'm really doing a lot better. I got a fill last Monday -- to take me back to my normal 9.0 (I lost my weight at 9.5 but my doc wanted to take some out at my annual so we went to 9.0 and I maintained there well until I had my port replaced and had a complete unfill). I was convinced I was too tight, but I've finally gotten the balance back! I was eating too fast and way too big of bites. I'd forgotten how to be a good bandster! Now I'm eating tiny bites and tiny portions and I feel really full (but good full, not "I want to barf" full) on very little. I think I could probably lose some more weight at this fill level if that's what I decide to do. For example, I just slowly at 5 tortilla chips and am completely full and satisfied. If I ate 2 more, I'd be in "trouble" -- too full. So, I've got a 1/2 marathon this weekend, which I'm planning to walk not run. I'm doing it with my stepmom and she's a walker, plus, I'm really not trained for that long of a run. The longest I've done in recent history is about 6 miles. That's my news! Hope yall are all doing equally well. Where in the world is Dawn?!!? Take care, Julie

Depression is definitely easing. Spring always helps that! Laniayala, no, the inner thighs weren't particularly painful. It wasn't a walk in the park or anything but the TT was way worse. New pics soon, I promise!

Karey, Oh my gosh, you look SO GREAT!! WOW! I bet you can't wait for summer! Woohoo! Way to go! (The pain's worth it, huh!) Take care, Julie

That's great Julie! I'm so excited for you re being eligible for the small incision on the thighs. That's just GREAT! Woohoo!!

I had a little bit of the muscle repair and even with just having a little bit, I was forbidden from exercise for 6 full weeks. Take it seriously -- that's what caused my seromas in week 3 with my leg surgery! Even if you get to a point where YOU feel like you could exercise, you skin may not have tacked back down in all the right places and movement causes friction between the skin and muscle, which is how seromas come about. Learn from my mistake! This isn't the time to push it! It was such a setback -- I'm really just now healed, 3 months later. What's up with the unfill?? Can you get it replaced?

Well, hello RESTRICTION! Woohoo! I'd forgotten what it was like! LOVE IT! You know, when I had my PS in December, they replaced my port and I never felt like I got back to good restriction. Then I had that nasty stomach flu about 6 weeks ago and got a complete unfill after throwing up probably 50 times until I couldn't keep fluids down, so at 0 in a 10cc band, the food monster was everywhere! 2 weeks ago I had half the fill put back -- they wouldn't go from 0 to 9.0 (where I like to live) all at once, so they put me at 6.0. Today they put me back to 9.0 and boy do I feel it! Woohoo! It's been 3 months since I had restriction. So awesome!

Hi everyone! Maybe this'll be our anniversary thread. I can't believe it's almost been 2 years. Kat, don't worry about a thing. You're going to get to the right fill level (finally!) and things will click into place for you. Do all the things you mentioned -- join the exercise challenge, see the nutritionist -- and most importantly, stick with fills until you're SURE you're at the right fill level. I think you haven't had a real chance with the band yet. As for me, I had the stomach flu a couple of months ago and I'm just now fully well and back to my old fill level (9.0) as of this morning. liquids and mushies for a couple of days and then I'm going to think about losing 5-10 more lbs. Might be easier to have Dad suck out my thighs again, haha.

YAY!! OK guys, I'm starting to feel like my old self again and am ready to kick it into gear for SPRING. Woohoo! Let's have an exercise challenge from now to MOTHERS' DAY. Here's the challenge: SIX OR MORE HOURS OF CARDIO A WEEK. Add in a weight loss goal, too, if you want to! I'm not going to have a weight loss goal right now. For me, I need to make daily cardio the focus. I've been amazed that I haven't gained weight (I went to my band doc this morning) with all the CRAP I've been eating (the Skittles monster returned), but I feel a definite difference in my clothes and attitude since I've gotten off the exercise bandwagon. Let's get back to it. WOOHOO! Heather and Losingjusme, WELCOME! Soooooo glad to have you both!

I'm here, I'm here. Betty, I had your scale fear too. I went 3 weeks completely unfilled, ate what I felt was the WORLD and didn't get on the scale -- something I promised myself I'd never do. Anyway, I went to get my fill back on Monday and I'd only gained 1 lb (and even that wasn't "real" because my appt was at 4 pm and it's usually at 9 am). So it might not be that bad. I'm still in emotional turmoil over men, work, life in general. I feel like how I used to sense our Australian flight-attendant friend (whose name begins with an "A" but I can't remember it just right now) felt from time to time.

I'm so glad this is behind you, Christine. Hang in there with the recovery -- you're doing GREAT.

I'm so excited for you!!!

Yay Lynn! You'll make it through just fine. Drains will be gone before you know it.

Yes, I had it bad. I called it the plague because I had all the plague symptoms - fever of 104, rash over my torso, blisters in my mouth, extreme thirst....Alas, the doctor says Influenza A, not plague, so I'm thankful. Wink. Going back to work tomorrow at least for a half day. First day since the 15th, can you believe it? I got so dehydrated I had to have an emergency unfill too, so I know the hunger monster is going to be on my back in no time. I wasn't very tight to begin with, but my fever was so high I still got dehydrated to the point I couldn't hold down Water. Crazy. Glad you've turned the corner too, Betty. Not fun, is it.

I have the flu too. Been home sick for over a week. Mom flew in from Atlanta to take care of me. I turned the corner today. Hope yall have too.

Hmm. I tend to say trust your surgeon at this point. I could have carried a 300 cc implant with no problem (in fact, some days, I wish I'd gotten them -- I'd be a "full" C instead of a medium C). And with your height 20 more cc's just isn't going to be an issue. As to the low profile/regular profile, if your doc didn't even discuss it, I would GUESS it's because it wasn't a good choice for you for the reason you said -- that you actually want more of a fill on top -- it's part of (or the primary reason) you want the aug to begin with.

You look AMAZING!!!! About the over/under the flap thing - haha. I still reach to wash under mine every time I'm in the shower. I wonder when that'll stop! Good job Neal. You've done wonderfully.

I lost weight, if you discount the first 10 days. For example. With my TT, I went in 199. I came out 198 despite having had 12 lbs cut off. During recuperation I didn't have much appetite and at about day 7, I shed a lot of Fluid over night -- like 7 or 8 lbs. I went home 3 weeks to the day, post-op and I was about 178. I continued to lose despite the lack of exercise because my band was still there to help control my food quantities and your body just burns more while healing. OK. Then with my last surgery, I had run a marathon 4 days before. My "normal" weight was about 143 but I weighed in at 149 the morning of surgery (long distance running builds blood and holds fluid). They took off negligeable weight in the surgery, added implants (maybe 1 lb). I came out 153. Again, I peed it off about a week post op, all at once and was back to about 146. By the time I went home (again, 3 weeks later), I was at 141, where I've been ever since (but for normal, minor fluctuations).

Mine were 19.5 now they're 9.75 (I had a brach)

Karey, I'm sorry I'm late to this party! I've had the plague (doc says the flu but I promise it's a million times worse than that). You're going to do so well and let me answer two of your questions from one who has gone before you. First, you asked when will you feel worthy/or that it was the right time to have had the TT. NOW is the time. You're going to lose 10 lbs with it. You will lose weight during recovery. If there's one thing I've learned from being 141 for about 4 or 5 months now, it's that though my "goal" is/was 136, I don't worry about it anymore. The world thinks I'm thin. Sometimes I don't, but I go into stores and pick up mediums and sales girls take them away from me and hand me extra smalls. And they're always right. I was much further from goal than you when I had my TT and, not to brag (haha) but my stomach rocks. Yours is going to also. There is NO doubt in my mind that this is the time for you. I think you will come out better now that you would if you lost 15 lbs first. You have to give the surgeon a little something to sculpt with to get the best shape. We're not meant to be skin and bones. Put the timing fear to rest, ok? I feel equally strongly about the implants. GET THEM. I don't claim as much authority on this topic because I do think there may be different factors that go into that decision for a woman my age, but I really, really love my implants. I got small ones. As you know, I had the lift first. Then, low and behold, I lost 50 more pounds that I never thought I'd lose. And a B cup just wasn't enough for me. Even at 5'2 I felt out of proportion with my hips -- even after the thigh lift. I really struggled with it and I ultimately went with the smallest implant my Dad would consent to (my Dad's my surgeon for those who read that and said WHAT???). I got 250 cc gel, low profile silicone implants and they're perfect. They're still small -- a mid-C. But the texture and look is so wonderful. I joke with Dad that even if I'd never been MO, I might have had my breasts scooped out and had implants put in because the texture and feel is so great. It might be a personal preference -- I don't know -- but I wouldn't let age stop you. You can choose a subtle augmentation that will make you look and feel so good. My opinion is that a B isn't big enough for most women. That's a vast generalization, but I feel I know enough about your body and your WL journey to comment. And my advice is go SILICONE not saline. And go low profile, not normal profile, if you don't want that "implant" look (a lot of people like that look -- you know, where there's a lot of curve on top -- low profile carries the weight a little more in the center and bottom -- you still have plenty of cleavage, they just don't scream "IMPLANT" -- but that's a completely personal choice). You're going to be a whole new person next week. I can't wait for you to be a week post-op. Thoughts are with you....

Karey, I've never gained weight from antidepressants. I lost a couple of pounds on Welbutrin (felt like speed). I just went on birth control pills and I worried about gain from that, but I held steady last month and this month doesn't count because I'm down about 15 lbs from the worst flu imaginable (I call it the plague). I'm not changing my ticker because I'm sure it'll settle back in when I'm well enough to eat more than 4 tablespoons of grits and 2 sips of OJ at a time!

So the full shot is pretty representative. You can see the bumps on my inner thighs -- two on the right leg (looks like the left leg, but it's not -- something about taking a picture with a camera in a mirror makes everything look reversed) and one on the left leg. Those are the reminants of the seromas. The bumps should go away completely, knock on wood. Then there's the arm scar. You really can't see it, or the leg scar, when my arm/leg is positioned normally. I have no qualms wearing a sleeveless dress, for example.

Lynn, So exciting about your TT on the 19th -- this week, huh!!! SO cool! Drkel, My hairline didn't move with my mons lift. Most of the skin came out of the sides, incorporated in with a triangle incision into my medial thigh lift. The rest cam out of the top, but I guess they cut out the part with the hair and kept the part from my stomach because my hairline is rally identical to the pre-surgical placement. Or, it would be if I weren't a fan of the brazilian wax! TMI? Haha.