sabrina4you

I love this forum..
The emotional side of the transformation is the hardest.
I saw a girl I have been working with for 10 years for the first time in a year (she has been on maternity leave) and she was actually in tears seeing me. She has seen the pictures on Facebook and the like but hadnt actually seen me.
I dont think I ever really had any concept of how big I was, until I see pictures. Same as now I dont see how small I have become.
My journey has been well document, one of my friends even made a video/documentary of the changes. Everyone seems to find me inspirational. I struggle to feel that about myself. I felt like it was a necessity for my life, I wanted to be happier.
While I struggle to understand the skinny me, the fat me hoped that being skinny would solve all my problems. I struggle with that, as it doesnt. I am the same person just in a more socially acceptable body. I used my weight to hide who I was, it was my excuse cause I was scared to let people see the real me.
Now I dont have that shield around me and it is hard to letpeople see me, the real me.
I thought it would be easier to attract the opposite sex, seriously I thought I would be in a relationship by now, but nope, it is probably easier to have a random hook up but to find someone real just aint that easy apparently no matter what size you are...Letting someone love me is the last step in my journey...

I loves it, but have definately had some wild emotions at times. Lately, i have been feeling more normal, but occasionally have something happen that reminds me of this wild journey.
I have been going to the office alot and been asking for different/new work assignments. It is really helping me feel better - like I am getting my life back.

anyway, Friday I ran into a woman that I used to work with quite a bit - say 5 years ago. i saw her this summer, after I had lost probably 90-100# but I keep "reshaping". The LAST 20# I have lost have been more shocking to everyone then the first 100# somehow. I have lost about 140 now and I am a pretty solid size 10 now, and what I find surprising is that seems to be a huge leap from where I was even back in November when I was a solid size 12. I don't see much a of a difference but I am working out hard to and under that loose skin I am developing a pretty firm muscle base that probably makes a difference in appearance too. Anyway, I thought she was gonna have a break down. She has always been chunky, but she has really gained weight - don't know if that is what triggered it.

I saw her and stopped to say hello. She didn't recoginize me so I made a joke of it and we started talking about work stuff. She interupted me and said "I recognize your voice and your laugh, but my mind can't believe that is really you talking." I thought she might cry... seriously.... she was emotional and I acting kinda nutty actually. I gave her a hug, showed her my badge again trying to be funny about it but she never really recovered.

I got two things out of this encounter.

1. I am a lot more huggy then I used to be. I don't know why, never thought about it, but a few years ago I would not have been likely to hug someone that is a fairly insignificant aquaintance. I think I like this about the "new me" - I have always wanted to be a warmer person I just wasn't raised that way...lol. In general, people are friendlier to me now and I think alot of it is that I am friendlier as well.

2. I always thought people didn't get too wrapped up in how others look... I mean, seriously, who cares that much? I guess i was wrong.
I have been feeling pretty good about my body image lately so the encounter didn't upset me too much, but at weaker times, it might have. Losing this much weight in just over a year - it is a shock to the brain that is for sure.

A better choice for a new sleever is something like Egg Face's Ricotta Bake. It has all the flavor of lasagna without any Pasta and it's soft enough for the puree stage. PDX is right that pasta, bread and rice expand to an uncomfortable level in our tummies. I still don't eat rice at all, and very little bread or pasta simply because all three make my tummy hurt. At most, I'll have one small tortilla or one piece of bread, but I always have to wait extra time afterwards before I drink Water so that they don't absorb the water and make me hurt.

Not only are you allowed, I'm petitioning to make it a rule.

My plastic surgeon urged me to go one size larger and I'm glad I listened ! Now that I lost 55 lbs they look beautiful perfect and are a great size ! Ask your surgeon what size he suggests as he will follow your proportion

Gummie is a reference to the material the implant is constructed out of. Breast implants started out as silicon which were a great material for the look & feel of tge breast, however caused considerable health problems when they ruptured. Then saline was introduced as an option, it was the preferred material for many years as it posed no risk if a leak developed however the recipient almost always "looked" like she had implants because as she would move around the implant would dramatically change shape. Furthermore saline didn't "feel" real as it had the feel of a bag of Water as opposed to the fat tissue the natural breast is made of.
Enter the Gummie. Innovated approximately 10 years ago & quickly gained popularity among premier surgeons(these are a bit more expensive) the Gummie is once again a silicon implant, the major change is that instead of being a silicon gel in a "bag" the Gummie is a cohisive unit it is very soft and pliable but is a molded unit that cannot leak. Unfortunately for very small breasted women the Gummie is not an option as a first surgery, because of its semi-solid form it all but requires some excess skin for insertion. Which makes it an ideal option for those who have the extra skin and are looking to restore some shape.(and can afford it). In the last 2years or so another great innovation has come about. The Teardrop Gummie is an implant that utilizes the Gummie material and fashions the implant into a teardrop shape giving a much more natural apperance. IMO the Teardrop Gummie is undetectable in both feel & appearance to a natural breast when properly placed.
After writing this I think I need to talk to the manufacturer about a commissioned sales position.
Here is a video demonstrating the cohesiveness of the material in the Gummie implant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRsW2rZcaMk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Hi, don't get too stressed about having the drain out....make sure you have had some pain relief and follow the Nurse's instructions as she/he removes it. You may feeling a tugging sensation, but it only lasts a minute and if the Nurse is good at their job then it will quickly become another distant memory related to your surgery.
Congratulations on taking this BIG step and I hope you have a speedy recovery and achieve all of the goals you have set for yourself.
Best Wishes
one_elle26

I'm in the same predictament. I have lost 70 pounds and am at 135, but I could easily lose another 20 and be at 115, but 115 is going to make me look really really thin, and so a happy medium is probably around 120-125. I just don't know. I have to see what 115 looks like when I get there. These goals are all mine. The doctor never gave me a goal weight, and quite frankly, I don't think a doctor should tell a person how much to weigh.
Anyway, I digress. My boobs are like mud flaps, and so I am looking into a reduction (removal of skin) surgery now. I am sure that, by the time it happens, I will be at my goal weight anyway. There is no way, however, that I would ever get implants again. I had those for 25 years before they ruptured. They are not meant to last a lifetime.
Good luck to you! I say, "Go for it."

So almost 3 years to the date of having my lapband I'm exited but nervous I'm new on this forum I used to post regularly on lapbandtalk so you will be hearing from me on here. I had loads of issues with my band and port. Initially I lost 50 lbs gained it all back so now I'm starting all over again.. Looking forward to not having a port..

Like the others said, I think it would depend on where you are going with it. Reduction or lift? Wait. Enlargement? Maybe go for it. If you still have some weight to lose it is important to remember that your current breasts may completely deflate leaving you with saggy huge boobs. I have seen this so many times on WLS patients.

What would happen? You'd have larger breasts.

I have been at goal for several months now. I am 14 months post. I still have excellent restriction and can not see myself overeating at this point or anytime soon.
The sleeve is different from the band and RnY. The stomach is smaller and you really can't stretch it back to a point where you can overeat.
You still have to make good decisions, of course. I could eat a bowl of ice cream 5x a day. If I make bad decisions, I will have problems with weight loss for sure, but for me, one aspect of this journey was being able to examine my relationship with food. Everything has changed with the sleeve and that includes my thinking.
Good luck!

I was sleeved 4/3 and came home with a drain. I hate it...it's annoying. If I didn't have it, I think I would feel better. It comes out on 4/12.

Sabrina,
I just sent you a message. I see you had Dr. Khran. I am getting sleeved on the 12th with him as well. I am really excited! I am not nervous yet, but I am sure I will be the day of surgery. How are you doing?

On July 9, I get rid of the crapband and get sleeved. I can hardly wait! Glad to hear your surgery went well. I suspect that I will have lots of scar tissue, too.

I had this problem for the first 6 months. My surgeon gave me nausea meds for it. He said it happened to a few sleevers but not many. He explained that when we sleep, our spit pools at the top of our stomach and when we first get up, it wants to go down but sleevy wont let it so we get a little nauseated in the morning. I would have Water by my bed and take a zofran every morning when I woke up with just a sip of water. Within 15 minutes I was fine. I am 9 months out now and I dont have to do this anymore. It was a lifesaver during those times though. You could ask your surgeon for zofran to help with the morning nausea. HTH.

I am set to have an ultrasound and other tests tomorrow as my surgeon said this would be a better way to gauge if it's a gallbladder issue. Still having a time when I breathe and pain in my stomach and back. Shallow breaths.... oh well. Good luck to you too and I hope you feel better soon also.
I'll post the outcome of the tests when I have them.

WOW... I wish you all the best.. take it easy.. you will be back in the saddle shortly!!! Just try to hydrate and rest during this time!!!

NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE HAPPY FOR YOU. THIS INCLUDES THOSE WE LOVE. SOMETIMES, OUTSIDE SUPPORT CAN BE MORE SUPPORTIVE. PEOPLE (INCLUDING LOVE ONE'S) BECOME JEALOUS, THIS HAS MUCH TO DO WITH CONTROL ISSUES.
. YOU ARE NO LONGER SOMEONE TO PICK ON, TALK ABOUT BEHIND YOUR BACK, DEGRADE, AND HUMILIATE.
. YOU ARE NOW JUST AS CONFIDENT AS THEY ARE
. YOU NO LONGER MAKE OTHER PEOPLE SHINE, BECAUSE NOW YOU OUT SHINE THEM
. YOU ARE MORE OUTGOING, HAVE I NTERESTS IN HEALTHY LIVING ETC.
VISIT THE WEBSITE: TOOMUCHONHERPLATE.COM FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR DAILY WORDS OF ENCOURAGE, AND KNOWLEDGE. EXCELLENT SITE FIR WOMEN LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF IT. IT WILL HELP YOU DEAL AND UNDERSTAND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS THAT MUST BE DEALT WITH IN RESULT OF THIS SURGERY. IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY MY PSYCHOLOGIST.

my new theme song: Domino by Jesse J
"IM FEELING SEXY AND FREE!!!! LIKE GLITTERS RAINING ON ME!!"
So today I am 4 months post op! I feel Amazing, im running and working out almost every day and I can't think of one negative in my life right now! Who would have thought that would be coming out of my mouth! lol
Im still not perfect in any way shape or form, but that is ok with me cuz every day im doing something to strive for a better me. Im down 61 lbs, and im only 26 lbs from goal... Im not tryin to hit goal quickly either, i want to lose kind of slowly because i want my skin to be able to bounce back, but i think im still doin ok in that matter because im gaining muscle so that i can off set the saggy skin as much as i can. But either way, I am really happy with the changes. I just wanted to share.. and give anyone that is in doubt a huge thumbs up to this surgery. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER. And if you don't believe me... here are a few before and after pics.. now obviouly my journey isnt done but here are some pics taken just this week!
me in the bahamas Oct 2011
just before surgery dec 2011
1 month post op
2 months post op
3 months post oP
TAKEN 4-8-12

I just wanted to share with everyone that the decision to get sleeved on April 26th 2011 in Tijuana Mexico was literally the best thing that I have ever done and my only draw back was that I didn't do it sooner! This time last year I was freaking out about having the surgery, going to Mexico by myself and starving due to a month on the liquid diet, but I would do it again in a heart beat! If you are thinking about getting the surgery DO IT! don't even think about it not getting it done!!
This may sound normal for a lot of you, but a lot of little things changed this past year like how people act towards me, its sad to but they act much nicer and more respectful, I've had a few girlfriends(which before the surgery only had one ever) I run up the stairs without getting out of breath and my feet never hurt anymore! I know it may sound funny, but when I think about all I do is smile. I love when people ask what the heck happened to me, it makes me feel like 1,000,000 bucks!
Heres a few pictures from the past year:

Thinned fruit sauces, vegetable juices, yogurt, pudding thinned custard, my plan included cream of wheat and thinned oatmeal, Carnation instant Breakfast, any Soup blenderized (lots of people like bean & bacon).
Hummus thinned with extra tahini, my plan also allowed cottage cheese, french onion Soup strained.
I love cream of asparagus, cream of shrimp and cream of onion (I make them myself, I don't like canned soups), Subway makes a good broccoli cream soup, blenderized ham & potato soup.
I make a hot wing dip with canned chicken, hot sauce and cream cheese - blended with some FF milk to thin that has been AWESOME.
I blenderized ranch style black Beans and mixed with light sour cream and hot sauce, then thinned with FF milk until it was a soupy consistency. Probably the best tasting thing I've had post-op.
Hint: blenderizing a chipotle bol tastes horrible. (Tried that with my lapband)
Cottage cheese (blended), FF milk powder, and unflavored Protein can be added to any of the above for extra Protein, as long as you're able to eat & tolerate milk products.

Here is a pic of my face at the end of last March. Here is my face today. I have lost around 78 pounds. I hardly recognize me! lol. Just having a feel good moment.
 

I had to share because weight wise I've been holding steady around 225, but inches wise... I found my box of pre-pregnancy clothes (198 and a size 14/16 before I got prego 1/2010) - Just for shots and giggles I tried on what *used* to be my favorite bra... It fit! Then I pulled out a pair of pants... THEY FIT! Lastly I pulled out a shirt and IT FIT! I haven't been able to wear these clothes in 2 years and they freaking fit!
I'm doing a little happy dance right now