Mary Ellen S.

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I am scheduled for my second round of surgeries.  April 28th is the date for my breast reduction and medial thigh lift.  I had my consult with Dr. Panos a few weeks ago and I got a phone call this week that my breast reduction has been approved by my insurance company.  So out of all my surgeries to date included WLS this is the first one I am having paid for by my insurance company.  That is nice!  My body is costing me a lot of money but for my mental health every step has been worth it.  I feel great!

I will try to post pre and post op pictures. 

Until then....

M.E.

I said I was going to post pics regularly well let me just say I have been so active I have not had a minute to do it!  I LOVE my new body after surgery!  I am a totally new woman.  NOT self conscious of my hanging belly or my huge arms that just hung at my elbows.  I am almost proud of my scars!  I would take them over what I had anyday! 

I feel so good I am just busy all the time doing something!  I did go in for a check up this week.  Everything looks good and we are scheduling phase two now.  Breast Reduction and medial thigh lift for April or May of next year.  I doubt he will have to do any revisions to my tummy but he wants to revise my arms although I am not sure exactly why.  He likes things to be perfect so i will wait until the spring to see what he is talking about. 

I bought a pair of size 10 jeans the other day online and when they came I thought OH NO what was I thinking as I held them up.  I can NEVER fit into these....guess what?!  I can and I love them!  I've worn them every day!!  Because I can't afford two pairs!  They are those "Not your daughters Jeans" and they run about $100!  But one to have one pair is worth it!  I might have to put them on my Christmas wishlist.  Ok now I will admit when you order them they tell you if you are between sizes order down....so really I am probably still a size 12 but these fit perfectly.  NO more gapping at the waste.  I love them!

Until next time....

M.E.

I am  one month out from my abdominoplasty and brachioplasty.  I am thrilled with the results on my tummy, less than thrilled with my arms but I do admit they were really bad and now they are not as bad.  At least they look fine in clothing and I can wear jackets without having to go bigger just to fit the arms in!  No more sag at the elbows either.  I posted some new pictures today.  Let me know what you think!

Until next time.....

M.E.

Well, wanted to report in.  Doc said no typing!!  So the computer has been off limits this last week.  Today I went to my first post op appt and so some restrictions have been lifted.  I am happy to say that the TT and Arm Lift went very well and I am thrilled with my results so far.  There really is not any pain to speak of.  I mean sure you move slowly when going to the bathroom and there are little twinges if you bump your drain tube but when I am in the chair I am not in pain.  The surgery was 6 hours long and the day after surgery my band swelled shut so I had to wait for my band doctor to come down from a meeting in Chicago to take 1cc out of my band so that I could take in fluid and nurishment or they wouldn't release me from the hospital.   So once I could drink again they let me go home.  My follow up today went very well  I have some pics to post.  I will try to take them each week so you can see the progress.

Until next time.....

M.E.

I went to the DMV today to renew my drivers license here in Illinois.  The lady asked me if my height and weight was the same....I think she could figure out I wasn't a 230lb woman (Ok so I had lied 8 years ago when I got it the last time, 4 years ago I just did the sticker thing since I was so huge and was afraid they would know I wasn't 230 but actually 320!) but I digress...I said no.  She said how much do you weigh now?  (I am guessing she knew I hadn't gotten taller) I proudly said 175 (what is it about our weight I even lied today....I was really 180 on the scale but hey after my surgery I will be less than that right?! so technically....)  I was surprised by what she said next....CONGRATULATIONS!  This is the DMV and this gal was a bear at her station barking at people and rolling her eyes when they didn't jump when she called out each number!  But to me she said that precious word...congratulations!  It felt good!!

Until next time.....

M.E.
 

Well, I have a date!  May 6th!  I will have an adominoplasty and brachioplasty that day.  I will spend the night and come home Thursday afternoon.  My surgery is scheduled for 11am.  And is supposed to be a 5 hour surgery.  The only thing I am still unsure of is if I want the doctor to keep my belly button or not!  I know what a funny decision to have to make.  I myself was thinking "well of course I want it" but then my 16 yr old son said "why bother mom it just collects lint and what purpose does it serve?  Isn't it just a scar from when you were born anyway??"  Wise boy he is.  So even though it makes sense I still have to think about it.  Oh I am having the Fleur de lis cut.  That is the inverted T so the doc is not only give me a horizontal scar he is also giving me the full vertical scar on my tummy too!  Not happy about that but do think it will yield the best results for me.

Until next time.....

M.E.

I think I have decided on my plastic Surgeon.  I met with the doctor in Decatur and although he seemed very personable I am going to go with the local surgeon who will do both procedures that I want at once.  My healing time might be lengthened but it will fit into my schedule better.  If it all works out I will have surgery on Wed May 6th. 

Until next time....

M.E.

I have had one consult for Plastic Surgery and have another scheduled for next week.  I am hoping to have a full Tummy Tuck and Brachioplasty next month.  Then Breast reduction/lift and medial thigh lift next summer.  I am really torn about this.  I know I want and need it done and am ready for it but I am so scared I might not pick the right surgeon.  The one I talked to the other day was direct and to the point but he wanted to do more than I think I want.  He is not concerned about scars where I am.  I know you won't see them but me and my hubby will.  Maybe it's a woman thing but I want to look the best I can with minimal scaring.  I know they won't be pretty but he wants to do the fleur de lis cut up my belly and I am not sure I want to do that.  Sigh I just do not know.  Lots to think about. 

I also went in and had a fill last week.  Although I have not lost a pound since I had it.  I am at a steady 177 right now.  Yes, it's up a little that's why I went in for a fill.  Just want to post this so I can keep track because next month I won't remember.

Just wanted to check in.

Until next time......

M.E.

Got through the holidays and I'm still a few pounds down without trying.  I have to get on OH just to see I am losing.  I was at a meeting last night with gals I hadn't seen since our convention in July/August and they were telling me I looked like I had lost a lot more weight since they saw me last.  I said "no I think I have maintained" so today I thought Ok get on and see.  Well, they were right.  I am down 12lbs since I saw them.  I am actually shocked I had no idea.  NO really I didn't. I knew recently I was down but I really thought I was maintaining up till now.  I had no idea I had dropped 12lbs and that you could even tell!  When I was at my heaviest (317) I had to lose almost 80lbs before anyone could tell.  No kidding!  So this is odd to me.  I am still shooting for the 160's before my plastic surgery.  I'm close now. 

Can I just say something, I had a weird moment last night.  I had several of my friends that haven't seen me in awhile actually call me "skinny".  Am I really skinny or are they just saying skinnier than you were you big cow!  I do not think I am skinny.  I wear a size 14 so that in my mind is not skinny although I am closing in on a 12.  I am solidly in a Large womens top but have been able to buy a few Mediums lately.  Once in awhile I stil have to buy an XL so that keeps my mind from thinking skinny.  Do you ever feel like you have "arrived"  I still can not say "I am at goal".  173 is still not in my healthy range.  But I am close so that is what I am striving for.  When my BMI is in the healthy range I will officially say I have gotten to goal.  Anything normal or healthy will be GOAL!  Well, thanks for listening to me if you are reading this.  Leave a comment and your profile so I can come say Hi!  After all it's all about support....we can't do this alone.

Until next time.....
M.E.

I thought I would just pop in for a little update.  Really not much to say.  I am living my life as a thin person now and it's great!  I have lost a few pounds since my last post.  I really hadn't lost much but have now dropped a few.  I am 175 today.  10 more pounds by next May?  I think I can do it if I make an effort.  I had thought I wasn't losing so I had made up my mind that I would go in for a fill in January after the holidays.  Now I think I will wait and see.  If I am still in the 175 area in January I will call the doctors office for a small fill.  I know that having plastics will take off a lot of weight but I have not had a consult yet because I know I can't do it until the summer when we are done working here at home.  I hope to go in this spring and have surgery as soon as we are done working at the end of May. 
Until next time.....

M.E.