Good morning from freezing Chicago. I'm hoping to shiver off some pouns this winter. Good news....I spoke with Inky! She is alive and well and just needs a bit of a break. I'm sure she will be back when she is ready. My weight holds steady, with fluctuations of 1 or 2 pounds. My prayers are with Lisa as she goes for her tummy tuck tomorrow.

DOS 345
Now 190
155 pounds gone forever

And how was your week?

Shar

Lisa, I'll be sending good vibes your way on Monday.  I've been evaluated for plastics as well, and when I can get the financing (insurance will not pay for it - I don't have any rashes or anything that will justify it to Blue Cross) - and have accumulated a few more medical leave hours - I'm going to have the top half of me fixed.  I can't wait to hear about your experience, Lisa, and to find out if you're happy with the results (when the swelling and redness go down).  Right now I'm satisfied with the weight loss (even with the issues that I have), but not satisfied with the way I look naked (ok, so I don't have a significant other right who would care, but I still have to look at myself in the mirror occasionally) or how I look in sweaters (the bras don't hold the extra skin in very well). 

When you are able to get back on line let us know how it went.  Be sure to use the drugs that they allow you (you'll actually heal more quickly) and enjoy being waited on for as long as they keep you in the hospital.   And enjoy the new you!

Love to you, girl.  
Marcia

I have been experiencing depression and anxiety as well, and am on Lexapro.  I talked to my pre-surgery psychologist, who told me essentially what Lisa is saying...that  this is normal among those of us who have had the surgery and lost a lot of weight.  She says we are having to learn who we are all over again - that we are facing the fact that we are NOT the person we've known - we are smaller, we can do more, we're likely getting more attention.  A lot of us were fat in order to shield ourselves from whatever we were afraid of (relationships? success?  Who knows?) and now that shield is no longer there.  We might be faced with decisions we weren't faced with before our physical changes, and those might be scary.  Big life changes are scary and are depressing.

Hang in there, folks.  I hear  that it will get better.

Marcia 

Who's experiencing depression/anxiety a lot???    I don't know why even, because I have sooooooo much to be happy about.  

Just lately I find myself getting down about a lot..   and feeling angry...   and anxious...   I'm on welbutrin, and occasional xanax...  and if you can even believe it, it's not making me feel better.

Please tell me I'm not the only one.....

I feel the same way about my face. I'm constantly standing in the mirror pulling back my skin to make it appear smoother and not so old and saggy. The worse part of all is my neck. It is really saggy and wrinkley. I hate it. I find I wear a lot of scarves and turtleneck shirts to cover up my ugly neck. I'm always looking for products on the market to help make my face look younger, smoother... less wrinkley. Anybody find anything that works? Funny but I'm actually entertaining the idea of botox which I never thought I'd ever consider. Oh well.... it's just a thought cause we are broke!