THINGS I'VE NOTICED.....

HELLO ALL,         I HAVE NOTICED ALOT OF THINGS THAT WEIGHTLOSS SURGERY WILL NOT CHANGE UNLESS I WIN THE LOTTERY....LOL... I AM A LITTLE OVER SIXTEEN MONTHS OUT OF WLS AND TO THIS DAY HAVE LOST 213LBS. SOME THINGS WILL NOT CHANGE. I WAS NEVER ONE TO WEAR SHORTS, OR TANK TOPS UNLESS MOWING GRASS AND TOTALLY NOT IN PUBLIC. BEING 400LBS WAS NOT A PRETTY SIGHT WEARING BATHING SUITS EITHER SO NEVER WAS A GIVEN. EVEN WHEN I WENT TO THE BEACH WITH THE FAMILY I WORE MY TRUSTY STRETCHY JUST MY SIZE CAPRI'S AND A T-SHIRT. MY ARMS AND LEGS WERE HUGE AND FULL.. AND NOW...... MY SKIN HAS TAKEN ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN. I CANNOT WEAR ALOT OF SHIRTS THAT ARE SO IN STYLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY ARE MADE. EITHER SLEEVELESS OR CAP SLEEVED. AND THE ARMS ARE TERRIBLE. THE TOPS OF MY LEGS AND THIGHS .... THE HANGING SKIN IS UNREAL.... SO CAPRI'S ARE MY FUTURE FOR SURE. AND I HAVE NOTICED LATELY THAT EVEN THE BACKS OF MY CALVES ARE SAGGING NOW... OMG!! WILL HAVE TO START DRESSING LIKE A NUN NOW? EVEN MY FACE HAS TAKEN ON THE SAGGING NOW OF THE JOWL AREA AND I PRAY IT GETS BETTER THE THINNER THE FACE GETS BUT NOT BETTING ON IT. I DONT KNOW IF I COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO HAVE AVOIDED ANY OF THIS AFTER SURGERY WITH CERTAIN EXERCISES OR WHAT NOT BUT IT IS SO SAD TO HAVE GOTTEN TO A SIZE 14 CLOTHING AND MED TO LARGE SHIRTS NOW AND STILL CANT DRESS ALOT IN STYLE WAYS... BUT I DIDNT EVEN MENTION THE STOMACH..... IT HANGS SO BADLY THAT IT ALMOST COVERS UP THE PRIVATE AREAS UGH..... MAYBE THE STOMACH WILL GET  SMALLER AS I TRY TO CONTINUE TO SHRINK SOMEMORE LOL.... I HAVE NOTICED THE SAGGING GETTING BETTER THE SMALLER I GET IN THAT AREA. THE BOOBS HAVE A LIFE OF THERE OWN ALSO. LOL... I STARTED OUT AT A 52DD AND NOW AM AT 38DD. I GUESS THEY ARE WONDERING WHATS GOING ON LOL.... I CAN TAKE OFF THE BRA AND TUCK THEM IN MY SHOE BUT AM PROUD TO BE SMALLER LOL.IT IS JUST MIND BLOWING TO NOT TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE CHANGES WITHOUT STILL HAVING TO HIDE ALOT... BUT WITH BITTERSWEET ALSO COMES SWEET...... I LOOK AND FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. I DONT WALK AND SOUND LIKE IM GONNA PASS OUT FROM HEAVY BREATHING. THAT WAS THE WORST AND ALSO THE TERRIBLE SWEATING EVEN IN THE WINTER LOL. NOW IF I SWEAT ITS THE FLASHES LOL OR FROM ACTUAL HEAT HERE LOL..I HAVE NEVER BEEN HEALTHIER. MY DAUGHTER GETS MARRIED ONE MONTH FROM TOMMORROW  ON JULY 4TH AND DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WALK INTO A NORMAL STORE AND BUY A DRESS? WHEN MY TWO OTHER DAUGHTERS GOT MARRIED I HAD TO GO TO CATHERINES AND GO DIRECTLY TO THE LARGEST SIZES THEY HAD AND STILL SOME OF THEM DIDNT FIT. SO SETTLED WITH WHAT FIT EVEN THOUGH I DIDNT LOVE THE  LOOK. SO LIFE IS ALOT BETTER AND I WAS GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE AND APPRECIATE IT TO THE FULLEST. BUT JUST WANTED TO LET THE THOUSANDS OF WLS'S OUT THERE THAT ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AS ME KNOW THAT THIS MAY BE EXPECTED. I HOPE NOT, AND NOT EVERYONE IS MADE THE SAME BUT WITH MY BODY LOSING SO MUCH SO FAST I GUESS IT WAS TO BE EXPECTED... AND NO ITS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD BY NO MEANS AND I HAVE DONE PASSED THOSE "THONG" DAYS LOL... SO GUESS IF DIDNT DO THEM TO START WITH..... YOU CAN MISS THEM LOL....HUGS MARGE

Do you think your insurance would cover any reconstructive surgery for you?   I know mine will not, so I am in the same boat as far as not being able to afford it right now.  I don't think there was anything you could have done exercise-wise.  We just stretched out our skin from years of being overweight.   Anyway, skin or not, you look wonderful and have done a fantastic job! Hugs, Tracy

Hi Marge, Yes, you are right.  With weight loss surgery you get a whole boat-load of different problems.  I'm with you, the good thing is...losing the weight..the bad thing is - the saggy skin.  I've try to develop all kinds of different ways to "hide" the skin.  I too opt for capris and 3/4 length sleeves.  I never was a tank-top and short shorts gal anyway..but it gets alittle hot here in Arizona.  Thank goodness for air conditioning right??? I laughed when I read your discription of your skin hanging issues..so true.  What an amazing change you have gone through.  Don't put yourself down..you will be the hottest mother of the bride around!!!! Best wishes to your family as you celebrate your daughter's wedding!!

Hugs,  Ginger

Marge I am still early in my journey. However, I have loss 91 lbs and my stomach and thighs look like chewed up jello. It is awful. My breast....what breast? I am starting to notice a section where my double chin use to live is starting to have a funny look about it. Not sagging but a stretched out look.  I would take any of this anyday than go back to 362 lbs and miserable.  My insurance will pay for some PS and I am going to get anything they pay for.  

It is interesting, Marge, that we've traded one set of issues for another.  Like you and the other posters, I'll take saggy skin over weighing almost 400 pounds any day.  I'm very fortunate that my insurance will cover a breast lift and to remove the excess skin from my stomach.  I'm hoping to have my first round of plastics in early 2008 (I've still got 30-40 pounds to lose and I want to do that for the long-term health benefits).  I'm hoping to be able to afford to have my arms and thighs done, but will have to see whether I can come up with the money for that, whether my surgeon can combine any of the procedures, etc.  If not, those parts will just be saggy until I can save enough to pay for the separate surgeries.   I was giddy to be able to buy a swimsuit in a size 18; I used to wear a size 36 swimsuit, and it was really snug.  I bought a regular Delta Burke tank suit, plus a skirt to go over it to camouflage my thighs.  I'll be wearing that size 18 suit a****er Country in Williamburg VA at the end of the month!  I've never been to a water park and am looking forward to it!   Kellie

I want saggy skin!!!  Frankly, I can't wait.   I don't know if I'll want PS, ugh more surgery - but I think I'll probably get the panni removed (covered or not) and maybe my arms because I'm already self conscious about the hanging arms.   I am hoping since I am young, my skin will have at least a little life in it yet & that I am my mother's daughter.  She dropped about 100lbs a few years ago through diet and exercise and her skin didn't sag at all.  She looks great!  She wasn't nearly as heavy as me though.   There are some places that help with financing plastic surgery if your insurance doesn't cover it.  But if you document any sores or skin problems and go to the doctor about them repeatedly, insurance is more likely to cover it.  (Take pictures!)  My friend just fought tooth and nail to get her PS covered and now they are covering it for the stomach (cirumfrential body life), thighs, and a breast reduction at least.  She is going to self-pay for arms and maybe breast lift, but most of the three surgeries will be covered.  She took pictures of every sore, every irritated spot, any yeast problems, etc.  And even though she didn't always need to, she went to the doctor for a LOT of the skin problems, just to document them mostly.  

I am also in the same boat but I can't even do capris because of the bulge above my ankles!  My legs are hideous, so dresses are out--in the year of so many cute dresses.  But I'll take the weight loss and pants any day.  My legs were even uglier before when fatter.   I did pay to have my arms done and they are so much better even if not "normal."  There was just so much to take off that to keep things looking right, they are a bit heavier than I would have liked above the elbow. My insurance paid for a breast reduction (oh how much better my neck and shoulders feel!) and I just got the approval for the tummy tuck.   I won't do my thighs because 1) that seems to be the scariest surgery in terms of recovery and 2) my lower legs would still be horrible, so it wouldn't solve the no dress issue. But as everyone else said, these are problems I am more than willing to take on instead of being 400 lbs.! Sally 398/175/170