Recent Posts
Topic: RE: today..... 22 months since i quit smoking!!!!
That's quite an acomplishment and nothing to sneeze at! Congratulaions!
Sue McD 
Topic: RE: How I'm Doing
Sorry to hear about your bathroom issues, Michelle. Thanks for your candor. I appreciate knowing what I'm in for when I eventually get the $$$ pulled together for plastics. Try to take things easy and let everyone fuss over you! You and your family remainin my prayers.
Hugs, Tracy
Topic: Looking for a Plastic Surgeon in St. Louis, Mo for BreastLift.
Hi Guys,
I had surgery May 2005 I was weighing 278lbs and now I am 139lbs feeling and looking great in clothes.lol I need a breast lift very bad my breast are hanging almost to the floor I am not looking to get a breast reduction just a lift I have lost much of my breast I just need a lift. I don't have much hanging skin but my thighs are bad also. I am looking for a Plastic surgeon that take G.E.H.A. insurance in Saint.Louis area are except insurance in general.
Thanks guys,
Topic: RE: today..... 22 months since i quit smoking!!!!
Thanks everyone! I was away for work and just am now getting back on this site! I tell you, it was a stressful weekend and at one point I thought about lighting up.... lol (just kidding!!)
I cant wait until my anniversary. I never thought that I would be a 'quitter' and then a loser.... haha.
I am so grateful for all the wonderful support from all from may 05 friends too. Thanks, Michelle and Kathy and everyone else too!!
hugs,
Jess
Topic: RE: How I'm Doing
I would be laughing at your poopy post, except I have too much empathy for you. Been there, done that, waaaaaaay too often recently. Again, just make sure you don't go too long between bm's without some necessary intervention.
The swelling-good question. I felt so crummy for the first four weeks, I don't think I could really tell you when the swelling went down. I kept at least one drain in for four weeks, and then after that, had to have fluid aspirated several times from my lower abdomen. What had the worst swelling was my mons area. I really looked deformed with the swelling there. In fact, I could probably use some revision there, or at least some liposuction. It looks so much better than pre-tt, but in knit pants, I could probably pass for a guy 
I went shopping for new pants at about five weeks, and could really see a difference then. The last pants I had bought a couple of months pre-tt were a size 16. After tt, I could fit into a size 8. My waist never did go down as much as I thought it would. I have a very rectangular silhouette. It's so hard to be patient at this point, but I think you won't know anything about the results for at least six weeks.
Get some rest,
Debra M.
I went shopping for new pants at about five weeks, and could really see a difference then. The last pants I had bought a couple of months pre-tt were a size 16. After tt, I could fit into a size 8. My waist never did go down as much as I thought it would. I have a very rectangular silhouette. It's so hard to be patient at this point, but I think you won't know anything about the results for at least six weeks.
Get some rest,
Debra M. 
Topic: RE: How I'm Doing
Jeez leweeze! I finally ended up using a child's enema that I got when my son was having some poopy issues. It got things started and then I just continued on after that. (Warning - really graphic discussion! 
)
I was 
when I started going because I was wanting things to just happen with no pushing, or very minimal pushing, on my part. But that was not the case. When I did the enema, I sat on the toity and waited a few minutes until I couldn't hold it anymore and things started. Then I was 
begging things to just GO, but it required some pushing. I pushed a little bit and it just wasn't happening so I had to push harder and it started to hurt, so I started taking deep breaths and it seemed like it would NEVER end! After much sweating, straining, breathing, cries of 
, 
up and down on the toilet, 
cursing, 
crying, 
, it FINALLY stopped. I looked at it (yeah, gross, I know) and that sucker was JINORMOUS!!!!!! I've never worked so hard or sweated so much for a bowel movement in my entire life! I was 
for a few minutes and then the cramping of muscles in my abdomen started. YOWCH!!!!!!! I felt like I'd done a million sit-ups. It hurt soooo bad, but I don't feel like I pulled any sutures loose or anything. All of my sutures are inside, I just have steri-strips on the outside of my bikini suture and nothing outside of my belly-button.
I have a question for you - how long did it take for your swelling to go away? I have what looks like a canyon from about my breastbone to either side of my belly button, almost like a big "V". My belly button is a huge cavern right now and I'm wondering how long it will take for things to actually get flat!
Michelle
)
I was when I started going because I was wanting things to just happen with no pushing, or very minimal pushing, on my part. But that was not the case. When I did the enema, I sat on the toity and waited a few minutes until I couldn't hold it anymore and things started. Then I was begging things to just GO, but it required some pushing. I pushed a little bit and it just wasn't happening so I had to push harder and it started to hurt, so I started taking deep breaths and it seemed like it would NEVER end! After much sweating, straining, breathing, cries of , up and down on the toilet, cursing, crying, , it FINALLY stopped. I looked at it (yeah, gross, I know) and that sucker was JINORMOUS!!!!!! I've never worked so hard or sweated so much for a bowel movement in my entire life! I was for a few minutes and then the cramping of muscles in my abdomen started. YOWCH!!!!!!! I felt like I'd done a million sit-ups. It hurt soooo bad, but I don't feel like I pulled any sutures loose or anything. All of my sutures are inside, I just have steri-strips on the outside of my bikini suture and nothing outside of my belly-button.
I have a question for you - how long did it take for your swelling to go away? I have what looks like a canyon from about my breastbone to either side of my belly button, almost like a big "V". My belly button is a huge cavern right now and I'm wondering how long it will take for things to actually get flat!
Michelle Topic: RE: How I'm Doing
Michelle,
Glad to hear how well you are doing. I hope the constipation issue has resolved itself. I will say this was one of the worst things with my tt. I had taken pre-emptive measures, lol, extra fiber and stool softeners daily, from day one, but to no avail. The vicodin just seemed to totally shut down my lower intestines. I had to resort to Dulcolax suppositories, for the first time in my life. It was miserable. So, I am advising to you to really keep on top of this, and not let it go to long before you have a bm. There is the psychological fear of having to push too hard and pop open the incision. I became so desperate, I didn't care what happened, as long as the constipation went away. It was such a struggle, I really needed the pain medicine to get by, but the side effect was awful. Make sure you keep your doctor informed about this one.
I am surprised with the hematoma you developed with your binder. Again, glad to hear it is getting better. If your binder is too high on your abdomen, you can get increased swelling in the groin area. In your case, it being too low, you developed the upper hematoma. Why can't all of this be easy? lol.
Let your mom do as much as she can the next few days. It will be good for you, and for her. Remember how much moms want to help.
Hugs,
Debra M.
Topic: RE: Support for Kathy
Hi Kathy,
So sorry you are going through all of this !
Sending you lots of hugs and prayers! Hang in there and keep your chin up!
love,
Marla
Topic: RE: Support for Kathy
Hey, Debra!
Yes, I'm assuming that with the mastectomy that means that radiation will not be needed unless there is some of the non invasive cancer at the edge of the mastectomy. I hope that is not the case!
Hugs, Kathy
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