I'm actually doing really well from my surgery on the 15th. Right now I have some aches and pains at times in the arms and breasts, but not too bad. My lipo on the other hand is very sore - saddlebag area. The Dr. only took 1 1/2 pounds off my hips. I thought it would be a lot more than that. However, I had the lipo done just to make me look better in clothes until I can afford the MUCH NEEDED lower body-lift. Naked I won't look any better, just more skin with less fluff I guess. I'm too swollen to tell if it was all worth it yet. My arms barely needed to be done except they were starting to wrinkle further down and the armpit area bra overhang was pretty bad. The Dr. said after surgery that he had to cut further back than he thought to be able to get enough tissue to make my breasts - B cup. They look like little cone party hats to me. Ha! (Keep in mind I was a DDD before weight-loss) They will round out around the bottom with time but I don't think there is enough tissue around the tops. They wrinkle some when I bend over and that is with swelling. I'm a little nervous about it - ok, alot nervous! I'll know more in a few weeks. My fingers are crossed. My mom took some pics of me today. I don't mind sharing but don't know how to put them on here. You can e-mail me at home [email protected] if you are interested. I'm just swollen and bruised right now. By the way, I obviously don't handle looking at stitches because I passed out cold twice the day of my first shower - 4 days out. Luckily my neighbor was over with my mom to help out and they were able to keep me from getting hurt. However, I did end up on the floor both times. Heck, how do you grab someone who just had surgery to their arms and chest??? It scared them both to death. Yesterday was the first time I've tried a shower since. I've had my mom give me sponge baths until then. I swear the stitches just give me the creeps!!! :P Dawn

Please let me know how you are doing!!! You are in my prayers. From these posts... it appears you posted to me AFTER you returned home... It is now the 26th of June and wonder how you are. Best Wishes!

Hey you~ How are you feeling???? Are you recovering okay? How's the pain? Email me when you have a chance... Hugs, Kerri

Two years ago today I was in the QEII hospital after having my surgery weighing approx. 555 lbs. suffering from low oxygen due to not having my C-Pac machine. After it was located, I proceeded to sleep through the night. I awoke the next morning wanting to walk since I was told walking would eliminate getting blood clots. I was hounding the nurses continually to help me walk in the hall as I needed help getting out of bed. The nurses told my mother I was being a nuisance (those who know me know this sounds like me). After 2 years of living as a normal sized person (225 ish), I have come to realize that the mental part of this is much harder than the eating part as being a 2X since Grade 11 (1983), I am now below that....wearing large and xl. I no longer have to shop at the Big and Tall shops. I actually enjoy exercise now. It's no longer a chore. I don't get out of breath anymore or sweat profusely. I never thought I would see that. At 555, you would have thought I had run a marathon when I had just crossed the street. I have definitely been given a new lease on life. I would never want to go back to where I was. I have also come to realize that my upbringing helped make me bigger and I have taken steps to help with that problem by working a 12 step program that has made me realize it is most important to love myself before anyone else can love me. This is something I came to realize after watching, above all things, an Oprah show where she had 3 individuals who had gastric bypass surgery ...one who turned to alcohol to replace the food, another that turned to sex to replace food and the 3rd being Carnie Wilson who also turned to alcohol. I have read all of her books and I look at her as an idol in this weight loss journey. Thank God for Oprah's show! I realize that this surgery is not the be all and end all...food is something I'm going to have to deal with the rest of my life and I also know that it can backfire if I allow it. To anyone that is waiting for this surgery or has recently had it, please do not look at this as something you do and not work at it......it will not work if you do. It is not a magic pill....you have to work at it. The old saying no pain-no gain certainly comes into play here.

Glad to hear that weigh****chers is working for you. I'm thinking about trying it myself. I go up and down within a 10 pound range (148-158). I hope it continues to work for you. Dawn