Hiya Sue, YES!! I have soreness on the sides of my breast, especially when I take off my bra but also sometimes when I have it on. It feels like the tissue, skin, muscle, whatever, is being pulled downward. I guess it is because there is no breast tissue anymore except at the ends which kinda rest on my belly (TMI??? sorry!!) or rather they used to rest on my belly when I had one - they just hang, hence the pain I think!!!! I am hoping to get PS to alleviate this. Is this the pain you are having too or is yours something else entirely? God bless you and keep you, ~Andrea

Happy Anniversary, Teresa!!! WendyAnne

1. How much weight have you lost total? 92 pounds 2. How many years ago were you at the weight you are now (how old were you)?? 1986 - I was 30 and had just gone on a massive Diet Center diet...I only stayed at this weight for about 2 weeks and I began the yo-yo back up. 3. Has weight loss made a difference in your career?? the way you get treated by strangers??? by friends???? by family???? I have more energy, my family has complimented me, I'm better able to keep up with everyone, I can work longer and harder without getting so tired...I guess most of the difference has been an increase in energy that makes everything else better and easier! 4. If your total weight loss now is all that you achieve... are you satisfied with that??? disappointed??? pleasantly surprised that you have achieved what you have??? Satisfied - I'm 2 pounds below goal - I reached goal at the beginning of August which means I've maintained for 3 months! I'm also pleasantly surprised that I did it. I have NEVER reached a diet goal in the past - NEVER. I've always quit before I got to goal. This is a first. 5. When you sit down to eat, if you serve yourself, do you take up a portion that is very close to what you will eventually eat??? overfill your plate??? have to go back for seconds?? I'm pretty good at figuring what I can eat now. In a restaurant, I can tell how much I'll be able to eat and never overeat. Congratulations to all celebrating a birthday! Isn't it wonderful!!!! Mary B. 260/240/150/148

I kinda learned the opposite!!! I learned that I can do things for myself and that I am an outgoing person. I was hiding behind my fat body and depending on my husband to help help help! Now I can help myself! I feel great about myself and I love myself! I should have felt this way before. I respect myself more for what I have gone through. I am just so happy with my life now. I am so glad I had WLS! I am Jennifer again! Jen 11/29/04

Know exactly where you are coming from. I am also 5'7" but I have a large frame and right now I weigh 174 and am getting into a size 12 more comfortably. My bones have been sticking out for a while now and I still find that weird. I just do not see myself as skinny. When I hear people tell me that " I am getting so skinny" I can't accept that. Not only is it because of my excess skin but because I have never been referred to in that way. I am re-reading Carnie Wilson's book "I'm still hungry" and am understanding that what I (and you) are dealing with are very normal. She talks about how it took her almost a year to be comfortable in her new body. Another thing that is sort of helping me see myself as "skinny" is to see pictures of myself now. I recently saw some and was like "Who is that? Is that really me?" After all it was pictures of me that made me think about the surgery to begin with, I couln't believe I was that big. Now I am trying to accept that I am that small. Hope that helps...... Melissa