OT::: What to look forward to after Surgery!!!

Besides health improvements... and cures for most co-morbidities.... What do you look forward to experiencing after surgery?? ** I look forward to shopping in regular stores and actually finding things that I like and fit me well! ** walking upstairs and still being able to breath!! LOL ** seeing a thinner face... it has been hidden for years. ** not having to hide my "ring around the belly" (spare tire). ** not being the "big girl" in the crowd anymore. ** The girls will appreciate this... no more thigh rubbing in nylons!!!! ** Not hearing.. "you have such a pretty face...." blah blah blah... anymore. Beck

Ditto on all that you said. Plus I was thinking of something this morning. I want to be able to wear my old rings. They don't fit on my fingers anymore, and I have a few that mean a lot to me.

Recently I noticed that I can now bend over to pick up something off the floor without groaning, huffing and puffing and going through all kinds of contortions. I also don't hear the whip-whip-whip when I walk...my thighs aren't rubbing together like they used to!

LOL! I hear ya on that one!!!!! (thighs rubbing)!!!!!

Being a post-surgery gal, thought I'd give you some insights into the things you look forward to: (1) shopping in regular stores -- sooooo much fun!!! I now shop in the Petite section of regular stores ... I can't tell you how good that feels! (2) walking up stairs -- not so much fun, but MUCH easier!! I work for management in a huge bakery plant. From time to time I have to go into the "belly of the beast" -- 6 floors down, 6 floors up. I can now climb all of those stairs without once having to stop, and I only start to huff & puff on the last set of steps! (3) thinner face -- that'll happen quick. Seeing your cheekbones again is a real cause for celebration. I now have a jawline again, and my collarbone is fantastic!! These things you will also discover on your journey. (4) "ring around the belly" -- you're going to have a whole lot less of everything! I have excess skin from 2 operations (complications), so I have to disguise my belly more now than I did before, but it's a lot smaller!! (5) "being the big girl" -- you know it's been almost a year since my surgery, but I still struggle with this one. I know I'm no longer the biggest girl in the crowd when I go out (at least not most of the time ...), but my mind hasn't really gotten itself around this one. Sometimes I look at heavier women out, and I think to myself, "they know I'm really a fat person, I'm not really the person they see." Weird. But it's getting easier. (6) "no thigh rubbing" -- 90 lbs. down & I still have this problem ... but it's because of extra skin, not fat. My legs were always huge; I don't know if I'll ever stop having that, but it's a lot better than it was. They started out rubbing almost all the way down to my knees; now it's just the tops. (7) You'll still have a very pretty face ... but that ain't all they're going to be looking at!!! Good luck on meeting all of your goals. You'll find new ones as you progress along. It's a challenging journey, but there are soooooo many rewards. Just wait til those clothes are falling off of you & your face has contours -- those are the first great moments, followed by lots more. Cheers! Kathy F.

How about fitting in a booth at a restaurant comfortably? I did that last week. Fitting in a seatbelt when flying (haven't flown yet) Wearing a bathing suit in public without feeling like a freak JA

Oh, I have a gross one. How about wiping your butt without feeling like a contortionist?

In addition to everything above: I can't wait to be able to do things with my daughter, without struggling. I am so tired of telling her "Mommy can't do that" or "Let's take the short path, Mommy's too...(tired, sore etc)..." And to go on a field trip without feeling in the way constantly. I am also going to school, and can't wait to fit in the desk comfortably.... Not haveing to use a shopping cart to support myself through the store. And the list goes on!!!!

Some of these are making me laugh out loud!!! (I completely agree by the way)! People I work with are going to think I am nuts! How about..... ** Having your picture taken and being Ok with being in the front? No need for the other people in the picture to be in front of you to hide yourself.... ** no more "stretch" written on any tags (Unless you WANT it to be there) ** being able to see your shoes.... LOL! ** sitting in the support group meetings and your butt actually fits in the chairs comfortably!

Without any dobut...the BEST thing that has happened to me as a result of this surgery is... Being able to look ANYONE in the eye and NOT be ashamed of who I am because of how I look. Priceless. Absolutely, priceless. and on the frivolous side.... Having some 'fun' (wink, wink) with my hubby and not worrying about killing him! LOL. Lisa