Well HEY EVERYONE!!!! It's been too long!

Well here I am and I'm at about 129-130 pounds. I've lost more than half of myself in about 15 months. I had a panniectulectomy done about 2 weeks ago so I'm recouperating from that right now. They cut off over a foot of skin from my pannus. Yes...a foot. I did not have an upper abdominalplasty done as that would have been right around $5k. I had the pannus covered under insurance. I have graphic pics too! Dr Grado did the work and let me tell you, he's pretty great! Whenever I have an extra $5k sitting around, I'll have him do my boobs! I went from a 42DD to a 34 Almost B!!! He said I'd tighten up a little in another 6 months or so but my boobs are perfect for an augmentation. So that's nice to know. Emotionally I'm not doing so well. I've always had problems with depression but in April this year (while at my new job, mind you), I finally just lost it. I started seeing a different Dr and they found out that I have "bipolar disorder" with "anxiety disorder". Whatever that is. I'm on all new meds and they're thinking that the sudden change came about from all of the horomones that are crazy in me right now from surgeries and stress on the body. So I'm little by little dealing with that. I look at pics of myself then and wow....I was just so unhealthy, in my opinion. HOW IS EVERYONE? I haven't posted in SO long that I don't even know if anyone I knew then is still around! I have a new email address and AIM now. I also have a MySpace page that you can go to to see new pics. I don't know how to make the pics an actual URL so I had to email my new pic to the pic people here to have them upload it. I know they're so busy so it may be awhile before this site can see the HUGE difference in my looks. It's just amazing...! Let me give a holler out to Dixie -hope you are well and would love to catch up I want to give a shout out to Colleen with whom I had surgery on the same day, same Dr, same hospital with - Can't find any of your contact info girl! Jessi P - what is up? Are you still on? Andrea? I know there are others with whom I was very close to a year ago and I'm drawing a blank. So much has happened! Please - all of you - catch me up!!! Jen

Jen, I don't know you, but I will be the first to say WELCOME BACK!!! I just looked at your profile and WOW you look AWESOME!! I havent yet "crossed over" and am patiently waiting for the insurance approval, but I LOVE looking to see how others have changed. Sorry to hear about the bipolar. My best friend has bipolar and all I can really say about it is take your medication (when you find the right ones that work) as it really helps her moods/depression, etc. Good luck and again..you look awesome! Janine

Thank you SO much Janine! It's nice to meet so many new people here just starting their journey. Yeah, the bipolar sucks but what do you do? It runs in my family too. The best advice I can give you: be patient. I know ins approval is nerve-racking and it can kill you just waiting to hear. Who is doing your surgery? I have more pics that I wish I could put on my profile but I only have 2 options for the URL's. I'll have to figure out how to get more pics up there. You should see my full body pics....it's SUCH a difference. My measurements I need to get up there too. Don't let anyone tell you that the first 6 months after surgery are easy peasy! That was my worst part. When I started getting into size 8's, I started to get excited and that was this winter. Now I'm in a 4 or 6, depending on the brand! It is so wonderful to know that I was in a 22/24 and look at how much healthier I am! I have yet to quit smoking but I have way too much going on to think about giving that up yet. Hope to talk to you more soon! Again, thanks and remember, it will happen, just be patient. I sure wasn't so it's the best advice I can give!!! Hugs, jen

Jen, You look wonderful. I am just starting the process and should have all things submitted to insurance by end of Aug. I am glad to see all the results that are on here and it has helped me with the choice in doing this surgery for myself. Be patient with the smoking I am sure that will come in time when you are ready to give up that habit. Deanne

Glad to see your back. I remember reading your profile before I had my surgery. I had mine about 3 months after you. You have done get you should be so proud of yourself

Hi Jen, I'm still here. I just don't post much anymore. I do read though. May I say how wonderful you look & are doing? May I also say how jealous I am of your success? You did wonderfully! I'm sorry you aren't doing as well emotionally as you are doing physically. Please be sure to take your meds. They do help. I've been under a lot of stress lately. My job is still up in the air. We were told it would be going away last September & it 's been hanging over our heads since then. Just don't when it will end. I've decided to return to school to be a nurse & was supposed to start classes last week but had to postpone because I still have my job & refuse to quit & lose my severance pay. Hopefully, I hear by the end of next week when it will end and I can start classes in October. I'm very excited about my change of carreer & nursing is something I've wanted to do since I was 4 years old. On top of the job stress, my sister is very sick, in critical condition in Iowa City. I've been spending weekends there, spelling her husband & kids for over 6 weeks now. She is finally starting to improve but she's not out of the woods yet. It wasn't until about 10 days ago that I actually allowed myself to believe she'd make it. Unfortunately, when I get stressed enough, all I want to do is eat & I've done my share of that. I've gained 10 lbs, usually over the weekend while in IA City & then I manage to lose about 5 of it again during the week. I never got down to my goal weight so that extra 5 lbs really bothers me. Other than that, my life is good. I'm really enjoying being a grandmother & keeping my fingers crossed that my second son's girlfriend will be "the" one for him. She's a keeper! Dixie