Milk, bread, and steak oh my...

 Ok. So I haven't been active here in some time. I'm about 5 years out of my surgery. I'm below my goal weight and maintaining a healthy balanced weight. I'm 89% seriously happy. I wouldn't CHANGE having the surgery. It's changing how I view myself, my body, and my life.

I have noticed some things.  My pouch is EXTREMELY temperamental. I haven't been able to eat even a few bites of steak in 5 years. I've tried every kind of beef cut imaginable, and they all disagree with me. I can have a little more if it's refrigerated and sliced extra thin. But lovely hot piping steak? Nope. I've accepted this as part of my payment for being thin. I'm lactose intolerant. I can't eat milk, yogurt (no not even greek yogurt) or even some soft cheeses. Ok. Again, ice cream was one of my weaknesses pre-surgery so being unable to tolerate it? Fine. Potatoes still make me sleepy. I can have bread, in moderation but have to watch it close as more the a few bites makes me reject it. 

I reject a lot of foods. I'm considering finding someone here to consult to make sure the opening to my pouch isn't too small. If I don't think about carefully chewing EVERY single (cursed) bite of food I'll loose it. 

It's maddening. I'm also seriously considering plastics. I can't afford to fully cover the price of plastics and would need insurance to help. I don't even know how to get started on this. My belly flap is soo gross and my boobs are just sad empty hanging things. I wear supportive garments, and look awesome IN clothing. out of clothing? My skin disgusts me. I hate that I let myself ever get to a place where my body was so streached out that even now I don't fit in my skin. *sigh*

Anyway. That's the state of affairs with me. :) Over all I'm content. I live a good life. I'm loved. I'm healthy. I just wish...

Things were a little easier. 

In my humble opinion 89% is pretty good!  

I have problems with chicken and I'm over 3 years out, if I had to pick I'm happy where I'm at there, I love meat now :).

There's a huge possibility that your lactose intolerant now, I've read that allot over the years.....sorry, I like my milk products too.  Have you tried soy, almond milk or the lactose free products?  I have a problem with ice cream too  :`(  but actually it's a good thing......keeps me in  control, but damn I do miss it.

As far as the plastics, if you can show a history with rashes the 'basic' portion of your plastics should be covered by your insurance, you may want to consult with a few plastic surgeons who've worked with wls patients in the past and knows how to work around any issues your insurance may have.

Good luck,

Edie

LOL..If wishes were horses, beggars would ride..It's funny  about wanting and wishing. But then I don't have the issues you have with eating. Yeah, bread and spuds make me have hot flashes and get tired so, I generally have to go to bed soon after that. I also figured out today that my pouch doesn't like herb tea or warm liquids much in the afternoons..warm tea HURT my pouch..But in the morning, unless I have warm stuff, the pouch is not open for business pretty much the whole day. No cold breakfast for me..and coffee is a must..

My first forey into steak was a piece the size of a quarter and slivers were sliced off and chewed till they had more resemblance to dust than steak..not really worth swallowing..but now, I can eat pretty much a 4 oz piece (of really prime, cooked medium/rare - leaning toward rare, perfection only please) and veggies afterwards so long as I don't think about drinking fluids for about an hour..or more.

I was scoping myself in the mirror yesterday and noticed that if I grab the skin above my backside and lift it up, I can remove all the cottage cheese hanging just below my butt cheeks and have a 30 year old's ass again...but being 52...why? LOL. I can also pull the skin up in front and have no sagging skin around my knees either. LOL. naked I look like a sharpei..but then at 52, I don't need to look like I'm 30 any more. I've had to get pretty philosophical about it, actually. Boobs look like golf balls in tube socks..but they go with the whole saggy package, a matched set..at 4 years and 6 months out..I'm stuck with it.

LOL I love it!  yes, those boobs - just not as perky as they once were.  *sigh*

At five years out I too find there are certain foods that work and others that don't.  Steak I'm okay with if it is cooked no more than medium rare.  Past that and it is too dry. 

As for plastics, I've had three bits done--the tummy, the arms, and the breasts.  Insurance paid for all except the arms.  I had those done at the same time as the breasts to save costs.  But I needed a breast reduction (why insurance paid) as I was still a H cup even after losing 240 lbs.!  All surgeries gave me great results.

But, that being said, no surgery will give you the body of someone who hasn't been morbidly obese.  You will still not look like the "normal" (really atypical) bodies you see in photos.  Best advice is to find a book, website, something, of actual before and after pictures of real people.  there's a doctor who does body lifts who has a book out--can't think of it now but his practice is in Baltimore, I think.  It is great for giving realistic expectations.  For example, while my arms are sooooo much better, they still have odd bits to them--heavy around the elbows--because there is only so much surgery can do.  If you want to go the route of plastics, just be sure to do your research and have realistic expectations.  I was surprised by how much difference the tummy tuck made in my sense of self--very worth it.

 Thank you for the replies.
Sally I have pretty realistic expectations. I doubt even a truly gifted surgeon could give me the body of a 20 year old LOL! I expect my stretch marks to be there. I expect scars.. I expect some unevenness. But just being free of slapping of belly skin when I jog upstairs would be nice. I don't have big breasts, They "fill" a c cup but I doubt there's even that much really of them. This from a gal who couldn't find a bra that fit pre-surgery.  I'd be happy for a reduction, don't care if they're big, just need them manageable. They's sooo sad!! I don't even feel like a woman most days.