xpost - The Mirror and Gratitude

OK, I have to make a remark on my body !  I had my TT and Brachio 3 weeks ago yesterday.  I am not a vain person (well I don't think so).  I am only 5'2" tall and my mother has always looked petite to me (she is 5'1 and never heavy), I was always fat until I had my RNY 7 years ago.  Even though I have loved my weight loss and was happy at my weight (not as low as the charts say I should be but after years of obesity, I am thrilled with it)  I would look in the mirror and was not really satisfied.  Now everytime I go into my bathroom I have to look sideways in the mirror as I go out and am amazed at the person in the mirror !   It is this petite person with a small waist and small arms, my upper body looks so different, and GOOD ! ! !  I can't believe the difference it is making.  My clothes hang so much better, I still wear large tops to be comfortable, I don't like tightness and with the big arms they were always feeling snug, now the arms fit great, room to spare which also means it fits across my shoulders better (and now I can go down to medium)!   I am just amazed !  

I went to the bowling alley with my DH last night and my friend that is subbing for me hadn't seen me since my surgery.  She was amazed also, she didn't think it would make as big of a difference as it has either !  

I am a blessed person, I am thankful for my DH and his willingness to spend the money on this, yes it is our money but it is a big investment !  I am thankful for my RNY Dr, and especially for my PS DR, what a wonderful person he is, so skilled and wonderful!   It was worth every penny !

I am grateful for all the information I get from all of the OH sites, the PS site is full of so much knowledge and great people.  The BOTT site, helps keep me accountable and safe, the Michigan site has so many great caring people, always there to assist,  the WLS-Success through Positive Powerful Attitudes - just as it name says, a positive site !  I have so many friends on OH that it overwhelms me!   Why did I stay away for 4 years !  I will not dwell on that because I have been back now for 4 months and intend to never leave again !  I need all these friends and this support !

I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You are right, it does make a difference and the PS is the second best thing I did.  I still am uncomfortable discussing it on any other board because some people....well, they aren't nice and some cannot get it and I don't want anyone to feel badly.  I did make a point at one event that changed a lot of minds about whether they could afford it.  I told one lady that we buy a car and it only lasts so many years but PS is forever and that I would work an extra job or drive a lesser car to do it.  They have some loans available where you can put down a certain amount of money and can pay it off over time and some with no interest if you do it within a year.  I feel badly for the women that don't think the investment is worth asking their family for.  I feel more badly for the ones that just can't get it (that really want it).  I do believe that you can do magic with undergarments though and so we have to work with what we've got and be happy!

I'm so happy for you and now you have to promise to stay with us!  When the swelling goes down you have to take some pictures OK??  I think you deserved it because you had WLS so long ago and you succeeded.  Thank you for sharing and enjoy it every single day. 
WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
hugs, Y

Thanks Yvonne, I wish every person could do this !  I know it isn't easy.  I actually was planning on having it done two years after my RNY but I found out that summer that my two front teeth were going to fall out.  I had injured them when I was a child and had crowns on them for 40 years and the bone that held in the roots was gone so the teeth were going to fall out.  I didn't want to have a plate so I had to pay for Implants, insurance doesn't cover that either.  So to make a long story short, it took me 4 years to get it all done, my body just didn't want to rebuild the bone for the implants.  When it finally worked last year the dentist was ready to do backflips !  I had to have oral surgery approximately once every three months during that time frame trying to get the bone back, it was a long long long process.  Oh, and expensive.  So since you can cover the skin with clothes but can't stop smiling I had to choose the teeth first.  I don't regret that either. 

Everything in its time !

Pictures to follow in a few weeks !

Every 3 months?  Bless your heart sweetie and you do have a point indeed.  Teeth are a bit more important....you can't cover that up can you?  Are you taking your vitamins like a good girl?  We sure don't want your calcium levels going down.  Wow...truly great things come to those who wait and you were incredibly patient and deserving at the same time.  I try to tell new post-ops that they shouldn't keep from dating because of loose skin.  I met my husband with my loose skin and he saw my heart.   I was so very fortunate that he fixed it for me too.  I had never been on a board yet and didn't know that some post-ops would never consider dating because of their skin.  I ididn't know any better! We are capable of so much and we hold ourselves back because of the critical voice that holds us down.

I'm so very happy for you and can't wait for those pictures!
hugs, Y

That is so awesome, I also met my husband when I had all the excess skin.  He told me I wasn't having this surgery for him, he fell in love with me and didn't see me the way I did !  Aren't they awesome men when they see you on the inside and not the outside !  I started dating him when I started having the Oral surgeries and he was by my side the whole time !  He was awesome, the dentist thought we were connected at the hip...LOL.  What lucky women we are !

Sally... what an amazing journey you have been on! Thankyou for sharing it with all of us. Glad to hear you are doing so well.

Congratulations!

Thanks for sharing this Sally!  You are an inspiration!  You really give us newbies something great to look forward to!  Keep up the awesome work!

What an awesome story Sally. Yet ANOTHER Success Story!  You're life sounds beautiful. As for your DH he sounds like a doll. There Really ARE some wonderful men out there,  That love us when we can't love ourselves and celebrate us when we can. I haven't don't any plastics yet, totally a money issue.  I can't wait to get the girls done!! I had NO idea how important they really were to me. I can't wait for the Pix!