Re: A souvenir among the dust bunnies

[Guest guest]

Go for it Martha !! Mine is on Sept 1st and I cant wait.

I think it will be worth all the doubts pain etc. Just for my own

piece of mind !!

Huggles

> I've noticed that since surgery, when I travel and stay in motels I

love

> to look in the big mirrors they always have. I admire my new body

and

> also I like to grab handfuls of skin and move them around,

fantasizing

> about how I'd look if I had reconstructive surgery.

>

> So I finally moved my big, heavy dresser and put a BIG MIRROR over

it!

>

> Underneath the dresser were dust bunnies the size of hamsters

and... an

> old pair of neon-green panties, size 26-28, from Lane . Them

> suckers is the size of a beach umbrella! Hahahaha! Another souvenir!

>

> Anyway... I started having doubts about getting my plastic surgery.

The

> doubts go like this:

>

> My loose skin is not as bad as some people's. I should get used to

the

> way I look.

>

> It's gonna cost me a bundle to get the surgery I want, and I'll

need to

> buy a car in a few years. I should accept the way I look.

>

> There are all those risks of surgery, it's gonna hurt like hell,

I'll

> have a scar, and... I should accept the way I look.

>

> I'm 51 years old; I have one foot in the grave and the other on a

banana

> peel. I should accept the way I look.

>

> My fella loves me as I am. I should accept the way I look.

>

> After talking to my best friend (who went transgender and had breast

> reduction surgery) and my exhusband (who knows me pretty darn well

and

> is a very insightful psychiatrist) I am headed forward again.

>

> Martha, size 4-6, 2 years out on 9/30

[Guest guest]

OMG, Martha, your post both cracked me up

and is kind of sobering, too! (ok,

the dust bunnies the size of hamsters really cracked me up!) First, at 51 years

old, you HARDLY have one foot in the grave!!! Especially with your new healthy

non-obese self! There are some very valid points to accepting the way you look,

and yes, of course there are risks and significant cost associated with recon

surgery; however, having these doubts is all part of the process that will

bring you to the right decision for you. The fact that you wrote everything

down here is a good start to weighing the pros and cons. I sense that you’re

feeling guilty about this, but really it’s just a matter of coming to

terms with the best plan for yourself, which it sounds like you’re doing,

so congratulations – quit bashing yourself! : - )

- Lesa -

A souvenir among the dust bunnies

I've noticed that since surgery, when I travel and

stay in motels I love

to look in the big mirrors they always have. I

admire my new body and

also I like to grab handfuls of skin and move them

around, fantasizing

about how I'd look if I had reconstructive

surgery.

So I finally moved my big, heavy dresser and put a

BIG MIRROR over it!

Underneath the dresser were dust bunnies the size

of hamsters and... an

old pair of neon-green panties, size 26-28, from

Lane . Them

suckers is the size of a beach umbrella! Hahahaha!

Another souvenir!

Anyway... I started having doubts about getting my

plastic surgery. The

doubts go like this:

My loose skin is not as bad as some people's. I

should get used to the

way I look.

It's gonna cost me a bundle to get the surgery I

want, and I'll need to

buy a car in a few years. I should accept the way

I look.

There are all those risks of surgery, it's gonna

hurt like hell, I'll

have a scar, and... I should accept the way I

look.

I'm 51 years old; I have one foot in the grave and

the other on a banana

peel. I should accept the way I look.

My fella loves me as I am. I should accept the way

I look.

After talking to my best friend (who went

transgender and had breast

reduction surgery) and my exhusband (who knows me

pretty darn well and

is a very insightful psychiatrist) I am headed

forward again.

Martha, size 4-6, 2 years out on 9/30

[Guest guest]

Dear Dear Martha,

Thank you so much for this post. I am 47 yrs old and recently

approved for surgery. No date yet. I dream of the day when my

surgry will be an afterthought. I have thought long and hard about

the extra skin that I will experience after I lose my weight.

Because of my age I really don't know what to expect. I can

certainly hope for the best, but I am a realist.

Your post helped me put reconstructive surgery in a humorous, yet

very real light.

I applaud your bravery and hope you will keep us posted as your

continue on with your journey.

BTW, 51 is so " NOT " one foot in the grave. You are going to live

much much longer now that you aren't carrying around all that extra

insulation!

Have a great weekend.

> I've noticed that since surgery, when I travel and stay in motels I

love

> to look in the big mirrors they always have. I admire my new body

and

> also I like to grab handfuls of skin and move them around,

fantasizing

> about how I'd look if I had reconstructive surgery.

>

> So I finally moved my big, heavy dresser and put a BIG MIRROR over

it!

>

> Underneath the dresser were dust bunnies the size of hamsters

and... an

> old pair of neon-green panties, size 26-28, from Lane . Them

> suckers is the size of a beach umbrella! Hahahaha! Another souvenir!

>

> Anyway... I started having doubts about getting my plastic surgery.

The

> doubts go like this:

>

> My loose skin is not as bad as some people's. I should get used to

the

> way I look.

>

> It's gonna cost me a bundle to get the surgery I want, and I'll

need to

> buy a car in a few years. I should accept the way I look.

>

> There are all those risks of surgery, it's gonna hurt like hell,

I'll

> have a scar, and... I should accept the way I look.

>

> I'm 51 years old; I have one foot in the grave and the other on a

banana

> peel. I should accept the way I look.

>

> My fella loves me as I am. I should accept the way I look.

>

> After talking to my best friend (who went transgender and had breast

> reduction surgery) and my exhusband (who knows me pretty darn well

and

> is a very insightful psychiatrist) I am headed forward again.

>

> Martha, size 4-6, 2 years out on 9/30

[Guest guest]

Martha:

I love your humor! I felt the same way about my reconstructive

surgery. And now, yes, I really have to watch my pennies (kind of)

because I had to pay out of pocket.

But, yikes, was this worth it! The other day, I was sitting on the

edge of the bathtub (in my jockeys) brushing my teeth, and I caught a

glimpse of myself in the wall-to-wall mirrors in our master bath.

I was stunned at how normal my body looked. My chest was flat, as

was my stomach, and there was no spare tire of fat around my

midsection. My arms and legs had definition and tone, and I could see

my collar bones. My hands looked angular and masculine, not puffy

and bloated. All the exercise has combined with the reconstruction

to give me " a perfect body " according to Zach. It's just normal to

me, not perfect. " Perfect " is Zach's word.

I'm still not used to the way I look. But I get a little misty when

I look in the mirror and like what I see for the first time in my

life. And it's not just physical. I like what I see because I like

the person standing there. He's healthy and optimistic. He had the

courage to tackle this overwhelming problem and had the smarts to

reach out for help when he needed it.

Martha, best of luck to you. You deserve every happiness. I had the

same doubts as you, and I questioned my motives. What's wrong with

you wanting to improve the way you look? Nothing at all.

Gemello

-140 lbs

> I've noticed that since surgery, when I travel and stay in motels I

love

> to look in the big mirrors they always have. I admire my new body

and

> also I like to grab handfuls of skin and move them around,

fantasizing

> about how I'd look if I had reconstructive surgery.

>

> So I finally moved my big, heavy dresser and put a BIG MIRROR over

it!

>

> Underneath the dresser were dust bunnies the size of hamsters

and... an

> old pair of neon-green panties, size 26-28, from Lane . Them

> suckers is the size of a beach umbrella! Hahahaha! Another souvenir!

>

> Anyway... I started having doubts about getting my plastic surgery.

The

> doubts go like this:

>

> My loose skin is not as bad as some people's. I should get used to

the

> way I look.

>

> It's gonna cost me a bundle to get the surgery I want, and I'll

need to

> buy a car in a few years. I should accept the way I look.

>

> There are all those risks of surgery, it's gonna hurt like hell,

I'll

> have a scar, and... I should accept the way I look.

>

> I'm 51 years old; I have one foot in the grave and the other on a

banana

> peel. I should accept the way I look.

>

> My fella loves me as I am. I should accept the way I look.

>

> After talking to my best friend (who went transgender and had breast

> reduction surgery) and my exhusband (who knows me pretty darn well

and

> is a very insightful psychiatrist) I am headed forward again.

>

> Martha, size 4-6, 2 years out on 9/30

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone -

I'm 53 and waiting to get approved. You're not old - you're going to feel like a spring chicken in no time! How long did it take to be approved? I'd be going to the Richmond facility, as far as I know. Is it hard to get approved?

buzzy1951

D wrote:

Dear Dear Martha,Thank you so much for this post. I am 47 yrs old and recently approved for surgery. No date yet. I dream of the day when my surgry will be an afterthought. I have thought long and hard about the extra skin that I will experience after I lose my weight. Because of my age I really don't know what to expect. I can certainly hope for the best, but I am a realist.Your post helped me put reconstructive surgery in a humorous, yet very real light.I applaud your bravery and hope you will keep us posted as your continue on with your journey.BTW, 51 is so "NOT" one foot in the grave. You are going to live much much longer now that you aren't carrying around all that extra insulation!Have a great weekend. > I've noticed that since surgery, when I travel and stay in motels I love> to look in the big mirrors they always have. I admire my new body and> also I like to grab handfuls of skin and move them around, fantasizing> about how I'd look if I had reconstructive surgery. > > So I finally moved my big, heavy dresser and put a BIG MIRROR over it! > > Underneath the dresser were dust bunnies the size of hamsters and... an> old pair of neon-green panties, size 26-28, from Lane . Them> suckers is the size of a beach umbrella! Hahahaha! Another souvenir!> > Anyway... I started having doubts about getting my plastic surgery. The> doubts go like this:> > My loose skin is not as bad as some people's. I should get used to the> way I look.

> > It's gonna cost me a bundle to get the surgery I want, and I'll need to> buy a car in a few years. I should accept the way I look. > > There are all those risks of surgery, it's gonna hurt like hell, I'll> have a scar, and... I should accept the way I look. > > I'm 51 years old; I have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana> peel. I should accept the way I look. > > My fella loves me as I am. I should accept the way I look. > > After talking to my best friend (who went transgender and had breast> reduction surgery) and my exhusband (who knows me pretty darn well and> is a very insightful psychiatrist) I am headed forward again. > > Martha, size 4-6, 2 years out on 9/30

[Guest guest]

OK, I have a question about self image.

This is weird, but when I was at my heaviest, I always FELT a lot thinner than

I really was. Now that I’ve lost 75 lbs and am getting a “more

normal” sized body, I keep feeling like I’m still really heavy…it’s

like the opposite self-image now. Has anyone else experienced that? I guess

part of what I’m asking is what tactics or strategies have you used to

come to terms with your new body/self image and how you FEEL about it?

- Lesa -

Re: A souvenir among the dust bunnies

Martha:

I love your humor! I felt the same way about

my reconstructive

surgery. And now, yes, I really have to

watch my pennies (kind of)

because I had to pay out of pocket.

But, yikes, was this worth it! The other

day, I was sitting on the

edge of the bathtub (in my jockeys) brushing my

teeth, and I caught a

glimpse of myself in the wall-to-wall mirrors in

our master bath.

I was stunned at how normal my body looked.

My chest was flat, as

was my stomach, and there was no spare tire of fat

around my

midsection. My arms and legs had definition and

tone, and I could see

my collar bones. My hands looked angular and

masculine, not puffy

and bloated. All the exercise has combined

with the reconstruction

to give me " a perfect body " according to

Zach. It's just normal to

me, not perfect. " Perfect " is

Zach's word.

I'm still not used to the way I look. But I

get a little misty when

I look in the mirror and like what I see for the

first time in my

life. And it's not just physical. I

like what I see because I like

the person standing there. He's healthy and

optimistic. He had the

courage to tackle this overwhelming problem and

had the smarts to

reach out for help when he needed it.

Martha, best of luck to you. You deserve

every happiness. I had the

same doubts as you, and I questioned my

motives. What's wrong with

you wanting to improve the way you look?

Nothing at all.

Gemello

-140 lbs

> I've noticed that since surgery, when I

travel and stay in motels I

love

> to look in the big mirrors they always have.

I admire my new body

and

> also I like to grab handfuls of skin and move

them around,

fantasizing

> about how I'd look if I had reconstructive

surgery.

>

> So I finally moved my big, heavy dresser and

put a BIG MIRROR over

it!

>

> Underneath the dresser were dust bunnies the

size of hamsters

and... an

> old pair of neon-green panties, size 26-28,

from Lane . Them

> suckers is the size of a beach umbrella!

Hahahaha! Another souvenir!

>

> Anyway... I started having doubts about

getting my plastic surgery.

The

> doubts go like this:

>

> My loose skin is not as bad as some people's.

I should get used to

the

> way I look.

>

> It's gonna cost me a bundle to get the

surgery I want, and I'll

need to

> buy a car in a few years. I should accept the

way I look.

>

> There are all those risks of surgery, it's

gonna hurt like hell,

I'll

> have a scar, and... I should accept the way I

look.

>

> I'm 51 years old; I have one foot in the

grave and the other on a

banana

> peel. I should accept the way I look.

>

> My fella loves me as I am. I should accept

the way I look.

>

> After talking to my best friend (who went

transgender and had breast

> reduction surgery) and my exhusband (who

knows me pretty darn well

and

> is a very insightful psychiatrist) I am

headed forward again.

>

> Martha, size 4-6, 2 years out on 9/30

[Guest guest]

Gemello,

Thanks for your response. I am going forward!

Martha

On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 17:27:56 -0000, " Gemello DiGiovanni "

said:

>

> Martha:

> I love your humor! I felt the same way about my reconstructive

> surgery. And now, yes, I really have to watch my pennies (kind

> of)

> because I had to pay out of pocket.

> But, yikes, was this worth it! The other day, I was sitting on

> the

> edge of the bathtub (in my jockeys) brushing my teeth, and I

> caught a

> glimpse of myself in the wall-to-wall mirrors in our master

> bath.

> I was stunned at how normal my body looked. My chest was flat,

> as

> was my stomach, and there was no spare tire of fat around my

> midsection. My arms and legs had definition and tone, and I

> could see

> my collar bones. My hands looked angular and masculine, not

> puffy

> and bloated. All the exercise has combined with the

> reconstruction

> to give me " a perfect body " according to Zach. It's just normal

> to

> me, not perfect. " Perfect " is Zach's word.

> I'm still not used to the way I look. But I get a little misty

> when

> I look in the mirror and like what I see for the first time in

> my

> life. And it's not just physical. I like what I see because I

> like

> the person standing there. He's healthy and optimistic. He had

> the

> courage to tackle this overwhelming problem and had the smarts

> to

> reach out for help when he needed it.

> Martha, best of luck to you. You deserve every happiness. I

> had the

> same doubts as you, and I questioned my motives. What's wrong

> with

> you wanting to improve the way you look? Nothing at all.

> Gemello

> -140 lbs

>

> > I've noticed that since surgery, when I travel and stay in

> motels I

> love

> > to look in the big mirrors they always have. I admire my new

> body

> and

> > also I like to grab handfuls of skin and move them around,

> fantasizing

> > about how I'd look if I had reconstructive surgery.

> >

> > So I finally moved my big, heavy dresser and put a BIG MIRROR

> over

> it!

> >

> > Underneath the dresser were dust bunnies the size of hamsters

> and... an

> > old pair of neon-green panties, size 26-28, from Lane .

> Them

> > suckers is the size of a beach umbrella! Hahahaha! Another

> souvenir!

> >

> > Anyway... I started having doubts about getting my plastic

> surgery.

> The

> > doubts go like this:

> >

> > My loose skin is not as bad as some people's. I should get

> used to

> the

> > way I look.

> >

> > It's gonna cost me a bundle to get the surgery I want, and

> I'll

> need to

> > buy a car in a few years. I should accept the way I look.

> >

> > There are all those risks of surgery, it's gonna hurt like

> hell,

> I'll

> > have a scar, and... I should accept the way I look.

> >

> > I'm 51 years old; I have one foot in the grave and the other

> on a

> banana

> > peel. I should accept the way I look.

> >

> > My fella loves me as I am. I should accept the way I look.

> >

> > After talking to my best friend (who went transgender and had

> breast

> > reduction surgery) and my exhusband (who knows me pretty darn

> well

> and

> > is a very insightful psychiatrist) I am headed forward again.

> >

> > Martha, size 4-6, 2 years out on 9/30

>

>

[Guest guest]

Good for you Martha !!!!!!!!!!

Huggles

> > > I've noticed that since surgery, when I travel and stay in

> > motels I

> > love

> > > to look in the big mirrors they always have. I admire my new

> > body

> > and

> > > also I like to grab handfuls of skin and move them around,

> > fantasizing

> > > about how I'd look if I had reconstructive surgery.

> > >

> > > So I finally moved my big, heavy dresser and put a BIG MIRROR

> > over

> > it!

> > >

> > > Underneath the dresser were dust bunnies the size of hamsters

> > and... an

> > > old pair of neon-green panties, size 26-28, from Lane .

> > Them

> > > suckers is the size of a beach umbrella! Hahahaha! Another

> > souvenir!

> > >

> > > Anyway... I started having doubts about getting my plastic

> > surgery.

> > The

> > > doubts go like this:

> > >

> > > My loose skin is not as bad as some people's. I should get

> > used to

> > the

> > > way I look.

> > >

> > > It's gonna cost me a bundle to get the surgery I want, and

> > I'll

> > need to

> > > buy a car in a few years. I should accept the way I look.

> > >

> > > There are all those risks of surgery, it's gonna hurt like

> > hell,

> > I'll

> > > have a scar, and... I should accept the way I look.

> > >

> > > I'm 51 years old; I have one foot in the grave and the other

> > on a

> > banana

> > > peel. I should accept the way I look.

> > >

> > > My fella loves me as I am. I should accept the way I look.

> > >

> > > After talking to my best friend (who went transgender and had

> > breast

> > > reduction surgery) and my exhusband (who knows me pretty darn

> > well

> > and

> > > is a very insightful psychiatrist) I am headed forward again.

> > >

> > > Martha, size 4-6, 2 years out on 9/30

> >

> >