PlannerGirl

I've always been afraid to post pics, but here it goes. The before shot is me with my best friend at my wedding in March 2010. I had my surgery in November in 2010. The after pic is yesterday. I was feeling pretty good about myself as I am wearing size 10 jeans. (A significant change from my 32s) I am still a work in progress and I would like to lose about 35 more pounds, but most days I just feel like a new person, almost a stranger to myself I'm happy to meet.

Carrot Cake Protein Bars Calories: 94
 Fats: 1.25 grams
 Carbs: 10 grams 
Protein: 10 grams Ingredients: 1 cup oat flour (I puree old fashion oats in the processor, it's cheaper and more easily available) 2 scoops vanilla whey protein 2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp allspice 1/8 tsp nutmeg 4 egg whites 3/4 cup Splenda, Truvia, or Ideal 8 oz baby food carrots (or if you're feeling ambitious, steam baby carrots till soft and puree with a little water) 4 oz Water Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, whey protein, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, baking soda and salt together in a bowl. Mix egg whites, Splenda, Truvia, or Ideal, baby food carrots and water (optional) in a bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix together. Spray glass pyrex dish with non-stick butter spray. Pour ingredients into dish. Bake 20-30 minutes. Makes 16 squares, 2 squares per serving. You can sub canned pumpkin for the carrots and use 3 tsp of pumpkin spice.

Thanks for the kind words all, it's helped with a tough day.

For documenting your attempts at weight loss, I may be able to help. When I applied for my insurance, I sent in a lot of backup information, most of which I have turned into templates that can be used by otheres. if you're interested, pm me and I'll forward that to you. When I applied for my insurance I was required to have 2 years of doc documentation of weight. I did not have it. That is why I sent a lot of additional information. I was approved on the first try and I am sitting here 8.5 months later and approximately 130 pounds lighter. Do whatever you need to do to ge this done......it is a life changer. Good luck!

A little FYI from my panni. I had two drains in for 2 weeks 5 days at which point they started coming out on their own. It was a Saturday night, and luckily, a good friend of mine who is happens to be a urologist was coming over. She called my ps on his cell and asked if it was ok if she removed the drains, and he said go ahead. I actually still had Fluid coming out of the holes for a couple of weeks after. Remember, my panni was paired with a hysterectomy, so your experience may be very different. I used to keep the drain bulbs tucked into my panties. I would tease my husband to "check out my bulge" One other thing......I had a thing called "retraction" where the drain holes were. Basically, the skin sort of retreated in at the spot....picture the finger poke on the pillsbury dough boy that doesn't pop back out. I told my doc "I'm a bowling ball!" (picture the three holes and you'll get it" When I have my breast reduction Sept 1, the ps is going to do scar reparation there which is also covered by my insurance. Yippee! Lastly, in your information about your panni, did they mention moving your belly button. That will probably need to be done as well.

I've had a panniculectomy so here's my story. When I had my sleeve done on Nov 18th 2010 the surgeon found my fibroid tumor was way way bigger than we knew. Luckily he was able to do my sleeve and now we knew I needed a hysterectomy sooner rather than later. My original goal was to wait until this fall and hopefully most of my weight would be gone and I could get a tummy tuck at the same time. Unfortunately, the fibroid was making my life miserable.....back pain, shortness of breath (my diaphragm couldn't fully open) having to pee all the time......so we decided to do it March 1. I knew my abs would be cut for the hysterectomy so I talked to the plastic surgeon. I had stomach that overhung to my pubic area (so gross) and even my girly areas drooped. (grosser) I decided to have the panni done when I had my hysterectomy. The gyno cut vertically to get the tumor out, and the plastics cut on either side of the incision and pulled it together. My panniculectomy incision runs from nearly the back of one hip to nearly the back of the other. My belly button was moved. When I figured out he had cut it out of the skin that was removed and cut a hole where it is now and sewed it in I was sort of disgusted...but it looks pretty good. Sometimes I feel like Frankenstein. There are some pros and cons to what I did and I'll share them with you. Pros: Not having that overhang was a huge motivator to me. No more rashes there I can move so much more freely (ie...when I ride my bike, my knees don't hit my stomach) I have a lap again My clothes fit so much better and the overhang used to be visible under clothes TMI alert (sex is soooo much better without that between us) BTW.....he removed 15 pounds of skin and fat. So if you've ever grabbed your stomach and said 'I wish I could cut this off" Well, it turns out you can. Cons: It hurt soooooo much. Please understand a lot of that pain came from the removal of a fibroid tumor that weighed in at over 10 pounds and the cutting of my abdominal muscles. The scar is big and ugly, but as bad as it is, it's better than the overhang. Because I had my surgery with A LOT of weight left to lose, I may still want to have a tummy tuck later. I'm going to wait and see on that. I paid for it out of pocket and it wasn't cheap, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat My doc explained that the panniculectomy was like a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) without the tightening of the stomach muscles. If you're at your goal weight now, my suggestion (unsolicited so tell me to shut up if you want) would be to have the tummy tuck. With the tummy tuck they will remove the excess skin like they would in a panniculectomy, but they will also tighten up your muscles, giving you a more toned look. Sept 1 I'm having my girls reduced and lifted. If you have questions about that, I'll let you know after. Insurance is footing the bill for that one and I'm psyched. If you want to know anything else, please feel free to PM me. Good luck with your decision.

This morning I joined the Century Club.....I'm officially down 101 pounds. More work to do, but I am sooooooooo happy.

YAY YOU!!

I promise you, some time in the next couple of weeks you'll be shocked you even thought this. You'll feel full eating small meals, you'll get your energy back (in fact, you'll have more energy as you won't be carrying around as much weight) your friends will start to notice your weight loss and shower you in compliments, and you will think getting sleeved is the best thing you've ever done. Just tough out this difficult yet short period and things will be ok

Congratulations to you. Wowza.......108 down in 4 months, that's incredible!

YAY YOU!

And thanks for all the congratulations, your cheerleading helps keep me motivated.

I was counting from initial consultation but i would be happy to Celebrate again in another 21 pounds!

My goodness…….you don't look like the same person. If someone gave me your old pic and asked me to select the new you in a lineup, I'm not sure I'd be able to. CONGRATULATIONS

Thanks you so much for sharing your blessing. You have been such an inspiration to so many here and now there is an additional reason. Be well and enjoy all the beautiful moments to come.

Yay you! That's terrific news. Please keep us updated and we will continue to send you healing prayers.

Thanks again for making me feel good. You all sooooooo rock!

Well it's done. I had the surgery on Tuesday and came home on Thursday. The ob/gyn was surprised to find out the tumor weight in at over 10 lbs……my husband and I are trying to decide if we should send out birth announcements. Where my sleeve surgery was way easier than I expected, this was a bit harder. The pain is like nothing I've ever experienced. The really weird part is how weepy I am all the time. I at least recognize my hormones are completely out of whack and the surgeon explained the anesthesia also contributes. I really want to thank all of you on this board for the support you offered. I am blessed to have found this group and I a truly grateful to all of you.

Pita chips are my cryptonite……can't have them in the house.

Unjury makes a protein drink that is chicken broth flavored…..perhaps that would satisfy you.

I shake them in a plastic cup with a blender ball. No foam and no lumps.

I felt great and was ready at 6-7 days but my husband was so nervous about hurting me we waited 10 and he was extraordinarily gentle. Here it is 3 months out and much less belly later and it's awesome! Have fun!

Don't worry about the pics, I've already discussed that with the doc. I also asked him to take one with a ruler next to it so we can really see the size. My DH and I have been making jokes about naming it and posting our proud pic on facebook.

Thank you all so much for the kind words and for lifting my spirits. This is such a generous community and I am grateful for each of you.

Thanks you all so much……I so appreciate I can come here when I'm feeling down and need to be propped up a bit.