TheRealMeIsHere!

2 years out and cold all the time. I wear as many layers as physically possible, just to be in the house! Going outside in the cold is torture. Balmy 90 degree days are my FAVORITE!!

Today, I leave at 11:00 to go to the hospital. Surgery at 1:15. Getting panniculectomy AND tummy tuck. Would post before pics, but this page seems to be having issues. Will post before and after, when I can.

Wow u r amazing and is very string women I wanted a tummy tuck but insurance didn't cover it.. but how r u doing now I'm feeling and doing wonderful! Thanks for asking. If you have back or possibly other problems, try to get a referral from the doctor that you see for that. First print the criteria from your insurance website and take that to them. Write a letter to your insurance explaining how the extra skin impedes exercise and exacerbates the pain. Also mention how important exercise is in maintaining a healthy weight and preventing any comorbidities from returning. Then the doctor can include this letter with the request for approval. Sometimes insurance denies, just to weed out the not so serious. It may or may not work, but it might be worth a shot.

Yes it IS too good to be true, looks like alot of possible complications http://ezinearticles.com/?Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-With-Duodenal-Switch&id=444089

I would do the abdominoplasty. Bigger benefit for your buck, but depends on which bothers you more. Pain was minimal for me and VERY manageable with the pain meds. I had a TT/Panni on 10/17/2013

It's all cracking until one starts crying and the other one starts spewing Sleeve or no sleeve laura-ven can hold her tequila Ok imma going to have to imagine your pretty eyes to go with the rest of the fabulousness I'm seeing... : Don't kill me I can't draw!

Yep, the bruising is gone. Thanks for asking. I love my tummy!! Still wearing shapewear for a few more weeks, but......the difference now, is I look the same with or without shapewear. Not like pre-surgery where the shapewear had to have superpowers to hide my fat suit! I even bought some HOT bodycon dresses for the holidays, in a size small, thank you very much!!

awesome!! You are both very beautiful! You really could pass for sisters

My nightmare when my drains were in!! I would have passed out cold!

has it been a while since a normal BM? Possibly you are impacted. Definitely should be mentioned to your dr. as blood should always be looked into to find the source

THAT'S when you KNOW you are ready for this life changing surgery. Go Jen!!!!!

pizza. I make the Italian sausage. Divide into two and flatten onto a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. Top with low carb sauce, part skim or fat free mozzarella and veggies of choice. Bake at 400* on bottom rack till desired done-ness. It's low carb, low fat, high Protein and DELICIOUS!!

I was able to get my panni/tt 100% covered. First I printed the criteria fro panniculectomy, from my ins. website. second, took that to my pain management dr., who wrote a letter echoing EXACTLY what ins. wanted. I have alot of spinal issues. I also wrote a letter explaining all the health issues that have resolved with weight loss, how important exercise is in keeping the weight off, and how extra skin impedes me.

Glad you are doing so well. On 10/17 I had a panni/TT. Pain was FAR less than I anticipated. Thought I would have been completely debilitated! Drains were super annoying, but not as gross as I thought. They did hurt a tad bit, and the site where they were is still sore. All in all, I would do it again in a heartbeat! Don't worry if your weight goes up quite a bit, it's just swelling. My dr. said I won't see the final result for another month or two. Most of my swelling is gone now, and I'm pretty happy with the result!

I rarely eat regular pizza, but since the turkey sausage IS the crust, I eat this one. It even gets crispy, when you cook it on the bottom rack, so you don't miss the crust at all

now you will be the hot chic!!

Here are some I found when I searched for high Protein low carb bread recipe: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1243345 http://www.chow.com/recipes/13579-gluten-free-high-protein-low-carb-bread http://www.food.com/recipe/best-low-carb-bread-bread-machine-102631 http://www.livestrong.com/article/247375-how-to-make-low-carb-protein-bread/ I haven't made any of these, let me know how it comes out

I agree with mistysj, she may be depressed and self-medicating with food. What are some interests/hobbies that she used to do. Maybe you can do them with her. Definitely sounds like counseling could help.

This is one of the times I love my sleeve the most! Very liberating to not be ENTIRELY focused on the food. I taste everything, then I'm full and satisfied. I do all the cooking so have cut the carbs/fat and calories from most dishes. In the past, I would eat so much food!!!! Then again and again over the following days the extreme pigging out would continue with the leftovers. GROSS!! Now when I feel like I pigged out, I look realistically at what I ate and it's not bad at all. Actually I crave the healthier choices anyway. Once I put the leftovers in the freezer, making what I crave most a SALAD!!

You look terrific!! bet you feel amazing, too. What nsv's have you had? energy increase? self esteem? Comorbidities?

Dr. did say that I bruised and swelled more than most, but I'm VERY happy with the result. Recovery has been so much easier than I expected, very little pain, no complications. Feels like I never skipped a beat!

you look TERRIFIC!!!

my tt/panni was on 10/17. If you go to my profile, you can see after pics

I am approved by insurance for a Tummy tuck, lipo and panniculectomy!!! I NEVER in a million years expected insurance would approve, even the nurse at the dr.'s office was surprised! And....it was approved the FIRST time!! I at least thought I would have to appeal. I think it helped that I got a referral from my pain management dr, due to the back/neck issues. Plus, I wrote about how many medical problems are resolved, since the weight loss and how important exercise is in keeping it off. Also put that I am limited in my exercise options, due to other problems, and riding the recumbant bike, is pretty much my only option now, but....the pannis sits on top of my thighs making THAT difficult. SOOOOO, the stars aligned and the request landed on the right person's desk and I am approved!! Also thought that would only approve panniculectomy, but....approval has codes for lipo AND TT!! WOOHOO!!! SOOO excited!!