GREATFUL

Hello JWRN; I have not had my PS as of yet, like you I am searching for that perfect Doc. In my search I have found a Doc in Nashville, I am impressed with his staff and I havent even been to see him yet. He is associated with Vanderbilt. I sent him an email with questions about his experience with weightloss patients and he responded personally very quickly. I am going to him for a estimate in the next few weeks. Here is his response from my email: Laura, Thanks for writing. I do have experience with weight loss patients and would be happy to see you at any time. My consultations are free and it wouldn't hurt to see you early. This would give you an understanding of what to expect and get an appreciation for the timing of procedures. Please feel free to contact any one of my nurses (Sally, Nan, Sandra) at your earliest convenience. Our office phone number is 165-327-7407. I hope this was helpful. We are looking forward to seeing you in the office soon. Sincerely Stephen Davis, MD I don't know if this helps...... good luck.......If you find some other great doc in Nashville, I would love to know. Laura

Melissa - Great to hear that all is going well in the baby department. Hope that the problem corrects itself. Take care of yourself and that little miracle. Laura

You look FABALOUS!!! Thank you so much for sharing the pics. My tummy looks alot like your (pre TT), I just hope it looks as good as yours when I have it fixed. Again, you look great. Laura

Renewedhope, I am so glad everyting is going well for you. I hope to be following you to flatland very soon. Thanks for sharing your journey thus far. Laura

Thanks for posting Loridee, you look fabalous. I am looking to get the same type of TT, but for now it looks like the breast lift might not be necessay. Like the others, I would love to see more pics furter into your healing process. Laura

Way to go Becky. I am in the process of fighting my insurance also. Glad to hear that it can happen..... Are you going to have a TT along with the panniculectomy? Laura

Shalee, Wishing you good luck and fast healing. Hope all is going well for you. Laura

Thanks Shalee! Had a major Bummer today.... Had to cancel my PS opintment. Have to go out of town with work. Just a minor thing....will have to wait until I return to reschedule. Oh Well....

Hello Everyone, I want to have a TT and maybe breast implants. My tummy is awful, big lip thing hanging down. And my breast, well are no that bad, so I may or may not have something done to fill them out. I am just at the beginning of this journey. I have appreciated all of the post from everyone here. I have been lurking here, made a few post, but mostly just soaking up all of the info. I just love all of the candid stories and sharing from all of you who has gone before. I am hoping that I will be able to get this done this year, but that may be unrealistic, so it will more that likely be 8 – 10 months before it happens. But, I have made up my mind… It will happen. I know the new me that I have been working so hard to find is lurking under all of this flabby loose skin, I am so ready to have her revealed. I have contacted my insurance, they will cover a panniculectomy, subject to it being medically necessary, recommended by a doctor, and the person I talked to repeated twice, “That is has nothing to do with weight loss”. So…I was a little confused. She explained that I could not get it just too loose weight. I have a bad rash, my lower back hurts when I walk or try to exercise. So, I went to the Dermatologist, she confirmed the rash gave me a prescription for cream and powder. She said that she would recommend that I have a panniculectomy. She is going to fax the precertification to my insurance. She said she would be sure not to say anything about weight loss in her recommendation. Then I can go to a plastic surgeon, as long as he is in my network. I have found two that I would like to check out. I am also going to a chiropractor for the lower back pain. SO here is to holding my breath and hoping. This reminds me so much of what I went through when I started the fight to get my band paid for by my insurance. It has been good for me, remembering how bad I wanted this chance to loose weight and be healthy. I still have a few pounds to get off, so this has helped me to get refocused. If they will pay for the panniculectomy it sure will help, I want a TT most of all and I am fully aware I will have to pay for that. If anyone has any additional advice I sure could use it. Anyone else who has gotten there insurance to pay for a portion or ALL of the cost associated with a panniculectomy/TT. Thanks again everyone for sharing the details of your own personal journeys. I will do that same as mine unfolds. I hope that it will help someone as much as each and everyone of yours have helped me. Take care, Laura

Shalee - WOW 2 weeks is no time at all. I am so excited for you. I would love to have a belly button. Like you, mine has been in hiding for a very long time. Good luck, here is wish time to fly for you!!!!! Laura

Well.... I have made some progress on my journey. As I told you before I went to my Dermatologist, she confirmed the rash gave me a prescription for cream and powder. She said that she would recommend that I have a panniculectomy. She is going to fax the precertification to my insurance. Well, I received a letter from my insurance saying: Panniculectomy is considered medically necessary for the individual who meets the following criteria: The panniculus hangs below the level of the pubis (which has to be documented in photographs) AND the individal has achieved significant weight loss and reached a boy mass index oa 30, as well as having matained a stable weight for at least six months AND if the individual has had bariatric surgery, be at least 18 months post operative AND have recurrent or chronic rashes, infections that do not respond to conventional treatment for a period of 3 months. So..... I have made an appointment with the PS for next Wednesday, he will take pictures and forward to my insurance, my pannis hang way below the pubis. check of one thing. BMI is 29, (and falling), the stable weight I am working on. November will be 18 months since my surgery My Dermatologist has already documented the rashes, and have been treated for over 3 months. Soo.... We shall see how it goes next week...Wish me luck Laura

Karey, I am so excited for you. I have been keeping up with your journey, all I can say is " You Rock". I know you have had your up's and down's, but I know in the end you will be happy with the out come. Wishing you all of the luck in the world. Hope to be joining you in "Flatland" some time soon. Take care, Laura

Shalee I am so excited for you. I hope to be in your shoes soon. I have alot in common with you - 2 c-cections and a hysterectomy, all 3 were bikini cuts. I will be going to see the PS in a few weeks. I will be watching your progress and look forward to your post. Good luck with everything. Oh - pictures, we would love pictures!!! Laura

Hey Guys, I quit smoking 3 weeks and 4 days ago. I miss it so much. My doctor did not require me to quit in order to have the band. But my mom died of lung cancer almost 2 year ago. So I know how bad it is and what it can do to your health. I think about it everyday, but each day it does get less and less. My Doc. prescribed me Welbrution, it seems to have helped. When I tried to quit before it seemed I would get anxious and nervous almost highstrung. Smoking is very calming for me. I smoked when I was stressed, upset, worried etc. What has helped me is my sister and I quit together. We called each other through out the day and sent text messages - SSF? (still smoke free?) It helped to have her and I sure did not want to be the one who had to say NO I am not SSF. I never really thought I could ever quit. But, I am almost a month out and I think now I will make it. Also what helped me was to not look at not smoking for the rest of my life.... it was like giving up my best friend. I just took it one day at at time. I told myself "I am only NOT going to smoke today!" If I want one I can have it tomorrow. Somehow that worked for me. Good luck, it is hard, but you will be proud of yoursefl when you make it........

YEA!!!!! I am so happy for you. Congrats....take care of yourself. Laura

Babs - How exciting. I am kinda in the same spot as you. I will be excited to know how your insurance kicks in. I have visited with mine and working with them to cover the panni removal. How did you get them to consider the breast reduction? Keep us posted on your journey. Laura

Angelica - I am in the same place you are at. I am fighting my insurance. They say they will pay (80%) with pre-cretification. That is the same thing they told me when I started the process for the band. Then when I started the process they wanted alot of stuff to determine if I was eligible. I did win in the end. So I guess with my history with them I am gearing up for another fight. I have went to my doctor and she documented my rash and prescribed me medication. She has faxed a precertification to my insurance recommending that I have a Abdominoplasty/Panniculectomy. I have also went to my chiropractor and had them document my lower back problems and how it effects my movement. I am waiting to hear before I make an appointment with the PS. Like you I am just starting. GOOD LUCK Laura

Juliegeraci - WOW 6.5 lbs, that is awsome. Did your insurance help any at all with the cost of removing the pannus? I see you also had a thigh lift, I hear that is very painful. You look wonderful. Laura

Michee - Wow August 20th, that is not that far off. You may not have much advice to give not, but you will have tons after the 20th. So you will have to share what you go throught with the rest of us preparing for the day when we will get our TT. Good luck, it must be so exciting. I don't know about piercing my belly button, I think I will be just glad to have a flat tummy. I just know it will be wonderful to get rid of all of this extra skin, it makes me feel so ugly. Good luck with your soon to be flat tummy. Laura

Hey Sue, Be vert careful with what you are going through. A band that is tight like that can cause a slip. I was going through also the same thing, my Doc. chewed me out, and unfilled me, I stayed that way for over a month. I gained 3 lbs and the he filled me again but not as much. I feel much better now, able to eat better and have lost five lbs. Laura

I live outside of Murfreesbor and Dr. Eckels did my surgery also. Laura

Steph, I have been lurking here for some time and just wanted to pipe in and say "Thanks" for sharing your journey. I still have a few more pounds to go, but plan to have a TT in the next year. Reading what all of you have shared I feel like I am much better prepared. Thanks again. Laura

Karey, You have a very good point there. I wonder if it did happen while you were having your surgery? very interesting....... Just take care of yourself. Laura

Karey, One of my favorites was: Surgar Free Cho. Puddin mix - about 1/2 package One scoop Protein powder (vanilla) Once cup ff or skim milk I just would use one of my drink shakers, it would be thick like a milk shake, sure was good. Of course the longer you let it set it turns to pudding, so I would make mine with a little more milk. Laura

KAREY, OMG I am so sorry you had to go through all of this. I was gone over the weekend, and came back on here to see what was up. I am glad you are on the mend. Take care of yourself. This has beena eye opener for me. I was to tight a few months back and had to have a unfill and stay that way for over a month due to reflux problems. My surgeon was very adament that I never be over-filler again. I was a little upset with him at the time, but as I have learned more about what can happen I consider myself lucky. My surgeon has the band himself. So that helps, he understand what a fill is like, what a PB feels like, etc. Karey, just take care of yourself. The weight will come off, but you need to be healthy most of all. Laura