findingme

I had my lap band done in Mexico. I am in the route of trying to get my arms, extended tummy tuck and a boob job done. I am curious who had this done in Mexico and how much it cost you. What about recovery time? I am trying to get my insurance to pay for the tummy tuck so am waiting and should know soon. I know they wont pay for the arms and boob job. Thanks for any information you can give me. Shannon

I am so happy! I called my insurance company yesterday thinking they would tell me the new date that I would have info (they had requested more info) and they told me I was approved. The letter is on its way to the Dr and then I can set up my apt. I am so HAPPY! I am actually meeting with a different surgeon today (was already scheduled). He did my friends boob job and she said he is a lot cheaper then anyone where we are located (he is an hour away). I am going to talk to him about gettin my breast lifted and under my arms done. The surgeon I went to said he could do all 3 together but I would have a more difficult recovery (would have to depend on others to help me longer) but I am willing. My friend is off all summer and she said she would help while dh is at work. My mom and dad live next door and my bil and sil live two houses away. I will keep you posted shannon

My Dr had to move mine also. He undid the port and then moved it to where it should be located. He said it was no big deal.

okay sorry it has been a while. My insurance only approved the tummy tuck for medical reasons (rashes). I was also looking into an arm lift. I had both surgeries 3 weeks ago and I am happy with the results. My tummy is amazing.....I will post pictures soon. My arms are much smaller but are still pretty swollen. The scar is worse then what I thought it would be. IT is kind of rough looking but the Dr assures me it will lay nicely and look good soon. Right after surgery I threw up a ton which hurt really bad. The next morning I also got sick but after that it was ok. Not a ton of pain after 48 hours (my arms never hurt). The worst part was the drains ( I hated looking at them....GROSS) and sitting still for so many days. I am always doing something. Shannon

I just found my insurance will pay for this IF I can prove I need it medically. Has anyone ever had this paid for and how did you prove you needed it? They are paying for my tummy but I do get rashes. The skin for the arm lift is a huge amount but I dont get rashes....HELP ME....I really dont have the 4500 it will cost out of pocket if they wont pay... Looking for suggestions

Thanks for your reply. My Dr told me the same thing yesterday that it is basically impossible. HMMMMM........I guess I will be financing it. It just seemed so easy to get my tummy paid for I thought maybe there might be a chance. I would love to ask your opinion......when you do your surgerys can you do your tummy tuck and arm lift at the same time?

I was finally approved and want to make sure the ps is a good one. How do I research this?

Thanks for the input. I have considered the after care and am still waiting for insurance to pay for it. My father lives in Ca and if I do surgery I will plan to stay a few weeks with him (an hour flight) to make sure everything is okay. Shannon

They submitted a picture of the rash and now they want to know what I have tried. I am going to make an apt. today with my family Dr and let him see the begining of the rash that just develped yesterday. I have a cream for a yeast infection (its actualy my moms) that her Dr gave her for her rashes. It will work eventually but I dont want them to really know that :redface: I just hate how painful they are. I am going in like I said to document it and see what he says about how he wants to documnet it. I am hoping he will let me just call when I get one or see if he wants to see me everytime I get one which will be costly. My co-pay just went to 45.00 everytime I walk thru the door. UGH! and I wonder why I want them to pay for it.....lol. I will keep your suggestion in mind when my skin is being nice to me and I need to help the process along. Shannon

I am very excited. I am about 50 pounds from goal but thought I would go in to get info and what he expects me to do before I can have my intertube (as I call it) removed. I am excited because he is hoping insurance will pay for it...we submitted it and he says I can do it now. I am very small up on top and really my legs are carring most of my weight. I am actually almost flat from under my breast to right below my belly button. He says I am mostly just skin hanging and there is no reason I cant have it now. He said even if I lost another 80 pounds it would not make a huge difference...might not be skin tight like it would be now but it wouldnt be saggy either. I have a huge area that has to be removed. He wants to do a small amount of lipo and will cut me from side to side. He has a nurse who was a patient at one time who had this done with about 50 pounds to lose and she showed me her hips and tummy and she still looks great after hitting her goal a year after surgery. He is also going to do a breast lift....all for 11,000! I thought that was great. If insurance will pay for it I will only pay about 3,800 for my breast. Keeping my fingers crossed. Do you have to be unfilled for surgery? he never mentioned this. This will suck....my fill Dr. is 3 hours away...yuk! I am hoping this will push through so I can have it the first week of June. Shannon

Well I called the insurance company to see if they had made a decision and now they are requesting notes from my physician to see what we have "tried" to slove the problem. The problem is it is very hard for me to go to the Dr because of my work. I use over the counter stuff that normally works but I don't want them to know. Now dh wants to fight it ....ugh instead of paying for it. I understand its a lot of money but I want it now. With my job (home daycare) I cant just run to the Dr whenever I get a rash. I also cant close down for 6 weeks unless it is summer ( I take care of teachers children and close all summer). So, I will have to wait another year when I am off. So, I guess I will have to make a lot of trips to the Dr's office. Any advice on how to give yourself a rash? fast and frequent. I normally get one once a month...but havent had one this month. Shannon

Okay, now I am mad that I didnt even get the panties....I was naked except for my necklace. I feel for you......I was mortified when I realized they were going to take pictures. Never even entered my mind. I laughed and told the nurse no wonder she was skinny after having to look at me. I just told myself that if I wanted to try to get the insurance to pay for it that it was something I would have to do. I am in the waiting game with you. Good luck

Thanks everyone. I talked to insurance company and they said that I will have an answer no later then May 7th. I think hubby and I have decided to go for it even if they say no but its a ton of money and would prefer to use that for my boob lift and arms. Shannon

I have an issue and thought I could use some advice. I have lost 90 pounds and would like to lose atleast 40 more. The problem is with the recovery time of a pannectolmy I would have to do it during summer. I have a home daycare for teachers and its impossible for me to close down ....but I do have summers off. I have worked out with a trainer for over a year and originally lost 14" around my hips. I have not lost an inch since I have had the lap band and lost all my weight. I went for a ps appt and he said we could do it now because he was pretty sure that I would not lose another inch around my middle section without surgery but if I did it now and lost more weight I would probably have to go back for a minin TT. My stomache is gross and there is about a 14" difference with the skin that hangs. It is hard to exercise with it....I have rashes all the time. We submitted it to my insurance who says they pay if its medically needed (but we all know how that goes). What would you do? Thanks

What is the difference between the extended tummy tuck and getting a panni? I know my cut would be from hip to hip...he said it would help some with the thight but I also know I will need further work done on my thigh area...... Shannon

Has anyone signed up for her program? she is suppose to customize your work out and diet for you.....its 4.00 a week. I am wondering how it is? Shannon

I buy t-shirts and two pair of jeans to fit. I buy two workout outfits and two nice outfits. I just alternate and do a lot of washing. I have been at a standstill for a while so I havent had to buy. I also buy on clearance sizes I am close to so that I get better deals. I saved a lot of my smaller clothes so I am just now having to buy stuff. That helps a lot.

How much protein are you suppose to have daily? South beach has a bar called south beach living crispy meal bar. It has 19g of protein per bar at 210 calories. They are pretty good....not as good as a snickers ..lol! I can't remember how many grams we need daily though.

Thanks for the replies.....I am trying to dump the pressure but it was a goal I set from the begining. I am just going to have to do away with it. I started to keep a journal of everything I was eating and realized I was eating less then 900 calories a day so that is why I bumped it up. I thought maybe my body thought it was starving. HMMMM I go for a fill in two weeks. Maybe that will help.

I am so frustrated my scale will not move. In Jan I discovered I had a leak in my port somewhere so I wasnt holding the fill for more then a few days at a time. I think they fixed it (will know forsure in 1.5 weeks) I still feel a restriction. I can understand not having a weight loss during that time. I have had this fill for almost 6 weeks and I play with the same 2-3 pounds. I lose and I gain it back. UGH. The only thing I can think of is that I started doing machines at this time also but surley I cant have gained that much muscle. I do them 3 times a week but each time is a different section of the body. I also do cardio 4 times a week for a half hour (not including warm up or cool down). I started counting calories and I am usually around 1000-1200. Any suggestions to get this moving. I set a goal of hitting a 100 pounds by my year annv. I am 10 pounds away and have a little over a month to meet this. HELP ME!

Can anyone give me some suggestions. I have been banded 11 months and never had this problems except for the last month. I started taking benefiber thinking that will help but all it has done is made me have gas.... shannon

thanks for the replies I will try them to see if it will help.

Thanks for your reply. I ordered the shorts over the internet. I know someone who teaches this class so she told me who to start off with and then eventually she can kill me in her class....lol. I am going to start this class in two weeks. I will be off that week and it will be easier for me to join the new gym then. Shannon

I have no idea......but do you have a pool at your gym? If so maybe try water aerobics this is really low impact but a great workout. They should have weights that will be just like weight training but in the water. I also will feel free to grab those weights anytime in the pool and use them. I am sure you could ask the instructor to give you some moves to do in the pool by yourself.

After all your posts I am dying to try this class. It is actually on a goal list I made several months ago. I have two questions.....I am still at 240 pounds (I have lost 90)....am I to heavy for this class? I dont want to look crazy for going in there....where can I find biker shorts that will fit me? I am at a size 22 right now. Thanks