Potatie starts her PS journey

[potatie 5]

Hi Everyone, Thank you to all of you who have gone before me and shared your expirences. Now I am excited to begin my own journey.

I was approved today from my insurance company for a panniculectomy, mons lift. I am going to pay out of pocket for an upper abdominalplasty. I will be staying 1 night in the hospital.

I was also lucky enough to be able to schedule my surgery as well. So the count down to Friday November 6, 2009 begins. My pre-op will be on October 20, 2009.

So my question to everyone out there is do you think that I will be able to go back to work after 4 weeks? I mainly have a desk job and where can you rent a lift chair?

[Sue Magoo 71]

Hi:

I had a Tummy Tuck in May 2009. I don't think I had a mons lift, however she did some Lipo in that area. I believe that I could have gone back to work in 4 weeks to a desk job. You might want to plan on a gradual return, like maybe 3 half days, then 3 days 2/3 days, etc. You may be quite fatigued while you are recovering. Most of the pain was gone after a couple of weeks.

Best wishes to you. I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Sue

[JosieK 120]

hi potatie

good luck in your journey. i had a TT AND Breast Lift on 5/11/09.

everyone's recovery is different. in looking at mine...i absolutely could've gone back to work within 4 weeks. physically i bounced back quickly (much quicker then the lapband surgery-relatively speaking).

i am so glad i did these surgeries. i am here to help if you need any. my experience is detailed on the cosmetic surgery forum.

one last thing...i actually bought a lift chair because i couldn't find a rental place. the company failed to deliver it. and i used a regular recliner....i was glad this happened because i didnt need another chair and the recliner was fine. this was just my experience.

josie

[potatie 5]

Hi Sue, Thank you for the tips. I did check with my payroll person and I would qualify for short term disability. So that way I can actually take 5 weeks off instead of four. I am going to check into taking an intermittant leave when I come back. So that I can work my way back up to the time.

Katie

[potatie 5]

Hi Josie, I have actually been following your journey. You are one of my inspiration people. :frown: Thank you for all of your thoughts. I kept that if Josie could do this then I can do this. Thanks for the tips about the chair. I do have a recliner down stairs. So if I do not have to rent another one that would be great. I am also lucky to have a rest room down stairs as well. How long did you end up sleeping in the recliner?

Katie

[Mimilou2004 13]

Potatie, I will be watching for your posts. It will be an exciting journey.

Mimi

[nazzy 1]

what insurance compnay payed for yours?how did u get them to approve it?im hoping when im all done they will mine

[JosieK 120]

hi potatie

....believe it or not i got very comfortable sleeping in the recliner. i think it was a week i slept in it out of doctor's orders. then another few days just because i liked it.

when i did get back into a bed....it took me about 3 weeks to start sleeping on my side. that was a bigger issue for me. i used a pillow to help me on my side. it hurt and felt like i was stretching out.

are you having liposuction too? i had a little on my side "boobies" and a little on my hips. i have to say that bothered me more then the areas they cut. nothing hurt alot....but i was surprised by this. also..lipo didnt bother me until 2 weeks after the operation. once the numbness starting going away.

anyway it's very exciting that you will have this operation...i'm so glad i did it.

josie

[nazzy 1]

hey a question insurance doesnt cover Lipo? or does it?and if it doesnt what does it cost about? thanks and wtg

[potatie 5]

Hi Mimi, Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it.

Hi Nazzy- The insurance that I have is Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield National accounts. They paid for my lap band and I checked to prior to lap band to see if they would cover the skin removal. They are covering the panniculectomy and the mons lift, but I am paying out of pocket for the upper adominalplastey. That will cost $4750. Thank goodness my dad is helping out with some of the cost. The way that I had the procedure approved was the documentation of skin rashes and issues ever since surgery with lap band. I even have a powder perscription for the rashes. Then I also had over a 100 lb weight loss and pictures to prove. I also had doctor documentation that my life was limited due to the over hanging skin, such as I am unable to run without getting nausous and I am unable to do a lot of yoga poses.

Hi Josie, I am not sure if I am having any Lipo, we did not discuss it at the first appointment. I am going to ask at the pre-op. He told me that I will look good after, but not like a super model. I am fine with that. :cool2: Thank you for being excited with me. I need all of the support I can get. My husband just had lap band surgery, but does not really understand the PS side of the journey. So we will see how everything goes. I can not believe it is September already. That means that November 6, 2009 will be here in no time. :tt1: I can not wait.

Katie

[GREATFUL 24]

Katie,

I know that I talked to you on another thread. But, just wanted to pipe in here. I was off work for 3 weeks. And boy if I could have taken long I would have. Not because I could'nt go to work, it is just the fatguie. It hit me real hard. I would be fine in the morning then the afternoon it was all I could do to make it home. But I did it. I have heard of alot of people who go back at 2 weeks, they are alot stronger than me. I guess if you ask me what has been the biggest suprise for me post-TT it would have to be how tired I am.

Just wanted to wish you good luck, and keep us up to date on how you are doing. November will be here before you know it.

Take care all,

Laura

[potatie 5]

Hi Laura, Thank you for your thought. I am planning on taking 5 weeks off. I have a lot of sick pay left and then I will go on short term disability and supplement with vacation. I am lucky because November is a slow time for HR at my store. We do all of the holiday hiring in October. So I am hoping that will be enough time. I could not imagine going back after 2 weeks. I have seen some things on the internet where people were not allowed to drive until the 3rd week post op.

Katie

[potatie 5]

So now my count down begins. Today was day number 59 before surgery on November 6.

I have researching my surgery and realized that I have a lot more questions to ask my PS. So I will begin the list so I will not forget any.

Katie K.

[skinnyjeans 2]

Hi Katie,

Congrats on your weightloss and PS scheduling. I'll be waiting to hear of your journey. I plan to have TT and BA on 11/12. That is nice you can take short term dis. What a great benefit.

[potatie 5]

Hi Skinnyjeans, Thank you for posting on my thread. It looks like we are close together in having our surgery. I can not wait to hear about your progress.

Katie K.