hi renee. iam do happy i found you ..i have attened all typesof support groups and clincis. only to find they don't take medicare medicaaid any longer . most of these sites are not updated, i am hoping this is not the case here i want to encourage you i will tell you this rule i have learned doing what they say drinking the water and exercise =success. so persevere , and if you will be so kind to e-mail me back and conform that your surgeon takes medicare/medicare would truly save my life iam at the point of having to sell my house to come up with the surgeons fee this is so devastiting for me tish@[email protected] let me know his name and phone number iam not that computer litrate and this is most definitely medically neccesary , i have spoken to my insurence and they assure me there is no problem to pay my bills in full i I find ones who list my insurance but they all say a year ago they stopped take med/ medcaid ...frustration is building i need major back surgery i have been cleared for the surgery esp. cardiac and now this problem of no surgeon can you pleae advise thank you and god bless and i will pray for your continued success thanks again tish

Well, I look at it this way. Before surgery I hated how I looked with and without clothes. Now, I just don't like how I look without them : ) So when it comes down to it, we are still way ahead of the game! Low self esteem and poor body image has been part of our lives for so long, and perhaps it is a remnant of how you felt before the surgery. I have decided, that I have to work on how I see myself, and to accept myself more than I have to work on the physical shortcomings at this point. One thing at a time! Best of luck to you. Enjoy your success. You deserve to. Regards, Ann

Well, I am sitting hear thinking about my 18 month check up tomorrow. I am very excited. I cannot believe how much this has changed my life!!!! I have only thanks for my surgeon Dr Sonpal. He is a miracle worker!!! You saved my life!!!

Hi Kimberly, Remember me.. we are surgery sisters.. I had my third surgery and second revision on Feb 7. 2002. I am a very distal RNY but will be glad to let you know how I eat each day. I do 5 pre digested whey protein shakes per day and eat 4-5 small meas per day, meaning a meal could be 1/4 cup ricotta cheese.. mixed with cinnamon, and splenda, a handful of nuts, 1/2 piece toast w/ 1 tbs peanut butter, 1/4 cup soup, 1/4 grilled chicken breast, and veggies.. etc I am happy to hear that you are down to your goal weight. I still have about 40 ish pounds that I want to lose. I am about 5 pounds away from the internists goal weight for me. Take care.. Hugs, Gina

I know how you feel. I hat the hanging skin and the saggy boobs too. I want to have the plastic surgery but I have been denied 2 times. I have a hernia that needs to be fixed and I want to have it all done at once but I cannot afford to have it done. We all have some skin but the more you lose the more it wrinkles. Just hang in there.