2 years-- just amazing! The time has just flown! I feel wonderful and find so much joy in the simple things-- the dog getting tired on our walk before I do, playing with the kids, being able to sit in a booth, not needing a seat belt extender and being able to put the tray table down on the plane! But I'm not at goal yet and gained back 20 lbs from my lowest. About a month ago, I started reading the grad board daily, great group, lots of good advice! I'm slowly getting back on track. I'm going to use our Surgiversay as an opportunity to go back to the basics and get rid of the rest of this weight. If anyone wants to join me and needs encouragement, just let me know! Cheers to us all! Michele

i cant beleive it has been almost 2 years! i cant beleive how much my live has changed over the past 2 years. i feel amazing and im so thankful that i was able to have this life changing surgery. i hope everyone is doing well! kim

Hi everyone. I had my appointment a bit earlier than planned.... cancellation that I jumped in on. Anyways, I had a brief meeting with the plastic surgeon (he has also had a gastric bypass!). Anyways, after meeting with him, they took pictures. I told the gal taking the pictures, that I may need some 8x10 glossies of those pics! LOL! Anyways, they use them to go to the insurance company. I also took in pages from my medical records (family dr as well as my gastric bypass surgeon) showing any issues I have had with rashes, infections, pain, and the like. I have also written a letter to the insurance company speaking about quality of life issues, pain, rashes, anything I still can't do because of the excess skin. Just waiting for the PS office to put everything together and submit to the insurance. I was told that the panni might get authorized, but they don't think anything else will. I have a bit in my record about shoulder pain caused by hanging skin on my arms. I am hoping that between my letter and the family Dr med charts showing pain and prescription drugs that my bat wing removal might get approved also. If not, the possible costs could be: Pannilectomy $9000 Breast lift with implants $8800 (gel) or $8200 (saline) Brachioplasty $5600 But, the arms and breast could be done together and will cut down on the cost a bit because only 1 anesthetic and one OR charge. Tummy will have to be done separate because of fluid balancing and too much being done at one time otherwise. Also, if insurance covers the tummy, it may be done in a hospital with overnight stay instead of in the PS office OR suite. The arms getting done are a biggie for me. I can not camoflage them. They are huge and the skin even hangs over my elbows when my arms are at my sides. My husband said get the breast done! He kids me that it looks like I have oranges hanging in stockings... nothing there but skin and even that is still fills a DD or DDD cup! Remove the excess skin and I would look like a boy, I think! My daughter is getting married in ST Thomas on 29 February and I would like to wear a sleeveless dress and look good! So I hope they get this rolling soon. I will probably go ahead and get the breasts and arms done soon, even if the insurance doesn't cover. But, I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will. The tummy I can cover up, although I do have problems with rashes and infections. The belly button really stinks when it gets infected! I will let you know what is happening as I go through this. Please let me know how you all are fairing. Also, anyone that has gotten their insurance to cover their procedures, I would be interested in knowing what "phrasing" helped with that. Take care. Eileen 337/195/???

Eileen, I had a consult with a PS on June 25th and am still waiting to hear if my insurance will cover a panni done. The doctor said that with the removal of the skin (which I am a great canidate for, his words) all the other areas will look awful in his opinion. I realy liked him. He didn't discuss any other procedures with me because he figured that I wouldn't be able to afford teh cost. He is right about that. But I did inform him that my arms have to go!!! I have always hated my arm, even as a child I hated how big my upper arms were and now with th weight lose they just swing in the wind...totally gross. It will cost $7000 if he does it and insurance doesn't cover this. That is total cost, so I will check to see about having breast done then too. He also stated that thighs will become an issue for me as well, but again that isn't covered. So, we shall see. Best of luck as you proceed! Lori 293/186/150

Dont beat yourself up you lost and I know you must feel better than what you did before the weight lost. You know there is this protien diet that someone gave me and I have asked about this and know one has responed it was for people who had a stand still and this diet does work I will post it on this page as well.