When to tuck the tummy?

OK, My RNY was April 28th....I've gone from a size 28 to a size 14 pull-on jean.  But blouses I sill have to have about a 20 because my belly spreads out so much when I sit down.  Blouses are 2" too short for me or they show my hanging belly fat.

My belly fat is soooo in the way of my life!  Please share with me and the others how you make your decision to have your tummy tuck, what the doctors requirments, or insurance requirments were for you, and if insurance or Medicae paid for it.

Do people get one, then later have another tuck to get the rest of the fat off?  (the first time for necessity, the second time more for cosmetic)

When I take my clothes off, I have this huge drop down of fat, it's not flat either, it's almost like it's weighted full of water or something.  It really messes up how the front of my pants look.

Physically, it's in the way.... it makes my body so out of portion, I can get rashes under it, and I have a hernia around my belly button.  Do people ever schedule these tucks when they have hernia surgery?

Sorry to have so many questions, but it's time I started learning about this so I'll know what to do.  Do I need to start having my doctor document these complains now so I have some charted proof for my insurance?

I must crow about something while I'm here...I can do 100 stomach crunches on the weight machines with 70 pounds of weight!  I'm proud as a pe****! hahha

If you know that answers to some of my questions, please share your experiences with me.

Brenda Nutt

Harrison, AR

 

hey Brenda, I don't know much about it since my insurance won't pay for it unless it is medically necessary and mine isnt, but Dr Edwards told me it is best to wait until you think you are done losing all your weight (reaching your goal weight) because otherwise you might have to have a second one done and who would want to go thru 2 surgeries. Usually they suggest about 2years out.

And yes, have your Dr document every complaint and problem caused by the tummy so insurance wont fight that it is medically deemed necessary. Any problems you have including some back pain or strain. And yes Ive known people to go into have a hernia repaired and they did the tummy tuck while doing it, to prevent another hernia..You have a good case for having to have it done sounds like to me.

Good luck and by the way, You are looking great in your picture!

Hey Sug- I missed you at meeting this month!  But, I knew you were on the road having fun, goodness knows we all need that ever so often!  I was glad to hear ya'll had fun and made it home safe too.

You know how people think of weight loss surgery for a year or two, then make up their minds to have it done, then go to the dr. and get told they have to have a years document in their files?  This is the sort of thing I'm trying to find out about- you know, the surprises....the loop-holes.

I'm especially intrested in what Medicare will pay for.  I have a Blue Cross plan and Medicare secondary.  So if I can do what ever Medicare will pay for, and where they will pay for (do they require a place deemed 'Medicare Center of Excelence' for this too? or only certain doctors?)  If someone knows those rules I'd sure love for them to chime in.

If I can live this long with her hernia, I know I can live a while longer with it...  (I was not healthy enough for the surgerier before my weight loss) because if I have that done, then a tummy tuck could be done at the same time and fix two problems at the same time.  I'm hoping that it will also reduce the tummy tuck part of the surgery because I very well may have to pay for that part.

Sure is hard not to jump the gun over a tummy tuck though.....my new clothes are so limited since the styles for blouses these days are at least 2 inches too short for me.  I bought a blouse last week that fits perfect, a size XL.  I'm taking the long ties that go behind your back and cutting them off and sewing them to the hem to add about a 1½ inches to the length.  Through the years I've sure altered a lot of my clothes, I don't know how people that do not sew make it, seems I'm always having to adjust my clothes to fit my belly problem.  I like to hide it as best I can, while the problem is better, it sure is still there!

Ya got any new tan lines girl? hahahahahahaha  I'll see you at next meeting I hope- we have a new grandbaby due Oct 17th in Minnesota and hopefully we'll be back home by then.  We are leaving to go out there the 10th in-case she is a little early, the ultra sound shows her a week earlier than the dr.  So we'll just go vacation a bit and wait it out so we can be there when she goes in the hospital.  I don't want them clear up in Minneapolis having a baby and family not around~ plus I don't want to miss all the excitement!  This will be grandbabie #3 for us, the other two belong to my daughter and they live local.

I've written a novel and didn't mean too...  I need to get ready for the gym though.  Nice to chat with ya,

Brenda

 

 

 

Brenda   yes have your document any rashes pain or anything associated with the hanging belly ...it will get smaller without so much bulk as you lose more weight....but yes Medicare will pay for the removal of the belly skin,,,,not a tummy tuck which is pulling all excess skin from all around and from below too. but just for the skin removal on the belly. called a paniectomy ....medicare will approve it and pay for that, you just have to find a plastic surgeon that will take medicare....the only one in Springfield is Dr. Hawes....Vesta used him and so has some others. He is who i am going to have remove mine too.
my tummy was a whole lot bigger last year than it is now. now it is just skin basicly ,but you can still see in in jeans and such, even the stretch ones . so we know how you feel....but i do think you really need to lose all of what you want to before doing it, unless the hernia starts giving you problems....dont know if dr. Hawes would do hernia repair too or not. you could see i guess.
You are really looking good girl....i dont think i would have reconized you if you hadnt sent me the picture of you before support meeting.
How is Randy ? is he better? hope so. and so glad that you didnt catch it.  

Thanks Jan!  I could not recall the name of the proceedure to save my life!  I'll contact this Dr. Hawes later on and find out the deal....you are a blessing to me today!  I sure hope he can do both proceedures at once, I'd need someone who could so I can same some money- surgery is not cheap!  That, and I want the most bang for my buck- one stone two birds sorta thing.  Hope you can get your tummy done too, you look so nice now I can't imigine improvement...but then, I only see you with your clothes on! hahaha

My goal is a year to have my weight stablized.  I'm in this for better health, the weight is a fantastic side-effect.  I'm having a sleep study Wed night to see if I can chuck the cpap machine.  Please help me pray about this, that machine is great if you need it, but just to use it and don't need it is out of the question!  Sleeping with the tiny oxygen hose is much better IF I'm not having apnea eppisodes.  (I have to have oxygen at home anyway...it is not a special deal for sleep only)  So I don't need the cpap just to keep my oxygen saturation up.  It's like having to machines do the same job unless I'm still haveing apnea eppisodes, then it's needed.  I have not used my cpap for about 2 months and am having zero problems, so I'm sure going ot be dissapointed if they say I still need it-

I'm out the door to they gym now- will check OH again tonight, Hope your day is great!

You will like dr. Hawes, I had Medicare and my supplement and they paid it all, I was real satisfied, I was about 20 pds from goal when I had it done ..I am still 20 pds from goal...lol, I gained about 7 pds nearly over night but it is off again, so its is still a battle for me because I am16 mos post and the Honeymoon period is over but it is much easier than before surgery we still have our pouch we just have to use it right.....you are looking wonderful...vesta

Hey Vesta- just the gal I was hoping would chime in! Thanks!  Did you have just to paniectomy Jan talked about, or did you have the full tummy tuck where they tighten the abdomen muscles up too?  Thats what I want, and lipo. too...so I'll have a waist again maybe.  I have never been crazy about boob jobs, but I am open to thinking about that.  I've seen where those surgeries are done at the same time as the tummy.  My chest is just gone flat (from a double D before).  Guess you can tell were I've lost the most weight...ha!  All I want is to be back in porportion, nothing off the charts.  First I'll learn about the health of the matter...then make decisions.  This is all about health - getting what I've lost back....  Mostly I need a dr. that is very experienced as I will have complications after my tummy tuck.  There is considerable lymph fluid absorbed in the fat of my stomack, I even have free flowing lymph fluid in my abdomen.  All this to say my huge incision might have problems healing.  I need sewed up real tight and deep...not just staples.  It's hard to explain....it's a complication from the rare lung disease I have.  The LAM cells have eaten away at my lymphatic system so it looks like swiss cheese and leaks the lymph fluid out of the venious lymphatic system.  Like I said, complicated stuff...it's rare- and I mean very rare for anyone to have this problem.  So I'll want someone with lots of experience when the time comes.

I'm staining our deck today, Randy will be home about 3 to help me, so I'd better get out there.  Just finished my two chicken legs for lunch and now I'm back out the door.  Water Aerobics was so fun today but man was it ever cold getting out of the water and to my car!  It's going to be a long winter when it turns really cold.....  I'll just have to start getting dressed instead of coming home wet and manage it better.

Hope you are doing well these days.  Thank you for shareing!  One question, is using Medicare like having the wls...you have to go where they say and use the dr. they say? 

Brenda

I didn't know what they called it, but they took all my  skin from just above the belly button on down, I dont have a belly button now ..lol he said I can give you one if you want it, I told him no that is just something else to keep clean...lol ...I wonder if maybe the lipo is what I need now, do you know anything about that?

He did the boobs at the same time I went from an F cup to a 36 C.

Yes you need to talk to him about the fluid,  you can use any doctor that takes Medicare for that surgery, Jan told me about Dr. Hawes and I liked him.
The nurse took before pictures for medicare, now that was a hoot..lol...

I didnt have a bit of trouble, just not much pain at all...

 I have had allot of fun with it, I see things I hadn't saw in years...lol....I can buy Bras now and dont cost me a fortune, I even wear thongs now, because I always hated panties they looked so big and disgusting,  but wore them anyway, mom always said when i was a kid she had to keep an eye or off they would go..
I use to laugh at thongs , always thought they would drive you crazy, not so I love them, ...I guess I better hush before I go to far...lol...but you are gonna love it when you have it done....vesta

PS yes they tighten the muscles too....

Neeeeee Neeeee

You wild woman you!!!  Wearing them thongs!!! ~tee hee tee hee

That was cute! 

I say.... you've earned the right to wear what ever you want!!!  You just go on doll!

bec

LOL  Bec. when you hit your goal or where you wanna be let me know I gonna send you a pair...lol...vesta