Yow!  It finally happened.  My insurance after months of dragging their feet and going through 3 different doctors etc finally approved both my hernia repair and tummy tuck and I am now my 2nd day home from the hospital. Once everything finally was approved the process was a whirlwind of dr. appts then a big one week delay when some approval missed the deadline. But last Monday at noon I was relieved of 5 pounds of extra skin and hand giant blueberry muffin sized hernia fixed with a huge 24 inch iincision from hip to hip and lots of stitching and tightening of abdominals.... ouch. Home right now on pain meds. Buit feeling better. Not sure why anyone would do this only for vanity. Although the doctors maintain that my pain level is more from the hernia than the tummy tuck.  Who knows? My appetite has vanished as have my daily bm's... so working on the latter.  Happy about the lack of appetite. Still this surgery was a lot more complicated and painful than the lap band. But still just another step in my weight loss journey.  Dr. Lisa Cassileth was my plastic surgeon and she was delightful and put all my fears to rest. My hernia surgeon was Dr. Leslie Memsic who was equally terrific and so funny I nearly ruined the hernia surgery from laughing. A great team and I felt very calm for most of the process. Maybe it was the valium that helped....
I will blog again as I recover and let you know how the results have turned out -- clothes and figure wise.  I am still pretty swollen and no longer have a navel... my choice... I can have one re sewn in if I really miss it. But the hernia and size and repair made it problematic at this time.  So what next....my arms.... just kidding.. I think. Thank you God for bringing me through safely! And for putting me in such good hands!