ObesityHelp

I am two years post op. I have lost 162 pounds. I am currently on a waiting list for a Panniculectomy at Kaiser. I would like to hear from others that are having their plastics covered by Kaiser.

6/04- I have lost 170 pounds. I feel great. I have been able to increased my exercise. I do cardio and strength training six days a week. It is similiar to Curves, but you are able to adjust the weights and there are stationary bikes in between each machine. I really look forward to my workouts.

6/19/04- I called Kaiser about my Tummy Tuck surgery. They are just scheduling people who had their consults back in October. I had mine in December. I still have a few more months to wait. Well, I hope that I will lose more weight before then, I hope that I am able to tone up and shrink some more. I am over two years out, I know that it's possible :)

08/04- I am home recovering from my Panniculectomy. It went well, he found a small hernia near my belly button and repaired it. I had almost 11 pounds removed!!! I cannot believe it. I am so happy with the results. My surgery was four hours long and I stayed one night in the hospital. My stomach is flatter than flat, it curves in, and I have a cute belly button :) Well, back to my recliner.

09/04- I am four weeks post op from my tummy tuck. I feel great. I miss the gym. I am still happy with the results.

10/04- I had my post op appointment with my plastic surgeon last week. He was happy with the results, the incision from the tummy tuck healed well. I had no complications.
I told him that I was ready for my next surgery. He will do my uppper abs and breast reduction at the same time. He said that I should come back in January. He likes to wait at least six months between surgeries. I am now able to go back to my pre op work out routine :) I hope to lose some more weight before my next surgery date.
My surgeon says that I don't need a new referral for my next surgery, I guess that the referral is good for a year. I am still his patient.

10/04- I received my AA degree. I finished school this past Summer. I know this would not have been possible before my RNY. I think that I am the happiest that I have ever been. I actually can see a bright future.

11/04- I am back to my work out routine. I am finally feeling better. I had a problem with low iron last month. I am back on track. I am looking forward to my next surgery. I am really trying to lose more weight before then.

01/05- I am a little bummed. I saw my plastic surgeon and he wants me to lose 50 more pounds before he will do the next excess skin removal.. I know that he wants the best result, so do I. I will have to work even harder-here I go.

03/05- I increase my circuit training and gained 10lbs! I freaked out. I didn't know that it was muscle. My clothes is a lot looser- but weight gain, I can't afford that right now.

04/05- I've met with a nutritionist and she says that I am not eating enough! I need to get this weight off and it is getting very frustrating. How can I lose the weight if I am eating more? I may go on a liquid protein diet to get the rest of this weight off.

05/05- I have been doing the Elliptical machine 5-6 days a week for an hour each session. I have lost about 8lbs. I need to still lose 52lbs to meet my plastic surgeons requirement. I have been looking at my Tummy tuck post-op picture, and my body has changed from all the exercising. Even if I am not losing pounds, my body has been shrinking. I think that what I have left is mostly excess skin. I have decided that I am going to go back to see my plastic surgeon in July and say this is it- Do my surgery. I am over three years post-op and I have lost 72% of my excess weight. I feel successful- not thin, but I am healthy and happy. What more could I ask for? Oh yeah my plastic surgery ;)

7/05- I met with my Plastic Surgeon. I didn't lose the required weight, but I completely changed my body shape with all the exercise. The Nurse saw me (naked) and said "WOW! Allison, Wow" They were both pleased with my result. He said that he would do my breast reduction and the upper ab skin removal. Unfortunately the wait is 9-12 months long! :(
I recently received a promotion at work and will be working at a new location. So, I guess it isn't a good time to take off work right now.

9/05- I have been suffering from Anemia for at least a year now. My Ferritin dropped to 10. I had to go into the hospital and have a ten hour IV Iron infusion. We tried building my Iron levels up orally but it didn't work. I tried ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfate, carbonyl and polysaccharide iron. I even experimented combining a couple. Ferrous Gluconate is the only one that bumped my numbers up-but barely 1-2 points over months. It's been three weeks since my infusion and I am starting to feel better. I am back at the gym.