margaret odom

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October 1st .2007
      I cant believe that I havent updated my profile since surgery... I have been lazy in that department for sure. So here it goes.. I had surgery on the 27th and they took me back about twelve like promised lol. I was in there for five hrs and my family didnt think it was gonna take that long. But all went well and I had over ten pounds of skin taken off. You would have thought it would have been thirty lol... Well things went as planned and I stayed overnight and went home the next day. I had a great lil gizmo called an ON Q pump... lil fanny pack deal. I had never heard of one till then. It keeps ya very numb for about five days... I highly reccommend one... Then that night I slept in my bed from the first night. I was somewhat sore but nothing like I thought I would be. The first time I got out of the hospital bed I almost fainted and had to sit back down and also when I took my binder off at one one time.. Very bad feeling but overall felt fine... My daughter from Mississippi came in that weekend and she took after pics of me .. ugh... My other daughter took the before ones... I feel like heck, thats what we are all here for anyway huh>? Not the prettiest I must say.. He is going back in on the 17th of this month to tweak me some in the upper stomach area.. He gave me a new belly button and you really cant see it much because the top part of the skin is hanging some now... He said my belly button was terrible.. Heck, I could have told him that lol... He done the most excellent job I had ever seen. I was the highest weightloss patient he had ever done plastics on... I had lost 220lbs when I had surgery and as of today have lost 241lbs... So will sure ride that weight train till it throws me off. lol I had my first post op visit with him a week later and I had this oh so major speach that I was gonna tell him when I got there how he was highly appreciated by me and not all plastics is vanity wise and how he has gave me such quality of life back with no hanging skin.. WELL>>>>>>> didnt go that way...lol I got in there and started saying a few words and omg the tears started up like a snotty little baby had something taken away from it lol... I couldnt control myself.. It is extremely emotional to see no skin hanging and you actually looking like a normal person.. I just lost it. He was so so sweet. He rubbed my arm and was like aw.... thats ok.. Its a good cry aint it? lol I couldnt even talk lol... I just wanted him to know how amazing he was and had done... So after all that was over I felt stupid but grateful lol... The only problem I have had is at four weeks out last week I got a lil infection and had to go see him after his office closed.. Or so I thought it was a small infection. OMG he put me on 2000mgs of kelflex a day... I have been on it for a week now and its so much better. So if thats the only thing Ive had go wrong I am blessed. I havent had that much swelling really only at night after I have been on my feet all day.. I cant be still all day jeez...I thought I was approved for the boobies but apprarently the insurance company woman I talked to didnt read her crap right. She said the two things that were sent in by your dr was approved so I took for granite it was the boobies and tt, panni and mons deal. Well, it was the mons deal and tt/panni... I wasnt even upset. I got turned down for the breast thing. I can always saddle back up and try the breast thing after first of the year. I am not really even concerned right now with all that. I cant complain in reality. bcbs fed payed for my wls and all this plastics.. I know that so many get turned down for these things so cant complain really.... So for now this is about all I know... Will update after tweaked surgery on the 17th.. Go for preop on the 15th.. Really excited to get this all over with.. I forgot to say I had two drains... One they took out after two weeks and the other one the third week... Never had drains before so that was a ride lol....

August 13, 2007
           I just got off the phone with the Surgeons office and its a go for the 27th. That is totally my lucky date. That is the same date I had WLS but in Jan of 06. I will be exactly nineteen months out on that day. I am so blessed and know it. I have to go to pre op that Friday the 24th and do labs and all. But the surgery is planned for twelve that Monday. She has me on stand by which means can be earlier but no later. I just hate waiting till that time of day ugh... But who am I to complain. So now its to getting things around here done before surgery. CLEAN. CLEAN, CLEAN. And not to mention it will be keeping me busy...So for now.... gonna go do this and that lol...

Hi guys! Here is a copy of the letter we sent to the insurance company as a little boost for my case. Maybe one of you could use it for future purposes in whatever procedure you will be having to help you!

To Whom It May Concern:

 

My name is Margaret Odom and I am 47 years-old. Through surgery, I had Gastric Bypass back in January 2006. I started out at 397 pounds and had a BMI of 67. Now I have a BMI of 30 and weigh 177 pounds. I am 5'4" and I have lost a total of 220 pounds. I have maintained this weight for six to seven months now without gaining or losing. This is the size and weight that I am meant to maintain for the rest of my life. I am healthier but suffer as a result of the excess skin I have acquired due to the weight loss. Painful and troublesome excess skin hangs now from my body.  I am not requesting these surgeries for cosmetic reasons but for mere reconstruction purposes following the massive weight loss. I was considered “super morbid obese” and am grateful for my weight loss. However, many problems that have been associated with my obesity still persist.

I have recurring rashes and infections in my abdominal, groin, vaginal/mons, and breast areas. These rashes will at times bleed, have puss swollen pockets, and are always a source of pain and itchiness. I have also had rashes in the navel area with a very unhealthy, unhygienic, and foul odor. I cannot stand too long because of the hanging of the excess skin will cause back and shoulder pain. My breasts have lost a majority of their volume and now hang at my waist. Therefore, more back and shoulder pains are added. This also causes the sores to open causing blood or puss to happen in the folds of the excess skin. This has just begun and needs to be remedied prior to causing permanent damage. In addition, the summer months produce painful rashes in the thigh and groin areas because of my excess skin rubbing together in the heat.

    Not to mention, the foul odor that occurs within the folds of the excess skin, causes a pain in itself. My Primary Care Physician has prescribed medications at different times for the treatment of rashes/skin irritations, but to no avail since 2006. She has prescribed for me items such as: Diflucan, Nystatin, and Triamcinolone Acetonide cream. These items only work for a limited time and then the rashes re-occur. I am a much healthier person for, which I am tremendously grateful, but many of my problems are associated with my weight loss. My skin has been destroyed with years of suffering from obesity and now I have been left with at least 10-20 pounds of mass skin hanging from right hip bone to left hip bone vice versa.The reason I am requesting the abdominoplasty and breast lift procedures is to be able to move without constant pain. The skin infections are painful and unhygienic. I have tried all over the counter medications such as: Lotrimin, Tinactin, Gold Bond powders, antibacterial soaps, as well as many other home and over-the-counter remedies. Nothing that I have used has been able to alleviate the problem.

                        I wear soft socks under the areas to help with the rubbing, friction, and irritation, but this is not very effective under the pannus area. Nor is it productive or effective to use this in your navel/belly button or breast areas. I have tried using a blow dryer to dry the areas and even use anti-perspirants, but still have come up with no relief. These infections have severely limited my desire to be close and have some sort of personal contact with my husband of 30 years. When I use the restroom, my excess skin of the vagina/mons area always hangs down in the toilet at all times leaving that in a huge risk of an unsanitary infection. It is a huge discomfort when it comes to staying clean and dry also. My infections burn and constantly keep a foul odor and have managed to wreck havoc on my self esteem. I cannot maintain the healthy lifestyle I am meant to lead since I have very limited exercise movements that I can stand.

         If  I manage to move too much or in a certain direction, I am faced with the trauma of having a sore open with blood or puss, or run the risk of leaving a foul odor upon whomever is next to me. I have ceased all memberships at my local gym for risk of getting an infection or embarrassment of what I have on my body. No one should have to live their life like this. This should not be the rewards I get for losing weight from having gastric bypass. I hope you look into my case as a sense of urgency as the problem that I have is a direct result of my obesity from all these years. I just want to now live a normal and healthier life. Thank you so very much for your time!

 

                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                  Margaret Odom

 

                                                                

August 10,2007

       OMG! I just got the call saying I was approved and I am freaking out here.... I cant say how that makes me feel. I have lived all these years with such skin hanging even when at my heaviest,. But after the weightloss the skin has become a whole lotta issues for sure. Even the mons area is terrible. I am having the surgery just fourty miles from here and that itself is a blessing. I dont have to travel so far to get home and if something comes up Im not that far. I talked to the office lady at the drs place and she has penciled it in for the 27th and preop on the 24th. Jeez, right around the corner for sure. They are going to do the tummy tuck and muscle tightening first and mons area then after I have recooped some from that they will then do the breast lift. Man I cant say enough about this ..... I am just in aw.... I have learnt so much from reading the plastic surgery board and also talking to others on here that have already went thru this... shout out Sally!! lol and just cant wait... So much more to come... Ill get back when I find a definite date..... WHO HOO!!

July. 29th, 2007

       Well alot has happened since I last posted. I offically am eighteen months out of WLS as of yesterday and am doing so well health wise... I also cancelled the appointment with the Plastic Surgeons office in Atlanta. I desided to find someone that was closer to home and went to see a Dr. Shawn Vandemark in Valdosta. That is like fourty or so miles from me and went on the 17th of July. I was sold on him as soon as I talked to him. His staff is great and so nice and was just relaxed over the whole ordeal. I talked and told them the situation of my weightloss and all losing 220lbs and he was so great. I left there deciding he was the one I wanted. I know they tell ya to get alot of other consults but when you feel that way I say go with your gutt instinct. So now I am waiting for insurance approval. I got my PCP to fax over some medical info about me having to see them twice in eighteen months for rashes. So hope that helps some. I am so ready to get the answer till im goin crazy. I have never been a patient type of person and this now is no easier lol... I called the plastic surgeons office yesterday and asked if all the papers had gotten there and all was ok and done faxed and she said it hadnt been done yet. There was a mixup with my papers and there are two other odoms here having insurance papers done also and I was upset some but what are ya gonna do. So she said as of today other words the 28th the insurance will recieve my papers ... So its more waiting now. Its been a week and a half and I just knew that Insurance had the papers but that happens I guess when you have so much crap going on in offices alot of times. I will just have to stay busy but I know I think about it all the time. I did get the BSBS bill in today and says that they payed the consult and visit to them. I was so happy. That first consult and all was 155.00. I payed the co pay and says now I just owe 15.00 more. So maybe thats a good sign that they will approve it.. Who knows???? I was made to feel comfortable when at the office. OMG they took some saggin skin porno pics I tell ya lol... I didnt wear the lil paper panties because they needed to see the mons area and how bad it was also.. jeez..... He said he wanted to do a breast lift and tummy tuck but not at the same time. Hey, im not gonna complain. He said he wanted to devote time to the stomach area and all because it is so bad. And also said work on the mons area that hangs like mens genitals. Said that when he does the mons area also maybe it will pick up the top thigh area a lil also.  My stomach is terrible and didnt care if wasnt done at the same time... So hope all goes well and will post when get news.....

June 15, 2007

       Well I have made a major decision to go see a plastic surgeon in Atlanta on August 14th. I was just sitting around one morning and decided to just give them a call and see what they had to say. I picked out Dr. Marisa Lawrence in Atlanta. Her staff seemed so nice and informative. I talked to the insurance woman in her office that does the ins things and she seemed to know alot about going thru the hoops to get approved. I have to just pay my co pay when I see them for the consult and my insurance will kick in for the consult visit. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield. Its federal kind so guess we will see what happens. I dont right off know what I want done. One thing is because it depends on what they will approve me for first... So will find out when the time comes. I also went to my PCP today and had her give me a perscription for a rash under my stomach. Every summer it gets that way and this summer is no different just because Im not as heavy. The skin is inreal I tell ya. That makes the second time Ive been to her about this issue so at least have twice to be documented for PS wise... I also had my lab work done because I have been getting sorta light headed and dissy when I get up from time to time and so figured It was time again anyway. I know my blood pressure is great so maybe its an iron issue???? who knows?? I have to have a mammogram next Wednesday ugh... Ive never had one and also having a pap. Ugh... gonna be a bad Wednesday lol... But needs doing and will be easier than when I was so heavy with the pap deal. I just hated going and undressing for any reason back in he day ugh... Not that now is much better but come on.... So have alot going on but am really trying to talk to myself about the plastics.. I just dont have the same feelings that I did about wls. It was a life or death feeling to have wls and I know that plastics arent. But jeez how much nicer would it be to not have all this hanging and sagging stomach to deal with everyday. I have no idea how much more weight I will lose but can tell ya now that after the 215lbs Ive lost so far it is just terrible skin wise.....

Well its already a new month half way gone and that means closer to my daugters wedding in Texas... We are gonna sweat to death there.... I know it probably wont be much of a difference from here to there on the Fourth of July but still lol... Hate HEAT!! lol I like in the wrong part of the world for that huh? I havent posted in a while and figured I needed to get on it. We had my daughters wedding shower and it was so nice. Everything went well. All showed up except my foster mom and she was due for back surgery soon so that was totally understandable.... They recieved such nice things and we are taking them with us when we drive there for the wedding. There was huge things and no way could they get them on the plane trip back home... luggage, microwave and so forth.... I have been also running lately with my foster mom having back surgery. She is in her seventies and has done amazing... We have been taking turns spending the night with her in the hospital. She has three girls that are just like my sisters so we are very close... It has been a hard thing to do keeping up with drinking and eatting right. I have been grabbing a protein bar here and there and drinking when can and now have had constipation issues but for now are getting better. I have made it to 184lbs and that itself is amazing. I am now in full blown 14 clothes and thats so sweet...LOL... Totally unchartered territory for sure. Still dont consume myself with goals.. Heck, this right now is goal enough for me lol... I have really really started slowing down alot on the weightloss and its becomeing very hard to see the scale move much at a time. I stick to my protein first rule always and then veggies if room. BUT....... I will continue to climb that hill by my teeth like a snail and slowly get there whatever that number ends at I can live with.... Like I said before.... this is all goal to me lol.....

Jeez, just cant believe that I have finally gotten below the two hundred pounds lost mark. I got up this morning and was weighing 196lbs. That alone was amazing! I do know it hasnt been as easy as it used to be. I have described it as climbing up hill all the way by your teeth. But just goes to show you.... DONT GIVE UP! I am in such a different place now that I have been in years. I dont even remember weighing this ever.... I try very hard to stick with the program and not eat to much. Like when Im full feeling STOP<<<. That can be a lesson learned on my end because it makes me want to throw up and in the end will usually do so from the pain alone.. So guess there is advantages to WLS just besided the weightloss. It has taught me to be dissaplined and try my alltime best. I have willpower that I never even knew existed in me. I am not gonna sit here and tell you there are tough times because that also is a given. I want the same foods I have always wanted, surgery or not. I still crave all the things I love and guess always will. I still have "craving" days and "pigging out" days where I feel like I have ate to much but hey, life goes on. And I do beat myself up some when I over eat on things like peanuts. I love peanuts and sometimes find I eat to many and also grapes... Cant buy them all the time for sure. lol... But looking back on grapes and peanuts. jeez...... Cant believe that is one of my weaknesses. lol.... Fruit? lol.. So have come a long way for sure lol.... Still no sugar or fatty carbs or fryed foods here  and cant say I wont ever try them.... future... Who knows... Sugar I wont because thats when the crackhead comes out in me... lol.... And if I find out that I dont dump on sugar that would be a terrible thing to find out for sure... I can say I have dumped twice in the fourteen months since surgery. And what on.... GRAPES<<< eatting to many at one sitting. So maybe that means sugar does me that way lol... Anywho to sum things up.... I feel everyday so blessed to have had this surgery and never want to take it for granite. I know the new wears off on anything but this is my life now.... I am just beginning to enjoy shopping for clearnaced clothes and its nice to walk into a store and find things on the rack instead of specialty stores that cater to the huge woman that I had always been. So life is good. I am so much more active. I can go uptown and spend the whole day  shopping and running and then come home and cook and clean if needed with no sweat. I have been going to movies, ballgames, playing with my grandchildren and just enjoying life... So to all of you out there considering WLS.... Consider it's like getting life back.....

Hard to believe it is almost march. Jeez...... Before you know it I will be heading to Texas for  my youngest daughters wedding. I have so much to do before then though. I have no idea what I am going to wear yet. Her wedding is a pomagranite color. Which is between a burgundy and rust... Love dark colors!! And its on the forth of July....in San Antonio heat<<< lol... I havent done alot in the way of losing weight this month. I have slowed down to a snails pace. I have described it as climbing a hill with your teeth and you are trying to get to the top. And for me, the top is below the 200's lol... I am gonna be thirteen months out tommorrow and have lost 195lbs. I am still in lose 16's because I hate tight jeans. The tighter the more hanging over you have. And mine hangs bad enough as it is lol...I can live with the skin I guess because noone see's me without clothes on anyway but hubby. lol... Dont know if plastics are in the future for me or not because $$ will totally be an issue if insurance didnt kick in and help... But after so many years of being so huge, skin is fine....I still am amazed at how I have gone so long without eatting sugar and fatty things without flapping like a fish but I do...It is just a given now. I have it in my head that I know I cant have it and look at it like its poison. Thats about the only way I can deal with it. I am not overly tripping and consumed of it but just gets easier some days more than others. Carbs dont do well with me very much so dont go around eatting them alot anyway. I will always love food and life goes on..... but.... There is more...

Here are some new pictures of me.