MicheleYB

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Well, just one more week and I am on my way back down to San Antonio to see Dr. Rincon for a fill. I haven't had a fill since December. I have been stuck at 145# for almost three months; it's hard to hold it there, too. I need a little tightening. Considering it's been 8 months since I had a fill, I would say that I've done pretty darn good. I am excited to see all my friends from Texas! Things have been going well. My oldest son graduated from high school in June. That was so exciting; yet sad at the same time. Doesn't seem possible that's he's already done with high school Then, a week after we had his graduation party; I had to take my daughter to have her Senior portraits taken. Unbelievable!! They are growing up way too fast. After she graduates next year, then I get two years before my final baby graduates. At least I get him for a couple more years. Hope everyone is doing great. Loving life!! Last weekend I went camping and did something I never thought I would ever have the courage to do...I went jet skiing!! OMG, it was so much fun!! I could've stayed out there on the lake all day doing that. Never thought that would be something I would ever try!!!

Michele

Well, it has been two weeks since I had Panniculectomy. The surgery went very well and I am so pleased with the results already. I still have a hard time looking in the mirror and getting my brain to realize, yes, that is you!!! You with the flat stomach!!! The only problem I had was I ended up allergic to my antibiotic I was put on and ended up with horrific hives from the top of my scalp to the bottom of my feet. Had to go to the hospital twice to get shots. Wouldn't wish that on my worse enemy. Anyway, I am doing fabulous! I feel fabulous!! and I continue to look forward to life!! Current weight: 145#.

Michele

Smile, it increases your face value!!!!

Well, back in January I saw a plastic surgeon for my excess skin issues. He submitted a prior authorization to my insurance company to cover a panniculectomy; they denied stating it was cosmetic and cosmetic surgery was no-covered under my policy. Over the past three months I have collected additional letters from my bariatric surgeon and my family doctor. I also took pictures of my last bout with cellulitis/yeast infection. I also wrote what I felt was a very well written letter in my defense. I finally submitted all this material to my insurance company on Tuesday and I received a call yesterday that I won my appeal and with all my information/pictures I was able to prove to them that this is definiately a medical necessity and it is reconstructive surgery, not cosmetic!! I am so excited!! For the first time in my life I am going to have a flat stomach!! Woohooo!!

Michele

I went to San Antonio on 02/28/08 and spent five wonderful days with my friend Doris. I was so happy that I also got to spend two days with my dear friend Mari. We went to Dr. R's baby shower and had a wonderful time!! It was so nice to be in warm weather!!! But then reality struck when I came back home to below zero temps again. Oh well, I have to hope that spring is right around the corner. I am sitting at the hospital at this moment as my daugher is in surgery having her tonsils removed. She was getting so anxious and upset, but a little happy juice in her IV and she was just fine....glassy eyed and giggling. I am nervous, but I know she's going to do well. They said it would take about 45 minutes. Hopefully with this she won't have the problems with the strep throat, sore throats, the snoring, and the problems with choking on her food because the darn things are so big.

Check out my new pics.

Current Weight: 154#.

Well, I thought I should do a small update since it's been over a month now. My weight loss continues, but so slowly. I am now at 155.4#. My final goal is to reach 150#. Actually, my next goal is 152.5#. Why you ask? Because when I reach 152.5#, I will have offically lost 152.5#. How cool is that!!! I am leaving for San Antonio on 02/28/08. I am going to spend 5 wonderful days with my friend Doris and my dear friend Mari is going to come to San Antonio from Austin on Friday. We are all going to a baby shower of a dear and wonderful friend's on Saturday. I am looking forward to seeing all of them and for the warm weather!! It's so darn cold here in good old Wisconsin!!! I cleaned out my closet a few weeks ago and finally disgarded all my "fat" clothes with the exception of one pair of pants; those to remind me where I shall never go ago. My largest was a size 26, but I really should've been in a size 28, but refused to buy that next size up...would just lay on the bed and stuff myself into the 26's. Now, here I am 13 months later and I'm in a size 11. I am loving it!! My daughter and I now shop in each other's closets...LOL. Well, our tops anyway. I can't fit in her tiny size 3's.

Well, it's hard to believe that it's already been a year since I got banded. Crazy how fast life goes nowadays. It's been a fun and fascinating year for me. I look at where I was at this time last year...I didn't like myself, I hurt all the time, and life just wasn't any fun. Now, a year later, I am loving life, the pain is so much better and I have so much fun now!! My starting weight at the beginning of this journey was 305# and now a year later I am at 161.8#. My initial goal was to get to 160#; was hoping to make it there by today; so close yet so far away. :). My life is good and if I had to do it all over again, I'd be right there!!
Went to see a plastic surgeon yesterday. He told me I have a small frame (I have never been told I have a small anything in my entire life). He feels he has enough documentation to get this covered medically because of all my infections and back problems being caused by the sagging skin. I wanted to try for a breast reduction, too, but he told me that I don't need one; what I need is a breast lift and insurance won't cover that. Oh well, guess I'll have to save up for that one.
Well, this first year has been great and I can't wait to see what the next year brings!!!
I have made so many wonderful friends on this journey and I feel so blessed because of that.
Thank you Dr. Rincon, Christine, Lucy, Marivonne, and Doris for always being there when I need you!!

Well my trip down to San Antonio was so much fun!! I not only got to spend time with my dear friend Mari, I also got to meet and now have another friend, Doris; who is also a patient of Dr. Rincon's. We all went to Dr. Rincon's open house and it was so nice to see how many people showed up. We were all so happy for him. On Thursday I went in and got a fill. I now have about 7 1/2 cc in my 10 cc band. After my fill, Doris and I went to the gym and did a kick boxing class...which kicked my butt!! But it was a lot of fun. Of course, I had to be my usual clutzy self and fall while going out to get a drink of water; yep, you guessed it...ended up with a small hairline fracture in my arm. Many for being small the sucker sure hurts!!! It was hard to come back home on Friday as it was so beautiful and warm in SA. It was 85 and when I got back home that evening it was a blustery 5.
Arrrghghh. Well, I'll keep updated as I lose more weight. Current weight: 166.

Well, I am going back to San Antonio for another fill on 12/06/07. I am hoping that this will be the last fill I need. It seems no matter how much exercising I do, I can't get rid of these last few pounds I need to lose. I was down to 171.2, but am now back up to 172.6. That's frustrating!!!! I was really hoping to be down to 169 by the time I go in for my fill. Hopefully that can still happen, but I am not going to get my hopes up. Arrrghhh. I'll update after I come back from Texas. I am looking forward to seeing my dear friend Mari. She is going to drive up to San Antonio on the 5th to see me. I will be flying down on the 4th.

Well, went to the doctor yesterday for a check up and my weight is now at 174.6#. Only a 6 pound loss this past month, but losing six is better than gaining six. I was finally able to return to the gym yesterday after not being able to go for over a month due to having foot surgery. It felt so good to be back there. I did 1/2 on the treadmill and 1/2 on the bike. Not as much as i used to do, but I have to still give this foot more time to heal; the last thing I want to do is screw it up. My goal is to be down to 160 by Christmas. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can do it!! I only have to lose 5 1/2 more pounds and I will hit that wonderful goal of no longer being overweight...I will be at a normal weight when I hit 169. WOOOOHOOOO!!!
Can't even remember, if I ever was, at a normal body weight

Well, it's been a week now since I had my foot surgery. Wearing this stupid walking cast is driving me nuts!! And I have another 2 weeks before I can hopefully get out of it. I can't go to the gym, and I hate that!! I was so worried about putting any weight on because of not being able to work out so I started a low carb diet to help me avoid gaining any weight. Happy to say that it's working. My weight is now 180 and I can't be more please. Just 20 more pounds to lose to hit my goal of 160. Once I get to that point, then I'll start pursuing insurance coverage to get my tummy tuck. My PCP has been very good about documenting all the skin infections I've been dealing with because of the loose skin, so hopefully it'll be enough to get insurance to cover my tummy tuck as medically needed vs cosmetic. Keep your fingers crossed for me.