The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly.....

Aug 12, 2010

Well, had to see my PCP today and was thrilled to see the number on the scale: 144 lbs.!  That makes a loss of 172 lbs.  Pretty scary to contemplate exactly what I looked like prior, as I am only 5"1 1/2.  Though short stature, I wouldn't call my bone structure petite.  I thought I could just keep on doing what I'm doing and see where I end up before I even consider plastic surgery.

Due to having had abdominal pain and a tennis ball/baseball sized growth moving in and out of my upper stomach for several weeks becoming more and more uncomfortable, I thought I'd get it checked out.  I was pretty sure it was a hernia and it was confirmed to be one.  It's right on the open RNY incision line, center, below the breast bone.  She's referring me on to a surgeon, but the wheels have started turning in my head.  I've read often about people having plastics the same time as a hernia repair.  I've got more than a dozen years of documentation from docs seeing and treating my skin rashes and have been using a prescription steriod cream for years, so no doubt would have to pay some $$, but maybe not as much having them done at the same time.  I'd better be a quick read too, because I'm not all that familiar with all the procedures.  Actually, since I had a hip replacement this year, I am maxed out on all approved covered charges. Also, many a rheumatology visit trying to get my fibro pain under control,once again - not there yet.  Great  year, huh? 

The ugly is that from what I've read, docs don't like to do plastics until the body has settled for some time - six months, year?  It's fair to say I'm probably close to being done losing, but haven't stablized for any length of time.  I don't know if I  can just wait out the discomfort of the hernia until the middle of next year.  Probably not, considering eating and drinking can be really uncomfortable, not to mention, if this thing strangulates while waiting, the chance for me to make a decision will be lost.

What to do?

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