Tabby C.
I had my PS consult on Wednesday!!!
Aug 13, 2007
I am so excited, yet so nervous and anxious. I was fine until after I met with the surgeon. He told me that my insurance covers the panni and that he didn't even need documentation that I have been having yeast infections, they are the easiest around to get approval. What a relief. However, they do not cover the "girls" or thighs, so if I want anything else done, I have to pay out of pocket. WELL...from top to bottom, he doesn't recommend implants because they are foreign objects and you never know what can happen down the road, so if I am happy with just a lift (mastoplexy) and using the tissue he can salvage from what I have, he can do that. I will probably be a B-cup after that. I wanted fuller, but also understand about not wanting something foreign I might have to have removed or whatever down the road. PLUS...it is an add'l cost. I still haven't ruled out implants.
Next he wants to do an abdominal restructuring and make an incision vertically down my stomach to remove the excess skin over my belly button, tighten up my waist and tighten up my abdominal muscles. This is an add'l cost, but it a MAJOR problem area for me and I definately want it done. NEED IT DONE to make me feel better about myself. Then, the panni, which is covered by insurance. That will help out with the excess rolls in my pubic area, too. I'm looking forward to getting all of that area done.
Finally, I have a lot of excess skin in my inner thighs. He recommended two different procedures and said I couldn't go wrong with either one. One is to put the incision in my bikini line at the top of my inner thights and lift and tighten that up. The other would be an incision that runs down my inner thigh and would remove more of the excess skin. I am so torn about which one to chose. I am afraid that if I don't get all of the excess skin removed from my thighs that I still won't be happy and that even if my waist is small and I can fit into smaller clothes, I really won't fit into them because my thighs will be too big to fit into the smaller sizes. Right now my size 10/12's are really tight in the thighs and if I get into a size 8 after my TT, will I be able to wear them without having the bulk removed from my thighs? What would you do? I'm so torn. I would rather have the scar hidden, but can I deal with a scar on the inside of my thigh that will only be visible when I wear a bathing suit for however many days out of the year that is? Will the scar fade enough that it won't matter? What to do? What to do?
Soooooo....the out of pocket costs for the add'l surgeries is $13K. Hubby and I are considering every option we can to pay for everything I want to have done. OH...I also got an employee discount because I work for the hospital system, so I got 10% off. WOO HOO!!!! I told hubby it is the price of a new car, but he said it is a new body that will last longer than a car. What a sweet and supportive hubby.
I scheduled the surgery (which all will be done at the same time) for Monday, November 12th. My surgeon said he wanted to wait until I was atleast a year out from my WLS, so that was the first available date after my 1 yr mark. If we can come up with the funds, I will be having my surgery in 3 months. I want to get to my goal by that day, which, as of this morning I am only 5 pounds away from. YAY!!!
Initial WLS Goal Met!!!
Jul 25, 2007
I DID IT!!! 
I FINALLY DID IT!!!
A little over nine months ago I had WLS. This surgery has changed my life in so many ways, yet at times I forget that I even had it. When I decided to have the surgery, I set my goal weight at 165 lbs. I was 282 pounds at my pre-op appointment and figured that 165 was a reasonable weight for me. My surgeon never discussed a "Goal Weight" with me. My PCP said that she would like to see me weigh between 165 and 175.
The weight was coming off pretty steadily and by my 6 month followup appointment I had lost 100 pounds. At that time my surgeon told me that I had another 20-30 pounds to lose. 
Based on the BMI charts, I had to have a BMI <25 to be considered "normal". To get to 24.9 I have to weigh at the most 159, so I set my new goal to 159 lbs and hope to reach that by my 1 year surgi-versary, which is October 11th.
TODAY... I got on the scale and weighed....READY???...165!!! 
My initial goal when I had the surgery!!! I am only 6 pounds from my final goal. I know I can do this. What I life changing tool this surgery has been.
I finally did it...I made the call for Plastics!!!
Jul 23, 2007
WELLLLLL...when I called today to ask a few questions, they said that they want me to maintain for 3 months, but would be best to schedule an appt with the PS to see where I am and what I want and where to go from there. The next available appt is....ready???? AUGUST 8TH!!!! In two weeks. I was 168.5 today, so I still want to get to 165 by my appt...Hee Hee. I can do it. Can't I???
I am excited, but nervous to find out that my insurance won't cover anything. I would be happy with them covering the TT and me paying for the girls...although I would be very happy if they covered both. The PS I am going to meet with does mostly WLS pts, so I am confident that he will know the best way to word the paperwork, so it gets approved. Wish me luck.
New Pics of the New Me!!!
Jul 16, 2007
I had professional pictures taken back in February, but have lost another 40 pounds since then. I can't believe how much I have lost in the last nine months. This morning I weighed 167 pounds. 167!!!!! When did I EVER weigh 167??? I can't remember. I am now fitting into a size Large top and a size 10 or 12 jeans, depending on the amount of stretch they have.
When I started this journey my goal weight was 165. I thought that was realistic and would be a good weight for me to be. Here I am, only TWO pounds from that goal. I have re-evaluated and changed my goal to 159, but STILLLLLL...I am only 8 pounds from my goal. I want to get to 165 and then start calling about plastics. I am anxious to see if my insurance covers anything. How great would that be?
Not much else going on. Nate got a trampoline for his birthday and I am having fun jumping on it once in a while with the kids. I don't even worry about the weight limit on it. I get in with the kids and we all run around jumping. It is so much fun. We have also gone swimming a couple of times. I'm still hoping to hit an amusement park the summer to see how a roller coaster feels after all this time. I'll let you know if I get to one this summer.
Hope you are all having a great summer, too. Later.
FINALLY taking time to update.
Jul 01, 2007
This morning I weighed 169 pounds. I honestly cannot remember ever weighing this much. I'm sure it was in high school, but don't know when. I have been hovering around 170 for the past three weeks. I know it is because of the stuff I have been eating. Not eating bad, but not restricting enough to help me lose. I did make my mini-goal of 170 by July 4th. Now I need to set my next mini-goal. The mini-goals are really keeping me on track. I want to be at my ULTIMATE GOAL of 159 by my one year surgiversary...October 11th. To get there, I need to lose about a pound a week. My next mini-goal is to be at 165 by August 18th. Time to go hardcore on protein drinks and water.
I have come up with a great concoction of a protein drink. I have been drinking a good bit of Starbucks Iced Sugarfree/Non-Fat Cinnamon Dolce Latte's. YUMMY!!!! But very expensive habit. I have started making 1/4-1/2 cup of strong instant coffee and adding it to my chocolate protein drink with an ounce or so of Cinnamon Dolce SF syrup or Caramel or whatever I'm in the mood for. Quite tasty!!! I actually look forward to my protein drinks now. If only I could get more strict throught the day with my protein. I'll work on that this week...although it is a bad week with 4th of July picnic, two birthdays to celebrate and a big birthday party next week...perhaps I'll work on that NEXT week and do my best this week!!! Yeah, that's the ticket!!!
Other than that, I have been enjoying the new me and having people not recognize me. We went to a party yesterday and saw friends we haven't seen since last summer and they said they wouldn't have recognized me on the street. I love that. I do look very different. It's weird, but great. I can't wait to go to an amusement park this summer and try out a roller coaster. Maybe my sister and I can ride one together. OH...we also got a trampoline this weekend, so I hope to get out on it today to try it out for a workout. I have to remember to put on a poise pad...damn bladder ain't what it used to be after having two kids. YAY!!!
Hope everyone else is enjoying their summer. I'll try to update more frequently. Thanks for reading.
Weight is just trickling off now
Jun 06, 2007
I'm still struggling to get the carbs out of my system. I really do love me a sandwich every once in a while. I can't eat pasta anymore because it makes me sick right away. The last two times I have tried to eat spaghetti, I have ended up throwing up. I have actually gotten sick a few times here in the past week. Hopefully it is just my stomach finally waking up and me trying to fill it more than it wants. I have been feeling full a lot quicker these days than I have in the past. I'm glad that this is happening. I have actually even thrown away the last few bites of a sandwich or something because I know I am full and don't need to get in the last few bites, just so I don't have to waste food.
As far as clothes go, I am now in a size Large top and a size 12 jeans. I tried on a pair of size 10 Levi's bermuda shorts the other day and I got them on and zipped. They were a bit snug, but felt alright. Gotta love the stretchy material in clothing these days. Believe it or not, I am going shopping again tomorrow to try to find some shorts to get me through the summer. I did find a bathing suit that I liked. Now for it to warm up enough to get in the pool. I'm enjoying being outside these days.
That's my update for now. Hope everyone else is enjoying the summer weather.
Hoping to be more active the summer
May 21, 2007
We left that park and went to another one. This one had a merry-go-round. I let the kids get on and I ran around a little getting them going. They loved it. It felt good for me, too. After that we went home and the kids played outside for a while longer on our swingset (well...Meg took a nap).
After dinner I loaded the kids in the double stroller and went of a walk through the cemetary and then we played outside until it was time for me to start work. It was a long day, but we got a lot of fresh air and the kids had a blast. Last year I would have been ready to hang out on the couch and watch TV after lunch. This year I am more active and hope that the kids enjoy summer a lot more this year. I say this now because the temps aren't in the 90's yet. When it gets that warm we won't be in the sun as much, unless we can get in a pool, which I am really looking forward to this year.
Yesterday the scales said 176. I had a mini-goal of 175 by Memorial Day. Only one more pound and 6 more days to meet that goal. I CAN DO IT!!! I need to de-carb myself. I eat carbs and think I need more and more. It's driving me CRAZY!!! I miss the days after my surgery when I just wasn't hungry and didn't touch carbs. Now that I have been eating them here and there I feel hungry more often. Luckily I get full a lot quicker these days. Hope everyone has a great week.
What a Wonderful Weekend!!!
May 15, 2007
This past weekend we went to my younger sisters house for a "Girls Weekend" for my mom's 60th birthday. She didn't want the party we had for her, so we had the "Girls Weekend" to smooth things over with her. It was AWESOME!!!!
We got there on Friday night and had my mom's two best friends drive out to surprise her. My sister lives 3 hours away, so mom had no idea anyone else was going to be there. When we pulled in, she didn't recognize their car (it was late, the car is new and she didn't expect to see them, so she didn't pay attention to it). They came running out of the house and said "Hello!" When it dawned on her who was there she started crying and ran over to hug them. I was so glad they made it.
The next morning after breakfast we went to a local salon and we all had pedicures in the same room, at the same time. It was wonderful. After that we went to a nearby city for lunch reservations at Brio's and then did some shopping. That evening we had tickets for a Cabaret show. It was so funny!!! I had a couple of drinks that day. One of them went to my head, so I stopped drinking. Didn't want to dance on the tables. Hee Hee.
When we went back to my sisters house it was late, but we still watched "Because I Said So". It was cute and funny that the mom on there was turning 60 and didn't want a party AND she had three daughters. How funny is that? The next morning was Mother's Day and we took our time getting ready to leave and did some more visiting. It was a very nice weekend. Mom had a blast and just kept crying all weekend. What a memorable weekend.
I hope everyone else had a great Mother's Day Weekend.
I also only gained a pound over the weekend with the drinks and all of the carbs I ate. I lost 1/2 a pound today, so hopefully tomorrow will show the other 1/2 gone.
GREAT Birthday, after all...
May 10, 2007
This years Birthday was great after the whole "poop" fiasco. Nate never did take a nap, but played good while I tried to get ready for dinner. I woke up Meg and dressed her and we left at 5pm to meed Dave. We had a great dinner. I got steak and BBQ chicken (wanted leftovers) and brought all of the chicken home, plus 1/2 of my baked potato and instead of salad I got chili in a to-go container...pay for one meal and get three meals out of it...LOL...Not like last years birthday dinner, where I would have eaten all of that PLUS birthday cake and ice cream.
After dinner Dave took Nate home and Meg and I did a little shopping. I found a cute pair of white capri pants and picked up a new pair of Levi's capri's in a SIZE 12!!!! SIZE 12!!!! They fit like a glove. LOVE THEM!!! I am thrilled!!! This morning the scale was very kind to me and showed a wonderful 176!!! I can't believe that I am at this weight just SEVEN months after having WLS. Today is my actually SEVEN month Surgiversary. YAY ME!!! I'm loving life.
Oh, I forgot to mention what Dave and the kids got me for my birthday/Mother's Day...an iPod!!! I was so excited. It was EXACTLY what I wanted. I'm taking it to my sisters this weekend and hope to download some of her songs to it while I'm there. She has like 6,500 songs in her library. I should be able to find SOMETHING I like to download. YAY!!!
Hope everyone else is enjoying life as much as me these days.
"CRAPPY" BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!
May 10, 2007
It started off nice. My son woke up before hubby even left for work, but Dave gave him breakfast and turned on the TV and asked him to let mommy sleep in because it was her birthday. He let me sleep until 8am when my daughter woke up and they both came in and woke me up together and he wished me a Happy Birthday.
I am going out of town for the weekend, so hubby gave me a list of 3 things he would like done before I left (clean kitchen, put away clothes stacking up for the past two weeks, and clean the bathroom because my hairspray is caked on everything) I gave the kids juice and something to eat, then started doing some cleaning and more laundry and let the kids play. Then we had lunch and went outside to play. Then had to shower before naps (and more cleaning for me) so we can go out to dinner for my birthday after hubby gets off work. Texas Roadhouse...all of our favorites and now that Dave is almost 3 mos out he might try steak.
I fought with the kids and took an hour trying to get them to sleep. I thought they were asleep and was on the phone with my mom and heard my son yelling for me. I ignored him, hoping he would just go to sleep. Finally, I said "WHAT???" He said "I have to poop." I told him to come down and go. He ran past me to the bathroom as I was still on the phone. He yelled for me when he was done to wipe his butt. I went in and saw his WET underware on the sink counter and POOP in the sink!!! He got up from the toilet and had crap all over his but, some on his leg and a foot long turd in the toilet!!!! He is almost FIVE!!! I was mad that he didn't just come down to go, rather than keep yelling for me and poop his pants. Happy Birthday to me...cleaning the house and cleaning up POOP!!!
Hope dinner goes well and I don't have to clean up puke. LOL.
