BeckyinTexas

Thanks, Marjorie! I'm very proud of my weight loss and at times I just can't believe I let myself get so huge. The hardest part for me now is realizing that all the skin issues are the direct result of my giving up on myself. But no more...I've come too far to not complete this journey and have the body that shows what I've accomplished. Thanks for your support. It means so much to me to have people on this forum I can talk to and know they understand all the issues that go along with weight loss. Have a happy and safe 4th everyone!

As always, thanks Dr. Schulman. That was one of those questions that I didn't quite know how to phrase but you knew exactly what I was talking about. I'm speaking at the National Lap Band Conference in October and I so hope to have the surgery behind me and be able to take the stage strutting my stuff! Heck, even without the surgery I plan on strutting. I've earned that right! Thanks again, Dr. S. You're one of the good guys!

Dr. S......I have a question that I have been embarrased to ask but lucky you, I'm asking. I'm still fighting my insurance company over the pannicolectomy and will continue to do so. I'm just wondering, when you have a panni, does that do anything for the pubis mound? Is that a separate procedure? Is it ever combined? I know that with the fat apron removed, it would make it look even worse than it does now. After all the weight I've lost, I have lots of "party favors" left over from being so big. They are some of the most annoying places! Thanks for all your support!!!!!

My first fill, I looked like I had gone 3 rounds with Mike Tyson. My stomach area was black and blue! My seoncd fill, no bruising at all. Then with my 3rd fill, big ole bruise again. I called my doctor the first time and he said that it sometimes happens. Well, I've had it 2 out of 3 times. They sometimes have trouble finding my port and that's probably why mine bruises.

Just my personal opinion but you did ask....I've had great success with my lap band. I've had it 3 years and have very few problems. You simply have to work with it and let it work for you. The only time I ever throw up or slim is...when I eat too fast and not chew enough or eat more than I should. My trigger is my nose runs and if I take one bite after than, it never fails I throw up. I choose the lapband over gastric because of the recovery time and other advantages that I learned about. I had two friends that had the gastric bypass close to the same time I had my lap band and granted they lost a lot of weight but they are now both gaining it back. One has already gained back 75 pounds of the 190 she lost. She is now checking into getting the lap band procedure. Lap band vs. gastric, you have to do your research on both but I definitely wouldn't change my decision to go with the lap band for anything! Good luck.

That was what I was denied, the pannicolectomy. I'm gonna keep appealing though. I have 25-30 pounds of skin hanging nearly midthigh. Mary, I've been wondering the same thing. Before I crossed my fingers and hoped I could fit my 469 pound body into the biggest size they had and even then, unless Omar the tent maker made it, I couldn't even wear a 32. Now I wear a 12 or 14 on top but a 14 or 16 waist down because of the fat apron. Thank goodness for tight girdles! I have to tuck everything in several times a day. But I know I'm much healthier and active than I was all those pounds ago. It's just so discouraging to not look as good as I feel. I'm gonna make it happen some way or another. Mary, I'll give you the same advice I give myself daily...hang in there. We've hopefully gone through the worst and it'll be so much better from now on.

Dr. Schulman...your advice is so correct. When I first started losing the weight, I told my lap band surgeon that I would tape and strap all the loose skin when the time came. I should be thankful that now all the loose skin is the major problem but I'm having some major body issues. I did what you suggested and contacted Southwest Medical in Dallas and they're sending me paperwork to fill out for the residency program. I'm just hoping and praying that this will happen for me. Thanks for all your advice. You go above and beyond and it's appreciated very much!

Mary, I can so relate to what you're saying! I've lost nearly 300 pounds in 3 years and I'm more depressed now than I was when I was at my heaviest. I look in the mirror and see nothing but hanging skin and disgust myself. I went to see a PS about surgery but was turned down by my insurance company and I'm not financially able to pay for any of it. I just want the "fat apron" removed and I think that would help how I see myself. I've really been a mess the last couple of weeks after seeing the pictures of myself the PS took. I had myself fooled that I didn't look that bad until I saw it right there in living color. I should just be thankful that I've lost so much weight but I still feel like a failure. I know just what you mean though. Seems like all our hard work has been for nothing. Might sound vain, but one of my reasons for the surgery was to look better and I think I look worse now than before. I know where you're coming from and it's not good for either of us but we can vent to each other.

Dr. Schulman....I've lost nearly 300 pounds and as you would know, I need a pannicolectomy. I visited a plastic surgeon in Dallas and we sent in all the information to my insurance company but I was denied. They said it was cosmetic rather than medically necessary. I'd hate to see the poor sould they considered medical. I have constant rashes, infections and since my denial, I've been dealing with depression and I've never had that before. At one point, I thought all my hard work was for nothing when looking at myself disgusted me. My question to you is this....what is your experience with patients that appeal the original decision. I don't have anything documents as far as the rashes/infections go because I work for a county that provides us a PA and I just go next door and ask someone to recommend something to use. I wish I had stock in Gold Bond because I use a large can a week. Do you have any suggestions for me? I've got to snap out of the funk I've been in because I know I should just be thankful to have lost so much weight but I don't think I've ever been this discouraged. Thanks for any help you might give me.

I had my surgery 3 years ago and I remember the gas pains! The second day after my surgery, the pain was horrible. I chewed some Gas-X and it helped immediately. The pain was in my shoulder area and neck. I never had much pain in the surgery site other than about a week after my surgery, I must have rolled over on my stomach while I was asleep. That's how I've always slept flat on my stomach. Well, it woke me up and scared me to death thinking I probably has screwed something up. The pain was around my port site. I stayed up the rest of the night worrying I had messed up the whole procedure. I called my doctor the first thing the next morning and he assured me that everything would be OK. After taking a much needed nap, I woke up and was feeling fine. I even went grocery shopping that afternoon. I went back to work the day after that and other than being tired, I was fine. I felt like I had no energy for a couple of weeks but no pain. Did your surgeon give you a breathing thing? I don't remember what it's called but I used mine every hour. The told me it would help clear ny lungs. Ask your doctor about this. Hopefully things will start improving for you soon!

I can't wait to hear how you're doing. Also, congratulations on starting the best journey of your life! Ever have any questions, we're here for you! Take care of yourself.

Not sure if any of y'all can relate to this but....I'm 54 and single. At my age, not a lot places to meet eligible men so I went the internet route of posting on dating sites. Before I always posted on one for "BBWs". I kept thinking pretty soon I would no longer be a BBW but it dawned on me this morning...I still will be. Instead of BBW standing for Big Beautiful Woman, for me it now stands for Banded Beautiful Woman!

Well hello to a fellow Texan, I think. We're both at 3 years. It's great isn't it! It's gone better for me than I ever expected it to. You've done great and I'm very proud of you. Like you said, who knows better than all the great people on here what we all have gone through. I feel like a new person and I'm sure you do too. So, don't be shy, you can say pretty much anything you want to on here. You've lost all that weight so you need to be shouting it from the roof top. Congratulations!

If someone finds it, please let me know. I'm getting everything together to start my appeal process so this would help out greatly.

I must be a freak of lap band nature....in three years I've had 3 fills and going in for my 4th fill at the end of June. I know it's time because I'm getting hungry between meals and I haven't before. I have restriction even without a fill so I'm very lucky.

Carrie, I'm 54 so gravity is taking it's toll on me for sure but the upside for me is....I actually have boobies for the first time in my life! Before my stomach stuck out so much, you wouldn't notice I had anything. Now, my stomach is much flatter and you can finally see the girls! I've gone from a 56DD to a 36D. So even though the number and cup size is smaller, I finally look like I have something up top. For anyone that might be interested in a good bra....try Goddess. They have some great styles and are very comfortable. If possible have someone fit you because it certainly makes a difference when you get the right fit. I love the underwire one except when I fly and for some reason it sets off the scanner and I get pulled over to the side and have to have a woman do the hand held scanner. But oh well, at least I'm looking better when people stare at me!

This is a great forum! Thank you, Froggi, for coming up with it. I have some major "girl" questions and as soon as I get brave enough to ask them. Who better to ask though than people that definitely know some of the things that we deal with. It's like our own little private club. How cool is that!

Thank you all so much for your encouragement and wonderful ideas. I just have to find a way to accept myself and how I look before I can expect anyone else. I was like you JJ, when I first started losing weight, I said it wouldn't matter to me but I'm finding out more and more it does. I look like a deflated balloon. I just have to talk to him and if he's the kind of man I think he is, it really won't be a problem. That's certainly what I'm hoping for. Good men don't come along that often so I have to find a way to deal with this. You're ideas certainly have helped me and thank you all so much!

Blg20002000...Congratulations! You're off to a great start. I was one of the 2BC (Too Big Crew) myself when I started. I know for a fact it can be done cause I'm doing it. Keep up the good work!

GG......you go for it!!!!! Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done. I'm LIVING proof that it can! Before my lap band surgery, I had several people tell me I was too heavy and it wouldn't work for me. I made my mind up then and there I was going to show then all and I have. One of the ones that said that to me had the gastric bypass and now...she's gained nearly all her weight back and actually is checking into getting a lap band. So, don't let what anyone says make you doubt for a nanosecond your decision. With your attitude, you will do great! Good luck and stick to your guns!

I'm 5'2" and the weight I should be is between 118-132. I'm thinking I might ever meet those numbers so my goal is simply this....to look into the mirror and tell myself I look damn good! My first goal was to get out the 400s, then the 300s, then the 200s and finally I hit onederland. I'd really like to lose about 40-50 more pounds though.

Lucy...I live in McKinney as well. If either one of you ever have any questions or need encouragement, I'll be more than glad to try. Lord knows I've had my share of questions. To be honest, heck, I still do even after 3 years. So, feel free to contact me if you'd like.

For anyone that hasn't read my posts before...my starting weight was 469 pounds and today I weight 183. Needless to say, I have a lot of hanging skin. I recently visited a plastic surgeon about a pannicolectomy and he took pictures of me completely nude. They were submitted to my insurance company for approval for the surgery. Well, I was denied. The surgeon sent me all the info sent in along with the pictures so I can appeal the decision. Well, after seeing my pictures, they grossed me out! Talk about a wake up call. I had convinced myself that I didn't look so bad...well, that's with clothes on certainly not naked! I have recently started a new relationship with a wonderful man. He knows how much weight I've lost and also about my hope to get surgery and he's very supportive. He tells me it's not a problem for him and that he cares about me and to stop worrying. Well, he hasn't seen me naked and I'm scared to take the relationship to that step for fear he'll be grossed out by how I look. I just find it so hard to believe that any man could look at me and find me desirable let alone sexy. I've been obsessing about this for a week now after seeing my photos. I haven't yet talked with him about how I'm feeling but I know I need to. I'm just so scared that he'll say it won't be a problem and then see me and be disgusted. I don't think my ego could handle that. Unfortunately, I'm still trapped in the same mindset I had before I lost weight....a man couldn't find me attractive. I've given myself pep talk after pep talk but in my mind I'm just affraid that I'm opening myself up to be hurt and that scares the living daylights out of me. Anyone else faced this kind of issue? Thanks for letting me share this with you.

I just want to tell you that at your age, it would be the best thing you could do for yourself or you could wind up like me and missing out on so many years of my life being overweight. If you have the opportunity to do it now....go for it! You just have to be determined and ready to make some life style changes but honestly it's not that bad at all. I didn't get to be as big as I was because I didn't love food and the wrong kinds were of course my favorites but now my lap band helps me make wise decisions. If you work with it, it'll work for you! People have asked me if I'd do it again and I tell them I'd do it weekly if I had to in order to keep my band. It not only changed my life, it literally gave me a life. Your parents love you and want the best for you but you have to want it as well. As for the anesthesia, I had only had my gall bladder removed before my lap band surgery and I woke up sick as a dog after the gall bladder operation so I told them that before my lap band surgery and they gave me something through my IV to help with the nausea and I woke up groggy but feeling fine. I had my surgery at 8:30 a.m. and left the surgery center a little before 1:00 that afternoon. As for the scars, they were able to pretty much go in where I already had been cut but they don't look that bad. Heck, they look a whole lot better than the blubber I had before! I just wish you luck and trust me, I don't think you'd ever regret having the surgery. Good luck and know that this site is wonderful and without fail, someone always lends a helping hand when you need one.

Legster, thanks for the information and I'm going to try and see if they will help me. This might sound so silly and I should just be so thankful that I've lost so much weight, but until I get the surgery, I won't feel like I should. This has really taken me for a loop and I just have to get over it and stop worrying that they'll turn me down again. I just have to get it through my head, I'm going to have to fight them and hopefully Obesity Law Ctr. will help me out. Also, congratulations on your weight loss!!!!!