blackcherry2002

Ok so I'm going to see a second plastic surgeon (this one doesn't charge a $50 consult fee ) Anyway, first time my insurance denied me. However I don't think my surgeon then explained much of anything in the letter or whatever to the insurance. Here's the thing...they covered my lapband completely. I went from 270 to 135. I do have a lot of hanging skin, it doesn't look like it because it's being held up pretty well so it just looks like I have a fat belly still basically except that it folds hot dog style on itself as well as rolls? If that makes any sense but yeah it's really loose. And here's the reason for that and the reason I hope my insurance will cover: About 1 to 2 years before my lapband surgery I ballooned from 165 to 270...and I did it in 7 months. I had went to my gyno right before this and had her check my thyroid. She said it was fine. In fact it was 5.6 or something which is NOT in the .3 to 3 or even .5 to 5 range for thyroid. So a year later after my body was streched beyond belief, I went to get a mental health check up for suicidal thoughts. They tested my thyroid again: 22. Also, at the time I told her I thought I had PCOS. She laughed and said no I don't have and she wasn't going to test me for it. Well guess what? Yup have PCOS too. So basically my question for those of you a little bit more insurance savvy than myself...do you think I could get insurance to cover a TT since it was caused by a medical condition (almost like 'reconstructive surgery')? I do have a tiny rash problem underneath and I keep getting belly button infections on top of it all however I don't have those documented and don't feel like doing such since I'd have to pay for a dr's visit everytime I got a tiny rash, sorry but I'm a college student, it's just not possible (especially since that money goes towards dr's for my thyroid, hormonal and mental health issues).

My mom got approved for a panniculectomy but never went and got it because she wanted the whole shabang and that was an extra $10,000 or so on her part. But yes, she did get approved. Like most insurances, the skin has to hang down a certain amount or be causing rashes, etc.

I guess I didn't know what else to call this and I'm sure I might have posted a related post quite awhile ago. However, here I am again and I'd like some thoughts from people who understand where I'm coming from. I'm 21 years old. I had surgery almost 3 years ago. I went from 270 lbs to 125 lbs. I feel healthier than I have ever felt, but I'm miserable. I'm getting asked out all the time by guys and it would be great if I could get excited about it. But with each one I just get more depressed. Thing is I look normal...maybe even good...with my clothes on, but when they are off it's a whole different story. I can't afford surgery and have been trying to get my insurance to cover a tummy tuck but I feel that'll take a lot of appeals and maybe a doctor that doesn't have their head up their ass. It's especially depressing because most of my problems stemmed from extreme rapid weight gain that caused deep purple stretch marks all over my body. Thank you thyroid and PCOS. Now I just have to find a doctor who will stand by me when I say it was the thyroid. Anyway. So basically, I know that these guys would not be interested if they knew what I really looked like. It's really depressing me. To the point that I have been thinking about suicide. I would never, but I'm depressed by the fact that I will constantly have intimacy problems, and that physically I will never be good enough. And all that getting to goal has shown me is that I guess it's the physical side of me that matters, not at all my mind or personality. I'm just looking for others out there that feel that same as me or that can give me some advice or something.

I actually posted sort of a similar post. It's extremely hard and I'm struggling with it too. I look at my hands, my arms, my legs and they just seem huge still. MASSIVE! But I constantly get told I'm tiny, but I don't see it. I think part of it too is that I also don't know what I look like at these weights. I was always a bit chunky before I gained a lot of weight when I was 17, but I haven't been a 'normal' weight since I was 5. But now...I'm 125 and I haven't been that since I was about 7 or 8 and about 4'9". It's all new territory.

I love this forum so much. I'm three years out and it still amazes me that there are people out there who really understand where I'm coming from. I feel bad though too complaining because i know that I have been very lucky to get as far as I have and without complications or horrible struggles. I respect those banders out there who have had to really work hard to get where they are...even if it is only 10 lbs. It is just so weird because even after the weight is gone...I'm still the little fat girl inside...and probably always will be. But honestly when I think about it...I don't take my health for granted like 90% of people my age, and I think being fat and understanding how it feels has made me a better person inside. Thank you all again. I think half of this post may have been PMS induced. Soooo moody. haha

Right after surgery it was a piece of cake for me...well whoops...hehe but it was really easy I had no hunger, but after about a month or two...well I was eating quite a bit. It took awhile for me to get to my sweet spot because my fill Dr is located about 3 hours away. I think this was a blessing in disguise. My process has been slow but I couldn't be happier. I believe between the July I got my surgery and May of the next year I went from 270 to 220...and 20 lbs came off during the first 2 weeks....so, yeah it gets discouraging but just keep at it. At one year out I was down to 195...however my third bandiversary is coming up and I'm down to 125lb! My point is, never think you're on a tight schedule of getting this weight off. Personally, I think it's BS when these doctors say you can only expect to lose such and such amount. If you have this tool and take it slow and make it apart of your life then the weight can come off and it will in its own time. I do love this forum. My doctor doesn't have a very good bedside manner and pretty much told me nothing. And I know my youth was on my side but I didn't really exercise that much, at least not going to the gym everyday. I mainly just made smaller choices like taking stairs or walking a few more feet. So I didn't lose my weight with strenuous exercise. In fact, it's only since the beginning of this summer that I've started really working out. I think you'll do great though, keep at it. And NEVER forget...sure you've only lost XX pounds...but imagine how hard it would have been to lose and keep that off without the band. Good luck!

Thank you everyone. peprmentpati- I have say it's at least nice knowing that I'm alone. I think maybe if I were older or maybe if I had a kid (that was the cause of the excess skin) I'd be ok. It just feels like my youth has been stolen from me. And I'm only 21. I realize that's probably a pretty dramatic thing to say and I don't mean offense by it. It's just that I see women who are 25, 27, 32, 40...some have kids even...and their bodies aren't as messed up as mine. I don't want to wear a bikini, but I want to be able to let someone else touch my stomach during intimate moments. I still haven't been able to. I always wear clothes during those times and the lights are always off. It's a hard thing to ask of a guy in their 20's to put up with. Especially when it seems like they have plenty of chances with other girls whose stomachs don't look like a deflated balloon and who wouldn't make them keep the lights off.

Just wondering just HOW rare it is that insurance covers plastic surgery for people that have had weight loss surgery. I'm specfically interested in tummy tuck/loose skin removal procedures rather than breast lifts/reductions but answer either way.

My insurance has their covered services online. I have Tricare. They covered my lapband 100% so I'm hoping they will be helpful. Basically they will cover anything for a medical necessity. Basically they same the same about just as long as there are rashes. I'm hoping that my plastic surgeon will also work with me and put absolutely everything in there before sending it. The other one I saw sent pictures that didn't even really show any issues and put nothing else in there. I have the hardest time with getting doctors to make a big deal about anything (not just my plastic surgeons)...I wonder if it has anything to do with the region I live in

How bad were your rashes? Mine are more uncomfortable and the skin gets chafed off a bit. And during the summer it gets very sweaty under the folds and in my belly button. I guess now I'm being punished for being obsessive about making sure the area's clean though because they don't really show up on camera. Will the insurance company accept pictures that I've taken myself? And of course I pretty much avoid physical activity between my stomach and my chest because though they don't look like it, they are very heavy. About 2 weeks ago my back was so bad I was in tears lying on the ground unable to move for about 2 or 3 hours. Not how I want to be at 21 already. These, though a lot of them, seem like mild issues. Then again my mother asked to drive herself to the hospital during a heart attack so I come from a family that doesn't make a big deal unless you are bleeding or dying...

Wow do I understand that. Unfortunately I don't think that ever goes away. I gained about 10lbs over the holidays but it's come right off again. I tend to gain that much every year but then come Spring and Summer I start losing again. I had so many ups and downs and platues with my weight loss but I went from 270 to 135, so looking back I feel good about that because I know there were times I got close to giving up. I wear a size 2/4 right now which should blow my mind or something but I swear, most days I wake up and still feel like the size 24 I was. However, the little nagging, uneasy feeling I get now from gaining 5...10...or 15 lbs is just more motivation to get back on track. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

K well if either one doesn't work...anyway, it's been about 30 lbs since I last updated so this is me at 140. My before weight was 270.

Ok so went to the bar with my friends the other night for my late-birthday celebration. A girl I never met, who had once made fun of me for being fat and tried stealing my boyfriend (yes, she's a real winner) was there. This was two years ago. She had told me "Go eat a cheeseburger you zamboni." Well she was drunk at the bar, go figure. She finds out who I am and will not leave me alone. "I'm so sorry, omg! you're f-ing gorgeous. You're so f-ing hot." I was flattered but I'm glad I got away from her, she's a bit crazy.

Any July '08 banders having problems getting off track? I was down to about 155 and now I'm back to 166...ugh! Anyone have any success with the 5-day pouch test?

Ok so just wondering, other long-time banded people, have you had weird restriction at times? Last summer I lost a bunch of weight because I just didn't feel like eating as much, same thing is happening this summer. The issue is, when I do eat...all of a sudden I have no-go foods. I can't eat pasta, makes me throw up. For instance, just today....I've been eating really well lately, so I decided to have a few cheetos and a bag of peanut m & m's...well I felt horrible after not even eating very much. And then I threw it up. It wasn't the best food I realize, but I've never had foods I couldn't eat before...anyone else?

Yeah it's definitely strange. Not complaing though, I've been at 165 since last September and I started losing again about a month or two ago and now I'm down to 145, which blows my mind.

I was pretty invisible as well and got treated like I was an idiot. Now it's completely different.

7/28/2008 Probably not the healthiest but it was a VAST improvement over how I used to eat. I try just to be active in my day to day stuff and maybe I'll go out and do something with friends, but I don't workout regularly. -125lbs Love my results.

I actually had surgery when I was 18, whoops sorry I voted. haha. But seriously I'm 2 years out as of next month and I would have done it sooner if I could have. Best choice I ever made.

I got the band when I was 18 and I live 3 hours away from my hometown(where I had surgery.) And let me tell you, even that sucks pretty bad. haha But like everyone said just call around. I'm in a state that only has about 3 places, all on opposite corners, that do lapband and they won't touch another doctor's band so...

Anyone else able to feel their port AND the tubing? At first I thought it was my port, so I thought...no big deal. Then after large meals it would stick out really far and I realized it was right above my port and a seperate bump. So then I got freaked out and I'm like..."Omg! that's my stomach" and I started thinking I ate too much and was hurting myself... But then a few weeks ago and felt it and it's long, curves and I can sort of...feel around it...pretty sure it's the tube...anyone else have this? It's sort of unusual...

Well the title pretty much asks it. I'm just looking into getting a tummy tuck myself and I'm worried about getting an unfill/gaining etc.

wow you're tummy tuck is 12,000? It's only about $8,000 here in Fargo I believe. Even cheaper if I went to another city but...wow :bored:

So July 28th will be 2 years since I had lap band surgery. I'm so glad I got it done and it's the best decision I could have made. I've lost about 115 pounds...My waist at my belly button has gone from 53 inches to 28 inches..this has left some excess. The worst part about it is I don't know if I can tell the difference between excess skin and fat. So I keep looking at my stomach and see the same 53 inch belly. It's really holding me back from enjoying my weight loss and keeps me a size up because I have to find pants that I can tuck my stomach into and shirts that don't show all the lumps and bumps. I'm looking into getting a tummy tuck. But that's a bigger surgery than the lapband; it's a lot to consider. I'm also at this point only thinking I can do it if my insurance covers it but at the same time I think it's something I need to do if I ever want to be comfortable (not even in love) with my body. I was looking at before and after pictures yesterday and I started crying because those stomachs looked like mine and after they were normal, beautiful...maybe it just gave me hope. I know it probably sounds bad but if I were a mother like a lot of you maybe I'd feel better about it because it's like...yeah you know why my stomach looks like s**t? Because I created LIFE! HA! Unfortunately it was a combination of bad eating which kept me a little chubby and a stupid malfunctioning thyroid that ballooned me up and caused a TON of stretch marks. Just wondering if anyone out there is feeling a lot like me. And what do you think about the tummy tuck, think I should get it even if my insurance doesn't cover it? (Don't get me wrong I don't have BDD or anything. Though not perfect a lot of my other body parts I'm ok with. However my stomach is bad to the point that it affects intimacy and makes me self concious constantly)