I'm sooooooo excited! I called the insurance co this morning and they said I was approved! Yippee! So then I called the doctors office - I'm really trying to push everyone along so I can get it all done before April 1st - the dr's office said they had me in their pile to set up the surgery date and they would be calling me with a date. I said I hate to be pushy but... and I also know its really crazy to think they can get to me so soon but she said it all depends on the hospital schedule. Actually I am very hopeful because the hospital I'm having it done at is a small hospital and its very possible they'll be able to get me right in.

Pray for me!

Steph - So glad to hear that each day it gets better for you. I remember after my lap band surgery for about 1 week or so I felt so tired to I guess that just goes along with any surgery. Heck, take advantage of afternoon nap time. I love Saturdays so I can take a nap in the afternoon if I want to. Take care and keep up the good work!

Steph, glad you are doing okay. I finally get the last drain out on Monday. I can't wait.

Steph! Looking good! I think you are bloated a bit. I was told that could actually last 6 weeks sometimes! Sucks, but it is like xmas. Wait and wait for the final results. :biggrin:

Just came from the dr, he took out my drains so I thought I'd post my pics. Sorry it looks gross. If you look close you can see my port scar is now next to my belly button. He circled where my port is. Today is only day 5 so theres alot of swelling. But I'm still pleased with the results.

Wow, what a difference already, I'll bet you lost weight during the surgery and will see that once the swelling goes down! Just out of curiosity, how tall are you? I SWEAR your before pics are ME! To the "T"...but i'm NOWHERE near 150#'s and fear that at that weight I would look emaciated!!! I'm 5'7"...

I'm 5'3" and I lost 6 lbs of flab during surgery. When I got home I was at 153 now I'm up about 3-4 lbs... don't know if its from being unfilled (going on Thurs for a refill) or TOM - which is totally screwed up. I'm a few days late so nothing serious but I've been having hot flashes everyday since surgery. Who knows whats going on with my hormones. I just know I'd be happy to get my period and I'll be so very happy to get refilled!

Steph, when you lose fat on the abdomen it screws with the estrogen that is why you are having hot flashes. It took me about 1-2 weeks to finally have the scale show it. With my unfill and surgery I had gained 3 lbs when I went in for my fill. He also took 6 lbs off of my abdomen.

yeah I knew that, when my sister had her tt it threw her in complete menopause - she thought she was losing her mind. I go to my gyno on June 6th so I'll talk to him about things then. Until then I'm just dealing with it.

Steph you look terrific. I think the weight gain is all those things, just remember it is likely more fluid and hormone related than actual fat. Your body wants to hold onto everything it can - after all you traumatized it by having major surgery and now it is fighting back! One day soon it will forgive you again :thumbup:

Steph, I am LOVING your writing and your pics. It's nice to see another Pennsylvanian! I'm meeting with 3 docs in the next 2 weeks and have a feeling one of them will be my choice. One's in the Philly area (where I am), the other 2 in Jersey. Yeah, JERSEY. pff. LOL kidding :wink2: (love u ocean cittyyyy)

How are the hot flashes? Have you started shooting lasers out of your eyes? My mom's menopausal, and that happens. Lots. hee!

Oops hit send too soon - meant to say it happens lots to my mom, so if you're not using your Death Rays on anyone, hopefully the flashes'll clear up soon as you heal!

Thanks Kate - Hot Flashes Suck! The whole tempture changes are crazy! I'm either freezing or flashing <--- yeah take that anyway you want! I'm trying to defeat the hot flashes with soy. I'm eating a bowl of bran with soy milk once a day and I'm going to pick up some soy nuts when I get a chance. I read a 1/4 cup of soy nuts a day is enough to combat the hotflashes so its worth a shot. If nothing else fails I'll see what my gyno says when I go in June.

My daughter lives near Philly - Phoenixville. She goes to Valley Forge Christian College there and is a nanny in the summer.

LOL Steph and Kate

Wow, doesn't sound like fun though, and I hope the hormones get back to normal soon, Steph!

I'm having GYN surgery along with my plastic surgery, so it sounds like I better start stocking up on soy now. I'll be in Florida, encased in compression garments in the June heat, so I can't even imagine what it would be like if I started getting hot flashes too......

OMGoodness it makes me sweat just thinking about June in Florida!

Good luck to you! I don't see your age - maybe you're too young to have to worry about this stuff.

You look GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kat had her surgery yesterday and last I heard she did great... waiting for an update....

Your journey has me seriously trying to figure out how I can get this done next year!!!!!!!!!!

Do you think 2 weeks off work (desk job) is enough????

StepC - I really appreciate your updates and the pictures and I'm glad to hear things are going so well. Reading about other people's success helps with morale while I'm trying to get insurance approval for mine. Thanks.