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....I'm so happy that things are going so well for you! Thanks again for all the encouragement that you've given me as well as inspiration to fight my insurance company tooth and nail to get them to change their decision so you, Kat and I can start up the new and improved 3 Muskeeters club. Again, I'm so happy and proud of you.

Arrrghhh!

This is all I can THINK OF!

LOL

OMG Kate!!!

:rolleyes2:

LOL too funny!

I went in to band dr and got a refill today. Wow. So weird being filled again after not having anything in it for 3 weeks. I've only had coffee and broth so far and I'm still full.

Tracy - I work a desk job and yes I think 2 weeks is plenty of time off. I had my tt on Thursday, on Monday I came into work and did payroll (I have to admit I made several mistakes due to drugs). I also had my drains taken out that day, I guess I am one of the luckier ones who didnt' need drains for a long time. Then I came in again on Thursday (one week to the day) and entered some checks and went to the bank (only bc of dumb boys who wrote checks they shouldn't have). I came back to work that next Monday - which was day 12 - thinking that I would work half days that week but I ended up working full days with no problems. The swelling is still going strong by the end of the day but thats to be expected. I didnt' have any problems with my band surgery either. I had my band done on a Monday and was out Christmas shopping on Thursday so that kinda tells you I heal fast.

I am going to post more pics - soon. Maybe tomorrow morning I'll take a few, I hate to take them in the evening when I'm so swollen. I have to admit that I am VERY pleased with my results. I have fat in the upper part of my stomach - the 10 lbs the surgeon had wanted me to lose prior to the tt - and my thighs seem more jiggly then I had remembered them being, I guess due to the firmness of the tummy the rest of the body doesn't look so great. I dont' care tho - really - I know my body isnt' perfect but I'm fitting into my clothes so much better and just feel so much better about my appearance. I think I want to lose 10 lbs - hopefully with this fill I'll get there.

I'm happy to hear I inspire others. I wish you all the best of luck and hope it works out with insurance.

OK seriously, I should be an honorary member of the 3 musketeers club on sheer principle for posting that lovely picture :rolleyes2:

Steph, I'm glad you mentioned the fill. My band is letting me eat, I'm annoyed right now. So I made a fill appt for Jun 6. I haven't billed filled tight enough to "only" want coffee and broth...so I wonder if my doc is just being cautious? Or maybe she hit the max capacity of my band and isn't telling me??? lol. The last fill I had, liquids were not terribly difficult for one day, but the second day it was really hard, I did have hunger. It's not been "easy" not to eat for a long time. Maybe I have a little leak?

Ok Kate we'll be the 4 musketeers!

How much do you have in your band? I was up to 7.5 in a 10cc band but when he took it out all he got was 6cc's. I think I was too tight at 7.5 so I told him I wanted 6 today. Thats where I'm at now. I don't remember ever feeling this much restriction the first day of a fill. But then it was done a few cc's at a time over several months so this is the first time I've gone from nothing to restriction. Anyway its different and I'm hoping I'm not going to be too tight. I only do liquids today and tomorrow I'll do soft foods, after that I can eat whatever I want.. or whatever my band decides to let me.

Steph, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I don't know what's in my band. The girl who researches everything!?!?

I will ask Dr. Ren June 6 when I get my fill. For some reason, I think I have a 5cc band. I remember being around 2.0 - 2.30 and having tight restriction. I know they were using the 10cc's a little bit when I was getting mine done.

You're right about the no restriction to full restriction.

Hey what was it like having your band unfilled? Did it feel weird? Did you notice hunger coming back right away, or do you think you unlearned the emotional/mood hunger and just had "normal" hunger?

Arrrghhh!

This is all I can THINK OF!

LOL

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...drooling.....

StephC,

You look great. Thank you so much for posting your pictures and telling your story. I will be going for another consultation next month and hope to have my surgery in late June or early July. I will be going to Dr. Salas and hopefully will be getting a full tt, breast lift, lipo, and a butt lift. I hope to be up and about quickly. I'm a fast healer.

Thank you again.

Ana

Ana good luck - I keep getting told during my PS "scouting" visits that how quickly and well I heal is entirely dependent upon my attitude. I'm so excited for PS I was bubbling and bursting there, and the girl was like "Yeah with this Polly Sunshine thing, you'll be healed in record time" LMAO

Well my coffee and broth full feeling should have been a BIG red flag. I went home and at about 6pm had some broth, at 8 I was throwing up. No pb'ing, it spewed out- ewww! I threw up a couple more times, and I'd only had broth. I also caught a horrible cold that very same night, so I wasnt' sure if I was sick from nasal drainage or from my fill. At 6:30 the next morning I made some hot tea, which usually settles my stomach but after 3 sips it came up, that and last nights broth! So I went in to the band doc and had him take some out. I went from 7.5 pre-surgery to 6 and now I'm down to 2. I don't have much restriction but I'm trying to keep control. I figured I'll wait another week or two and then go up another 2 cc's.

The good news? I'm loving my new look. I posted on the before and after thread but will insert it here too. All you pre-tummy tuckers - get excited bc its the best!

Oh my goodness Steph!

Look at you -- you tiny little thing!!! You look wonderful!!!!

I noticed that you have your shirt tucked in too. I am SO looking forward to that day. I have always had a little pouch of fat in my lower abdomen that has always been with me -- even in my college days when I weighed 106 pounds. As a result, I am always draping that area with things that clear the lower abdomen and hips. In fact, I don't think I even own a single piece of clothing that doesn't clear the belly and extend down to the hips.

I told my Dr. that I am SO tired of draping my lower body -- that is my biggest complaint.

IF I manage to arrive in the flatlands (and I say IF because I truly won't believe it until I see it), the first thing I plan to do is to go out and buy myself a tight tee shirt and tuck it right into the waistband of my jeans!!!

You look amazing -- Congratulations :sad::thumbup::eek:!

Thanks Fran! I was the same way about tucking my shirt in. Even in my "thin" days I never felt I could tuck in my shirt but I'm happy to do it now!

Steph....You look great!!!!!! I'm so happy for you and so proud of you. I have one question....did you get approved by your insurance company on your first try? I've been so down since I was denied but I'm ready to starting appealing their decision. What insurance company do you have? Wish me luck and again, you look so darn good!

thanks Becky! I have UPMC (western PA) - I got approved on my first try but really feel it had alot to do with the doctor. My friend from support group has the same insurance and different ps doctor and she only got the panney. So I think it has alot to do with the doctor and how well they submit it. Don't give up, its gonna happen for you!