Potatie starts her PS journey

potatie · 08-31-2009, 08:50 PM

Hi Everyone, Thank you to all of you who have gone before me and shared your expirences. Now I am excited to begin my own journey.

I was approved today from my insurance company for a panniculectomy, mons lift. I am going to pay out of pocket for an upper abdominalplasty. I will be staying 1 night in the hospital.

I was also lucky enough to be able to schedule my surgery as well. So the count down to Friday November 6, 2009 begins. My pre-op will be on October 20, 2009.

So my question to everyone out there is do you think that I will be able to go back to work after 4 weeks? I mainly have a desk job and where can you rent a lift chair?

Sue Magoo · 09-01-2009, 08:54 AM

Hi:

I had a tummy tuck in May 2009. I don't think I had a mons lift, however she did some lipo in that area. I believe that I could have gone back to work in 4 weeks to a desk job. You might want to plan on a gradual return, like maybe 3 half days, then 3 days 2/3 days, etc. You may be quite fatigued while you are recovering. Most of the pain was gone after a couple of weeks.

Best wishes to you. I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Sue

josiebies · 09-01-2009, 09:16 AM

hi potatie
good luck in your journey. i had a TT AND Breast Lift on 5/11/09.

everyone's recovery is different. in looking at mine...i absolutely could've gone back to work within 4 weeks. physically i bounced back quickly (much quicker then the LAP-BAND® surgery-relatively speaking).

i am so glad i did these surgeries. i am here to help if you need any. my experience is detailed on the cosmetic surgery forum.

one last thing...i actually bought a lift chair because i couldn't find a rental place. the company failed to deliver it. and i used a regular recliner....i was glad this happened because i didnt need another chair and the recliner was fine. this was just my experience.

josie

potatie · 09-01-2009, 03:06 PM

Hi Sue, Thank you for the tips. I did check with my payroll person and I would qualify for short term disability. So that way I can actually take 5 weeks off instead of four. I am going to check into taking an intermittant leave when I come back. So that I can work my way back up to the time.

Katie

potatie · 09-01-2009, 03:09 PM

Hi Josie, I have actually been following your journey. You are one of my inspiration people. :) Thank you for all of your thoughts. I kept that if Josie could do this then I can do this. Thanks for the tips about the chair. I do have a recliner down stairs. So if I do not have to rent another one that would be great. I am also lucky to have a rest room down stairs as well. How long did you end up sleeping in the recliner?

Katie

Mimilou2004 · 09-01-2009, 03:18 PM

Potatie, I will be watching for your posts. It will be an exciting journey.
Mimi

nazzy · 09-01-2009, 03:32 PM

what insurance compnay payed for yours?how did u get them to approve it?im hoping when im all done they will mine

josiebies · 09-02-2009, 12:05 AM

hi potatie

....believe it or not i got very comfortable sleeping in the recliner. i think it was a week i slept in it out of doctor's orders. then another few days just because i liked it.

when i did get back into a bed....it took me about 3 weeks to start sleeping on my side. that was a bigger issue for me. i used a pillow to help me on my side. it hurt and felt like i was stretching out.

are you having liposuction too? i had a little on my side "boobies" and a little on my hips. i have to say that bothered me more then the areas they cut. nothing hurt alot....but i was surprised by this. also..lipo didnt bother me until 2 weeks after the operation. once the numbness starting going away.

anyway it's very exciting that you will have this operation...i'm so glad i did it.

josie

nazzy · 09-02-2009, 07:44 AM

hey a question insurance doesnt cover lipo?or does it?and if it doesnt what does it cost about? thanks and wtg

potatie · 09-02-2009, 03:45 PM

Hi Mimi, Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it. :)

Hi Nazzy- The insurance that I have is Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield National accounts. They paid for my LAP-BAND® and I checked to prior to LAP-BAND® to see if they would cover the skin removal. They are covering the panniculectomy and the mons lift, but I am paying out of pocket for the upper adominalplastey. That will cost $4750. Thank goodness my dad is helping out with some of the cost. :) The way that I had the procedure approved was the documentation of skin rashes and issues ever since surgery with LAP-BAND®. I even have a powder perscription for the rashes. Then I also had over a 100 lb weight loss and pictures to prove. I also had doctor documentation that my life was limited due to the over hanging skin, such as I am unable to run without getting nausous and I am unable to do a lot of yoga poses.

Hi Josie, I am not sure if I am having any lipo, we did not discuss it at the first appointment. I am going to ask at the pre-op. He told me that I will look good after, but not like a super model. I am fine with that. :) Thank you for being excited with me. I need all of the support I can get. My husband just had LAP-BAND® surgery, but does not really understand the PS side of the journey. So we will see how everything goes. I can not believe it is September already. That means that November 6, 2009 will be here in no time. :) I can not wait.

Katie

LauraP · 09-03-2009, 04:12 PM

Katie,

I know that I talked to you on another thread. But, just wanted to pipe in here. I was off work for 3 weeks. And boy if I could have taken long I would have. Not because I could'nt go to work, it is just the fatguie. It hit me real hard. I would be fine in the morning then the afternoon it was all I could do to make it home. But I did it. I have heard of alot of people who go back at 2 weeks, they are alot stronger than me. I guess if you ask me what has been the biggest suprise for me post-TT it would have to be how tired I am.

Just wanted to wish you good luck, and keep us up to date on how you are doing. November will be here before you know it.

Take care all,
Laura

potatie · 09-03-2009, 04:18 PM

Hi Laura, Thank you for your thought. I am planning on taking 5 weeks off. I have a lot of sick pay left and then I will go on short term disability and supplement with vacation. I am lucky because November is a slow time for HR at my store. We do all of the holiday hiring in October. So I am hoping that will be enough time. I could not imagine going back after 2 weeks. I have seen some things on the internet where people were not allowed to drive until the 3rd week post op.

Katie

potatie · 09-08-2009, 12:46 AM

So now my count down begins. Today was day number 59 before surgery on November 6.

I have researching my surgery and realized that I have a lot more questions to ask my PS. So I will begin the list so I will not forget any.

Katie K.

skinnyjeans · 09-08-2009, 08:35 PM

Hi Katie,
Congrats on your weightloss and PS scheduling. I'll be waiting to hear of your journey. I plan to have TT and BA on 11/12. That is nice you can take short term dis. What a great benefit.

potatie · 09-14-2009, 03:22 PM

Hi Skinnyjeans, Thank you for posting on my thread. It looks like we are close together in having our surgery. I can not wait to hear about your progress.

Katie K.