36, No Kiddos but Getting a TT After Major Weight Loss - Boston, MA

In 2005 I weighed 260 pounds. I had always been a yo-yo dieter with a love of fast food and ice cream. I exercised on a semi-regular basis but I was still a very unhealthy 26 year old. Then one day my Doctor ran some blood tests and they showed my hormones were out of whack and I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It was a wake up call for me.

Flash forward to now and I am a very healthy and active 180 pounds. I am 5' 9" for those wondering. I have run 3 half marathons and no longer have a diagnosis of PCOS. This surgery is something I have wanted ever since I left my Doctor's office that fateful day. I think part of the reason I have been pushing it off is that I don't have children. Every time I watched a weight loss show where they talk about excess skin and extreme weight loss I was was always longing and hoping that someday I could fix this belly of mine. At my heaviest I always carried most of my weight in my stomach, with relatively thin arms and legs.

I never had the courage to have a consult with a PS until this year. Being 36 and single at the moment I finally had a moment when I realized I shouldn't put this surgery off anymore in case I have a baby. In reality I could meet the man of my dreams tomorrow and my 36 year old body just might not want to get pregnant. It doesn't mean I can't someday be a Mother. And the PS was very reassuring that the way your skin rebounds after a pregnancy is very different to how your skin reacts to a life time of obesity. I have noticed there aren't a lot of folks on here having a TT without having babies first. I'm hoping to be a voice to those folks!

Two weeks from today I will be waking up on my couch on the flat side! I'm feeling pretty calm, but I'm sure I will have some moments of panic between now and surgery day. I Wanted to get down tom175 pounds by surgery day and Im down to 178 so that feels good. A friend of nine gave me a book about how to mentally prepare for surgery. It has been a great gift! It comes with a relaxation cd and I listen to it as I'm falling asleep. I've been sleeping soundly and stopped having crazy dreams which had been plaguing me!

Found out this week my insurance won't pay for 2 out of 3 pain meds that my ps wants me to take. I asked if he ever prescribed a difer t protocol of meds but he convinced me to pay out of pocket for the meds. I guess in the big picture, a few extra dollars that will ensure me being as comfortable as possible after the fact will be worth it!!!!

Just a few more days to go and I feel ready! I would however like to live in a germ free bubble or wear gloves and a mask at all times for the next 6 days. There's a nasty stomach bug running through my office right now! I work with small children and there is just no way to avoid germs! A week from now I'll be on the flat side!