A year later... - Madison, WI

I cant totally blame my 3 kids for my rolls but genetics play a huge role. I had a car accident and ripped my foot off in April 2010 was in a wheelchair for 10+ mos and lost 70 lbs while in it. I know ur asking how cuz most people gain when put in that position but I really watched what I ate and drank and made sure to exercise what I could my arms and back wheeling myself around anywhere I could. So, let me go back a bit. In 06 I lost my sister from complications of gastric bypass a month later to the day I lost my dad to complications of diabetes. 7 mos after that I had a pulmonary embolism (PE) after simple gallbladder surgery and a month later my mom had a emergency panniculectomy which didnt go so well. At this point I had given up on ever having a TT. I was afraid of having a cosmetic procedure with a PE in my past.

After my sister dying I was determined to lose the weight to show everyone you can do it without gastric bypass surgery. I went to the gym and watched my food intake I actually had to eat more my relationship with food is that I dont eat unless Im hungry so I was only eating one meal a day which really makes you pack on the pounds so I made myself drink slimfast for breakfast and lunch and added fruit and veggies in there and then my sensible dinner. I lost like 60 pounds and was down to 205. I started a new job, driving semi trucks and started putting the weight back on due to the soda I was drinking and lack of exercise. Fast forward to 2011. On Jan 27th I had my 3rd baby VBAC. (1st baby in 2000 vaginal, 2nd 2004 c sec due to breeched)

On April 9,2011 car accident and after the 2nd surgery I had another PE while on blood thinners just not enough. Now, I have a real history of PE after surgeries. In June I met my PS. He did a flap (take meat outta back of my leg and put it in the huge hole made by my bones ripping thru the skin) he did an awesome job and made my leg look like a leg. I trust him completely. I talked to him in one of my appt about my stomach and he said he could do it and i thought about it and made a consult to see him for this. We discussed how it would be with my leg out of order and decided we could do it and we talked about the PE issue and decided that risk was worth the benefits not of how I would look but my families past medical and how much losing this belly fat would bring down my risk of diabetes and other medical issues that run in my family and are dependent on belly fat. We scheduled me for 2/16 and I paid and walked out so excited.

I told a few friends and wow didnt expect that. The fat ones got mad I guess cuz I wont be in the fat club anymore and the thinner ones got mad and said Im cheating.I told them its not cheating if there is no way to get rid of the pannus by exercise or diet... One very honest friend sat with me and broke it down that all of them just wanna be able to do it to. Im not changing the inside of me except maybe my self esteem but I will still be me, I am changing my outside to match how beautiful I am on the inside. I cant imagine not having this pannus that hangs to the top of my thighs (I will eventually post pics)I have had it since I was like 12 it has just gotten bigger and lower with the weight gain and loss.

I am thankful to have found this website to talk to others that understand and have been there and are doing something about it. I have so much to say but need to care for these kids so i will post again later. Why I'm doing it??? To make my outsides match the beauty of my insides. To help with medical issues that are caused by the bellyfat not to mention to ease the stress on my back and to help my bad leg to support me properly.

Starting to freak out. Only a few more days till the 16th! I am nervous as I smoked up till the other day. I had cut back from my 1 pack to only 2 or 3 cigs a day till finally kicking it but I am still worried about all the complications that can occur. I don't need complications, I had enough of those with my leg like 1 step forward and 8 back. I just want it all to go smoothly.

Then last night I find out that so many people want to be there, I really just want my fiancee to be there not all these other people that have been so unsupportive and now want to be there... what to gawk??? I know my fiancee will want someone there with him but really does it have to be all of them? This is my day and should be about me and what I want. How do I make him hear me when he supports me 100% but still really doesnt get it cuz hes not a girl. Love him but damn...

Its almost Tuesday so only 2 days to go before Thursday.... Where did all my time go????

Excited little worried but I realized regardless I would be going under the knife for my leg so why not do such a beautiful thing for me. They keep subjecting me to unwanted surgery so why not hook me up in the process?! They also told me I should be getting some of my 5800 back cuz my insurance for myleg will cover the general anesthesia and my preop was to be included but I didnt have it done there I had it done by my primary doc cuz he over sees my coumadin n my ps wanted him involved with all this. So, I should be getting a nice amount back from my ps :) He is awesome cuz really he didnt have to do it that way...

Ok so I wish i knew how long they are keeping me in the hospital I know he was gonna be keeping me for one day for the TT but now that he is doing surgery on my leg at the same time he may need to keep me longer. Its stupid but I kinda hope he keeps me till Sunday just cuz I would know by then about a PE and also my fiancee will have to leave me alone several times during those first couple days and Sunday on he wouldnt have too. I just dont wanna have to pee and cant get there.

Im wondering how hard its gonna be to get off the toliet. I do have the higher seats for handicap. I bought this house from my mom after she passed in October and she had remodeled and put in the toliets and recliners and of course I already have a shower chair cuz I already cant stand there that long on one leg. So, I blessed all this stuff is in the house but still wonder how hard its gonna be.

Im trying to just think positively about it all and tell myself Ima bounce back but I also wanna be realistic because I dont wanna get depressed if it isnt as fast as I would like.

I just keep reminding myself atleast it shouldnt be as long as your leg (as far as the initial pain goes) The inital pain for my leg was 5 months.

Ok it is all gonna be okay. I can do this. Even more thankful to have all of you!!!