Excess Skin removal Surgery after WLS

Hi, My name is Abby :) I am a 24 year old from upstate NY, I have always struggled with my weight since the young age of 10, when I was put on a high dose of steroids for a lung condition I have. through out my teens and early 20's I gained a few hundred pounds, in July of 2012 I was at my heaviest weight of 463lbs. I couldn't walk, breathe or take care of myself. I was put on disability due to my health and weight at the age of 23. I was chronically depressed and feared death daily. I resorted to purchasing a wheel chair because I could no longer carry my own weight. July 17, 2012, I made the choice to change my life drastically, to avoid death. I began meeting with a team of doctors at my local hospital, including a Nutritionist, dietitian, pulmonologist, Cardiologist and a bariatric surgeon. I started a intense 6 month long protein sparing diet in order to lose 50lbs to become eligible for Weight loss Surgery. Before I knew it in Novemeber 2012, I was down 58lbs and ready to schedule my life saving operation. The big day was December 5th 2012. In the last 14 months I have lost a total of 210lbs. My life has changed completely, I am in the gym 5-7 days a week, 2 to 3 hours a day. I love life, I am healthy for the first time in my life! I have gotten engaged to a wonderful man and planning my life! Everything is so amazing.... well except my excess skin. Losing weight as fast as I did, has made is extremely hard for my skin to catch up. I have worked extremely hard to get healthy and although I am smaller, My loose skin hinders my daily life. I experience pain in my back and knees where the skin folds over and becomes heavy to carry. I also have pretty gross painful rashes where the skin overlaps, and when I exercise I had to wear tight body Garments to keep my skin from slapping together. Jumping rope or running is almost impossible without pain. I need this skin removal surgery to help me get to my goal weight, not for cosmetic reasons. I want to be able to run and live with out the pain and inconvenience of this loose hanging skin. My Insurance doesn't cover any skin removal except a panniculectomy, which will help but is not enough. In the next 18 months, I like to be able to lose 60 more lbs and get some of the skin removed. Any little bit helps, Thank You for reading, and continuing to support me in my efforts to get healthy and stay healthy!!


Also I had a Weightloss blog - www.remodelmymind.tumblr.com
Youtube- www.youtube.com/abnormallyabbywls
Instagram- Abnormallyabby


Feel free to Follow my journey!