I got refused!

LizzMB

LizzMB

WILL be Slim!
i've been having a real hard time recently with my new found "slim" body becuase of excess skin!
I know i've mentioned it on here in passing but not really gone into detail but i really need to share! If you get to the end, well done, you deserve a medal! :D

I was 18 months old when i pulled a kettle over myself leaving monsterously ugly scarring all over my chest and right arm. The scar on my chest has restricted growth of my right breast.
so...fast forward lots of years, i get fat, lose weight, put some back on, then start CD!
So i always knew that there would be an "issue" with lose skin, how could there not be! but i never in a million years thought it would be THIS bad! Its literally everywhere, and becuase of the weight loss and my existing scaring, my breasts are all over the place...like REALLY bad...they point in different dirrections! :(

So, i've been to my Dr's who put me through s a very worthy candidate for a tummy tuck and a breast augmentation. She's been behind me 100% with this and was positive that i would be able to get this on the NHS becuase i'd done it all myself, and the scaring wasnt my fault etc!

So i was put on anti-d's because its been getting me more and more down over the past month or so, especially as more weight comes off as its more noticable!
So before the anti-d's even register in my system, i have received a letter from my PCT saying i dont qualify becuase i dont have severe functional problems and extreme difficulties with daily living, or becuase i dont get infections in the folds of skin (yet).
The letter also goes on to say that there is no proof that "cosmetic" surgery improves mental health in patients!!!!!

I'm so cross! I have spent 3 years of fannying around with diets before finding CD and being successful, to now have it thrown in my face by some snotty people who make a decision based on paperwork! Yet if i had put on another 2 stone at the start, i would have been suitable for a gastric band!
The irony is obviously lost on the NHS! and in the meanwhile, they make my life a living nightmare, a daily reminder of what i had been!

So i'm miserable! Sticking to CD as its the only thing i seem to have any control over at the moment, and i HAVE to get to goal....but still miserable! :(

If you got this far, thank you for reading! Even just that, i appreciate!

xx
 
I am so sorry! I am not sure how the health system works in the UK. But can this decision be changed later on? I hope it does. You have worked so hard for the weight loss, and you sure do deserve to have the surgery to get the shape you deserve! Best of luck!
 
awe, im so sorry liz. that really sucks BUT dont give up.
U have to appeal hun, quite a few people win on appeals when it comes to nhs surgery.
I was referred 6 months ago for a gastric bypass and after mentally getting myself prepared and ready i was written to by my pct stating they they are no longer offering any form of gastric surgery in my area and even the weight management clinic i had been referred to had been cancelled due to funding issues.
the whole world is moaning on about the obesity issues and yet when we try to help ourselves we find ourselves completely alone.
But dont give up trying, especially as u have the backing of ur doctor.
 
Oh sweetie :( I know there isn't really anything I can say that will make you feel any better but I do know how you feel about the excess skin. I don't have burn scars to contend with but I did let myself get massive and unfortunately it means I have a whacking pair of bingo wings (my arms are twice the width they would be if I didnt have the excess skin) and my tummy is like that of a mother of 10!!!! I'm trying really hard to accept it as it is though, simply because I cannot afford to have surgery and I'm pretty confident the doctors would say the same to me as they did to you if I asked for it on the NHS. At the moment, I am contemplating having my belly button pierced, not because I will ever show it off but because it might just make it slightly better to look at (a bit of sparkle you know?) but then I have to think about letting someone look at it to pierce it and that would be a big deal in itself!! Just wanted to let you know you're not alone hun and I guess we just have to try and make the most of what we have. At least clothes can hide it to a certain extent and we will be so much healthier without the extra weight. I will try and save up for the surgery on my arms though, I can't face summers with cardigans on for the rest of my life! lol x
 
Hun im so sorry is there no way you can appeal to this!
Go back to your Dr's and demand it, thats a joke, i know a few people who have ahd ops on NHS and they didnt really qualify in my opinion!
Hope this gets sorted for you hun xxx
 
I'm really sorry. That really sucks! You know what, i believe that you will get all that you want - the surgery will happen sooner or later. You just have to have faith. All good things come to those who wait. One knock by the silly NHS, does not mean that you will no have the surgery. I'm sorry you've had a rubbish day. Your CD is going so well. You have lost so much weight so quickly. You have to visualise the surgery and what you will look like when it is done. You will have it, just not quite yet! Your fab!xxx
 
I am so sorry about this Liz, you should be applauded for the weight you have lost, and excess skin is a huge issue, you have saved money for the NHs by not having a gastric band and losing weight youself. Also the fact you have scarring should also factor.

All I can send is a hug and say I am thinking of you xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Blondee x said:
Oh sweetie :( I know there isn't really anything I can say that will make you feel any better but I do know how you feel about the excess skin. I don't have burn scars to contend with but I did let myself get massive and unfortunately it means I have a whacking pair of bingo wings (my arms are twice the width they would be if I didnt have the excess skin) and my tummy is like that of a mother of 10!!!! I'm trying really hard to accept it as it is though, simply because I cannot afford to have surgery and I'm pretty confident the doctors would say the same to me as they did to you if I asked for it on the NHS. At the moment, I am contemplating having my belly button pierced, not because I will ever show it off but because it might just make it slightly better to look at (a bit of sparkle you know?) but then I have to think about letting someone look at it to pierce it and that would be a big deal in itself!! Just wanted to let you know you're not alone hun and I guess we just have to try and make the most of what we have. At least clothes can hide it to a certain extent and we will be so much healthier without the extra weight. I will try and save up for the surgery on my arms though, I can't face summers with cardigans on for the rest of my life! lol x
Click to expand...

I have reached goal on CD and I am a mother of 10..... so you can imagine what my tummy looks like (I also had 3 caesereans), but I am also not entitled to a tummy tuck on the NHS.

I guess in a way, we let ourselves get big and stretch our skin (and in my case chose to have 10 children and stretch my tummy) so why should the NHS have to pay for our choices in life. But Lizz you have these awful scars which are not your fault and I cannot see why the NHS wont help you. I would definately appeal making a real big deal about the scarring.

Well done on losing so much weight, you are truly an inspiration to people on minimins.
 
:hug99::hug99::hug99::hug99::hug99::hug99:
 
Oh bugger! Than is terrible, please don't give up Lizz, keep reapplying and make sure they know you DO have extreme difficulties with daily living, tell them sex is an issue, swimming with your daughter is an issue, that the extra skin is killing you back not to mention your confidence, etc, etc, you gotta ham it up toots, say anything that will get them to reconsider, its ridiculous that the PTC in some areas will do it no questions asked, but in others, they are jackasses!
Chin up toots, you will get the perfect body x
 
Fight it. Your GP (from the sound of it) will support you. You've paid into the NHS all your working life - like the rest of us. It's farcical that when we need it, it's often not there for us. Difficult to do, and easy to say but don't let this bring you down. Turn the anger and frustration into fight. Fight it!
 
I agree with everyone else lizz you have to fight this because you do deserve to have the surgery on the nhs,you have worked so hard and succeeded so don't let this be the end of it. We are all behind you 100% honey xxxx
 
lizz appeal hun, most folks who get it done on the nhs have had to appeal the discision

im gonna have excess skin at the end of all this and you can count on it i will apply for funding
 
Hi lizz

This decision is so unfair. I have known of people that received tummy tucks in the past that have not had the same level of need as you; however, the current financial situation has very much impacted on budgets (not hijacking your thread with my own woes but its such an issue that I think about whether my job is safe on a daily basis- not something that nurses thought they would ever encounter)
Your own GP does sound very sympathetic and this makes a lot of difference . Please go back to see your doctor to discuss how this matter can be progressed, eg an appeal.
Sending you my dearest wishes that this can be successfully resolved, x
 
Skin issues

Hi, I am new here found thiws site by accident tonight when looking for slimming world recipies,
First can I say WOW, you have done so well with your weight loss, I have tried all, and failed previously I am starting for the final time slimming world, my daughter is getting married next year so this is it for me, now or never,
I am a registered nurse, and i know how you must be feeling now, it is so disheartening, you could try asking your gp to refer you to a neighbouring PCT they will sometimes help, also ask for a psychiatiric assessment, as this can also sway the powers that be in your favour, i know that there is a stigma to that but it can help,anyhow well done xx
 
The NHS is a wonderful thing, in my opinion. After traveling, I have begun to really appreciate that we have heathcare that is available to everybody, but it is such a postcode lottery when it comes to things that are a little more complex. You should fight it, all the way. You have come such a long way, and lost so much, you deserve to take it further and fight for what you want and need.

Sending thoughts and hugs all the way from NZ x
 
I am so sorry to hear this as you have been so helpful to me and we are all working hard to inprove our health and where is the support for aftercare as you say its would of been easy to put on the extra weight and get a band i considered it myself. I know that when i get to goal i am going to have excess skin and my fab friend spend most of their time reminding me about it. The way i see it is when i was 6 stone over weight i hated everything about my body i am 2lbs off losing 4 stone and i am starting to love myself again slowly but getting there and if i get to goal SORRY! when i get to goal if i love my body just 50% more and I can look better in my clothes that has to be better.
I think that you should fight it don't give up remember its the people who make a fuss that get what they want you have worked so hard and now the your on tablets that has to have an impact go back to GP and see what else you can do to appeal it.

Fingers crossed for you honey and big hugs sent your way well not as big as they used to be hugs xxxxx
 
We should get everyone on minimins to send you a fiver and then you could pay to have it done privately!
 
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