So, Phase 1 is complete, I went to Turkey last September & I’ve had the excess skin removed from my belly, upper back & boobs! Now comes Phase 2! This includes having the rest of the excess skin removed from my lower back/hips, arms & upper thighs. Again, like before, I’m hoping to get the multiple operations all done in one go to reduce the overall recovery time! I’ve included my “story” below…

It’s taken me 5.5 years but with the help of Slimming World I’ve finally reached my Target weight! I’ve lost 13.5 stone - so I’ve actually lost over 60% of my body weight!

Obviously this is a great thing, but it has left me with lots of excess skin. This means that I’m having to twist, pull and tuck the skin into compression garments under my clothes to try and keep it all in place 🤦🏼‍♀️ Not only is this really painful but it also means I’m super hot especially now it‘s getting warmer! The excess skin is also effecting my health…

I have a rare genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which means my skin is more fragile than other people’s and the rest of my skin is now ripping/tearing under the weight of the excess skin, again it’s painful but it also causes reoccurring infections. I also have Multiple Sclerosis which has caused damage to my spinal chord so I often use a wheelchair. However my wheelchair is now too wide for me and so it’s causing issues with my shoulders, hips and spine. I will be able to get a smaller wheelchair but not until the excess skin has been removed (I’m like a melted ice cream when I sit down 🤣)

As well as the excess skin causing these health issues, my body doesn’t feel like my own; it feels alien to me! It's really strange because I hated my body before losing the weight and I automatically assumed that I'd love it once I lost the weight; but that's not the case. It’s hard to come to terms with my new size when I still hate what I see in the mirror!

Unfortunately skin removal is not available on the NHS and so I have to pay to go private. I’ll be heading back to Turkey to have the rest of the skin removed

Because there is so much excess skin, it will involve 5 separate operations, some of which can be done together. I've already had the first set of operations (belly, back and boobs!!) but I now need to have the rest done; lower back, arms and legs. I will be eternally grateful to anyone who is in a position to donate, and if anyone is able to share this page that would also be awesome!

Thank you guys so much - and sorry for the long essay!! 😉

Here's some before and after pics of me...

This article was last year so I've lost another 2.5stone since this!

See the t-shirts above? The black one is an 8XL, I'm now in a Small - although technically the dinosaur and shark tshirts on this collage are a boys ages 12-13!

Rather than panting on a smile to hide my misery, these days my smile is real!

This was me heading into surgery last year for Pahse 1!!

I’ll finally be able to get my new wheelchair as soon as these operations are done!