crzytchr

My dad told me this about his 2 hour outpatient surgery (not lapband) he had last year. He is on medicare and the hospital made the BIG mistake on sending him a bill to the tune of over 60k. He called them and told them it was 2 hours in an operating room and not only was he not going to pay it, he was going to see that medicare didn't pay it either since it was ridiculous. Then, the next bill came that was around 30K. He called and told them the same thing. When it was all said and done, medicare and his humana only paid around 8K. It is a crock of crap that our insurance companies are billed exorbitant amounts of money for procedures.

I lost more than normal, but my hair is thick so it wasn't bad. It seemed to increase around 3 or 4 months post op. My friend said it is due to having major surgery/anesthesia. She had it happen after each of her c sections, and, sure enough, I had an increase of hair loss again 3 months after my hysterectomy last year. It does stop. I think someone on here said their band doc joked that none of his patients were bald, so it will stop! As far as supplements helping, some say biotin helps, others claim it does nothing. As far as I know, it can't hurt, so you may want to start taking some. Good luck.

Suzanne, I hope your day at work went well. I guess Tracy will check in if her internet gets hooked up. Terri, how did the preop go?

Tracy, good luck with the move. No internet until Tuesday, jeez, Louise, that is hard. Even after hurricanes we would scope out the first coffee house that had power back up to get our fix. Kat, Kinsey sounds like an amazing kid. My darling children didn't sleep through the night until they were about 4! Good side of it was, they never wet the bed, since they were waking up so much. Other than the sleep thing, my kids are great also, even as teenagers. My son makes me crazy with the grades, but I realize it could be so much worse, so I count my blessings. Well, no family reunion for us today. Yesterday morning my FIL was taken to the ER with chest pains. They think he had a heart attack. They are running tests on him and I think we will know more later today. BUT, the alligator is still on for tomorrow, since it is my daddy that cooks. I wish we could fry some too. Suzanne, I promise, alligator is good eatin. I like the tail meat, since it is white. The tail meat tastes somewhat like a pork chop. The leg meat is a little darker and stronger in taste. I need to go get dressed now to head up to the hospital. I will try to check back in tonight.

Anglea- how is Zach? Kat- I am sorry Kinsey is being bullied like that. I tell my kids the first day of school I don't like bullies and if I catch them bullying that are poop in my book. I use nicer words than that, but they get the message. Well, summer school is finally over and I am overjoyed. I read an entire book today sitting at a Starbucks!!! I LOVE to read and I plan on doing it every day. This we have a big family reunion for my dh's family on Saturday. It requires a almost 3 hour drive but we haven't been in over 5 years so I told him we had to go. Then, Sunday my baby brother is coming in for a few weeks this summer and my dad is cooking alligator sauce picaunte. It is so good. I hope everyone has a safe and fun 4th!!

It sounds like your band wasn't placed correctly during your original surgery. Does the surgeon plan on repositioning it? If not, you may want to ask why not. I hope your problem gets corrected soon to give you some relief.

Good luck on your surgery today, and I hope you are feeling well enough to see the movie on Thursday...not likely though. See it next week, and you will be able to enjoy it much more.:ohmy:

Emjay is right, if you tell even one person, be prepared for others to find out. Then, you have to deal with "why didn't you tell ME?" I tell everyone, because frankly, I don't care what people think. Do some soul searching and decide why you don't want to tell. Is it because people will judge you? They will judge anyway. Whatever decision you make, just make certain you are comfortable with it, because it is your choice and you will be the one that it affects.

I use bean-o. It helps.

I make a homemade black bean Soup (pureed with an immersion blender) that is really good, and I add an unflavored Protein powder to it to up the protein grams. PURE Unflavored Protein Isolate - 21 servings per container - perfect for soup - IN STOCK That is the link to order it, but they run out really quick, since it is really popular. I just ordered it for the first time and was really pleased when I tried it. I mixed it as instructed and added it to my soup and couldn't taste it at all.

I make a big pot of black bean soup about every 10 days or so. My entire family loves it and I eat it when I am at work, since duty free lunch doesn't exist. Cook the black beans from scratch or use canned beans. Saute some onion in a little olive oil, then add some garlic. Add a can of rotel tomoatoes, the beans ( a lb of dried, cooked or 5 cans), a Tbs of chili powder and tsp of cumin. Let it simmer for 15 minutes and then use an immersion blender to puree it. It is really good. I eat it with a little reduced fat sharp cheddar and fat free sour cream. For extra protein, I add some unflavored protein powder.

Tracy and Angela, I think y'all will be ok...it has been named Alex and from my experience with my daughter of the same name, it will just be a lot of hot air. Seriously, we are watching it and praying it just goes away and the does the least amount of damage as possible. The Gulf certainly didn't need this right now.:smile:

Tracy, I am sorry..that sucks! I would say that the landlord will probably let you out of the lease if he can find someone else to rent to, otherwise, I am not so sure. Good luck on the apartment hunting. You will save a lot of money in bills by moving into one, that is for sure.

Congratulations on your surgery. I remember it taking about a week to feel normal enough. I moved around enough the first few days, but I really wasn't doing great until about day 8. I think the lack of food and reduced calorie count while on liquids had a lot to do with it. As soon as I started mushies I felt much better.:thumbup:

Tracy and Angela, I am still jealous, but very glad y'all had a nice time. And yes, Tracy, Macy made a fantastic photographer.:thumbup: Oh, and being the Starbucks freak that I am, I must know...what did you order?

Are you freaking kidding me?!?!?! Not no, but hell no. She should have given you something for pain. You don't need a week's worth of pills, but dangit enough for two days should be standard. They can write a script for 10 pills or less if they want. If you continue to hurt tomorrow, call and bug her, dangit. You should not have to hurt like that. I am sorry you are in pain, and I hope your doc stops being a horse's a$$.:biggrin:

Well, Tracy, almost every single day without fail I order a venti, non-fat caramel mocha, only 2 pumps of mocha and 4 pumps of sugar free caramel, non fat milk, no whip. It comes to 220 calories and 17 g of Protein. It is a hot drink, but I love it, no matter the weather. Most venti drinks have 5 pumps of syrup, but I have reduced mine to 2 and that is what drops the sugar and calories. If you decide you want a cold drink, you can have them make you a tall frappacino with non fat milk and make it with a sugar free caramel syrup and get no whip. That won't be too bad. Michelle, you are very welcome and I am glad it worked for you!!! Suzanne, I am glad you felt better as the day progressed. And Tracy is right, it DOES look like an angel. I am envious of my band friends who get to meet...I just live out of the way:bored: Well, I took a zumba class tonight. When I talked to my dh last night about taking it and the amount of calories it burns, he tried to explain that if we just had sex every night, I could burn more than that each week....I told him nice try, and I would consider it.:biggrin: But, I went to zumba tonight, instead. It was fun and it did get my heart rate up. I do believe, even though I was the biggest there, I seemed to be the most fit. I was the only person not overly winded. I guess those hour sessions on the eliptical helped!

I take 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar, then chase it with about 6 oz of water.:thumbup:

Michelle, you are quite welcome. I keep some on hand since my stomach is so sensitive after pbing. If I don't reduce the swelling quickly, I have a cycle of swelling causing more pbing. Not pretty... good luck and it should help. Just take it every 4-6 hours tomorrow, stay on fluids and the next day you may be able to start mushies. I hope it helps you!

I have used this for quite a few years. It takes absolutely disgusting, but it works amazingly. Just be sure to have a glass of water to chase it with!:thumbup:

Michelle, have you tried taking some children's liquid ibuprofen to reduce the swelling? It takes quite a bit of it, I believe a bottle is maybe 4 adult size doses, but if it reduces the swelling to give you some relief it is worth it. I know in pill form I take up to 800 mg at a pop, but usually 600mg. Each tsp of the liquid children's is 100 mg, at least that is what my bottle is. Kat: I am sorry to hear about your cousin. Have a safe trip, and your family will be in my prayers.

Suzanne: I am glad to hear you are doing well! Ladies, I took my children to the midnight showing of Toy Story 3 last night and it was good! I almost cried at the end...ok, I did cry a little, but no one saw me:tongue2: Summer school still sucks and it isn't over until next week and then the week after is when they take the test. The class they gave us is just so bad. I hate to say it, but it is true. Dangit. I could not even eat my soup at lunch today. It is bad when you aren't too tight, but can't get soup down.:smilielol5: Some of the kids really want to pass, and we are doing our best to help them. Out of the 14 students in the class only 1 can add and subtract with regrouping. THIS IS 4TH GRADE!!! Basically, these students have been passed from grade to grade not knowing basic 1st and 2nd grade math. It frustrates me terribly. Our last hour of each day is being broken into small groups to try to help them learn this basic skill. Sorry for venting, but it makes me sad.:thumbup: Ok, ladies. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I know I am going to try to recouperate.

Tracy, thanks for the update.

Suzanne, I am so glad you are good to go and hugs and prayers for your surgery. Tracy, yay on the new meds...no appetite, that rocks!!! Michelle, I hope the tightness eases up. I hate when I am going through that. Angela, I hope Zach feels better soon. Kat, I hope you are having a blast! Summer school sucked today:sad:

I have taken nsaids and ibuprofen without issue. It is probably the continual use that needs to be avoided, but check with your doctor to be certain.