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Hello! Sorry I've been gone all day at hospice with my grandma. Yes, I have Multiple Sclerosis. First, I am so very sorry you're going through this I'm sure the thought of the spinal tap isn't thrilling you either, but honestly, it wasn't that bad at all. Numbing the area hurt more than the actual spinal and it was over very quickly. It's good you're getting it though so they be 100% you're getting the proper diagnosis. The only effect the Lap Band and losing weight have had on the MS for me is all positive. Of course losing weight can't effect the disease progression directly, however it has greatly improved symptoms like leg pain and spasticity. In fact, when I got the Band 14 months ago I needed a cane just to get around my house and now I walk 2 miles a day without any aid and easily. The NMSS has a slogan for MS "keep moving!". There's very good reason for that- because MS will stop you from moving. I got healthier and "keep moving" and it really positively effects my overall health tremendously. Best wishes to you. And be sure to have a good neurologist and get on a drug to slow the disease progression. It's really imperative to your long term prognosis and quality of life.

Once again, apparently it's ok to discriminate against the obese. I will personally never use CVS again and will be writing them a letter to let them know exactly why. (including a listing of the MANY drugs I get filled there monthly and have for a decade and a breakdown of thousands of dollars they'll be losing from my business) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FORT WORTH (CBS 11 NEWS) - CVS is telling its employees they must get health screenings for preventative care or pay more for the company’s health coverage. Its a controversial plan with an easily understood motive. “They are trying to identify these patients that have glucose abnormalities or lipid hypertension abnormalities and working with them to make them healthier,” said family practitioner Dr. Greg Fuller of Keller. To do that, CVS is telling its 200,000 employees if they want to use the company health plan they must submit their weight, body fat, glucose levels and other vitals. The goal, the company says, is to identify health problems early to save the company money in the long-run. Many consumers who’ve seen the info insurance companies are looking for don’t like the idea. “I can understand maybe disclosing some things but there’s a lot of things they do want to know I feel like is a violation of our privacy,” said consumer Michelle Garcia who said her coworkers discuss the issue quite a bit. CVS claimed, like other employers, it will never see the employees information. “Most are taken to third party wellness program who takes that data and works with the patient and its not given to their employer,” Dr. Fuller said. But, other large companies offer incentives like discounts for the screening information. CVS says if its employees don’t get screened, they’ll have to pay $50 a month more for health coverage — $600 a year. “I would be upset with that because you’re kind of forced to give them personal information about yourself and about your lifestyle and about how you choose to live your life,” Garcia said. original article: http://dfw.cbslocal....alth-insurance/

Ok then, despite losing almost 200 pounds I still have a BMI in the 30's thus obese. Yet my blood pressure, blood work, resting heart rate, and overall is health is great. My kids' dad has a normal BMI and is thin- but he has very high blood pressure and high cholesterol. His blood sugar has been on the high side too. I'm fat but in great health while my kids' skinny dad is very unhealthy. So how is it fair to label me as a high insurance cost risk when it's the skinny dude who needs the meds and treatment?

I guess my complaint is I feel like being obese is the last acceptable discrimination. We've all been there or are there struggling not to be anymore. We're all painfully aware of the fact none of us woke up one morning thin and said "hey being fat sounds fun! I'm gonna gain 100 pounds!" And yet we have to fight insurance tooth and nail for the WLS to not be obese anymore... and even that is no guarantee the weight won't come back. I just feel like this is one step closer to actually excluding obese people from insurance or even possibly employment. It scares me to think of what will happen in the years to come

Cancer patients are expensive, too. So are those with Diabetes. I'm very expensive, I have Multiple Sclerosis. My meds cost almost $5000 a month. Just say'n.

Ok a question for those of you who's companies do this- Do they say "you get $50/month if you comply" but do they literally DOCK your pay $50/month if you choose not to? Because that's my issue. If they want to offer an incentive to comply, fine. But to actually dock their pay for choosing not to share their weight is infuriating.

Which many do, but offering an incentive is very different than fining the employees $600 per year for not disclosing the information.

DO NOT CLICK THE LINK IN THE POST BEFORE THIS BY ANNEON!! IT'S A VIRUS!!!

Measuring at home regularly will help you better be able to visually section out a cup of food while eating out. Some other visuals that may help you- picture a deck of playing cards. Or the palm of your hand. Both those are good portion amounts to use too when you can't measure.

Very nice!!

5 pounds a week? Not trying to be a buzzkill but that's simply not realistic.

Call your surgeon and get in for a check up. Night reflux is a major warning of a band too tight or even possible. It's definitely not something you want to wait on or put off. Best wishes

Granted I am no nutritionist, but I increased my calories to help my weight loss pick up. I actually wrote a blog entry about it so I'm just going to copy it here: ----------------------------- I wanted to share my recent experience with calories with everyone in hopes maybe the information can help someone else. My weight loss had seriously slowed down. To be honest, I spent about a month getting very frustrated because I'd slowed a lot (for me, anyway). I was eating around 900-1000 calories a day. I knew I couldn't lower my calories any further so I figured "ok, let's increase a little and see what happens". I raised my calories to about 1200 a day and sure enough, the weight started falling off again. July weight loss, on 900-1000 calories: 7.8 pounds/1.95 pounds per week August weight loss, on 1200 calories: 17.8 pounds/4.45 pounds per week Needless to say, that's a pretty big difference! So for anyone who's struggling to lose and eating under a 1000 calories a week, don't be afraid to play with your caloric intake. Raise it a little and see what happens after a week or two. It's worth a try, especially if it works!

You're very welcome!

Because food doesn't sit in the pouch, each bite passes through in less than a minute. That's why we have to take small bites, chew it thoroughly, and pause between bites.

Oh I don't disagree with you at all. When a marriage isn't healthy it doesn't take much to tank it, especially when there is codependency involved. When one partner gets healthy it disrupts the dysfunctional balance and throws the whole thing into a tailspin. As sad it is, sometimes two equally unhealthy people (mentally or physically) can live in wedded bliss for decades... but if one gets healthy... the entire dynamic changes and the marriage crashes and burns. And that isn't exclusive to WLS- that's any situation where there is unhealthy behaviors and relationships involved.

I would count your calories and measure your portions so you can still lose despite being unable to exercise currently. I'm actually dealing with torn cartilage in my left knee and as a result can't do much in the way of exercise right now either. But, because I track my calories religious and always measure my portions, I'm still losing despite my inactivity. Best wishes.

Interesting topic indeed! Granted this is strictly my opinion, but I do think it's important to get the root of why our relationships with food are so unhealthy we ended up with WLS. That's not to say you can't lose weight and maintain while figuring it out, but I do think it's necessary to understand and confront so old behaviors don't come back and sabotage all our hard work. A perfect example- how many posts do we see here a day by someone eating out of control? Or someone who's lost a ton of weight just to regain it because they regressed back to old behaviors? Until we deal with our food demons we're just biding time until they rear their ugly heads in our lives again. Just my opinion.

Excellent post. I could comment on everything you wrote (in total agreement) but I won't get long winded and say only this- anyone who claims they are "perfect", that weight loss is easy, and they never become impatient or frustrated- IS LYING. I have lost a lot of weight and I do exactly as my doctor and NUT advise 90% of the time, but that other 10%? I'm totally going off the path. And frustration? Dear Lord, I have been trying to lose this one stink'n pound for a week now. ONE STUPID POUND! You'd think after losing 199 just 1 more would be easy peasy, right? Pffft, stupid thing is clinging on for dear life AND invited a half pound friend over! ...and that is just my most recent frustration. There have been many before it and I'm sure there will be many after. Keep doing what you're doing because you're doing so very great

I think if WLS surgery results in the end of a marriage then there were already deep seeded problems before the weight loss. WLS may end up being the final straw but it's never the cause. A good example- all people right here on these forums who've been happily married for a long time and actually grow closer because of their weight loss. Those who have healthy relationships embrace the changes for the positive it is. Those that have problems in their relationship often use the change as an excuse to get out (subconsciously).

Wise words! I hope others listen! Congrats on your weight loss!

The question to ask yourself is: Can you go at least 4 hours on a cup of food without hunger? If no, then you might need a fill. If yes, you likely don't need one. At any rate, you should have a talk with your doctor and let him help you decide whether you need a fill or not. As far as losing, do you track your calories? If not, I would. It's the easiest way to be certain you're not accidentally eating too little or too much. Best wishes.

Why are you questioning her? She says her band is exactly how it should be and not too tight, and you're actually going to interrogate her? Just because she's smart enough not to risk her band and health by walking around too tight like her husband? I'm sorry you don't feel the need to follow "the rules" but some of us, like the original poster, are smart enough to realize the rules are their to protect us and help us.