musicalmomma

One word for this...hypocrite.

There's another thread out there somewhere where a woman didn't follow her pre-op diet, the surgeon switched from lap to open and STILL couldn't get the band on because of the enlarged liver!!! This is the stuff that scares me straight!!! Today was EXTREMEMLY difficult for me!!! Like Becks said, cuz I can't have it, I can't seem to stop thinking about it!!!! It's like food was the key to all my good times and fun in life. Now that I don't have that key, I can't open the doors of fun! Sounds pathetic doesn't it? Well, this is a good learning experience and I am determined to make it through with all of you good people!

Betcha wouldn't be opposed to the death penalty if all those peske fundamentalist christian's heads were on the choping block...after tall they ARE the scourge of the earth, right?

Welcome broker girl :wave: Congratz on the date! It'll be here before you know it

Whoo hoo!! That's great!!!! At least the suffering's not for nothing. Yeah, those first three day's are the worst cuz your detoxing...after that the hunger and other pains subside.

Don't be ashamed! You're ticker speaks for itself! You are making the band work and people like you give me hope

AMEN!!!!!!! Not to mention that MANY communities offer FREE "English as a second language" night courses! I'm not even close to racsist and I resent the implcation that I'm a racsist because my belief is that you should come here legally AND learn the language. Especially from people that don't even LIVE in the US and don't deal with being passed up for a job because an employer can pay illegals under the table for less. My best friend in high school (and maid of honor in my 1st marriage) is hispanic...heck I even dated her brother in high school (boy was he hot!) but I digress...Their family immigrated to the US legally, built a prosperous business, AND managed to learn the language! It's funny how those who tell us to be careful no to place "labels" on people, can label anyone that doesn't agree with their point of view (e.g. the label of racist)

CLEAR liquids for a week???? :omg: I'm going to stop complaining about my full liquids now!! hehehe How are you going to get protein and nutrients? Does your surgeon have you on suppliment?

Welcome BigBaby :wave: It's great that you don't have to take off any days for surgery! God IS good! I'm being banded on June 1st and just started my liquid pre-op diet today. My "Last Supper" of sorts, was at The Prime Quarter where I had the yummiest terriyaki steak! Did that last Tuesday. Funny thing, last night, I thought I would kind of "panic" and want to shove every thing in my mouth that I could find. BUT, that wasn't the case at all! I was too excited about surgery being so close and the pre-op diet was like the starting gate! Well, come join us over in the "June 2007" thread!

Welcome to the board Bionic Broad :wave: Congrats on cracking the obesity BMI!!!! Way to go!!! Hope you get that sweet spot soon!

Hi Amy :wave: We're being banded on the same day!! Your surgeon should cover the risks and possible complications with you prior to surgery. HOWEVER, you can look them up online too. A great resource I've found is Welcome to LAP-BAND.com. You can find risk and complications there. Join us in the "General" forum" under the June 2007 thread

Adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band® procedure) for patients with a BMI less than 50kg/m² (had to say "told you so" hehehe...totally kidding here) I would strongly suggest just diving in and going for it. Print out what you just posted and take it with you to your consultation. A GOOD surgeon's staff will have a MUCH better idea of what is writting in stone and what can be manipulated or worked around. You may even need to appeal. My husband is appealing right now. The Obesity Law & Advocacy Center has taken his case and is fighting for him as I'm typing. I know you're full of questions and you're wanting to know up front if you'll be approved. After all, who wants to do all this work and be denied? But there is just no way to know what the insurance company will do for 100% certain. Yes, it would be terribly disappointing if you began the process, even got a few months in, and got a denial, and had to appeal and perhaps be denied again or told you have to stay on the supervised weight loss longer. But look at it this way...you'll still take of weight, you'll feel better and you'll be healthier. I had to give up on the idea of "either/or". Meaning, "either I get approved or I get fatter". I had to decide that I'm going to lose weight no matter what the outcome. I know that I'm looking at heart disease and type II diabetes and a variety of other co-morbidities if I didn't take control somehow. I am pleased as punch that it will be easier because of the band, but I just had to set in my mind that either way, I was going to get healthy. I hope this helps a little. I know it's frustrating, not knowing it all up front, but it's worth it, no matter what the outcome. Best wishes

Janine: Yes! That's my plan too...BUSY!!!! I know we'll have a bon fire and will be invited to at least one bbq. I was going to decline any invites, but now I decided NOT to decide until the time comes. If I'm feeling strong, I'll go socialize. Missy: My DH is planning to get the band too. He's in appeals with insurance now and we hope to get approval and have him banded by August. You two will be in different phases on the post-op diet for a while...how do you feel about that? I was worried about that until his surgery was put off so far from mine. Today is day one of my liquid diet. The doc gave me some appetite suppressants during the supervised weightloss. I have most of them left over. I asked if I could use them for the liquid diet, he said "sure, if you need them". I'm actually a little excited about it because I KNOW I'll lose weight AND feel a lot better during this next week. Well, have a great day everyone!!!!

Hey Becky :wave: Don't feel like a loser!! The liquid diet will get easier as the day's pass. I'd recommend choking down the shakes, but having bullion broth or strain soups to get that salty taste you're craving. Hang in there.

Hi Betty :wave: I'm originally from Northern DE, so I know philly well Welcome to the board. The beginning of this process can be VERY stressful because there is so much that is "unknown"...Will insurance cover it? How much will I have to pay? How does it work? Will it work for me? etc. Take it one step at a time. Gather as MUCH knowledge about the lapband as you can before making your decision. The more educated you are, the more peace you'll have going through the pre-op process. Best of luck to you

Hi somethingelse :wave: Our insurance is through my husband's employer. I emailed their benefit's specialist first and asked it WLS was an inclusion on the policy. It was...THEN I contacted the surgeon, made an appointment for a consultation. Went to the consultation. THEN, called the insurance company and asked them to send the specific requirements for Bariatric Surgery. From there...the surgeon's office took over and did the rest of the insurance leg work for me. I think you just may have misread the requirements regarding BMI. Our insurance (and most I've heard of) won't cover the band if your BMI is OVER 50. They cover a bmi of 40-50 (35-40 if there are comorbidities). So, if you're comfortable talking to your benefits rep in HR, I'd start there. Otherwise, call your carrier and do NOT let them just brush you off with a "it's not covered"...make them send you that portion of your policy. They tried to tell me we weren't covered for WLS, I told them, "look again, because I KNOW we are". Sure enough, after being placed on hold for a few minutes, she came back and apologized for the misinformation. Good luck!

Welcome FxyLdy :wave: from your neighbor across the lake

My husband travels a lot for his job too and this was one of his concerns as well. He decided to take protein drinks and bars with him when he was travelling and eat his one meal a day out. He's always home on the weekends and travels every other week except in the summer. So, he's just decided to suck it up when he has to be on the run and stick to protein shakes and canned fruit (in natural juices of course). When you do eat, you'll be well advised from your doc and nutritionist, to eat with NO distractions, take tiny bites, chew and chew and chew some more, not to drink for a certian amount of time before and after meals. Hope that helps answer your questions Good luck in whatever you decide

Thanks Faith & Laura. Yeah, they checked me a second time for a UTI and I didn't have one...I had been sick so they chaulked the white blood cell elevation to that. The EKG thing really scared me!!! My PCP Nurse called me back and said that my heart rate is a little slow, but the doc see's no problems and I'm finally CLEARED for surgery. Now, I thought I was cleared last week and THIS came up...I just hope nothing else arises. Thanks again for chiming in It's good to have the support of this message board.

Picked up my comfort bike yesterday (it wasn't ready on monday). Went on my first bike ride in YEARS!!! My oh My I am out of shape!!! I went two miles and dang if my legs didn't turn to rubber bands!!!! lol!!! I have a meeting today at 1...it's 2.5 miles from home, so I think I'm going to take a leap of faith and bike there! I should get there just fine...it's down hill most of the way...it's the way home I'm worried about!!! :faint: Wish me luck!! hahaha

now if they'd just come out with non-fat, sugar free, mocha frappuccino! I love frap's but they are SO darn high in fat and calories!!!!!! I wonder if I could get them to make it that way...add splenda instead of sugar...skim milk...cocoa powder....OK...I need to STOP!!! lol

The word to not forget is ILLEGAL!!!!! The point being, if they're going to come here to work and better their lives...we welcome them when they follow the proper channels. I don't think it's racist to get sick of my husbands LEGAL tax dollars going higher and higher to pay for ILLEGALS to benefit from them. It's not fair, it's not right and there's just no way around it. Oh and for the record, I've been to third world countries...the most third world I've been to was in Peru, on the banks of the Manatee Tributary of the Amazon River. Mexico looks like paradise in comaprison! These people have n-o-t-h-i-n-g! I watched three little children share a three inch peice of bread...I saw children with very little clothing and watched them wander off into the jungle to find yucca root so they could eat that day. So, my opinion is NOT a short-sighted one. I welcome, as do most of the people on this tread, anyone that comes here through legal channels. Now, it's NOT easy to get a visa and legal alien card. You have to have a skill that can not be found in the area you're coming to and thus be sponsored by a company to obtain a visa OR you have to marry a citizen...and THAT is no cake walk either, I speak from personal experience. NOTHING is private...they want PROOF that you're residing together as man and wife! Pictures, bills, affidavits from friends and neighbors! Still, if you come illegally, if you won't adapt to the culture, you need to get legal and adapt or else go back. If they feel this country is so much better and are dying to live here, then they should want to adapt. To our Canadians: I heard that you have to pay BIG money to immigrate there...like $100k is this true? Just wondering :grouphug: I already live in Wisconsin and wouldn't DREAM of moving further north, much less pay big money to do it. It's too cooooooold for me

Faith: Thanks for the info on the AP band. :grouphug: Toni: I'm glad you're staying with us even though your date moved up! I'm not sore at all today!!! i can't believe it!! Can't wait to get out and ride again today! Missy and JackieP12 : My hubby is doing the band too! Right now he's going through an appeal, but we hope he'll be banded some time in August! Welcome to all our new Junies!!! Pre-op diet is FAST approaching. My darling husband took me to Green Bay last night (30 miles away!) to my favorite steak house. We figure it'll be a LONG time before I can eat steak again, if at all. Then I have a meeting tonight and band practice tomorrow night, then pre-op diet...so...my eating out days are over for a while I'm not upset about it though, I hit all the places I wanted to before hand and said "farewell" haha! Have a great day everyone!

I thought you HAD to get a new license if you were under or over the weight on your license by 50lbs??? No?? It's been a while for me since drivers ed (22 years) but I remember being told that...not sure it was 50lbs, but it was xx#'s.

Congratz gwhite!!! It's a HUGE load off once you get that date!!! It'll be here before you know it