mjsafari

If this question has been answered in another thread please direct me to it. My husband went to turn in his FMLA paperwork. He was informed that they would have to have specifics on what surgery he was having - he was trying to keep it quiet. I have figured out he probably has to submit that. BUT the real problem is they say they will not approve FMLA if the procedure is not covered by their insurance. Our insurance is through my work, not his, and the procedure is covered fully. Has anyone else had this issue or is anyone familiar with the FMLA law? I have a call in to the labor board also. thanks, Missy

Lookin' good Captain Dan. Love the pic! Nothing new with me to report - hanging where I have been. I am not unhappy, but wish I could get in gear and lose some more. Hubby is doing great - 8lbs away from goal of 200lbs, that will make 148lbs lost for him total. He has good restriction, but has trouble sometimes because he forgets to chew. I on the other hand still need some more restriction, but haven't made time for a fill. I am busy with work (in GA tonight), house, and school activity - same old excuses! Hope others are doing better - would love to hear from everyone!

BigBaby - unfortunately he is the only one on my insurance right now that will take patient's from other surgeons without a huge up front fee. I really need to start trying again though and not expect a fill to solve everything. A fill is not going to make me make better choices. I really need to focus on protein as your post suggests.

I am sorry to hear others are struggling. It helps to know you are not alone though. I have made changes, but am certainly still drawn to all the wrong choices. I need a fill - I can eat bread, but I hate my fill doc, so I don't know when I will go back. I still have some restriction, but not enough. It is so hard to make a permanent change after years of bad choices. Insub - I am so excited for you! Glad you are enjoying youself.

Hi all - Hope everyone is having a good summer. I have been trying to read, but I haven't had much to say. I haven't gotten around to getting my pics, I think on my way home when I have my nice work clothes on I need to have someone take one, then I get home, get swamped by dogs, cat, and kids, so I just never seem to get to it. I am still where I have been for months now between 187-195. I need a fill probably, but hate my fill surgeon and am worried about getting too tight again. I am not unhappy where I am though. I feel healthy and feel pretty good about how I look in clothes. I even started wearing heels again, I could never wear them before. People at work even noticed because I was a little taller. Recently several people have asked if I have lost more weight. I haven't, but I did buy smaller, nicer clothes and I probably carry myself differently. I have gotten back in to the habit of fast food for breakfast and lunch most days - but certainly in much smaller portions. We went out for lunch today - I ordered a smoked sausage sandwich with tater tots and we had fried pickles as an appetizer. I ate 2 pickles, half the sausage (no bread of course), and a couple of tater tots (that were the size of hush puppies). I was looking at my plate and thinking how different it was. Before I would have eaten the bread they had as an appetizer, would not have shared the pickles, the entire sandwich, all the tater tots and some off someone else's plates, and probably still been hungry! Have a great weekend!

dang it Rhonda, I am sorry you had trouble again! Can't you go to a hospital near you and have a barium swallow? Insub - you have a very hard decision - I like Suzzie's suggestion of just a 1/2cc, so you have some control. I know I have none myself when I am out of town - see post of gaining 5lbs in 3 days in Chicago! I can't imagine what I would let myself do in a whole year! Now if you are staying in hotels and think you will really dedicate yourself to visiting the gym when available and you are walking or doing other activities, then maybe you don't need the fill. We expect to see posts about your exciting adventures! What is your itinerary?

Hey all! I am very happy about my flight! I don't think I have ever said that before! I did have to tighten my seat belt - about 6-8 inches and I was able to use the tray table with room to spare! At the meeting I got to see everyone from KC - they had nothing but good things to say. I have to say these last 40lbs have made a bigger difference than the first 100, I think. Now if I can just get 40 more lbs off! Not happening any time soon though - I gained 5lbs in Chicago. I hear you guys about keeping at it. Potato chips and chocolate go down so easy and taste so good. I let my self slide in Chicago and came home to Pringles in my house, once they are gone maybe I can get back at it! If we made good choices all the time, we wouldn't have needed the band! All we can do it keep trying!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! Insub I think you are right on the slowing down of posting. But the site is still very important to me. I do read daily, just to see what everyone is doing. I think this is a life long journey, so I know I need the support of others who are on the same journey. Faith - I know you can get back on the wagon and you know your Mom would want you to. I am sorry for your loss. I am flying to Chicago on Monday. I have lost another 40lbs since last time I flew, so I am looking forward to maybe - just maybe needing to tighten the belt a little?? It is Southwest though, so probably not!

I am here. Trying to read daily. Busy with the new house. It is amazing! We are outside all the time, we come in when it gets dark. Weight wise I am stalled at around 190. But I am in a size 16, which is great for me after being barely able to find 32s that would fit. I am feeling healthy and energetic so I am not going to stress about it. I hopped on my son's new bike yesterday and rode it around no problem. I may invest in one for myself. I have dial up now, so the internet is slooooow. My blackberry is faster, so I am using that! Country living is worth it though! Happy 4th everyone!

Insub - what a great list! I was so happy for you when you quit, you sounded so miserable! your trip sounds exciting, we expect a lot of pictures! What a year it has been! Had surgery - smooth sailing Got a promotion Moved to Nashville Bought a house (moving this weekend) Finally have the acreage we have dreamed of since before we were married - already have 2 goats, 2 dogs, a turtle, and 4 cockatiels. I am sure we will soon have chickens and ducks for the pond. Miniature ponies and cows to come! Feel almost normal - I still think people are looking at me, but now I wonder why, instead of knowing it was because I was huge. Wearing clothes from the regular size department Bought a swim suit and went to a public pool - I have not had one for my entire marriage - it is a dress to cover my ugly legs - but I dove in the pool swam and climbed out of the deep end without any problems - I didn't worry about being too wide for the ladder. I am not the largest person in the room anymore (I want to talk to everyone bigger than me about the band - but I don't want to insult them) my home in the country means I will be stuck with dial-up. I hope to be back up and running next week, although I am sure it will be much slower! thanks everyone for the support and the shared stories this year!

thanks everyone - Rhonda she is 5 1/2. She is doing fine. she has one scrap on her shoulder and a bruise where she had her IV. You would never know anything had even happened. It is very hard to keep her down, since she doesn't even feel hurt. we closed on our house today! 13 acres with a stocked pond. I hope to be outside more and getting in some exercise working on the farm! Toni - I am so glad to see you post. I hope you can find something that will work for you. I can't believe it has been 1 year - what a difference a year can make. I will try and post a picture, but I am more excited to see everyone else! Get those pictures out there!

hi All - just checking in, we have had a very difficult but exciting weekend. Friday call - we are closing on our house with 13 acres on Monday Friday call on the way home from work - my daughter had fallen out of our 3rd floor apartment window. My husband had her in the car when I pulled in, we rushed her to the ER. She was having trouble breathing and in pain, but conscious. The ER nearest to us, put her in a c-collar and took some x-rays, but called Vanderbilt children's since she had fallen so far. They sent an ambulance for her. As we were going to the initial x-ray she stopped complaining about not being able to breathe and was not having any other issues. They put her on the backboard and got her ready to go, she was laughing and joking with us, nervous about the ambulance but being very brave. When she got to Vanderbilt, my husband said they treated her like a trauma - IV, blood gas, doctors everywhere. She had a CAT scan and after a long wait in ER we went to PICU. Through all this she has never cried, complained or anything. AMAZINGLY all she has is a small laceration on her spleen, no broken bones, no spinal injuries. she had to wear the c-collar all night until the neuroradiologist could clear her, so it was a restless night last night. They watched her overnight, drew her blood and sent her home today. The surgeon just said she needed to take it easy for a month. She fell straight down and landed on her back, 1 inch away from a metal fence post that would have impaled her if she had been an inch over. Today she is fine, walking around with only minor discomfort and minimal bruising. Scary night, but everything is fine now. weight wise - :laugh: is all I will say for now.

nvalicia - sorry you didn't get your fill - does your doc use fluro so they could see it? Not that it is perfect, mine tightened up after a couple weeks, even though it looked perfect at the time! I am slowly getting back to more solid food, but trying not to push it. But that means I eat more carbs than I would like. I am going to be glad if mine 15 y/o passes everything this semester! He is a genius, but like you Suzzie thinks high school is stupid. He is somehow going to magically have a music career, so why does he need school? this from the kid who was reading at 2 1/2 and knew all the state capitals when he was 3. Cathy - good luck on your upcoming surgery - if you feel like reading, we have almost a whole year of experience on here! It is hard to believe. ToniTeach - are you still out there - you were one of our firsts! fingers-crossed we will be closing on our house Friday or next Tuesday!

smilin - that sounds very scary - I have no clue. I hope you have talked to your surgeon about it?

Beckie - I am so sorry you are still have MRSA. It is called a super-bug for a reason darn it. An ID doc is definitely what you need. I had a 1cc unfill on Wednesday. Doc said my pouch looked slightly distended, which could be the beginning of a slip. He basically accused me of keeping my band too tight this whole time, making it do the work, and that is how I have lost this much weight. If he had been my choice for a surgeon - I probably wouldn't have had the band - he is a typical arrogant SOB. He doesn't listen, assumes he knows what you are doing wrong, and never gives you a chance to finish your sentence. Hopefully this unfill and sticking with liquids, soft foods for awhile will do the trick and I won't have to see him again for a long time. I hate being too tight and only having liquids, but of course he didn't let me explain that. I did ask for this last fill because I could eat too much - I can not explain why it tightened up again too much and of course he didn't bother to try to explain it, just I told you so. I am hoping it was distended because I had a bad episode of Pbing the night before I went. I was so hungry that I tried to eat a very soft small new potato. I went to bed about an hour later, then woke up choking. I now know what my husband felt like with his reflux before he lost weight! Not fun! Sorry for the long post - I needed to vent about my arrogant doc!:thumbup: I changed my goal on my ticker to the weight that will put me at a normal BMI. I don't know if I can get there, but it is something shoot for!

Do the research and make your own decision for sure. If your doc is pushing you one way or the other, get a 2nd opinion. I think the Band can work for anyone who is willing to commit to it. If you are a volume eater, the band can work for you as long as you don't try to overeat repeatedly which can cause damage. If you are a sugar eater it is a little more difficult I think, because there are many ways to eat around the band - ice cream and other soft calories go down just fine. I think it is 90% mind set and 10% the band - that being said, there is no way I could have done it without the 10%. My surgeon only does Lap band, so no he didn't suggest the RNY. There was no choice for me though, I would not have done anything but the band. I did not want my insides rearranged. That is a personal choice, from experience as an OR nurse. I am not saying the RNY is bad or good - it just wasn't something I wanted to do. Insub - as I have said before I am TOTALLY amazed myself how well this has worked for me. I am just glad it did!

Hi all - I haven't been around other than the June 07 thread, but I thought this one was gone - I didn't realize it had moved. I am glad to see everyone is doing well. For those in the beginning stages with high BMIs - YOU CAN DO IT! No it isn't magic and you do have to work at it, but it can work. The one thing I will say is don't go in to it thinking you can eat anything you want - just less of it. I heard that a lot starting out and it does work to a point. BUT if you continue to eat high calorie foods, you can't continue to lose weight it is simple science. As much as I didn't want this to be a diet it is or at least it is for me. I just can't seem to get my mind to change - I still want all the foods I know I shouldn't have. I have to make an effort every day not to eat them, but the beauty of the band is I can't overeat them if I do chose to. My body isn't doing me any favors by being hungry all the time - one of the other things I heard, that the band will help your hunger - just isn't true for me. I deal with it be choosing healthy snacks - nuts mostly. I wish everyone luck - it is the best thing I could have done for myself. Almost 11 months from a tight size 32w to a size 16, with hope in sight that I can actually reach my goal that seemed so far away.

Good for you Steph! HuntersMom - you can come rant anytime you want. Everyone's experience is different and I think it helps to hear all sides. Suzzzie - i am there with you - I started refluxing acid today - I have never done that before. I took my hubby's Prilosec, but it didn't help very much. I am scheduled with the doc on Wednesday, I definitely need a slight unfill! I just keep hoping it is going to loosen up before then, so I don't need it! I am VERY tired of liquids. On a positive note - I had told someone the other day at my new job about the band - so she has only known me the way I am now. She said does it work - I said 130lbs later - yes it works. I took her my before picture with my husband and she couldn't believe it. She said when I told her I had the band, she wondered why I needed it. She said one of her employees is in the pre-authorization diet stage. I told her I am open to discussing if she wants to talk about. There is a woman at work, that I would like to talk to about the band, but I don't have any interaction with her other than passing in the halls. I don't want to just walk up to her and start talking about it. There are chairs placed through out the building between her desk and the break room, so she can sit down to and from there. I know she is suffering, so I am hoping word gets passed around and she comes to me. When I get time, I am supposed to put an educational program together on woman's health. I plan on discussing weight loss and of course surgery options, so I hope she comes to that, if I don't get to talk to her before then.

Thanks Bigbaby - it is good to finally be here. I think I weigh less than when we got married! Suzzie - I agree with the plan - she needs your guidance. what if she was discussing drugs or smoking - I doubt you would hesitate. No way an 11 y/o should be "making out" with anyone! How old is the boy? they do deserve some freedom, but they definitely need guidance whether they like it or not! Hubby is doing good. He still has burning sometimes, but not as bad as before. He was already scheduled for next Wednesday, so hopefully we can talk to the doctor together about what to next for him. He is ready for a fill, but may need another scope, so I am not sure if he will get one. thanks for asking!

Suzzie CONGRATS! You are CUTE and you definitely deserve someone who appreciates you. I happy that you were spontaneous and said yes. Don't wait around for anyone. I think I am going to say I am officially in onederland. Nothing like a liquid diet to kick start weight lose! I am scheduled to see the doc next Wednesday, I am sure I need an unfill, so it is liquids for the next week. No big Mother's day brunch for me! Happy Tuesday everyone :-).

Hi all! Steph and Suzzzie - congrats on you charity work this weekend. I hope you are both feeling well this morning! I am doing okay. Unfortunately, I think I am too tight again. I can get liquids down, but not much more. Everything is very slow and I am refluxing, so I am going to have to see when I can get in to the doc. It is very frustrating. Have a good week everyone!

today isn't the best example because I had dinner out tonight as a work function and I ate out for breakfast and lunch (one stop in the morning at Jack in the box), but here it is: B - ham and bacon from a sandwich, a couple of bites of egg L - spicy popcorn chicken bites x 5 with honey mustard D - trout dip (2 tbs), 5 oz filet with bleu cheese, mashed potatoes ( 3 tbs), plus some of hubby's sea bass- Dessert - blondie with chocolate chips and ice cream - I ate about 1/4 of the blondie and probably 2 tbs of the ice cream - I have no clue about calories. S - none I didn't have much water today, I did have tea with dinner. I was so happy to be able to eat! I ate more than I have in a week. typical for me is - oatmeal or deli meat for breakfast, deli meat and crackers for lunch, a meat for dinner (tilapia or chicken), snack sunflower seeds or other nuts, chocolate chips if I need chocolate. I try to avoid carbs, but am far off some days. My primary care is sending me to a GYN, he didn't find anything that stood out in my labs, so he doesn't know what to do next with my PCOS. He said I have to take a folic acid supplement though, my childrens chewables don't have it and I never eat anything green leafy, so one more pill for me! sorry so long!

Until I get to 195 - I am not going to claim I can stay under 200lbs. I seem to take off and put on 5lbs at random. I am scheduled to see my primary care doc tomorrow. I hope he is going to let me have byetta, the glucaphage is just not helping. CONGRATS on the new baby Janine! You are a healthy YOUNG grandma!

Congrats! Ingyrob - I made my husband come look the other day, when I was first there, so I had a witness. I was even 200.0 today. At least I am still headed mostly in the right direction!

Dang it! it didn't work! Steph - I hope you are doing okay!