Daisalana

OMG Michelle, the epidural thing is one of my worst fears.. how horrible, glad she's ok now though. I can't remember if I told ya'll I read "The Help" this weekend... it's been sitting on my bookshelf, was wishy-washy about it, but needed a book for the road trip. Seriously, best book I've read since Water for Elephants! I loved it, and I felt so sad finishing it, like I seriously lost some good friends. I was that wrapped up in it. Much to Russ' dismay, all my free time in the hotel room was spent reading the book. He kept trying to get me to put it down, but I just couldn't. I highly recommend it, if you can't tell. I ordered Tori Spelling's new book & Kathy Griffin's book.. they're in the mail so they're next on my list.

I'm ready for another hair trim!

Yeah with the band complications, money issues, being a new mom in general, I think delayed PP has hit me. I am going to my PCP tomorrow to get something temporarily. Hopefully, I can say it will help Heather :mad:)

Musta been a big chocolate... YUM. I watched the speech on youtube. Didn't see why people were all offended by him speaking.

I did Suzie, I meant to say I am going to look into it. Doesn't bother normal animals though? Dog & Cats? And I had to agree, my cats are worthless with that lol. Even BUGS, they can't kill bugs for me. Russ keeps saying they aren't earning their keep.

LOL a/b 5 weeks preg. with no complications :mad: Mine happened in January, I remember the moment it happened and everything. I knew something wasn't right, I emailed my doc. They said don't worry, blah blah, when I have Carson they'll check it out. Then they drug their feet, not listening to me using up my free fills, and some reason I paid $75 for a fill this last time even though they said it's leaking. Fluro was MY idea. Now they finally believe me when they get 0 drawback. Just ready to get this contrast over and know the tube isn't floating around messing up organs, so I can go back to figuring out how to do the sleeve conversion. I would get some unfill Haydee, when you get preg it sounds like most of us got tight (that was my first indication before I took a test!). My port & tube are in my chest, so he was upside down kicking it a lot. That's probably not a common complication since most people's ports aren't there. As for slips, I think if you stay unfilled (don't let yourself ever get too tight, if it starts to feel tight, keep going back) to comfort, you can dodge that pretty well. My gyno also gave me chemo drugs for nausea, something that dissolves under the tongue. if insurance didn't cover it, they're 1k for a month supply, so I gotta believe they're good lol. I never did have nausea, but stock up.

It seems to be less common for pregnancy complications than our stats in V's (100%!).. but I guess about 30-50% maybe? I see people not realize they have a problem (like me) till later, and they aren't posting in pregnancy area anymore. And I've seen a couple slips. We forgot the portable crib today, we had taken it to his parents so it's in our foyer. May be a long day, not sure how well he will nap in his bouncer. Carson was up till 8 last night, teething and not feeling good. Didn't cry, whine, move, wiggle, nothing, just wanted me to hold him.. so I did in the recliner in the living room for an hour (he did it for an hour before got home too). Staring off behind me, but won't go to sleep. If I tried to put him down he started a very pathetic cry. Around 8 he finally fell asleep in my arms, so I put him in the crib. He started to cry and I pat him for 10 minutes and he finally fell asleep. Then 30m later russ sat on his car keys and set the alarm on my car, waking him up. Cutting this short, got crap goin on at work. :mad:

Heather, that's horrible. Your price is more realistic, but still I know how hard it is to come up with that money last minute. I'm in your boat. Luckily, I don't think mine's an emergency. Occasionally I lay in bed and panic that the tube is loose and digging into an organ, which is why I am getting the contrast this week to check the status. Once I find out what's going on, I'm sitting on it till I can get the sleeve. I'm on the other end of the spectrum, I'm just gaining weight. I'm sad and weepy all the time too, but I can't pin point the problem. Weight gain, money, failure in general, and I think maybe too late PPD. I am going to my PCP this week and getting some anti-dep. for the time being. I am glad you're ok now, it's all behind you.. and you didn't plan on having any more kids right? If I wasn't planning to have a baby #2, I would be more willing to just fix my band. But, I'm not real confident about band & pregnancy, and the prospect of going through this again. Or any more revisions for that matter. Wicked was awesome of course.. Carson did good at his g'parents, except when we went to pick him up apparently their dog had just barked right behind him and scared the daylight out of him. I was rocking and soothing him for 30m and he still would burst back into tears. Brought him home, bathed him and re-packed and he stayed at my parents last night. I am getting in the shower, then heading to their house for our cook out. Hope everyone's enjoying the day off!

Well this evening I finally have definite signs of teething. I wasn't sure what his deal is, but today he's been doing funky tongue and puffing his lips out all day and then crying (but not wanting the bottle or sleep). Russ and I fished around in there, we both think we felt a bump on his lower left and upper right. Hylander's tablets don't seem to be doing anything, orajel is so temporary (just from what I know using it), and it causes him to freak out initially, then tongue it and drool like nuts.. ped said to use tylenol, so we do at night but I don't notice any help. We shall just ride this out! I can't wait to see him with teefs!

Stumbled across this song today, think it's very beautiful. Top of the world - Dixie Chicks

Maybe Pam, Jane, and I can go get sleeve all at once and keep each other company in the hospital :sneaky: I will keep saying it (I joined the VSG talk forum.. www.verticalsleevetalk.com ) I do NOT knock the band. I think the band is great, and I'd never try to encourage someone to take another surgery over it. It worked great for me, my problem is maintenance. But none of you have the problems I am, so I'm just a bad statistic. I am definitely gaining QUICKLY the weight I lost, which is probably part of my funk right now. That forum has a LOT of good info Pam, and I am going off of word of mouth, a lot of the LBT'ers (moderators that I hold stock in what they say) that have swapped from band to sleeve, used Dr. Aceves. And now knowing Kat used him for her band and has good things to say, I feel even better. He has done over 600 sleeves (many revisions from band), and 0% leak stats. He does thorough testing for leaks, it ends up leaks is the big 'complication' for sleeves. Talking to his nurse, she said it either happens during surgery; that's why they test you 3 days in a row, and if there is a leak they immediately take you back into the OR and fix it (for free). She said they've never had a leak with the sleeve, but they have (don't quote me on this, but you can find it on his Obesity Help profile) 10 years experience with RnY I believe, and has corrected leaks on that-- which is the same correction. So then after surgery, she said if you don't follow the post-op you can cause a leak, but after 3 months your stomach will be healed (sealed up), and you have no risks of leaks for the rest of your time. So if you make it the first 3 months, you're virtually complication free. However I read complications threads on the vsg forum, and there have been 2 serious ones I saw, a woman who was bmi 73 and they had a problem with her liver (didn't follow pre-op), but she's well on her way to recovery and they fixed everything (it wasn't with Dr. A, just a vsg complication in general). The other was a leak I think and they didn't detect it, so she ended up collapsing a lung or something.. but also on her way to recovery now. I am glamorized by the idea of no follow ups, and no complications past the first 3 months. And talking to the ladies who have converted, they seem so much happier. Some of them said they have lost way more weight in just a short time compared to the band (although this isn't really my problem, my problem is the band keeps breaking.)

She is my age.. Delta is stupid, we called they said they do have special rates for these situations. So I got my friend and we called back, and the guy didn't speak english. Gave him the info, he put us on hold 10m, came back and said it will be $200 MORE EXPENSIVE than the normal rate. Uh, what? We said that makes no sense, and he said Sometimes the rates are cheaper or more expensive than normal tickets. That makes absolutely no sense. So we ended up just buying regular tickets at Orbitz.

My friend here at work (the one who threw my baby shower), she's been closed up in her office (I am way in the back, I never know when something is going on). Russ had to go help her fix something on her computer, he came back and said she's crying and I may wanna go check on her. So I go in there, and she said a hospital in california called, her dad had a brain hemorage, she's the only next of kin, and she needs to come out there and pull the plug. UGH!! She just reunited with him a year ago, he came down this April and spent a month with her.. I told her I think they know sometimes. My g'pa did the same thing, developed a relationship with me the month before he died. I feel so bad for her, and she said she doesn't know how they can afford to just fly to Cali, so I was helping her look at those emergency medical flights. It's $600 otherwise for 1 person. They said they do offer a discount, and I was telling my mom about all of this (whilst crying, I feel so sorry for her, I know she just got to know him and he had no other family). My parents are looking into paying for her flight for her. She said they wouldn't give her details of what happened over the phone, so she has to wait to hear what happened when she gets there. Then she has to plan the funeral by herself. :sneaky:

Right, that's my bottom line. I am doing it regardless what they think, but I sure would like them to be on board. DH will come around, but I know he said my dad told him last night he needs to talk me out of MX.

I take Advil sometimes. I had 1 bad time with it, where I took it right before bed and didn't make sure it was washed down, I woke up choking all night on acid! But, Advil is all that works for muscle pains (it reduces inflammation, tylenol doesn't). If you take it, take it on an empty stomach, drink a ton of water to wash it through.. then I eat something just to make sure.

Yes, right now I am leaning toward Dr. A, and I am compiling all these stories for them to read. I think my husband is listening, my mom's mind is still closed and she is begging me not to even consider going out of country. She will be the tough one to break, but with all the stories, and I found out last night one of the girls from my LB group (and my family met them in June) had her banding by Dr. A and she has nothing but good things to say. That will definitely help, since when I tell her things I've read she ignores it as 'internet people say whatever they want'.. Which is true, but I've been around the forums long enough to know whose opinions I trust and who I don't know and could be flapping their gums. She doesn't get that though. The bottom line is, especially since husband is listening, if my mom doesn't get on board (I do my best to listen to her despite being an adult :thumbup: ), I'll just have to do it without her approval. My mind's made up that I am swapping to a sleeve, and Dr. A sounds like a better option than even the US right now, cost factor aside. I have to save up for one way or another, so I'd rather go with what makes ME comfortable.

WOW you go jen!!! Haydee that would be AWESOME!! And Kat, Dr. A is actually who I am leaning toward, now it's convincing everyone it's SAFE and ok. They believe it's all unsanitary, they butcher you and leave instruments, because there's no regulation. But there is, and it's the fly by nights who rent an office space, etc. that do the things they worry about. It will take some time to get them to come around. Dr. A quoted me 12,500 to remove the band & swap to sleeve. They don't include airfare, but we fly to SD which isn't too bad. I didn't know any of you went to Dr. A. That will actually help me when I talk to them about it, to let them know one of my very own V's (not just some 'random internet person' which is what they refer to everything else I read) went there and would go back! My mom said, don't go just because of cost; it's dangerous. I told her, I was thinking of the sleeve after finding out I may need another surgery--which had nothing to do with cost. And right now from what I have researched, Dr. A sounds like the best option, even if money wasn't a factor. So she said, wait a few years till the TN doctor that does them has them under his belt.. well I can't find any stats on 'revisions' for him, which is an important factor, and Dr. A has done a lot of revisions.

Yeah, he quoted me $14.500 to 'fix' the band. So if I think about my band in terms of 'long-term'.. I am 2 years out and this would be surgery #3. As a self-pay and for the idea of having a surgery, so far I don't like the track record. I am not one to say I don't like the band (I do), but 3 surgeries in 2 years is really not making me hopeful for the rest of my days. If insurance was paying for this, I probably wouldn't care as much. As it were we're looking at 15k a year to maintain? Can't do it.

What did you think of it Judy? My dad said it was great, and I like the actor (brain farting) who plays the main guy. I watched it, and dozed on and off for most of it.. it was really boring IMO. I have a short attention span though.

My insurance will not pay for ANY complications. The policy says they do not pay for anything related to obesity treatment, including complications. I have had to have a surgery to fix, I had to have testing, etc. done; and my insurance is adamant, they will not pay. Even if the band was eroding, I would have to come up with the money myself. Definitely call your insurance to confirm with them, as I know mine did not budge.

No I looked at threads here about the sleeve.. and talked to Wasa, she has a wealth of information on it.. I'll e-mail you links I have (some tonight, I have more at work I'll send tomorrow). She got me in touch with the doc she uses nurse (and after looking at the VSG section here, looks like everyone from LBT that converted went to him), and I asked her questions I knew were bothering Russ & my mom.

Very pretty! Well I have pretty much made up my mind, I am converting to the sleeve if I have to go under the knife again. My mom is begging me to wait till after baby #2 (even though the sleeve wouldn't affect it). I had a long talk with Russ tonight after showing him my literature I've put together about the doc I want to go with in MX. He's understanding at least. My mom still thinks its a butcher shop blah blah. She said she didn't have time to read things I sent her, but there's no rush since doesn't matter right now. Russell still wants to go for #2 right away, thinking maybe that'd work.. that way they'll be close in age (which I always think is a plus side), and then I can do whatever I want to my body without any worries for babies. I just don't know how I'd handle 2 small ones. People do it all the time though right? :smile2: I would love their help financing it (it's easier to get loans via Dad), but I told Russ if they aren't on board by time I've decided I've waited long enough (depending on how quick I keep gaining!!), I'm going to try to get loans outside of them and do what I gotta do. I hate that, I never go against their wishes.. and I know they are just scared.

It ended up (I went back over the email) being Alverez that makes you do 2 surgeries. Aceves does it in one.

I actually called my GP, left a message asking if he can Rx me some anti-depressants temporarily. I know the crying goes hand in hand with bad news in general, but suddenly every aspect of life seems bleak. That's a silly way to feel when it's just the band being messed up, so I think I just fell into a depression.. kind of new for me, I'm generally able to be optimistic in life even when something gets me down.. some reason I don't feel like it now.

Yeah I've actually been talking to Wasa who I consider a great resource for MX doctors & the sleeve. She suggested Aceves.. I talked to their nurse as well. I am confident with it, now it's getting my family on board. This will probably take a while before I do anything. Mom isn't on board, but asked me to wait till after baby #2 before converting if that's really what I want to do.. which could be uh 4 years or so from now. Oh well, I got to be skinny for a couple months.