Sphinx

Since I wrote that first post I decided to go through The Highland center, per my primary's recommendation. So far I have had the initial seminar, the nutritional seminar and the first 1:1 with the nutritionist. Aetna requires 2 more. I also had my initial visit with the NP. She asked me to also consider the sleeve, or to at least research it. Not sure that's for me though. So far I'm very happy with them. Aetna does say they cover the surgery. So things are coming along!

Hey Nope, haven't had my surgery yet! Turns out though, that I am an inch shorter than I thought which brings my BMI to 40 so insurance should pay. Luckily they don't require the 5% weight loss, but obviously still need to do the nutrition stuff......So far I have been to my initial seminar, my first group nutrition class, my initial history and physical and my therapist eval. So far so good! I just have to do 1:1 sessions with nutritionist (2 of them) and get an approval letter from my rheumatologist,. and I also have an eval at the sleep center, to see if I have Sleep Apnea, but if my BMI stays at 40# it won't matter. But thanks for the advice!

Oh that's ok Let me know if and when she decides she wants to part with them. As you said, hopefully by then I won't need them either! But ya never know......still have a couple nutrition appointments to go so surgery's a bit off, and if I lose more than a few pounds I may no longer qualify through my insurance plan Thank you for checking though!

Oh boy, sorry I didn't have a chance to look before, been crazy busy. Well as it turns out that in my years of yoyo dieting I apparently skipped over size 16 jeans. I have a bunch of 14s (which is weird cuz I don't wear jeans much) and a couple size 18. I'm sorry! If you are still looking to unload the 2x stuff you have, I'd be willing to pay shipping or whatever, so let me know!

Great, I should have a chance to look later! If you can let me know about your 2x clothes you no longer wear that'd be great too!

Great, I should have a chance to look later! If you can let me know about your 2x clothes you no longer wear that'd be great too!

Oh that would be great! I might even have some size 16 jeans even......I'm not a big fan of jeans, yet somehow I have several pairs in many sizes! I'll check in the next day. Or two and let u know..

Oh my, thank you! Despite my eBay finds, they are not enough, as many are short sleeved and a few r for fancier occasions.

Thank you! I feel better now. Of course I trust my surgeon and he said it is ok too. I hope your surgery goes well!

Great ideas (esp the chocolate haha). Yesterday I had half an english muffin with Peanut Butter and followed with a small apple and that did the trick. I believe avoiding salty foods with be what I do. Seems I've gotten less tolerant of salty foods as I've gotten older, so there ya go!

No, I don't have a date yet. I've had the seminar, my first nutritional seminar and my history/physical with the PA. I have a 1:1 nutritional consult in one month and another one month after that. Oh I also have my psych screening next week. Other than that I just have to have my rheumatologist send in clearance. I am also getting eval for a sleep study in a couple weeks, although it's not required. But they say it will help if I end up losing weight and go below BMI of 40. So a couple months and I should be good to go

I have not had surgery yet, but the surgeon clearly said in the seminar I stayed after with many questions) that it was ok to get the band not only with RA but also being on immune suppressing sorts of drugs. It scare me a bit reading stuff saying it is a contraindication, but it helps to know there are other who have been banded with no problem

The PA went through all my meds (and I'm a lot, because I have not just RA, but fibro, interstitial cystitis, and bipolar disorder) and none were a problem. She even told me I could continue to take celebrex, which surprised me, I thought all those sorts of meds were a no-no. I forgot to ask about prednisone though, but I very rarely take it....only when my med starts to fail and I need something short term so I can function. But if I was told I couldn't take it, I'd deal!

Wow, I am so glad I found this topic. I'd posted in another forum about a question I had after seeing the PA for my admission history, and mentioned I had RA and a poser responded that autoimmune diseases were a contraindication to the band. Needless to say I was freaked, although I specifically asked the surgeon at my seminar about it and the PA knew I have RA and also did not tell me I could not get a band. However a google search turned up references saying that autoimmune diseases are indeed a contraindication. So seeing other who have autoimmune diseases who have had the band makes me feel loads better. As for meds, I recently stopped my third TNF-inhibitor (they'll work for a while then poof, they stop working). I started Orencia infusion yesterday and everything they said/gave me said just no infusion 2 weeks before or after surgery, and its a monthly infusion so timing seems to be key. Not sure about methotrexate, but he's told me in the past to keep taking even if I get sick, unless it's really severe. Something about the half life. I had foot surgery a couple years ago and believe I may have skipped that weeks' dose just to be safe.