Billie Elaine

Well, I haven't been doing as well as I should. I was working too many hours.... got stressed and was craving something sweet. And to top that off, I'd ran out of my almonds and couldn't get to Conrad Farms to get more! :cry I'm back in the saddle so to speak though, and I'm working hard again to get back on track. Dr. Oz's book has been so helpful in understanding how everything works. I started taking two baby aspirins a day along with 200 mcg of chromium picolate per his advice. I do seem to be doing a little better.... or I was until I hurt myself in water aerobics! The pain has set me back again. I'm barely able to walk now. I just want this pain to stop so bad. I'm trying so hard not to get discouraged and be thankful that I'm lucky to be alive and able to walk. I could've lost my life. I talked to a man today who'd been in a car accident too. His carotid artery had been severed..... he was bleeding to death. Luckily for him, it was in front of a veterinary hospital. The vet did emergency surgery on him and sewed his artery back up and saved his life! A doc is a doc is a doc.... an artery is an artery is an artery. It was amazing to listen to his story. So I shouldn't be so upset when I have little set backs. I feel as if I can get my "house" in order then my life will follow. I'm working on cleaning out the old to make room for the new.

Well, I haven't been doing as well as I should. I was working too many hours.... got stressed and was craving something sweet. And to top that off, I'd ran out of my almonds and couldn't get to Conrad Farms to get more! :cry I'm back in the saddle so to speak though, and I'm working hard again to get back on track. Dr. Oz's book has been so helpful in understanding how everything works. I started taking two baby aspirins a day along with 200 mcg of chromium picolate per his advice. I do seem to be doing a little better.... or I was until I hurt myself in water aerobics! The pain has set me back again. I'm barely able to walk now. I just want this pain to stop so bad. I'm trying so hard not to get discouraged and be thankful that I'm lucky to be alive and able to walk. I could've lost my life. I talked to a man today who'd been in a car accident too. His carotid artery had been severed..... he was bleeding to death. Luckily for him, it was in front of a veterinary hospital. The vet did emergency surgery on him and sewed his artery back up and saved his life! A doc is a doc is a doc.... an artery is an artery is an artery. It was amazing to listen to his story. So I shouldn't be so upset when I have little set backs. I feel as if I can get my "house" in order then my life will follow. I'm working on cleaning out the old to make room for the new.

Somehow, I knew that Aetna required five years medical records, and I already had that together before ever seeing my doctor along with signing up for an Aetna approved 90 day weight loss program. Aetna also requires a psychiatric visit and tests, which I did through an approved Aetna plan psychiatrist. I'm going for my echocardiogram on May 7th! Everything is moving closer toward the day of surgery, but I think it'll be toward the end of June to beginning of July. I'm already changing my eating habits and attempting to exercise as much as possible despite my physical limitations. And thanks so much for the support - it means so much to me!

I think you meant spectrometer which helps in looking a light in a certain way? Why would one be used for lap-band? I'm curious - first time I've heard of this. Are you into science?

I'm not yet scheduled for lap-band, but wondering.....Why liquid diet before surgery? And, how long are you on this liquid diet? I work very long days, and it would be very hard for me to be on a liquid diet. My doctor has yet to tell me this part.... lol - but on the other hand.... all things are possible when you want it real bad. I want is REAL bad!!! Good luck girl.... don't be afraid. I've had numerous surgeries, and you'll be okay. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Well, I knew it would hit.... just didn't realize it would be such a hard whap! Craving for something sweet almost made me insane today. But, I held fast and instead had a bananna and some almonds. :faint::faint: :faint: :faint: Glad I'm home so I have any temptations around.... those yuckie vending machines with all their alluring sweets... lol They call my name continously. How do they know my name? lol I'm also reading "You: On a Diet" by Dr. Oz. It's a really inspirational book and is helping me understand my cravings and how to overcome them. Obviously it's working, or I'd have eaten my way through a couple of those vending machines today! Well Journal, I'm tired and meeting with a personal trainer first thing in the A.M. - guess I need to hit the hay so I'm not wore out totally.... :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Thanks to God for getting me through another day!!! Thanks for not hurting so much today. Thanks for getting great calls today and not getting yelled at. Thanks for making it through those bad sugar cravings. Thanks for making me happier.....

Well, I knew it would hit.... just didn't realize it would be such a hard whap! Craving for something sweet almost made me insane today. But, I held fast and instead had a bananna and some almonds. :faint::faint: :faint: :faint: Glad I'm home so I have any temptations around.... those yuckie vending machines with all their alluring sweets... lol They call my name continously. How do they know my name? lol I'm also reading "You: On a Diet" by Dr. Oz. It's a really inspirational book and is helping me understand my cravings and how to overcome them. Obviously it's working, or I'd have eaten my way through a couple of those vending machines today! Well Journal, I'm tired and meeting with a personal trainer first thing in the A.M. - guess I need to hit the hay so I'm not wore out totally.... :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Thanks to God for getting me through another day!!! Thanks for not hurting so much today. Thanks for getting great calls today and not getting yelled at. Thanks for making it through those bad sugar cravings. Thanks for making me happier.....

:clap2: Well, finally got to meet with Dr. Fisher. It went rather well. He said I was an excellent candidate for the lap-band. Yeah!!! I'm still sticking to my healthy diet. When I get hungry, I now eat red grapes and/or almonds. Amazing how well those curb those craving times. Went to see Karen, my behavior modificationist. She was really nice. She felt like I was on the right track and would be very successful with the lap-band. She wants me to take ownership of my comments. I'm gonna try real hard. I'm so excited. This is the first time in a very long time that I feel that I have the power to change my life's course. I'm hoping the weight loss will also reduce the pain.... that would be so nice. I'm also walking a smidge more..... and trying to relax when I walk instead of tensing up waiting for the pain. I think the tensing up is causing most of my pain. Deep breathing and thinking about the steps is helping a lot.

:clap2: Well, finally got to meet with Dr. Fisher. It went rather well. He said I was an excellent candidate for the lap-band. Yeah!!! I'm still sticking to my healthy diet. When I get hungry, I now eat red grapes and/or almonds. Amazing how well those curb those craving times. Went to see Karen, my behavior modificationist. She was really nice. She felt like I was on the right track and would be very successful with the lap-band. She wants me to take ownership of my comments. I'm gonna try real hard. I'm so excited. This is the first time in a very long time that I feel that I have the power to change my life's course. I'm hoping the weight loss will also reduce the pain.... that would be so nice. I'm also walking a smidge more..... and trying to relax when I walk instead of tensing up waiting for the pain. I think the tensing up is causing most of my pain. Deep breathing and thinking about the steps is helping a lot.

I too was diagnosed with PCOS, but way too late to have been helped. I'd already gotten into pre-menopausal before being diagnosed. I remember the gynos always saying, "High testosterone levels - you're hubby must love that!" And, I was like - huh? I have been told it's harder for PCOS patients to lose weight. I haven't been banded as yet, but so looking forward to it! I have my first appointment on the 24th!!!! Yeah!!!!

I've just started the process. I had looked up Aetna's qualifications for Lap-band and got together my five years of medical records, got the psychiatrist thing done, seen the psysiologist, nutritionist and now have an appointment on the 24th of April with the Lap-band doctor. Is Aetna a hard nose in getting this surgery done?

I'd say, "No, I've never considered suicide as an option." Although, I have wondered and asked God why he let me live through the wreck and live with all this pain and gaining weight at a tremendous rate. Just when I'm on a "pity party", I wonder why I was allowed to live. But when I'm doing okay (which is most of the time), I'm happy I lived. Anyone else out there who is morbidly obese and has physical limitations that doesn't allow a lot of exercise?????

My BMI is 60.3 - too scary! I wasn't always overweight, but have always had weight issues. Believe it or not, I was anorexic as a teenager. I was very skinny. They didn't call is anorexia back then. It was called "failure to thrive". I didn't start gaining weight until my marriage was falling apart. I'm just one of those that takes my emotions out in food. As I've learned, FOOD is my drug of choice. I'm working on that, and glad to have found this site to assist with working through some of my weight issues. I've only been on it for a short period of time, but have found many helpful people and insightful information. I have one BIG question.... lol. How do you add that ticker weight thingy from Tickerfactory to your signature???? I've created one, and I've attempted to copy and paste all the options - and still no enchilada. Anyone???? Thanks!

Well, the way my job is.... my lunch is at 4:00pm and supper is at 11:00pm. Weird, I know. I've been doing what Dr. Oz says..... I'm eating 12 unroasted Almonds. It works! I also snack on grapes when I'm feeling that "sweet" craving coming on. It seems to appease that sugar demand in me. Just don't forget..... "UNROASTED" nuts.... never eat roasted ones as the Omega fat is changed in the nut once it's roasted; therefore, it loses all the goodness. I'm not banded as yet, but I've been working toward that day. My first appointment with the band doctor is the 24th! Yeah!!!!!!

:clap2: Hi y'all. I'm so looking forward to having lap-band surgery. Although I've not even seen a doctor for an appointment as yet! I do have my first appointment on April 24th. I'm so excited. I've done my research, and I feel I'm ready. I've had so many friends die from bypass surgery - so that wasn't an option for me at all. I'm not sure if it's my insurance or just the process of lap-band surgery, but there sure are a lot of hoops to jump through. My primary care doctor told me that he's known of people gaining weight to have the surgery..... I'm like, "Why would anyone do that?" Oh well, not my situation obviously. So, I just wanted to say hi, and if anyone has any advice for me at all, I'd really appreciate it. Oh yeah, I was in a bad car accident on May 11, 2005. I was in a coma for eight days. I fractured many bones and had many injuries. The worst injuries were (and still are an issue) broken back and shattered pelvis. My back healed but my pelvis has yet to heal. My right leg is paralyzed so mobility and exercise is going to be my biggest issue. Anyone else with physical limitations or hints - I'm open to suggestions! Okay... enough about me. I'm so glad to have found this site and look forward to meeting new friends!

So, I'm assuming then that you can't take pill form after lap-band?

Loritab, Neurontin, Effexor are the main ones. There are others I take occassionaly. Oh, I'm on B12 & Calcium as well. Bones still aren't healing at 23 months.... hope weight loss helps that! Thanks.

Speaking of liquid hydrocodone... I have to take numerous medications due to my injuries from the car wreck. You can't take pills any longer after lap-band? Not sure all my meds would come in liquid form. Does anyone know? Thanks.... and that's another question on my list for Dr. Fisher!

I'm so glad you asked that.... lol. I had wondered that very question myself a few times and kept forgetting to ask. So thanks for asking it, and thanks for y'all answering it!

Hi Allan. I haven't done the lap-band as yet myself and now just going through the process of getting it done. I have, however, had many friends who opted for the by-pass. The seminars and research I have done state that 1 in 20 do not live past the one year mark after by-pass surgery. I personally know 11 people who have died from by-pass surgery within the first year. I have yet to find anyone who has died from the lap-band. Food is my drug of choice too, and I'm going to have to work diligently to overcome that. Lap-band isn't the "fix". It's a tool, and right now I'm needing that tool to help me.... lol. Sorry for all the stress in your life. I know how that is myself. Twenty-three months ago I was in a bad car accident and ended up in a coma. I've gained almost 100lbs since then. Good Luck...

Problem is.... I can't walk. I'm paralyzed in my right leg and have a shattered pelvis.

Well, I have my first appointment with Dr. Fisher. I'm very excited and yet nervous. I went to my first nutrition appointment with H.E.L.P., which is the only place recognized by my medical insurance. I also went to the psychiatrist, and she feels I'm a perfect candidate with not too many mental issues.... lol. The physiologist wants me to start water aerobics since this would be the only type of exercise I can do. So, I'm going to do that on Mondays starting tomorrow! I found out my current weight.... 380 lbs. But that's down five pounds since seeing primary care doc two weeks ago. So changing my diet has helped some.

Hang in there! It will happen for you. Sometimes I think our bodies get so use to a weight, and it just doesn't want to let go - so don't give up. I'm rooting for ya.

I so appreciate your honesty. I too sometimes get depressed and eat from that. Food is my drug of choice obviously. I haven't had the lap-band as yet, but my insurance makes you see psychiatrist, physiologist, nutritionist and many more people before they will consent to the surgery. Did you not go to find out why you're overeating? Never know, that may help you girl. I applaud your tenacity in exercising and keeping with it. I so wish I could exercise like you. Due to physical limitations, I'm unable to do so at this time. I am however going to be doing water aerobics starting tomorrow! I'm so excited about the prospect of my first appointment with my lap-band doctor on the 24th! Good luck! I know you can do it.

Well, I have my first appointment with Dr. Fisher. I'm very excited and yet nervous. I went to my first nutrition appointment with H.E.L.P., which is the only place recognized by my medical insurance. I also went to the psychiatrist, and she feels I'm a perfect candidate with not too many mental issues.... lol. The physiologist wants me to start water aerobics since this would be the only type of exercise I can do. So, I'm going to do that on Mondays starting tomorrow! I found out my current weight.... 380 lbs. But that's down five pounds since seeing primary care doc two weeks ago. So changing my diet has helped some.