nora33

Another happy banderster here! I've lost 91 pounds in 6 and 1/2 months and saying I couldn't be happer is an understatement. Since my surgery I'm off the BP meds, asthma meds, the c-pap is a thing of the past and I now have the engery to enjoy my kids. In six short months my life has change so much that some times it makes me want to cry with joy. I can't explain what its like to live without weight and food being the center of my life . Maybe thats why you don't hear from happy bandsters quite as much, as the weight comes off your life gets filled doing things you never thought you would do , but thank goodness you can find happy bandsters on this site. Everyone needs a helping hand and friendly ear now and then, and this is the best place to find them. Please take heart from all of us happy bandsters and good luck on your journey! -Nora

Jodi, Have you been tested for autoimmune(sp?) disorders? They can be anthing from APS to Will's, but there are a couple types of arthritis and Lupus that can cause the symptoms you have, including the kidney trouble and depression. The only problem is that they can be tricky to find. Alot of Dr.s will chalk it up to being overweight and not look for underlying causes. And the blood test are not always accurate. For example the test for Lupus (ELSA panel) will come back negitive for 30% of people who have the disorder. If you can, take the time to see a good endocrinologist, and surf the web and see if the symptoms sound like you. Good Luck

I found them at my local Acme (yup, it's really called Acme, now you know where Wile E. Coyote orders all the rocket powered roller skates from) grocery store. The pizza and meals are in frozen food, breakfast bars are by cereal bars and the "wrap kits" are with the lunch meat.

Try the pizza!!! 290 cal. in the whole personal size pizza, 31 grams protein and yummy!!!!

Hi! My band was placed on 6/14/05 at H.U.P. by Dr. Noel Williams. He is a great surgeon, but his practice is VERY busy and you don't see him much. Mainly you deal with his staff, all of whom were understanding and helpful. If you want more info on him please give me a PM. Good Luck -Nora

Jodi, please don't think that you are not strong, or that you are lazy. You have more going for you that you know. Just from reading your post, I can tell that you are smart, insightful, witty and someone I would love to meet at a party, and from your photo I can say that you are beautiful. How can you think that you aren't a fighter? From the voice of experience I KNOW that just going to school as an overweight teen takes more strength and heart than most people could ever know. If you were not a fighter or lazy, you would have given up years ago!!! Don't put yourself down, there are too many small minded, insecure, petty, hurtful people ready to do that. If you have never believed anything else please believe that you are worth so much more than a man/boy who would risk losing you and all that you are for a cheap night of entertainment with a sad, insecure girl who doesn't know that men are a dime a dozen, but true friends are very rare. Its o.k. to cry on the inside (and the outside too), you have earned every tear, just as you have earned every laugh (and trust me you WILL laugh a lot more once your out of high school) Keep you head high-Nora

Black Cherry diet Jell-o with no fat cool whip...(yummm), also if you can find them, Kraft makes "South Beach Diet high protein cereal bar" the cinnamon raisin is yummy and 140 calories and 10 grams protein. They taste like granola and keep me filled for a long time. If you like cottage cheese, try the low fat (sorry I think the non fat taste like cud.) with unsweetened applesauce it fills you up, taste good and is guilt free. O.K. now I've made myself hungry=-) hope this helps and good luck! -Nora

Did your Dr.'s check for a hiatal (sp?) hernia or gall bladder problems? My Mum had reflux so bad she threw up every day for a year (still gained wait) until the Dr. found and fixed her hernia. Good Luck -Nora

Hi Flower! My Dr. has the same restriction. He said they want the swelling in the stomach to be completely gone and the band securely in place before any straining. He also said if I had to lift my 1 yr old (24 pounds) once a day that it should be fine, he just doesn't want repeated straining. Good Luck! - Nora

Hi All! I just got word that my date is June 14th. I should have had been 6 weeks ago, but they cancelled me until I got clearance from hemaotology now have the all clear and a date for 1 week from today! YEAHHHHHH!!!! I know no one can see me but I'm doing the happy dance :-)

That is awesome, (I can gain 2 pounds just taking a trip to the gas station) How in the heck did you do it?!

Today is the day I should have got my band, instead I spent it trying to get the results of the MRI/MRA they did on my liver. After calling the surgeons office on Fri. Mon. and today, I called my PCP. Turns out she's the one who should have called me with the results, and surprise she still has not called me. Of course this is the same PCP who told me the Ultra Sound they did on my liver back in Dec. only showed Portal Hypertension because I'm fat. Opps! Turns out my liver is screwed because I had a prior blood clot due to a clotting disorder (Factor Five Leiden). Now none of the Dr.'s want to talk to me until I see the hematologist, who has the test results, but she wants me to talk to my PCP, or I have to wait until she sees me next Wen. she will not tell me over the phone. (Gee thanks Dr. that makes me feel a whole lot better...NOT!) I am so frustrated! Since October I've done everything the Dr.'s have ask of me, all the test, appointments, classed, whatever. Then I got approval and a date. I made plans for my children and dogs, bought the new food, Protein powder, and waited for the magic date when my new life would start. Now everything is up in the air, again. I'm glad they caught this, but my PCP should have caught it in Dec. and I'm bummed that I can't have the band. Oh Well, enough of my whining and crying, thanks for giving me a place to spout off! - Nora

Thanks guys, I needed that. Its nice to have a place to complain but not be judged. My PCP called to tell me that at one point there was probably a clot in the portal vein of my liver, but there is no clot now and no signs of damage (Yippy!) so I can have the band (Yahoo!), but I'm going to have to see Hematology first. Depending on what they find I may have to wait weeks, or it my take months. It all depends on if I have to take blood thinners for a couple of weeks or forever. Either way, I'm just thrilled that I can have the band. Thanks again for the support, you guys ROCK!

Hi everyone! I'm sad to say I need to be taken off the April Bandsters list. The Dr. office called and postponed my 4/26 date. My pre-op blood work shows factor five leiden, so no surgery for me till I see a hematologist. Hopefully I will be able to join the May bandsters list. Thanks Nora

Hi everyone! I had my pre op today and after the exam the nurse (the Dr. is out of town) looked at the results of my ultrasound and asked me if anyone had mentioned a "filter". The nurse said that due to an enlarged liver and portal vein, and a family history of blood clots, I would most likely have to have a filter placed in my inferior venae cavae to prevent pulmonary embolism, before I could have the surgery. I now have to do the pre op for this procedure one the 21st, the filter done on the 22nd and my surgery still on the 26th. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anybody know what the heck this is?

*Update* My Dr. office just called. My surgery is postponed. They had ordered extra blood test at my pre-op (14 test) and I have something called Leiden factor five. It's some sort of clotting problem, and the Dr. will not do the surgery until I see a hematologist (I can't spell). Tomorrow I meet the Dr. who will put in the filter, after that, I will meet with the nurse for my lap-band Dr. She will tell me more and set up meeting the hematologist. But until I get an all clear from the hematologist, I can't have the surgery. On one hand I'm really upset that the surgery is delayed, I feel like I've been in a holding pattern, just waiting for my surgery. On the other hand, I'm pretty happy the Dr. caught this before I had major problems. But mainly I just want to cry, pretty lame huh? Good luck to my former April Band buddies.

Lisa, I have a BMI of 38% and my insurance carrier is covering my surgery. Each insurance carrier has their own rules. My carrier required that I be either BMI of greater than 40% or 100 pounds over my "ideal" weight, or a BMI of 35%-40% and at least 1 "co morbidities". They included high blood pressure, asmtha, sleep apnea, diabetes, chronic joint pain, chronic back pain and they would consider other chronic illnesses on a case by case basis. In theory you could have a BMI of 35% and the problems you have now and insurance would cover you. But in practice you really have to check with your insurance co. and see a) if you are covered for weight loss surgery, if they cover banding, and c) what their requirements. Each carrier and each policy is unique. Don't give up hope and good luck!

Hi! Are you in North Jersey or South? I live in Cherry Hill Nj, but I'm having my surgery over the river at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Its an easy drive and I have had a wonderful experience so far. The Dr's names is Dr. Noel Williams.

During my college days, when I ran out of milk, I would use beer in my frosted flakes. When I was pregnant it was beets and smoked almonds, served with a peanut butter, pickle, banana and potato chip sandwich. I can no longer even look at any of those without feeling some what ill....

Hi Everyone! Its been awhile since I've posted, but I have finally got a date! April 26th, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania with Dr. Williams. I can't believe that this is for real! Good Luck fellow April Bandsters!! Can't wait to see how different we will be next April!

Hi! My insurance should pay for the lap-band, but I will still have to pay $400.00 up front and out of pocket (for psy. consult and food class) plus my surgical co-pay of $250.00 and there will be at least two Dr. doing the surgery. Dr.Williams will be in charge and the others will assist (this will be done at a teaching hospital, so lots of students will watch). So money up front and two Dr. is not out of norm. Also please contact your insurance companies and check to see what they cover. When I called Keystone in the start of Oct. they said no, but as of Nov. 1 they will cover the lap band. Good luck in your WLS journey! -Nora

Congratulations Blossom!!! Glad that everything went well, take care and good luck! -Nora

I can't believe this but I just found out my insurance, Keystone East will cover the Lap Band, if medically necessary. When I first called them on 10/15/04 they said no, they would only cover by-pass. I saw the Dr. on 11/2 and his nurse said to double check, and sure enough, as of 11/01 they will cover the lap-band!!! (I didn't believe them at first so I called back and spoke to a supervisor) If anybody else has heard no from Keystone, check again! Yeaaahhh Good Luck! -Nora

I can't believe this is really going to happen!!! The Dr. I saw on Nov. 2, only does by-pass, but his partner does lap-band, and since insurance will pay, I now have appointments for all the pre-op test (holy crud!! there are a LOT of pre op test!), and appt. to meet the lap-band dr. , but not till Feb. 16. However I'm on his cxl list, and since I will have all the testing done, things should move fast once I see him!!! I just hope that if anyone else was turned down by Keystone East that they call back! Thanks, you guys rock!!! -Nora

Welcome... You're gonna love it here, the people are great! Congratulations on your weight loss! Good Luck! -Nora