Rena's got this

....only the cute part!

Um....I have a ferret too, but after he passes, I won't do that again! He is cute is a button, but he is a thief, hiding anything he can drag behind my couch, and he tears up the stuffing in my mattresses and couch! That little bugger even hid an umbrella under my couch!

I divorced in 2007, and have had a few relationships since then, but only one was special. That man totally respected me, and I treated him like royalty. Unfortunately, in 2011, he died from brain cancer. I haven't seriously dated since. I'm an introvert, and it is just difficult, so I adopted 3 cats, and am now the "Crazy Cat Lady" of my neighborhood. I'm happy, but some days, I do wish I had another adult around the house.

I get mine at either Kroger or Sams Club. Last week I got a pack of 24 at Sams Club for $18.00 ...maybe that was a pack of 18, I'd have to go back and check. I'm pretty sure that Walmart will have them too. I think I saw them at Walgreens and CVS, but I'm not sure. You can always order them online from Amazon.com, and sometimes I think they have sales on them! I've only had the chocolate, but they also sell them in vanilla.

I can't really speak to this because I haven't been sleeved yet, but if I were, I'd want to be more conservative than the doctor's orders, just to make sure I was healing ok. LOL....that was hilarious!

Try the Premier Protein shakes, they have 30 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar. Tastes pretty good to me, like chocolate milk. I haven't been sleeved yet, but it curbs my hunger.

You are NOT being petty. It seems to me she either has a narcissistic personality where she thinks the whole world revolves around her and heaven forbid that you get any attention, or she might see you as possible competition down the road for whatever. This isn't the type of person I'd hang around with a lot.

A date!!! How exciting, I'm so happy for you! I am so glad also that you didn't have to go through the appeals process by being denied the first go around. There is hope!

I'm getting started with my 6 month requirement for a physician managed diet. Weight watchers was one of the suggested diet plans, but they are so expensive. Has anyone done one of these diets any other way which costs less?

Couldn't you get weighed once a month in your doctor's office for documentation? It wouldn't even have to be a doctor's visit...just see the nurse and get it done? ....I'm a single mom, and pinching pennies wherever I can!

Four surgeries in Mexico! Were they all weight loss related?

You're right....I just checked and it is nearly half! I just sent weight watchers an email asking them to switch me to online only. Thanks!!!

From what I understand, a first time denial is almost standard practice with BCBS. Keep on with the appeals and good luck!

This week I'll have my first consultation with my weight loss surgeon, Dr. Wes Turton. Like most of us, I've struggled with weight for most of my life. The older I get it seems the faster the weight comes on, probably due to the fact that I'm exercising less and less. When I hit menopause, the gains seemed to go into overdrive. I don't recognize myself. I haven't always been morbidly obese. In fact, I was in the Army and most of the time I was within body fat limits. I was never able to meet the limits just by weight only, but always had to do the "Pinch Test" with calipers. In my minds eye, I still weigh around 150, and although I'm around 235 now at 5'4" tall, I still see myself as not that fat. I feel guilty about the fact that I can't lose this weight on my own. I've tried Nutrasystem, Weight Watchers, Adkins, and even used medically supervised prescriptions such as pentermine and Ionamine. All the results were short lived, and I quickly put back on the weight plus more. Still, I feel that weight loss surgery must be for people much heavier than me. Of course, that doesn't make sense at all. At this point, I look forward to getting this "tool" to help me with my weight loss. Even though I feel embarrassed at having to resort to this, I need to do it for my health. I'm pre-diabetic, have high cholesterol, low thyroid, and my knees are giving out. Diabetes runs heavily in my family and it is only a matter of time before I develop this devastating disease. Wish me luck...I'm just getting started!

Ms.Junebug have you heard anything yet??? I'm sooo keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Thanks for all the comments ladies, I really appreciate them. I just found out that my sister in law is having bypass surgery in 25 days! We were both talking about it about a month ago, thinking that we might go this route, and now she has a surgery date for a bypass without having to do the six month thingy! (Tricare) I'm very happy for her, of course, but it is so soon! ....I'm so jealous!

I just looked back in my medical records and found that I was diagnosed with GERD in 2011. Still have it, lol. I think that was one of the co-morbidities listed on my insurance information sheet, so, keeping my fingers crossed and am going to go ahead with the 6 month weight loss management thingy.

My surgeon suggested that I have it tested, and he was leaning towards removal. My mom and sister both had theirs out due to gallstones, and both of them were not overweight when it happened. I'm pretty sure I have a good chance of developing gallstones with such a family history.

Anyone have updates on their status? I'm just getting started and have BCBS of Alabama. My BMI was 40.9 as of my initial surgeon's consultation. I go for a sleep apnea test on April 9th. I have not had the BMI at 40+ over the last 3 years, and my co-morbidities are iffy... pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, knee pain & surgery. I sure hope this sleep apnea test will qualify me!

It sounds like you have a good chance of initially being denied. Just appeal, and keep appealing until you get to the Peer to Peer review. I have BCBS of Alabama and am just getting started. I have a BMI of 40.9, (surgeon's office), but haven't been this high for the past 3 years. The only co-morbidities I have are pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, and joint pain. I'm going for a sleep apnea test this week. My insurance seems to only require one, so I might have a chance. The surgeon's office said that BCBS of Alabama is very nitpicky though, so I'll probably get denied initially. Let us know what happens.

Thank goodness you don't need it as a co-morbidity. I sincerely hope you don't get it. My primary care physician doesn't know that I want surgery yet. I went to a seminar, and then made an appointment directly with the surgeon. I'll have to talk to my PCP soon about it because she will have to be involved. I'm worried that she won't go for it though. She is one of these tall, slender types, who has never had a weight problem.

Well, in this case I hope you do have it....not something I'd ordinarily wish on someone. My aunt had it really bad and had to have both her legs amputated. She died 3 weeks later. Since I've been off Metformin for about 3 months, maybe the next time I'm tested I'll have it too. I don't know. I just know that if I don't get this weight off, I'm not going to have a chance of avoiding it.

I have taken Metformin in the past. On my last physical, my physician said my A1C was good, and she took me off them, but said she would keep me on them if I want. Diabetes runs heavily in my family ...3 grandparents, mother, sister, 2 brothers. Its just a matter of time for me.

Congratulations! Good for you! My insurance is like the others, but you have to have the 40 BMI for the past 3 years, or have the co-morbidities. I have 40.9 BMI as of this week, but not the past 3 years. I'll be going for a sleep apnea test next week, and I'm hoping that will do it. Pre-diabetes won't get it, and neither will the other health problems I've got.

I know they say that the MMR vaccine has nothing to do with kids developing autism or anything on the autism scale, but I think it can't be only a coincidence. Perhaps it has something to do with genetics and a pre-disposed sensitivity to the vaccine. I wonder if that has even been researched. Anyway, my son has a lot of residual social awkwardness, but otherwise he is doing well. He is working on his Eagle Scout designation, he plays french horn in the band and is going to Europe this summer on an invitation from some Alabama All State band organization. Looking back at how he was as a young child, I didn't hold out a lot of hope for all he has accomplished at this point. He can do nearly anything he puts his mind to. If I could do it all over, neither of my kids would be getting the MMR vaccines. My daughter was lucky she didn't come down with anything on the autistic spectrum.