the best me

Oh my gosh! Check out the dates! That's one of BigT's pet peeves, people bumping old threads and you thinki you are reading something new...only to find out, well, it's old news! I thought he was just whining...now I get it!!! HA! LOL Well, HarleyNana did it too so maybe it will help the newbies. Alatina was luvin it! Too funny. Glad yer pee's not dark and smelly anymore Princess!

Sounds like a bit of a scam to me. Let's see, you paid cash for your surgery, now your doc has a lawyer who will do the ins fighting for you, you will be reimbursed for the full cost of your surgery, minus any co-pays, deductibles, etc, whatever the ins pays, then you must turn this over to you doc so he can pay the lawyer...who gets what's left? Is there any left? I dunno. I'm sure it's legal, but sounds borderline unethical? Maybe someone else knows more...Alex?!!!

Sorry Brandi, it was probably me! So relieved you are laughing!!! Debbydo has been bumping it to the New Post list...those of you who don't use it should check it out. It's very handy! The button is above on the blue bar, it says "New Posts" just click and it lists all the new posts from every forum in the order recieved from the last time you signed on. Very handy.

I was fortunate NOT to have experienced post-anesthesia nausea. Some have trouble with the pain medications causing nausea, but the medication can easily be changed. I would definately be sure you have some Phenergan suppositories on hand, just in case. You will be doing your fair share of resting through the recovery and should be fine. If you do have the surgery, you will need to take EXTRA care with avoiding PB's. I was surprised at the short waves of nausea that overtook me when I first PB'd. What I experienced would probably make you faint, it was horrible. As for migraines, you will get good replies here, but also do a search for migraines here. I'm certain there are threads dedicated to Migraines. For sure, certain meds are a big no-no for Bandsters...NSAID's being the big one, but I'm not sure which category the Imitrex falls into. You are smart to go in with eyes wide open. Keep up the research and make sure you know as much as possible. Best of luck to you and your friend.

AWW, Christina! Self-pay, huh? I know you have been fighting the insurance and playing all those games for SO long! I haven't seen you in a while and figured you have been busy with the Calendar Girls... Glad to see your are just going to "Gir 'er Done!" (in my best Cable guy accent). No opinions on the Docs you have listed, just wanted to say HI and Good Luck! You won't regret it, and for sure you have done your homework! My Best to You!

Yep, increase the water/fluids. When I first got back I had the same thing with dark and smelly, yuk, but now it's much lighter, more frequent, and not smelly. I haven't noticed the association with Vitamins. I'm bad about forgetting to take them, but will pay more attention to that and see what happens.

Bandage tape? Band-aids? Steri-strip adhesive? That stuff can be lethal to sensitive skin. At three weeks out, she could be keeping the area clean and dry and rubbing a light coat of Neosporin (or whatever) ointment over the incisions. Maybe try some Cortisone or Benadryl cream to the rash, and take care not to get that cream on the incisions?

I'm thinking they are charging you to this to weed out folks who aren't serious. They are only taking up office anc Dr time for those who are more likely to go through with it. If you don't want to cough up the 300, you aren't ready. See what I mean? Then, once the insurance is filed and starts paying, the 300 comes out of the bill somehow, either to cover your co-pays or a psychologist visit or whatever...kind of like a credit on your bill. Heck, they may even refund it? When I first started looking into it, my local doc did the same thing, but since I found out my insurance excluded the Lap Band, I went no further with him and self-payed in MX. so I never coughed up the 300+ he was going to charge for the initial visit. Pretty sure it's a weed-out feature. It probably all comes out in the wash and you won't be over-paying. If you are sure your insurance covers the Band procedure, I'd go for it. Beats the 9K I had to pay, and you stay local! Don't get me wrong, I love my Band doc and regret nothing, but it would have been nice to stay local and have ins pay....

Hey Zoey, you found it! I directed you wrong...it's under the Lounge. sorry, glad you made it!

Hey Bandit! One more week and counting!!!!!!! Wahooooooo!

Hey Ramona, Look in the Support Forum for May Bandsters. The list is growing and you will want to be on it!! You will find lots of support here... I think I was one of the April "problem children" but I'm recovering nicely. All is normal now. Thanks!!!! You will do great, too! Editing: May Bandsters is under the Lounge, not Support! ooooops! I have been directing people to the Support Forum for weeks! I'm so sorry!

Sick is sick, surgery is surgery, elective or not. You should be able to use your sick time without any hassle. Contact your HR Manager, and he or she will be able to tell you quickly about the policy. If the policy complies with HR laws, sick is sick, you should not have to take vacation unless you run out of sick time.

Do THAT with RNY! Not!! Okay, it's been done I guess but not so easily! My hubby is always amazed at the women having babies with the band. It's one of the things that convinced him it's the better option. There is no malabsorbtion.

Oh my gosh Tina! You made it! It just seems you have been banded all this time. You and I have both been posting for these months before banding it's hard to see us as "baby bandsters"! congratulations!!!! So glad all went well. I need to hang my full-length mirror. It's such a goof kick in the butt! Alatina, your hubby sounds sweet..."he thinks I'm purdy" AWWW I love that. My hubby came home from the bank the other day and said, "you are so much prettier than those other ladies in there your age. They sit out in the sun and their skin is all wrinkle-y. I said to myself, 'I got the prettiest wife!'" Wasn't that sweet?! He thinks I'm purdy sweet hubbies!

I read The Notebook, but haven't seen the movie yet. Like Paula, it's Dumbo, The Aristocats, Dora the Explorer, Hi-5, and Blues Clues around here. My sister loaned me the Neverland DVD but it's sitting on the kitchen counter, yet to be seen! By the time the kids go to bed...well, not much time for a 2 hour movie! We really need to get to that. Johnny Depp is SOO cool! I heard the Incredibles is a good one...maybe that one is next! But then, Matthew McCaunahey (sp?) is Hot too so it should move up on the list of movies to see...

Welcome home desertmom! See, you made it back!!! So glad all went well. Walk and sip, sipa and walk. All that fluid will fall off before you know it. congratulations!!!

Okay nygirl, you need to SLOOOW DOWN! or you will end up with problems. If you still have some chicken stuck, you didn't chew well enough and that is solid food and is off the list. Stick out your hand and let me slap it!! JK. Really though. I know you are hungry but you will learn quickly not to just stick stuff in your mouth for the heck of it. I don't know what's up with dallasdoll but to me, she is ODD!!! And I mean that in a good way. She is fortunate not to have experienced the swelling problems I have had (lucky girl! I'm so jealous and she knows it!) and is moving along nicely. You sound like me, and need to slow it down. I tried to do tuna but it's still too heavy for me. It went down okay, but not freely like dallasdoll eats, so I have backed up to VERY mushy. Two more things you should do...get some liquid Vitamins (I just picked up Centrum at the store) and get you some Boost or some other Protein drink. It's more filling and helps keep you caloried-up. I got vanilla Boost and put it in the Magic Bullet blender thingy with a little ice, a half banana, some frozen blueberries...yummy! Great breakfast! That helps alot. keep me posted!

Congratulations to all you May folks getting banded this week! Yippee! Prayers for a speedy recovery! Post soon and let us know how it went!!!

A whole new list of folks go off to Bandland this week!! Congrats to the following: Tuesday April 5 Robin(rsduhe) April 5 Angeleyes April 5 Debri85 (Saudi Arabia) April 5 swttuth Wednesday April 6 Smellycat Thursday April 7 bkmayer April 7 kellyv April 7 tambonzjo April 7 HarleyNana's Mom Friday April 8 Kathy April 8 Chris (cco2001) Everybody getting banded, check in with us! And all you cheerleaders, Wooohooo! for us!

Hey nygirl. I just ate a can of chili with beans. Well, not the whole thing but I feel utterly stuffed! It's sure not the best low-salt healthy meal but i was looking for a sick-to-my-ribs something, and that was it! I'm over 3 weeks post-op and you are 10 days, so make sure chili is Okay for you at this point. I have to chew it pretty well but it's soft and goes down fine. Even egg drop soup wasn't cutting it! Good luck!

Hey Caren, do liquids or are least soft mushies through tomorrow. If you slimed, then something stuck enough that it surely irritated the area, and very soft foods are in order. Regular foods can get stuck if you are swollen and cause more swelling, and round and round you go. Give your tummy a little break, you'll be back in no time. What'd ya eat?

haha! CollegeJoe, you are probably right! Nah. Trish, she loves us. We can't wait to hear from you girl!!! Hurry home!!!

We have yet another big group of folks going into Banland this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all as you go and come back. Please keep us posted! We are cheering you on! April 17 Debri85 April 18 KarenA April 19 Roo-Roo April 19 Brissiebabe (Aussie) April 19 Betterme2005 April 19 Guitarman(Mark) April 20 ROC April 20 spldgrl (is this date correct?) April 20 Cece05 April 21 Grammi (postponed, possibly to May...let us know!) April 21 SlimmerSue April 21 Jorjet April 21 nygrl Good Luck everyone!

I think I will be able to get away with a little bread as time goes by (only banded 3 weeks) but I have had a few Tostitos with my guacamole and, well chewed, they went down fine. I also got brave and lightly toasted a slice of whole wheat bread and put lots of mushy wet tuna salad on it. I took the tiniest of bites and chewed like a cow for a long time and slowly swallowed bit by bit, it was fine! Haven't done the bread since, but later on, as long as I can have a small amount of bread or chips, I think I can live with that. Otherwise, I'd be missing a big ole juicy burger, for sure!!! Anything else? I'll get over it!

Hello Chris and welcome to LBT!!! We have lots of Texans here so they will surely be popping in to give you a proper howdy soon. Have fun looking around in here...lots of great info for the taking. Hey, who was your doc? Where were you banded? And Scotland?! What an awesome trip! Good for you! Congrats on your band and again, Welcome!