the best me

Hey CJ...do some searching in the old threads here, look under the insurace forum, and if you go to Lap Band Talk Forum and scroll all the way down to Maryland, you may find some info there. My insurance is BC/BS and they pay for Gastic Bypass under certain circumstances (BMI over 40 or over 35 with at least 2 co-morbidities, etc) but the Lap Band procedure itself is excluded. I'm going to Mexico and paying cash (it's less expensive there than in the US for self-pay and my doctor-and many others there-is more experienced than many US docs. There is much to consider...it was a difficult decision in many ways for me. Pros and cons all around. For me, gastric bypass was not an option. The risks are much higher for complications and difficult side-effects. The Lap Band is less invasive, quicker recovery, etc. Have fun researching. You may also start your own thread under introductions and let folks know a little about you, your weight loss goals, and such. You should get more resonse that way. Also, pop in on threads and ask questions just as you did here. Folks are really nice and helpful. Good Luck!

Are you kidding?!! This is just what LBT is here for!!! You are doing great...I know it's hard to have confidence about your decision when you compare to others, particularly with bypass. It's just such a different journey. THANK YOU for posting such real life concerns...it does nothing but help others. Maybe we hear it again, get back to the basics, and some, like me, are better prepared for our journey...

Another thought, maybe this is God's way of telling you how certain you are that getting the band is the right choice. You are giving up a neat opportunity for your life, the real one God wants you to have...This is God's way of telling you how sure you are if you are willing to pass up this opportunity...did that make sense...hmmm, going to bed, will get the scoop tomorrow. Night!

LaMadam, she is so stressed out she has lost her sense of humor...I got it!!! and I'm not even really that funny!

Don't do the show for the weight loss, do it for the money and the exposure and the potential money from that! Then you won't have to wait for insurance to pay, you can afford to pay cash! And you could be on Oprah or something! You have the guts for something like that...I think you would be great on the show...I really enjoyed it last go-round. The Good Side: get famous for a few months, win money, have a chef and a trainer, meet lots of nice people, see your beautiful face on TV, take a "vacation" from "real" life and live in TVLand for a few months, and lose weight!!! The Bad Side: get famous, meet mean, competitive, back-stabbing people, don't win a dime, put your life on hold for months just to be embarrassed to see yourself on TV grunting and groaning, and knowing your Ex and former co-workers will see every bit of it, be at the mercy of the producers editing the show to make you look like a B**ch from hell if that's what they want to do...lose weight, gain it back months after you get home and are released from the program, be back at square one and you could have gotten the Band two years ago and kept the weight off and kept your private life to yourself. Wow, no matter how you look at it, there is a good side and a bad side!!! And after all that...I just don't know what you should do. But you would do great on the TV show, I know it!

Apparently, pre-existing condition clauses don't count when you have continuous coverage, or no gaps in coverage. Aetna should cover emergencies related to the band, but if the actual WLS is excluded, you may not have fill coverage. Definately talk to Aetna and get the scoop though. You may have to start a little "Band" savings account to cover out of pocket expenses not covered under your new plan. Please post your findings here! I am very interested in what you find out!

who? what? math? no, let me guess, geology. was it Physics???? Please tell us if you passed!!!

Oh my gosh, Babs, you look awesome! You really do need to update your avatar...you don't look like the same person! It looks like you all had a ball!

OH!!! I am laughing SOOO hard! My daughter is 5 1/2 and yep...this is normal at my house! (as if that tells you anything) But, here's a cute story...When she was around 2 1/2 I went back to work (like a dummy, that lasted less than a year!) and so she was in day care, and loved it! One evening after she had gone to bed, I started picking up toys from the kitchen floor, then I froze and actually looked...she had started from one end and went around the room, first a blanket, then a doll, then another balnket, and when she ran out of blankets she used tissues and pieces of paper and when she ran out of dolls she used toys...she was recreating nap time at day care, each child lined up with their own mat and blanket. I was floored at her creativity! Now that she's older, she likes to dress up like the girls on the videos (Barbie, etc.) in fancy dresses and dance around like they do, and act it out. It's aggravating to have STUFF everywhere, and I mean everywhere, little piles in corners, all of that, but don't let your OCD get the best of you, or her!!! That pic is so sweet. Okay, I just showed that pic to my daughter and she went (gasp) Ohhh! with a smile and stared...then she said, "Can I have all that for Christmas? Please?" She just thought that looked like the best fun!

Yay Wade!!! Congrats on a successful surgery! Wooohooo!

Nope, but I'm intersted in what you find out!

I haven't noticed these docs on the board here...but their patients may pop up. Definately find out how many bands he/they have placed. I have heard it recommended no less than 50 bands, otherwise, he's a rookie! Listen to how they talk about the band...some would really rather do one of the gastric bypass procedures. They have been doing them for years and the weight loss is faster, usually, than with the band. (This has it's good and bad points) I have heard of some doctors passing out gastric bypass menus and recovery meal plans to band patients...not really understanding the difference. Be very careful, research thoroughly, and ask lots of questions. This board has SO much information, you can find just about anything. It would be in your best interest to invest some time at your computer reading everything you can. In Georgia, I have heard of Hamilton Weight Management, Dr. Ponce, in Dalton Ga. Google their web site, too. I was looking in to going there for my aftercare (getting surgery in MX) but found a fill Dr. much closer who takes Mx banded patients. Also, post something in the Georgia forum...click on Lap Band Talk Forum and scroll all the way down to Ga. You will find good reading. Good luck! Keep us posted on your research!

Yay Corgi!!! One more week!!! You'll do the pre-op diet just fine...whatever it takes! There's a few threads about the ticker thingy...go to "Need help..." by beachbabe(soon) and to "weight scale at bottom of message" by Rachel. Those may help. Good Luck!

I am floored, too. My belly looks JUST like the Before! C-section hang over, flab, and to see what I might look like underneath it all is just inspiring! You look awesome!! Do you still look this good a year and a half later? Thank You for sharing your pics!!! Someone track this gal down!

Oh my gosh, please keep us posted! Good luck!

Okay, ya'll, I want one of these, but can I just confess that when I see "Magic Bullet" on the New Post list, I think the topic has something to do with some type of colon cleansing procedure...???????Go Figure. Thought you all might laugh at that. Okay, maybe not!

You crack me up! I love hearing you so excited...I remember the days. DH and I will occasionally say the things we said to each other in the beginning...I'll spare you the details...but the sweet, expectant and happy feelings never go away! They may lie dormant for a while, though! My DH is a twig, well not really, well, yes he is. He's 5'10" and 165 to 170, depending on how busy he's been at work. He absolutely does not understand my food/weight issues. He knows it's beyond him and it has been a difficult road on occasion. He fully supports my band surgery. And my big ole butt doesn't seem to bother him when, ahem, ya know. It won't take you long to find out this guy's mettle...let him prove himself slowly. Seems like he's doing a very good job so far! Good luck to you and keep us updated on the "All My Refridgerators" soap here on LBT!

Awright Crystal and Christina!!! Monday is coming fast, relax, enjoy, get everything done you won't want to do during your recovery. Everything will turn out great!!! I am very excited for you!

Yay Jan! Yep, she's our third April Banster...yippee!!! Jan, go sign up at April 2005 Bandsters thread and post your date and Dr., that way your band buddies can keep up and we'll go through it together! I hate needles too...I can never look. You'll get some practice pre-surgery for your blood labs, so Band day will be a breeze!!! Yay You!

Okay, I don't know about the fertility thing, but Tammymaybeband is working on this too. Ya'll go to the thread "Need help......" by beachbabe(soon) and look at what we've been working on there. Maybe that will help...I don't have lots of knowledge, but I do have patience! Just went to Ticker Factory...don't click on the box called "weight tracker", wait for the flower "NEXT" box to pop up, then put a dot in the weight tracker circle and go from there...I was getting sent to fertility too when I clicked inside the weight tracker box...

Okay, here's your problem. Don't hit select all. You will see where there are 3 choices in the box. Click and drag your mouse to highlight ONLY the first address code, Then, and here's the important part, go ALL the way to the top, to the "edit" button at the tip top of your screen, click copy, then back or "X" out of Ticker factory. NOW go to Edit signature, then paste from the "edit" button at the tip top. Now, save changes to your signature and see what happens. You crack me up...We WILL get you that blasted ticker! You have weight loss to celebrate!!

Click on any ticker factory, choose your ticker, then follow the directions in the post (#2) above, and don't forget to "save changes" when you edit your signature. Do all that, post again, and see if it pops up.

Bumping for Tammy

Yipppeeee!! You and me...no Jan W. so far. I'm starting to turn into a Jammin Jamie cheerleader, getting REALLLY EXCITED!!! (Insert PeePee dancer here) Ha!

On a first date, shyly admit to being a little nervous, and therefore not very hungry. Let him know the only thing cheap tonight is the dinner bill. HA! I crack myself up. No, really, what a quandary! I would tend to be very open also, but I guess it could freak someone out. That ole Shane doesn't know what he's missing. Living well is the best revenge, and not even caring enough to get revenge is even better. I like Alex's advice...do what YOU like, you'll meet him. I met my DH of 8 yrs on a blind date.