Tropicana

That credit card transfer idea is a great idea. I'm wondering, though, how easy it is for me to get a credit card with a $10000 limit, considering this is my first real job and I haven't built a credit history yet.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE QUICK REPLY! My BMI currently is 37.3. and I have no comorbidities. I don't think many insurance plans will approve me with that. Is take home really $1200 on a $40,000 a year salary? That is only $24K. That's AWFUL. :tongue_smilie:

Does Dr. Kirshenbaum take patients with a 35 BMI and no health issues?

Congratulations to those of you that made goal. But I have a question, does your head appear really big compared to your now skinny body (i.e. Star jones appearance?)? I don't know why I was thinking about this this morning. I already have an enormous sized head. I can't imagine what I'll look like after. Like a human bobble toy.

Oh yea...Star Jones has a big ass head. I mean, I'm quite aware that I have a big head. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed by it. It is what it is. And I'm a pretty girl despite it. I'm actually looking forward to being a lollipop.

Awesome! Thanks for letting us know.

What if you are self pay?

what was the cost?

How much was the cost of your surgery?

bump! How much is the deal at All Saints? And who is the surgeon?

How long is the wait in Dr. Barker's office? What about in the TLC clinics? I heard that you can be waiting for HOURS past your appointment time. Is this true???

Also understand that the surgery required to remove adhesions can also cause further adhesions.

I'm very close to my sister. So i would tell her about surgery and have her in the waiting room and taking me home. But my brothers can be very insensitive atheletic jocks. And my mother, as sweet, wonderful and supportive as she is, can't keep her mouth shut. Before I know it, EVERYONE will know. My Dad will be eyeing me to see what things I'm putting in my mouth. I don't live with my family but I visit often (once a week to once a month). So they will hopefully notice the weight loss. I can always explain it away by saying I've been working out and that work has been stressful. Anyone gotten away with it?

Your surgeon is just trying to be thorough. He/she has no idea how severe your personality disorder is and typically it is not smart to take the patients word on psychiatric conditions since insight on disease can be limited. I'm sorry you feel disappointed that things aren't moving quickly enough but it seems like your surgeon is trying to optimize the best results for you.

I'm also incredibly confused as to WHY this thread is in the Complications forum.

Why do people stay stuff like this? The majority of African Americans in this country are of West African descent.

Low socioeconomic status = black? Come on. There are poor whites, poor hispanics, poor anyone of any color. However, we have PLENTY of QUITE obese African american women. Look at Oprah. A woman with the most money of damn near every woman in the world. yes, you can put a lot on the socio economic status. But you also have to wonder about the how much genetics plays a role. Africans do tend to have a lower BMI ( i happen to be West African). But our diets are drastically different. Our food choices are drastically different. Our daily activities are drastically different. But believe me, many Africans that I know of come here and adopt Western diets and suddenly have issues with their weight. Genetics does play a role.

Whoa. I have not referred to this thread in awhile. I am surprised by a lot of the hostility. Please believe me, I was not trying to be controversial or derogatory in anyway. Rather I was trying to stay informed. To say that treatment plans are the same for everyone regardless of race or gender, is misinformed. For example, it is widely accepted that Calcium channel blockers are very good for the treatment of hypertension in African americans. For me to spend $15,000+, I want to know EVERYTHING about it. Especially what obstacles I (a black female) may find. Take it for what it I originally asked. Nothing more, nothing less.

I'm a med student. I understand why it may seem embarrassing. But remember that the training process to become a surgeon requires years of really smelly, really bloody, really gross looking stuff. A little (or a lot) of menstrual blood won't phase any surgeon.

Does this gaining all your weight back plus more phenomenon occuur often with the lap band?

Her roommate seems to think that she was being kind and giving good advice. Alot of people, professional or otherwise think similarly. It's unfortunate.

I'm a graduating medical student. You wouldnt believe how many of my classmates say similar things. usually i just ignore them and move on. When you really really think about it, there ARE easier ways to lose weight than to go the surgical route. But if it were that easy for us, we wouldn't be on here right? We've probably exhausted other efforts a thousand times over. And you said it well, you know more about nutrition than your average thin person. It amazes me that some peoople can be so narrow minded when it comes to weight issues. Do we deny gang members medical treatment for the gunshot wound to their ass, when really if they could just stay away from violent activities? What about that drug addict?? We never just flippantly tell them to stop doing drugs...their are treatment centers and rehabs designed for them. People feel sorry for anorexics and every night Inside edition is spotlighting another one of them. But this sort of sympathy is just not extended towards very overweight people. I don't know why....

If your doctor gives you negative reaction to WLS, you should ask him/her why she feels that way. Simply casting your feelings aside as "it's a cop out" is unprofessional in my opinion.

I don't know if this has been addressed before. Any West AFricans on here that eat fufu with the band? Does it get "stuck" going down?

Whoops...maybe this should have gone to the food forum