kirajh

mschaffer, You mentioned diet drugs in another post that you had to stop taking cause of problems. If they were prescription, you had to have gotten it from a doctor or even Medical Weight Loss Centers. This would be considered a diet program.

Mschaffer I also have bad knees. In fact, I've been told my left one needs to be replaced. (10 more pounds) My back also aches bad. Can't walk far at all. First I thought that my knees were knocking it out of whack, but then figured that it just couldn't support my weight. I have an exersize bike in my living room and pedal at least two hours a day on it. I try for 40 miles. It doesn't hurt my back and my right knee is feeling a whole lot better. So, you see, there is at least one exersize you can do with a bum knee and a bad back.

Janet - have fun at your group. I have been wanting to start one up and I have noticed quite a few newbies here that are from Michigan. Maybe I can start something. I'll meet up in Chicago. It's only a four hour drive for me. We spent a lot of time there when my granddaughter was transplanted. I love it there. Steph- What do you teach? Only six kids? is it a private school or what? Okay, I have a problem here and am not quite sure what to do so I'm going to ask your opinion. First off, I have sleep apnea and use a C-pap machine at night. I mentioned earlier here that I have discovered I drool pretty bad. Someone here mentioned that they were choking on saliva at night, so I said, okay, that is probably it. Now, the past few mornings, I've been waking up burping. A lot. It stops when I turn the machine off. Is this the band? Or is it happening because I've lost weight and the air setting is now too high? Will getting too much air cause problems with the band? Then, should I call my primary care doctor or should I call the sleep clinic? I'm not sure what to do. ANY IDEAS?? HAVE A GOOD EVENING. SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW..

Hi I am from Michigan also. You and I sound a lot a like. I got tired of all the hoops that insurance cos. and doctors put me thru that I ended up going to Mexico as a self pay. I'm now trying to get insurance to cover it and am still waiting. Where in Mi are you from? I get my fills in Hillsdale and live in SW Livingston county.

Hi and Welcome I live in SW Livingston county. Where are you from? I'm about 45 minutes from ypsi. I would love to get together some time and perhaps form a support group/

Hello there Where in Michigan do you live? I am in the SWcorner of Livingston county. I had my surgery last July in Mexico. I get my fills in Hillsdale. Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions at kirajh@yahoo.com . If you are anywhere close by, we could meet. Or call.

I agree wholeheartedly with you Karri. Even with the band, we did it ourselves. Hey, if you want to get picky................did Oprah do it by herself?? I don't think so. How many trainers, personal cooks etc. did she have?? I sometimes wish I never told the world about my band cause the 60 some pounds lost to date has been all me. But, I was so proud of myself for taking control of my life and overcoming my depression that I had to have a big mouth. (it matches the rest of me) Stephanie - No Thanks. Been there......Done that. :rolleyes2: But I will say an extra prayer for you. Phyll - Have to agree with Janet here. We're all royalty. We done it all on our own. Don't let anyone tell you differently. I have to keep reminding myself that I AM WOMAN!! HEAR ME ROAR!!! We will do it!!!:wink2::welldoneclap:

Karri - I'm a frosting type of person too. I'm with you. Forget the cake, just give me frosting. For my oldest daughter's fourth birthday cake (she's 32) we got her a Miss Piggy cake (her hero) The boobs were mounds of frosting. HOG HEAVEN I found a couple of really cute tops in the Woman Within catalogue and since 2x's are getting pretty loose on me,. I'm ordering 1X. I can't even remember when I wore a lX. Janet - I'll go with you to Oprah's. We'll show her. Hasn't she learned by now that plain weight loss doesn't work? DH spent the first day of his retirement plowing us out of a blizzard. Today, the second day of retirement, he is spending it in the bathroom puking. Things should look up by tomorrow for him. Phyl - Isn't it great when someone finally tells you that you look great? I think you and me are the old folks here. The lame old folk. I don't do malls anymore. I can only shop where they have those motorized carts. My back is doing a lot better though with the weight loss. I can make it about three times further than before. WELL, IT'S LUNCH TIME AND I HAVE TO GO MAKE ALL THOSE GOOD SMELLS SNEAK UP THE STAIRS TO DH. (aren't I nice?) ENJOY YOUR DAY. TTYL

I went to Mexico. Tried to go the insurance route, but once I figured out they wouldn't approve it, I made the decision to go to Mexico and the surgery was done two weeks later.

First off, does your gall bladder need removing? I don't think doctors will do unneccessary surgery. But, if it needs to come out, insurance should cover at least the hospital stay and anesthesia. Just maybe not the band itself. The doctor who does my fills, is a general surgeon that also does bariatric surgery. Are you close to MichigaN?

I am six months out......insulin dependent type 2 diabetic plus pills. So tell me all about sugar levels bottoming out. The first week after banding, I was allowed clear broth and diluted fruit juices. The fruit juices helped keep the sugar levels stable. The last two weeks of liquids, liquid yougurt and protein drinks were added. Sugar levels never bottomed out. TODAY, my insulin levels have gone from a sliding scale at meals (no more), went from 88cc of Landis daily to 33cc. One pill, discontinued. Still on metformine but only have to check sugar levels once a week now. Totally in control now from out of control.

$12500.00????? Cheaper than Mexico??? I don't think so. I'm from Michigan.........paid $8500. for surgery......$800.00 airfare for my son and me.........$89.00 for an extra night at the hotel........Total $9400.00.

HELLO LADIES Kind of a slow Sunday here, cold and dreary and I decided to come here and see what is up. Hello again, Janet. Ladies, listen to what she has to say. She's usually right and such inspiration for all of us. I was banded in July and have lost around 60 lbs so far. I am 5'9".....started this journey at 291 and am now somewhere around 230. Haven't dropped any sizes yet, but clothes are just now starting to get baggy. HAVE A GOOD DAY.............AND DON'T OVERDO THE SUPER BOWL CELEBRATIONS. WE WANT THAT SCALE TO KEEP GOING DOWN.

WAY TO GO, JANET!!! YOU LOOK FANTASTIC!! i'M GONNA GET THERE TOO. SOME DAY.

Maybe she's not back yet. Must have been some evening. Congratulations on onederland Katrina. That is a good idea of Phyl's to resell the clothes when you are done with them. Hey, try to sell the ones you've just outgrown.

I asked about the sleeve before I got my band and was told that it was a new name for an old procedure. The reason for the new name is that the procedure wasn't as good as the band and wasn't too popular. Might be worth looking into.

You don't have to go back to Mexico for fills if you don't want to. Unless you are close and then it is worth it because Mexican doctors offer free fills for life. But it might be cheaper to find a local doctor to do the fills. I was banded in Mexico by Dr. Ortiz and i get my fills locally. I am doing great....no problems. If you want to go to mexico, go for it. I did and I don't regret it.

GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES It is cold and snowy here in Michigan. All of the schools have declared a snow day. The snow is sposed to continue till late this afternoon, so I ended up canceling my fill and I'm going back next Friday morning. I still have some restriction and still keep sliming off and on.......my head just doesn't want to quit. I met my exersise quota for the month. I pedaled 979 miles this month for a two month total of 1547 miles. I've got to be getting close to the Riviera Maya. I don't know how to get the Mexican mileage. My daughter got me air miles and if I use those, I'm already pedaling home..........only problem, can't pedal through the Gulf of Mexico. LOL HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON AND KEEP THOSE POUNDS DROPPING. SEE YOU ALL LATER.

I take Gummy Vites. Dosage is 2/day for kids over 2. Since I am a whole lot bigger than my two year old grandson, I take around 4-6/day. They are absolutely yummy. Tastes just like gummy bears. No vitamin taste or chalky taste.

I'm not sure if it is a mid-size band or not. Who are you thinking of going to? I went to Dr. Ortiz. No, I do not go to Mexico for fills. I got on the phone one day and started calling all the bariatric doctors within a 75 mile radius of me, asking if they did fills on outside patients. After about 30 calls, I found 5 doctors who would do the fills. I picked the closest and the cheapest. Thankfully they were the same doctor. He does a great job with fills but he isn't too aggressive. He'll give fills every four weeks and checks your progress. What state do you live in? I'm in Michigan.

Okay Ladies....................I was just kidding. I used to have a cartoon on my fridge of this fat lady telling her doctor she did all those things so she would weigh less. I just couldn't resist a little funny.:party: LOL

Weather reports says 8-12 inches of snow through tomorrow afternoon. Don't know if I will be able to get my fill and official weigh-in tomorrow. And Darn..........I am ready. I plucked my eyebrows and those stray eyebrows on the chin....shaved my pits and legs, exfollieated, cut my toenails and fingernails. And I will have to do it all over again if we are snowed in.

Oh my, you guys nailed me. Like the taste. Can't stop eating cause you are enjoying the taste. THAT'S ME. Yep, that's me. That is why after pedaling an hour every morning, I get back on at night and pedal another hour. I generally burn up about 1200 calories. Well, tomorrow is fill day for me. Just going to get it tweaked a little bit. I've been spending a lot of time in the bathroom lately, sliming. But still not a lot of restriction. I mean, I get full but I like the taste too much. Anyway, since it is the first of the month tomorrow, I'll be tatalling my miles pedaled to see if I am getting close to Cancun. Wish me luck, My husband just walked in the door. He is officially now RETIRED. Oh dear, hope I live through it. well, got to go get dressed. Can't have him thinking I am a lazy thing.

I had my surgery in Mexico and flew home to Michigan 3 days later. I felt fine. I don't work, but I don't think I would have had any problems. I am going to be in Stuart sometime in the next couple months to visit my mom and my hubby's cousin lives in Sunrise. We'll probably be getting in touch with him while we are down there. Maybe we could get together. My e-mail is kirajh@yahoo.com.

Go to the Michigan thread. I think there is quite a bit there about Barix Clinic in Ypsi and Dr. schram.