piercedqt78

There are several band doctors across the country that do band over bypass. If you check www.lapband.com they will email you a list of doctors in your area, you just have to call and ask around. ~Mandy

The tooth fairy brought $5 and a note. DD was excited, she wants to go get a new toothbrush for the big girl tooth that is starting to peek through. We have a dentist appt next week so I am going to wait, he gives her a cool brush every time we are there. Last time we had just bought a new barbie brush and the dentist brush was cooler so the barbie one got tossed. So we are going to wait. Next tooth is only worth $2, the first one was a big deal though. She told my DH that she wanted to lose a few more before Christmas so she could go shopping. I took a few pictures of my little chicken pox covered toothless wonder, I will post them later. ~Mandy

Here is another theory for you.....You know how when you walk too much or at the end of the day your hands and feet swell? My theory is that when we sleep (laying down) the fluid evenly distributes in our bodies, thus more water/fluid in the torso and more pressure on the pouch. When we get up and move around the water/fluid moves into our arms and legs and away from the pouch. Make sense? I was sent a rather snippy PM recently telling me that all of the changes were my body, because the restriction in the band cannot change without a fill. Of course the PM came from a pre-bandsters...I know that sometimes my band allows certain foods and sometimes is doesn't, maybe my fill doc is sneaking in at night like the tooth fairy and filling/unfilling my band??? ~Mandy

I will also be in for the next one. I have a huge bag of 14-16ish clothes to pass on to whoever wants them. They were given to me and are too big. I took put the med. some larges and the 12's and everything else went back into the bags. They are business casual and casual stuff. ~Mandy

We already get the Mooooo-oooom, usually because I want to hold her hand crossing the parking lot at school. They walk across this parking lot to go to the public library, in a straight line with teachers watching, during school hours, not during pick-up/drop-off times like when I have to do it.~Mandy

My daughter takes topamax and it kills the apetite. I have a friend that takes Wellbutrin and Topamax and was told that it would make him lose weight. He just started it but we will see what happens. I know that my daughter was taken Depakote and she gained like 11 pounds in 6 months, at 5 years old. She has been on the Topamax since Sept and has lost 5 of those pounds back off. She was eating constantly, now she eats 2 good meals a day with an afternoon snack. I can't get breakfast in her at all. She says she will try cream of wheat each morning next week if I also give her some fresh fruit, I'm gonna try that, but the topamax does curb the apetite. ~Mandy

Once you submit to the insurance they have 30 days to respond in most states. Some take 30 days some send a decision within a week. I would start calling the insurance as soon as you have been told it was submitted. Always write down who you talked to, when and what about, you might need it later. I would call and see if you can find out who is handleing the decision on your case and call them directly if possible. I had to deal with a regular phone person, not the case manager, but I always talked to the same person, that way she was familiar with the case and didn't have to read all the notes with each call. She was so excited that she personally called me when I was approved. She had made it a habit of checking my file everyday, I mean we talked for over 6 months while I appealed and appealed and appealed. ~Mandy

Well today was a mixed day for me. Abi lost her first tooth this morning. To me that was a rite of passage. She is no longer a baby, all the baby things are done. First step, taken, first work, spoken, first day of school, gone. I am sad for the loss of her babyhood (is that even a word?) but proud for the smart, sweet loving young lady she is becoming. We went to a nice breakfast to celebrate the last of the baby things passing. I was discussing this in a PM today and wanted to share with you all. I am sad for the fact that she is no longer small, but proud and excited for the young lady she is becoming. Today I reflected on the past and tried to imagine the future. I am grateful for the child I have been blessed with, she is amazing in her own unique way. Sometimes I take for granted what I have been given, but not today. I will always have a place in my heart for the baby that she once was, and I will try to remember to be thankful for the young lady she is becoming. So I say to you with some sadness, tonight I will put a young lady to bed in the same room that my baby once slept in. I am the mom of a young lady and friend to a pretty terrific kid...~Mandy

She also likes bacon and cheese cream of wheat. She only eats meat when we push the issue, she's 5, with a seizure disorder that requires meds that kill the appetite. So I take whatever protien I can get for her. I know that Quaker used to make a bacon flavored Cream of Wheat. Also bacon and cheese flavored grits. ~Mandy Here is a list of flavored grits from quaker: Quaker® Instant Grits Original Quaker® Instant Grits Real Cheddar Cheese Quaker® Instant Grits Country BaconQuaker® Instant Grits Red Eye Gravy and Country Ham Quaker® Instant Grits Flavor Variety Quaker® Instant Grits Cheese Lovers variety packQuaker® Instant Grits Real Butter Quaker® Instant Grits Ham n' Cheese Quaker® Instant Grits Express Real Butter Quaker® Quick Grits Aunt Jemima® Quick Grits Aunt Jemima® Regular Grits

I don't do pork at all but my daughter loves thin oatmeal with tiny bits of bacon in it. ~Mandy

Let's just say it's a good thing they gave me the versed when they did. I was ready to jump off the table and run, gown open my ass shining to the world. My advice? try to go under laughing, I was told the thoughts as you go to sleep are the same as when you wake up. I made a joke with the guy counting instruments in the OR and I went out laughing, the OR staff was laughing too. Guess what? I woke up asking my hubby if I looked like CIndy Crawford.....not just thin but I wanted to wake up beautiful too. LOL He is an angel and said I made her look bad. That's why I love him so much. Try to keep a light heart, you will be fine, we will all say a prayer for you and be here when you get back. (((HUGS))) ~Mandy

The guy that does the books on tape is great. I loaded them onto hubby's ipod and he listened at work. He has zero time to read so that was a great option for him. He too is hooked on the books. ~Mandy

It's the exact same thing, you just list it as non-auction tangable goods. Send it to the persons email address and they get the money less the paypal fees. I pay for everything with paypal. ~Mandy

I do the hot tea thing. I have gotten some really strange looks when ordering a hot tea when it's 90 outside. I also do decaf coffee when we go out. I have even started to carry a tea bag or two with me when I go out just in case they only have crap tea to offer. ~Mandy

Be aware, the depo changes the way your body processes calcium. I was just diagnosed with osteoperosis. I am seeing a bone specialist after Thanksgiving. My PC doc says the depo has to go. I am also seeing th OBGYN after the first of the year about having my tubes tied. ~Mandy

I do eat meat, but have discovered that carbs tend to be what causes me the most pb problems. Rice, Pasta, Fried potatos of any kind. Seems carbs are just evil....~Mandy

I was on liquids for 10 days pre-op and started bleeding the day before surgery. This came as a huge surprise to me as I take the depo shot and had not had a cycle for almost 4 years prior to that. It is totally normal. ~Mandy

I have highmark BCBS NJ and they are the worst for working with people. I was told by the attorney that I tried to hire that I would never beat them. I fought them on my own and finallly won by getting my husbands Union involved. Each company has it's own rules and then each policy can and will be different. It depends on what the employer wants covered. Each policy is custom made for each company. ~Mandy

I have a packet of low sugar oatmeal or some fruit. I buy frozen fruit and have it thawed in the fridge all the time. I have also been known to have a sugar free high protien pudding. Usually it is a cup of hot tea with fat free cream (fake stuff) and a packet of oatmeal. I can't do real solids in the am. When I can it is 2 boiled eggs, diced, with some soy bacon bits. But that's rare for me. ~Mandy

Here is my list: heating pad flexible ice pack liquid tylenol (they make adult strength) chewable or liquid gas-x a few books or movies comfy clothes (loose waisted shorts or jumpers, elastic waist pants) squishy pillow for car ride (guard against seatbelt) a sports bra (doc said no underwire for a few days) protien shakes flavored water make sure you have a good blender I bought a drink mixer for the protien mix (cost $10 at walmart) broth or stuff to make broth sugarfree popsicles and jello sugar free gum (ask your doctor) sugar free breathmints (ask your doctor) *Ask at your pre-op for the pain med prescription so you can have it all ready to go when you get home, our walgreens has to order liquid pain meds and it takes 3 days to get them. ~Mandy

I was told that the spotting was from excessive estrogen. THe body stores hormones in fat and as you are losing fat it has to go somewhere. It ends up back in the system and some women spot from the over abundence of it. ~Mandy

Cindy, you are shopping for puters at just the right time. The day after thanksgiving sales are great this year. I don't want to make the task more complicated but here are some of the sale ads. http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/ There is also a forum that discusses the best deals. Also check out www.tigerdirect.com they are great and the prices are really good too. ~Mandy

Instead of COD you could take paypal, it is cheaper than cod and you would have the money before shipping. That's how Ebay works. ~Mandy

I can do solid cheese, melt it and I am screwed. I will eat the toppings off of a cold slice of pizza, but if it's hot I'm in PB city. I can do just about any cheese, sharp chedder being my fave. I also love blue cheese. Naturally soft cheese (brie and cream cheese) are fine for me too. I don't eat pork so I'm limited with deli choices. I have a good dinner idea though. I take thin sliced turkey or beef and add it to a jar of turkey or beef gravy, heat through and serve with mashed potatos. That is a favorite with my family. You can also take thicker sliced turkey and roll some stuffing in it, cigar sized, top with gravy and bake for about 25 mins at 350. ~Mandy

If they deny the band call the Union back. I was denied 3 times and the union really helped me a ton. I was told the band was experimental. Sometimes the Union is actually worth it. ~Mandy