SandeeD

Thanks Leo, I just submitted my info.! I'm having surgery in the next few weeks (will get my definite date on Thursday).

Yes, I'm approved! I got the call early this morning. It doesn't seem real, it's still sinking in that I'm doing this! I meet with my surgeon next Thursday to get my exact date and probably instructions for my pre-op diet. Yay me!!!

While my mom supports my decision and understands why I'm doing this, she is very nervous. I can't and don't really talk much about it around her because again, she supports me, but talking about it makes her uneasy (she has a history of panic attacks). For that reason, she will not be at the hospital when I have the surgery, which I am totally fine with. I don't think I can handle what I'm going to be feeling and at the same time worry about how it's effecting her too. She's wants to know when it's going to happen and when I begin recovery, then she'll want to know all of the gory details (once she knows her baby is ok - her words, not mine! lol). So, my big sister will be there with me and my niece (her daughter). Between the two of them I will be well taken care of for the first week or so, oh - and mom will come and visit too of course! With that said, I think you should do what will makes you feel comfortable. Whatever you do, just forewarn your caregiver that you will be in pain and your emotions will be all over the place, so don't take it personally.

Yuppers!!! I have quite a few co-morbidities (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, back issues (nerve damage), sleep apnea....basically, I'm a mess! lol

Well, I FINALLY got approved as of yesterday!!!! Whew!!!! I meet with my surgeon next Thursday to get my date and pre-op diet instructions.

Sex? What's that? lol I don't recall:) It's not on my to do list at the moment, so until it is, I have my good friend BOB:)

I'm such a doofus, I didn't even know there was a chat room! lol

OMG Blondiee, I'm excited and frightened at the same time! lol

Thanks RJ and Grammy!

I feel for you. I had it once and was hospitalized for five days. As someone said, that IS some nasty sh%!. I get nervous everytime I get an upset stomach and panic when I have to take an antibiotic, so probiotics and yogurt everyday is a ritual for me.

Yes, on Friday it's supposed to go up to 40 degrees here in NJ (yesterday we got 2 more inches of snow!), so it will melt quite a bit of this mess...good riddance I say! lol

Hi Rena, I'm literally waiting for my surgeon's office to call me (they were to call the insurance company this morning). I spoke to my sister and father in Cuba, AL and they sent me pictures of all the snow and ice. The southern states are definitely not equipped to deal with what we deal with every winter, that's for sure! My bestie told me that Birmingham is a mess too, kids had to spend the night in the schools and what not because the parents were stuck on the highways trying to get to them.

Yes, Dr. Boynton is very reserved:) I love Cheri and Chris, they are very helpful. I'll post when my date is scheduled:)

No problem, happy to share!

Simply gorgeous! And OMG, I just noticed that you used Dr. Boynton, that's my surgeon too! I'm hoping to get a date for surgery very, very soon!

Thank you homegirl (I was born in Mobile, AL, and my bestie is from Birmingham but lives in Huntsville...got relatives in Prichard, York, Cuba and Mobile:). I was able to get the nurse at the surgeon's office to intervene and she instructed the insurance coordinator to call my insurance company first thing this morning, so fingers and toes crossed!

You look sooooooo good, congrats!

I had to read this, and re-read it a few times before it set in. Being a woman of "color" born in Mobile, Alabama in 1963 (that would make me 50 years old), I am floored that you, or anyone else for that matter, would even think to use the term "colored" in this day and time. Born on the cusp of the civil rights movement, with parents and grand parents who had to live in and through it, I am more than offended by this term. It especially stings because my birth certificate refers to me (and my parents) as "colored." You'd have to be either really insensitive or just really out of touch with (or ignorant to) black history as it relates to the civil rights movement, and I'm hoping its the latter. It is not my intention to offend or belittle you, just to enlighten you a bit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Civil_Rights_Movement_(1955%E2%80%9368)

UPDATE: So....I received a call from the insurance coordinator at my surgeon's office and she informed me that I was denied approval because my insurance plan did not allow pre-existing illnesses. How about she submitted for approval using my old insurance plan ID number, so OF COURSE they denied it! smh I'm double annoyed because Horizon should have flagged it because they have my information in their system, don't they check it??? So now the insurance coordinator has to resubmit for approval using the correct plan ID number, and I wait some more. I have the number for the authorization department and will be calling them at 8am tomorrow morning when they open to see if they can simply check my CORRECT coverage and approve it. The nice lady that I spoke to today told me that's the only thing holding it up (I need to have a plan that covers the surgery without any exclusions, which I do have). I'm paying all if this money for insurance and so much stress, I can't take it. I'm going to blow up their phone until I get an answer.

Cauliflower pizza Crust A grain-free alternative to traditional pizza crust, that you can pick up with your hands! Ingredients: 4 cups raw cauliflower rice (about one medium head) 1 egg, beaten ⅓ cup soft goat cheese (chevre) 1 teaspoon dried oregano pinch of salt Instructions: Preheat your oven to 400F. To make the cauliflower rice, pulse batches of raw cauliflower florets in a food processor, until a rice-like texture is achieved.Fill a large pot with about an inch of Water, and bring it to a boil. Add the “rice” and cover; let it cook for about 4-5 minutes. Drain into a fine-mesh strainer. THIS IS THE SECRET: Once you’ve strained the rice, transfer it to a clean, thin dishtowel. Wrap up the steamed rice in the dishtowel, twist it up, then SQUEEZE all the excess moisture out! It’s amazing how much extra liquid will be released, which will leave you with a nice and dry pizza crust.In a large bowl, mix up your strained rice, beaten egg, goat cheese, and spices. (Don’t be afraid to use your hands! You want it very well mixed.) It won’t be like any pizza dough you’ve ever worked with, but don’t worry– it’ll hold together! Press the dough out onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (It’s important that it’s lined with parchment paper, or it will stick.) Keep the dough about ⅓” thick, and make the edges a little higher for a “crust” effect, if you like.Bake for 35-40 minutes at 400F. The crust should be firm, and golden brown when finished. Now’s the time to add all your favorites– sauce, cheese, and any other toppings you like. Return the pizza to the 400F oven, and bake an additional 5-10 minutes, just until the cheese is hot and bubbly. Slice and serve immediately! Notes Time-Saving Tip: I recommend making a double-batch of cauliflower pizza crusts–& make one for now, and save one for later. After baking the crusts, wrap up the extra pizza crust in foil, and FREEZE it for a quick “frozen pizza” to enjoy another night! All you need to do is add toppings and bake at 400F, until the cheese is hot and bubbly. Serving Size: 1/8 Total Grams of Protein/Serving: 10

So....my nice "fluffy" vagaygay is going to be saggy? How depressing:(, but it's worth it:)

Lucky you, I feel like I'm going to throw up everytime I try to reach my toes:( I look forward to that particular NSV.

Hey Leeanne honey bunny little sister:) I was thinking about you!!!! Yes, I could use whatever you'd like to give me for sure! I've been like a bear in hibernation in this house with the cold weather, I HATE it! lol Let's chat via phone before the weekend is over. In the meantime, HOW YOU DOIN? (In my Wendy Williams voice:)

This is easy for me to say because I'm single with no children, but PLEASE TRY TO HANG IN THERE honey. I don't know you, but reading what you wrote it's like I could "hear" the frustration and sadness in my head because we've all been there. I should be getting approved any day now and the pre-op diet actually frightens me, but I think distraction is the key. Keep yourself busy with the kids, watch some movies (I'll give you my Netflix login if you want it), do some window shopping online (for the new figure you're soon going to have), do anything to keep busy and the time will fly. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!

Also, I have to watch my salt, so for my canned tuna (and chicken) I drain the fluid, then rinse the tuna (or chicken) in regular water, then pat dry before mixing. This takes out of lot of the salt that it's packed in, it really makes a big difference in the taste. I like to experiment with spices too, one of my favorites is cumin.