IVANinNJ

I have no problem driving to cow country. Zach loves the animals also. Sounds good to me, lets do it.

I'm sure we won't forget. However, I was thinking about the hundreds of people from NJ that will join LBT between now and then. I hope it's a big pool.

Usually they say something like "Adjustable Gastric Band, no tube without scope". I apologize to those who have read this before, but since we are talking about such a serious subject, here it is: (I have been an EMT for 25 years and teach new EMTs) If you buy a "medic-alert" bracelet, try to avoid the ones that look like fancy jewelry, those may be passed off as jewelry and not noticed until later or not at all. In a serious emergency, a necklace or wrist bracelet will be noticed well before an ankle bracelet. If you have other health problems, consider subscribing with a company that will provide you with a bracelet/necklace that has their "800" number on it with a patient ID number, with no specific medical information. In an emergency the medical staff calls the 800 number and they provide a detailed medical history, your medications, insurance information, doctor's names, and emergency contact information. Aside from the obvious advantages here, the information can be continuously updated by you, so the information is always current and you don't have to keep buying new tags when your conditions change. The mere presence of a tag will prompt an experienced medical professional to check a wallet for more information

I bet Zachary will get along great with Gracie also. He just turned 3. Lisa how are yours?

I think NJCHICK should invite all the NJ people over to her house for a Sunday afternoon BBQ.

Is there any way you can go back to work for just for a few hours, maybe work half a day for a week or so? It might help you get into a routine that you can increase as you feel better. I know for myself getting back to work ASAP was a huge help in healing and it was a nice distraction from the aches, pains, gasses, etc. Maybe it will work for you too.

The social worker was about 50 min and the Psychiatrist was about 30-40 min. There was some waiting time, but nothing terrible. It was easy, but by the time you get out you will be tired and hungry. Try the Mexican place just up the block at Mercer St & River St by the RR overpass. It's quick and good.

The psych eval was very easy. They just want to make sure there aren't any profound eating disorders. And that you really understand that getting the band does not solve all of lifes problems. I had everything done at the HUMC facilities that he listed on the forms. It was to my advantage to do it that way for insurance and convenience reasons. Yes, I go 6 days a week and do about 45 min of cardio each day.

Well, since you asked, I hit a freegin plateau and I am ready to bust with frustration. I have a recurring dream of taking the scale outside and wacking it with a baseball bat several times, then pouring kerosine over the remains and tossing match. Other than that, things are well.

I just ordered mine also. Make sure you print out all these replies to your post and include it when you order from them again, maybe they will do the right thing by you.

Congratulations! Good advice that I ignored: "Don't get on the scale until 4 days after the surgery, you won't be happy."

Yeah, what's the deal? Don't leave us hanging like this!

8:30 Wake up and get DS up 8:40 Weigh myself 8:41 Move scale 2 feet and try again 8:42 kick scale 8:45 Breakfast for DS 8:55 Breakfast for me 9:15 Go to gym 10:30 Come home shower and weigh self 10:31 Identify potential battery problem with scale 11:00 Able to fit in 4 year old new shirt for first time 11:15 Check in on LBT 11:16 Determine today's new thread by defacto cheerleader NJCHICK 12:30 Luch for DS (age 3) Nuggets or Macaroni & cheese 13:00 Elmo video for 2nd time today 14:30 Pick up DW at airport (our vacation is over) 15:00 She is happy to see us 16:30 "if you had time to go to the gym every day how come you couldn't do the laundry." 16:45 Check in on LBT. 17:00 Keep myself occupied by finding something to sell on Ebay.

How does the whole cosmetic surgery thing work? Do you find a surgeon by word of mouth? Do they do the free seminar routine like the bariatric guys? Since it's so rare that insurance pays, Do we go to few different surgeons and get price quotes? I know I have about a year or more until I need to worry about this, but I am really curious, and would like to do some research while I am sitting around melting away Thanks!

Most hospitals have a sort of "internal affairs" officer, who is responsible to ensure that not only the hospital's internal rules are followed, but any State or Federal regulations that may apply. Typically these administrators function with great power in the institution and have little interference from any source within the hospital. Most hospitals call this person the corporate compliance officer, or something similar. If the facility is large enough, there may be an entire office of that does nothing but internal affairs or internal audit. This person is generally viewed as a really safe person to talk to because the mission that they have is strictly maintain confidentiality when possible and investigate & fix the problem if there is one. They will not be the one to schmooze you over or try to make it go away quietly. In addition, almost every hospital has a "privacy officer", this person is responsible for ensuring that Federally mandated privacy rules are complied with and that the staff and patients are properly trained and informed. Sometimes the privacy officer and the compliance officer are the same person. I just tripped over this on your hospital's website: Palms of Pasadena Hospital Attn: Facility Compliance / Privacy Officer 1501 Pasadena Avenue South Saint Petersburg, Florida 33707 727-341-7524 (Voice) 727-341-7018 (Fax) If you really want to see some wheels spin, call this person and start the conversation with, "I beleive my privacy was violated by one of your staff members." Trust me, a statement like that in the healthcare setting sets off all sorts alarms.

Things are still going great, I still am having some problem figuring out when I am full. It is more about the discipline of only putting 3 oz of whatever on my plate instead of taking the amount I am used to, or even half of what I am used to. Other than that, still loosing.

sneakers. never really got the hang of walking in heels. Delivery: Chinese or Italian ?

No upper GI, I think thats only if there is reason to suspect that there may be damage to the upper GI from untreated reflux or some other cause.

I am in River Edge, Bergen County, NJ Wonderful, now I am not going to have a full night sleep from the day of your consult to the day you are discharged from the hospital.:rolleyes

I could use some help with the pics also, I have followed the instructions above and on other threads to the letter, but I can't get it to work. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks Ira

Hey, Thanks for asking. I am 10 days out now, and everything is going great. This whole thing was easier than I thought it was going to be. The first day was the just terrible, but by day 4 I was doing so well, I went back to work. On day 3 I woke up with a pounding headache, but I figured out that a small cup of coffee would solve that. My liquid phase ends in 4 days and then I can start the mushys, but I don't even care, really I am not hungry, and am not interested in food at all. The one thing that I am really having trouble getting used to is that my sense of being full feels different, so I am trying to learn all new signs that I need to stop. 2 oz of yogurt drink fills me up and keeps me happy for 4 hours without a problem. I am so used to pouring a whole glass of whatever, and now I have to stop. I am back to the gym and having no problems. Best wishes, Ira

exactly 3 months from the date of the seminar. I think it was about 4 or 5 weeks from the consult.

In answer to your question about Isopure, I have been drinking it daily and it does cause some gas, but I found that if I let it sit for few minutes to let the air settle and then drink it very slow it is not so bad. To discipline myself, I drink out of a 1 ounce medicine cup, when I'm done, I set the kitchen timer for 15 minutes, then go back for another cup.

I am 4 days post surgery and I have been taking Phazyme (2 at a time). It seems to help.

Thank you for the well wishes. My insurance wasn't listed either, but they take it. Call the office and ask. Also Dr. Schmidt and Trivedi at HUMC also have an excellent reputation. Here is that website: Advanced Laparoscopic Associates