soonergirl

This made me very curious - so I googled it and found this on a wesite about tanning: 4) Tanning booths do not dry up acne or help scars to heal and fade, in fact tanning booths can make both conditions worse over time. The drying effects of UV rays can cause your skin to overproduce oil (sebum) and this can actually make you break out more as there is now more oils on the skin waiting to clog your pores. As for scars, exposure to UV light can make new wounds scar with a darker color and can make old scars stand out even more.

I recently read that Crohn's disease would generally exclude you from being able to have the lap-band. I looked into it because I have had problems with IBS - the IBS was ok, but the Crohn's was listed as an exclusion. http://www.lifebridgehealth.org/2705.cfm THIS IS THE SINAI HOSPITAL SIGHT - it indicates the exclusions. I have seen it other places as well. Ultimately, I think I would still ask my Doctor you never know

Although not really a tapeworm - you would think so!! Trus me, if it were a real tapeworm, I may be tempted to pull that thing out and wash it down with a glass of wine!!! LOL!!

I have been on the yahoo message site, but can you guys and dolls please paste the links to any of these other sites that you feel have been helpful to you? Thanks!!

Kristen, I agree - great thread. I am two weeks from being banded and feeling all of the same things. I start my preop diet tomorrow, and have found myself eating anything and everything that I am affraid that I won't be able to eat again. I have a pair of jeans that I went out and bought that I need to lose about 15 pounds to wear. I have them hanging in my bathroom and look at them often to have a visual reminder of why I am doing this. My husband has a tape worm and can and does eat huge portions - one thing that I fear is going to annoy me is sitting there waiting for him to finish huge meals while I eat a deck of cards?? Lucky &%#@&*! Why couldn't that be me??? I couldn't do this without the support of reading the posts on this board!! Thanks!

I have one of the lower BMIs - and my Dr. still has me on a two week preop diet. I don't have an issue with a fatty liver, but he still has me on this diet. He is not concerned about me losing too much weight either. 2 shakes/day that he gave me and some healthy regular meals, also no drinking for 7 days prior.

June 30th - I am really getting nervous, but still very excited. Can't wait for that broth on 4th of July!!! A little different than the usual July 4th weekend "liquid diet".

Guitarman, I am sooo sorry to hear about your puppy. I can totally relate as I sit hear in mourning. I had a shepard mix that I got when I graduated high school 14 1/2 years ago. I cam home the other night and she had had a stroke. My husband and I drove her 5 hours home to my parents farm and had her put down. It was the hardest thing that I may have done thus far in my life. She was there through all of my young adult life. I am so sorry, but so glad to hear that you have your other puppies!!!!! They make it all so much easier. My dog Boomer, a three year old brittany, much like your Sadie - put his head under the Water to find a rock for the first time last night. I think that they are just waiting in respect for their elders Thanks for sharing your story, as it actually really helped me in what I am going through. I am getting banded in two weeks, but now I am not sure if I am going to need it, as I have lost 4 pounds since I lost Mara. :ermm I am in the DFW area as well - I will have to come check out your band sometime. Porbably not this upcoming show - as I am sure that I will want to keep myself away from any temptations in the first few weeks after banding???

Thanks everyone for the feedback!!

This information is so helpful - but from a hopeful bander, my big question is do you miss them? It almost seems that no one really cares about these foods near as much now that you just CAN'T eat or tolerate them? Did this kind of thread seem kind of confusing and scary to any of you before you were banded? Were you afraid that you might just lose your mind one day and have to have something that you weren't supposed to eat? I think that I really should have no problem with giving up any of these, but di the "thought of it" kind of freak anyone out prior to banding? Thanks!!!!!

I am researching this right now as well. I have found that Dr. Benavides would just require that you carry in your medical records. The fills are done at Richardson Surgery Center at the cost of $250 - This is what I was quoted today. I also spoke with Dr. Powell's office )right next door to Dr. Benavides, who's office didn't seem as excited about taking care of patients from MX, but said that they look at it on a case by case basis.

I have a BMI of 31.5 and Dr. Powell in Dallas has still told me that I would be a good candidate. No co-morbities either. I am still debating on whether or not to go to Mexico because of the cost for a self-pay. Good luck.

Just to offer some clarification on the entire issue of insurance in general on this issue - ( I happen to work for a carrier) 1) If you work for a large employer - chances are your group is what is called self-funded, this means that your company is actually paying the claims, not the insurance carrier. The insurance carrier is just administering the claim. The employer will actually set the rules around what is and what is not covered. The company will also approve the process that the carrier uses to determine elligiblity for this type of procedure. Only in some states are their state mandated benefits. Thus, you can have two people with the exact same situation, both with the same insurance carrier's name on their card with very different situations. (I know for a fact that Union Pacific is self-funded) 2) BCBS is mentioned a number of times - All BCBS companies are not the same, they all carry the BCBS logo, which only means that they are a part of BCBS Association. BCBS of Illinios owns the BCBS in TX and NM. Empire is a seperate BCBS of its own. Wellpoint owns BCBS in Colorado, California, MO, and 10 other states (previously known also as Anthem BCBS). 3) So- if the company that you work for, or the fully-insured policy that you have approves the surgery, then it will go to the medical review. They will often deny the claim in the first go around, but it would definetely be worth appealing in all situations. Most of the time the first refusal is automatic and NOT a decision made by an individual, but a computer that is looking at a number of different factors. Once appealed, most companies send it to a medical review board where individuals actually evaluate and make a decision about the claim. All companies and policies are different, take the time to put some research into it! Hope this helps to understand the insurance side a little better.