Dragonwillow

From what the lady at Dr. Baumans office said sorry don't remember her name but she was the one I went to and got a date from back corner left office. Anyway she said that not all insurance covers fills...I thought this was crazy, but then she said that the hospital because of this won't take insurance upfront in lue of payment because apparently they have alot of instances where insurance didn't cover. What I don't understand, is they work with insurance compainies all the time why they can't file for the ones they KNOW will cover, or maybe get pre approval for fills so they are covered? Melissa

Like I said earlier...I doubt that I am 185lbs of leaness....but was just wondering if there were ways to find that kinda of thing out. My scale says perscentage too, but I'm not sure I really trust it either. And no way would I be perfect weight at 225 oh that is so laughable, since when I was 200 I was still too chubby...some of which is skin. Isn't that yucky. The thing I noticed when i lost down to 200 before was...with all the extra skin I still look like i'm huge...or is this just a personal thing that we always see ourselves as huge? Melissa

Mine is in right under my breast area in pretty much dead center it looks like. My doc said he tried to put them as high as possible, especially in us patients who pretty much know they will need a tummy tuck later. Melissa

Thanks vinesqueen. Yeah I am itching to get back to the gym. I'm up walking alot, my recovery has been pretty easy, haven't taken many of the pain pill prescribed. I really contribute most of that to the fact that I was exercising regularlly before surgery. I think I'd be happy in the 175 range actually. Could also explain why it was so hard for me to loose under 200 isn't the last bit of pounds suppouse to be the hardest. Melissa

How do you really figure your lean muscle mass? I've got alot of muscle, and hopefully it won't all melt away in the next few weeks when I'm on liquids and can't lift weights. But how do you actually figure it. I know before I was feeling pretty good at just over 200, but I was still on the fat side. I would like to weight I guess in the 150's. But according to the fitness chart for women thing I downloaded my lean body mass is 185 lbs when it told me that when I put my intial info in I kinda just ignored it thinking...whatever..its wrong. That would mean I have quite a bit of muscle under the all this fat And while I'm sure I have more than average due to my agressive weight trainging over the last two years, I doubt I have that much. Melissa

Yes please come to lunch with us on the 5th. I too was banded by Dr. Bauman...I'm not yet a week out...so still on the lovely diet of liquids for a while longer . Its great that there are getting to be so many of us NC folks. Melissa Hey angie, or Courtney.... I can't remember but for the nutritionist are we suppouse to be writting down our intake and exercise? I'm feeling I'm at the point where I might be able to keep track of it now.

United health care took about a week for me. Melissa

I invited the lady I recruited from Bi-lo Soup isle. LOL Me and my big mouth always yacking away....lol. I hope she will come. She has already sent info in to dr. Bauman and is trying to get started on the pretests. I told her to introduce herself here, but haven't seen her yet. Come out come out where ever you are... Melissa

Pretty much just having the protien drinks, the fuze (which is kinda equivalent to crystal light.) Water and broth. The broth is my favorite right now I think...it goes down easy and I don't feel so bloated. I think it might be all the milk as I have been lactoase intolerant in the past if I had large amounts of dairy. And while I'm not having alot of dairy its a good chunk of what I am having. I'm still at 7lbs loss pretty much since surgery. Figure it will be slowing down now...can't continue to loose that fast (too bad LOL). I'm getting in at least an hour of walking, in 10-20 minute stints. I think i'm going to have a pretty bad scar where i had a pinkish birthmark...they went right through it so now there are some raised edges there and LOTS of bruising. Going to go take a nap before the kids get home. Its impossible then. Melissa

Yes please join us for lunch....I'm so excited about this lunch because I'll be able to eat normal foods then Melissa

Well I did it.....I slept in my bed last night. Got up three times to walk 10-15 minutes though. I bet I look silly with my oven timer going and walking the circuit around through my kitchen, living room, dinning room office LOL. I'm going to wear a path in the carpet! The hardest part about sleeping in my bed, is when hubby moves around...or getting up...other than that it's pure heaven. Right now the only way I think I can get in 64 oz of Water is if I count the broth i drink as water too. Yesterday, over the course of the day I had a whole can of broth, 1 20 oz of water, 1 18 oz fuze, 2 protien shakes. Oh and part of a smoothy made from ff yogurt at the mall (that was a mistakes, made me feel yucky). Still haven't taken off the port bandage...will probally do that today..YUCK. Melissa

I'm drinking GNC pro peformance mix...some decent flavors. And I've been using the atkins advantage shakes. But honestly if i blend up something myself it usually has more protien in that the premixed ones. So far I've tried one with chocolate mix, vanilla protien ice cubes and table spoon of Peanut Butter...made with carb coutdown milk. It was really too sweet tasted like a melted reese's cup. My favorite so far, pro performance chocolate carmel mixed with 6 oz of carb countdown milk, 6 vanilla protien ice cubes, 1/2 teaspoon of instant decaf coffee. It tasted very close to a carmal mocha frappachino. Melissa

Update on how I'm doing. Still sleeping in the corner of the couch...I did take a nap on the waterbed yesterday which was heavenly till I had to get up. Went to the soccer game yesterday morning with Karah and hubby. I got to take a shower this morning...which was great, but eww those staples make me nausesous. So far except for the day of surgery I have managed to get in at least 40 g of protien...haven't make it to 64 oz of Water yet...still working on that. Feeling pretty good, though there is some discomfort around the port site. (I didn't remove the bandage there yet...kinda chicken since it hurts the most I'm sure it'll be the one to look the grossest.) I've lost according to my scale 7lbs. Well thats it for now. Melissa

I'm doing pretty good...having trouble sleeping. But since i have to get up about every 2 hours to go to the bathroom it seems I've been trying to get a couple of oz's of protien drink in and walk around my house for about 20 minutes. I'll be glad when I can lay in my bed again...or get up out of a chair and not feel so "tight" How are you Diane feeling ..you guys are 2 week out now right? Melissa

Congrats Karen on getting things going...so you will telling us you have a date, and then telling us you are on the losing side Melissa

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm home and doing fine. Not much pain except the bloated tight feeling I have and I'm assuming that is from the gas pain. Melissa

Hi everyone, I decided to stay in the hospital over night ...mainly because I was dreading going home and not having a recliner or my morphine pump. LOL But I am home now. I was up walking around though last night alot, and only have some mild tightess right now. Feeling pretty good. I've already gotten in about 20 grams of protien today...and as long as I don't forget and take big gulps of Water I feel great . Melissa

Man...I can't sleep...the nerves are hitting full force I think. I keep running things through my head..stupid stuff like....I need to wash the bedclothes today. Do I have enough lunch supplies for the kids? Maybe I should get the van washed. LOL My stomach is churning and I know its nerves. I'm defiently going to work out hard at the gym today...at least maybe I won't thing about it THEN. I know everything will go smoothly...but my head is playing games on me....what if? I think I'll go start another load of laundry. Melissa

Thanks guys, Hey Angie, if you read this soon let me know, am I suppouse to be on Clear liquids the whole day before surgery...or was this dr. V's rule only. I've screwed up and got all the paperwork all screwed up and mixed together. Got all those perscrips filled today...wow can we say sticker shock! Of course one was from my primary physician who changed my thyroid medicine without telling me. I'm going to protest this...as my old medicine was 10.00 and the new script is like 25.00. I was like whoa, rewind...I don't want to take this...lol. If I don't hear differently I'll be doing clear liquids all day tomorrow. I might call the office tomorrow and ask...but i feel totally stupid for messing up the sheets. Melissa

Welcome to the Nc Group. If you are ever in the charlotte area let us know we have a good size group that gets together about once a month. I think the next is Novemeber something. (one of the more organized ladies will know). How are you feeling? Was it hard traveling right after? I'm having mine done this Thursday in Concord by Dr. Bauman. Melissa

Sorry to hear tht about the y you go to. I mostly go to an express y...so not much there, and the kids aren't there. Good luck tomorrow. Maybe you can get your upper gi scheduled soon and get a date . Melissa

Do you work outside the home? If not get a part time job at the Y...you get FREE membership and can add the family on for just 25.00. Pretty good deal, hence why I'm working there. Also if money is tight because of dr. bills and income lvl right now as for finacial assistance there. Its a slider scale. I have a friend that pays only like 30 something a month. And she gets the same percentage off of program fees. Also you can cut your rate if you always work out at the same gym and just get a membership to that gym instead of the city pass. Good luck with your appointment with Dr. Bauman. I really liked him. Is this your first appointment or have you already got your tests out of the way? Melissa

I've organized, organized and organized some more. I'm out of stuff to organize. LOL There is still cleaning to do ...always is when you have kids. Yesterday I sat for like an hour and put my feet in the foot spa thing i haven't used in over a year. My husband was like, you sure you can sit still. I've got enough books lined up to read for at least a month. LOL I'm set just waiting on Thursday now. I do get a wee bit of distraction Tuesday night. My orientation class for my new job. I don't physically start until a few weeks after surgery. I'll be working at the Y. Melissa

Here is a PERFECT example. Went to the movies today. All the way there, I thought...I'm not going to get popcorn today...I'm going to be good. We get there. Hubby is taking the little one to see one movie while I'm going with the older one to a different movie. We stop at the snack bar. Hubby orders himself a medium coke (at a movie theater! .....doesn't everyone get the hugest coke possible?) Now the theater (amc) has signs posted free refill on large sodas and popcorns. I'm thinking WHAT A FREAKING GOOD DEAL! Plus we have a coupon for 50Cents off! So daughter and I split a Large soda and a large popcorn. When I mentioned that refills were free to hubby. He was unimpressed. "So we can refill the too large drink and too large popcorn) I didn't end up getting a refill on popcorn (mainly because I didn't want to miss any of the movie to do it...not because I wouldn't have eaten more popcorn!) Just goes to show you why even though I'm the exerciser in the house I'm still the one who is obese. Melissa Getting banded Oct 13th, 2005

Thank you! That was exactly what I was looking for! I had this very same thing a couple a years ago. Its great because it allows you to "chart" your progress...very motivating. Melissa