PrtyAntOvrYt

If you have insurance, you pretty much have to go with whomever they will pay for, however, if you are self-pay, you can't beat Dr. Kirshenbaum. He doesn't take insurances. He is self-pay only. AND he's the best surgeon in the state! I have lost over 140lbs since my surgery almost 14 months ago. His charge is very reasonable and he's very experienced. I highly recommend him and his staff!

Since you only have 60lbs to lose, you most likely didn't have to do the pre-op very long. There isn't a lot of room in the abdominal cavity if you're morbidly obese and having to manipulate the liver is pretty serious. If you're not that overweight, as in your case, doing the procedure probably wasn't going to be that difficult. I'm sure things went fine.

A fatty liver or a fat liver is a medical condition, not all obese people have this condition. The pre-op diet doesn't have to limit calories or fat. Carbs are really the only thing that needs to be limited in order to shrink your liver. IF you have a "Fatty Liver" it won't be fixed with a pre-op diet. I just thought, I'd say that. I had Dr. Kirshenbaum also. His pre-op makes the most sense if you know how the liver works. I cut my carbs down to 20grams a day at the most, I only ate meat and veggies and that's it. I lost 17lbs with my pre-op diet. It was very easy and gave my weight loss a boost!

Deb, Steriods CAN cause big time water retention and swelling. It can also cause an increase in blood sugars.

My insurance had a total exclusion for plastic surgery. This doc is a plastic surgeon and he comes very highly recommended. He is willing to petition my insurance to pay, even though I know they will not. He gave me a quote for self pay to get my arms and panni done. I can let you know if you PM - what that quote was. He also is offering a 20% discount for 90days that started Feb 1st for his services. The quote he gave me included everything, anesthesia and everything else.

i totally know how you feel. i'm 140lbs less and i wear almost the same size jeans because of my huge pannis. i consulted with dr. wolfe in cherry creek and he sees it the way we do. get rid of the pannis and then you will feel better, move better and be able to be more active and comfortable in your own 'skin' -- (pun intended) he was very sweet about it. he also asked me to get as close to a bmi of of 40, before surgery, however, he said IF i couldn't handle the back aches he'd do it now and then i'd just get the tummy tuck when i get to goal. i think for people like you and me and Patty, we have to have our surgeries in phases. it makes more sense!

kayleigh's Mom! I am so sorry to hear about your hernia! That's is horrible! I know you must be so disappointed! Especially since he told her he'd do the surgery with a BMI of 40 and then change his mind to 35. I do think that the pannis could be causing this, but I can't say I have evidence of this belief. My insurance won't pay for mine either. There is an exception to any procedure done by a plastic surgeon. I wonder if they would pay for it if a different doctor did it. (anyway, I digress) Will your insurance cover the hernia repair? What if Dr. Metz could give proof that if you don't get your pannis removed that you'll continue getting hernias. I wonder if he could send a letter to the insurance. If the pannis could be removed at the time of the hernia repair that would save the insurance money. I'm sorry you're in pain!

Hey Girlie! I remember you from Red Robin! I'm Dee! We met not that long after your surgery. You look to be doing well! We should be meeting at RR soon. For certain we will be meeting somewhere on the 1st of April since Mini will be here for a conference. You're welcome to join us! Come here and hang out anytime! We're all in this journey together! dee~

Hey! You've done great! I love the part on your signature about saving money on make up! HA! Do you know if they have openings in the NICU at your hospital? I could do Mom/Baby or Neonatal Units Level I,II or III. I'll ask my recruiter if they have a contract with a hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida! THANKS!

Julie, I wanted to let you know I lost 4.2lbs. I weighed on Wednesday morning since I worked Wed, Thurs and Fri nights and knew I'd gain a lot of water weight with my ankle edema. Thanks!

Thanks! BUT I have to be honest, if I had any way of NOT working nights, I would go for it! Money or no money, it's just not worth what it does to your health! I remember once, I was in Haiti and I choked on something I was eating. It was during a blackout. No lights, only candles and we were eating. I couldn't breath, I couldn't talk and I could feel my fingers tingling. My MIL got up and hit me on the back, up it came and I survived! It was truly the scariest time of my life! I think traveling would be a blast! I hate to leave the clinic - I love it there, but the money just isn't enough to make my bills if I can truly pick up more hours in the NICU. I have to install my black out canopy when I get home in the am. I was so sleepy driving home this morning, it scared me. My reflexes were very slow and I kept drifting off when I was stopped in traffic. It seriously is just like driving drunk, which I have never done - and I hope to not drive that sleepy again! I was able, thank God to sleep today. I slept about 4 hours. Woke up with the stupid leaf blowers outside my window! DAMNIT! AND then I was able to fall back asleep around 3pm and wake up in time for work at 4pm. Life goes on... I am with you Deb! I hope for 199 in 09! Hmmm, I wonder if you and I should put that in our signatures!

You do get benefits, retirement, 401K, vacation, bonuses.... etc plus housing is paid for.

I love my daytime job, BUT it pays $10.00 less per hour - which means, I could work 2 night shifts or 4 day shifts a week and make the same money! (night shift has differentials - to make up for the hell of working nights) - so I'm going to quit the day job. I don't have a choice. It will be years before I get back on days. After my daughter leaves for school, I'm going to try to get a traveler's job out of state. I love Colorado, but I hate the winters. I'd love to move to Arizona.

Yeah! About 3 weeks ago, I started a second job. Two days 0730-1700 Monday and Wednesday.... well, then 2 nights Thursday and Friday. I just can't do it. I have got to pick a schedule and stay on it.

oh believe me, I was so sick feeling this afternoon! I was in tears! I wanted to sleep so badly! I got a "black out canopy" for my 4 poster bed, but I haven't installed it yet - it just arrived last evening. I'm hoping that will help with the light. Other nurses take Benedryl or Tylenol PM, but I have so many problems with urinary retention I don't want to do those! I worked nights for 10 years while my daughter was in elementary school and I did fine with it. I slept in the guest room which was dark as night and had an overhead fan on to cover the outside noises. I work again tomorrow night! I hope I make it!

Mini! Thanks! I was dragging my ass this afternoon! I almost threw the towel in and said, "forget this!" I worked last night, slept less than an hour because of the light in my room, the stupid construction workers outside my window and being hungry. I finally got out of bed and did my cycling. I had gone swimming when I left the hospital this morning at 730. I don't think I'll do the bike tomorrow -- but I am so bad about returning to working out once I stop or get out of my routine! I am running on fumes at this point!

Oh my Goodness Mini! I would have probably done the same thing! I would have thought, "liquid good" -- but not thought "carbonation bad" I hope you feel better soon!!!

I love edamame!!! But I've never had it that way! I get it at Costco and just do it in the oven! It's so good and so good for you! Thanks for the recipe!

Guys! I'm working nights! ARGH! Anyway, I did my weekly weigh in yesterday AM because I am working the next three nights and I'll gain water weight! I lost 4.2 lbs! I have now been working out twice a day for over 2 weeks! AND the weight is just melting off! I'm eating about 1200 cals a day, swimming an hour in the morning and weights for an hour in the afternoon or swimming an hour and riding my bike for 45 mins in the pm on the weight control mode! The Biggest Loser peeps, work out 5 to 8 hours a day and eat 1200 to 1500 cals. I thought, I'd try at least 2 hours of workouts a day and see if it helps! I gotta staff meeting to attend! In the middle of my sleep time! It's like asking day shift to come in at 4am for a meeting! No respect for night shift! It sucks!

PBD, It's actually a very easy diet. I lost 13 lbs on it and it's the 'go to' diet, I use when I hit a plateau! You're just supposed to shrink your liver a tad so that the band can be placed easier. We're very fortunate with Dr. K. He doesn't require the same stupidness that other docs do! I truly believe some of the bariatric docs require the most unreasonable pre-op diets, so that they can see how serious you are about losing weight. But some of them are just insane... i.e. all clear liquids for 2 weeks! Pre-op!!??? I can see clear liquids post-op because it's for a good reason, but pre-op, it's just mean!

YOU Can win :blushing::Dancing_biggrin:Patty! It's your body getting used to the new medication! That sucks! BUT it's not going to beat you! You will beat it! YES!!!

Yes! I remember that one! It's a good one! Lap always has the best posts!

I know what you mean! My fave are the Shortbread cookies and yogurt! Yum! Together they taste like a really good pie! I have some Girl Scouts at my work, unfortunately, I bought some! I'll just give them away!

You're very welcome Sweet Marie! I think it's wise to not get a fill at this time. Stress always causes me to be tight also. Take care of yourself, this is a very difficult time for all of you. My prayers are with you and your family.

I love www.fitday.com. I use it daily. My favorite part is the "goal graph" I can track my weight loss and see if I'm on target to get to my goal. I love watching my BMI decrease. I also put all of my food in there in the AM and that way I know how I can pack my lunch for work. It keeps me motivated! Thanks Magaines! Marie, I wish I could meet up with you again! I would if I didn't have to work Wed night and Thursday night! It's a bummer to work nights now! Anyway, I hope this fill is good for you! I'm so sorry about your Dad's diagnosis. That's very sad! I agree with the others. Be there for him and support his decision to do all he can to fight this horrible cancer! You father is very very young! I am so sorry! You're so welcome! I hope you enjoy it!