ReneBean

Welcome! Hope your Band Journey is a great one!!

thx Betty. Sounds like a good thing for during full liquids and mushies... :]

My doc says CLEAR protein drinks are ok for right after the surgery (like Isopure) - then go to full liquids (heavier/milky stuff) after 5-7 days. But, that is just my doc. Yours might have different ideas.

Yell, Kick and Scream if that helps. But the Mexican Attorney is an option... Hugs!

Way to go, Ali!! Definitely an NSV... I have a couple of necklaces that I haven't worn for years - cause you can't see them through my chins... grrr. Great work! :]

Hey Carmen! Welcome to LBT. If you have any doubts - you sure do want to wait on that RNY - once that is done, it's done and there's no going back. Talk to RNY folks, and talk to Band folks and be sure that you think long and hard before you do either one. Around these parts - MOST people are pretty Pro-Band - but we do have a few folks who have gone the other way. We love to hear from everybody. I say, whatever works!! Good Luck in your research.

Your doc has to specify MORBID OBESITY and MEDICAL NECESSITY. If you don't specify MO - nobody covers anything. Call the insurance again - ask if they cover WLS for MORBID obesity if the procedure is deemed medically necessary. You might (hopefully) get a different answer! Also - if you work at the hospital - don't they have some kind of employee discount and/or financing plan? Maybe they can take some payment amount out of your paycheck for the next 5 yrs... Also - Capital One offers financing for "cosmetic" surgery and they include WLS under that category. good luck!!!

Hey! Zan & Eileen must have been posting at the same time as me. I was so long-winded... Zan, you crack me up. We were as excited as you about the bus. We just waved and were happy you didn't have to wait around for one. Glad you got the computer issue fixed. I was beginning to think I had provoked you too far! :] Eileenie - You wild thing, you. A cupcake?!? That's pretty out there... 16 yrs of wedded bliss and DD is only 4? What's up with that? I know there has to be a story there. Is miss G a miracle baby or something? Or did it just take you & DH a while to grow up enough to have kids of your own. (call me nosey!!) I, personally, plan NEVER to grow up - so no kids for me... I will have to Mom vicariously through all of you! Well, back to work. Love you guys!! Betty - send me your e-mail address - I will forward the pictures. Cindy - you want in? I have an address for you... Anybody else? I have several shots that will never hit the boards... :]

Howdy Girls and Boys... It's another glorious day in Mortgage Lending. I should be busier than I am - but that is just a fact of January, I guess. :rolleyes DH & I went to macaroni Grill last night and carbed til we couldn't carb any more... It was wonderful!! The chefs were ON - the food was perfect, perfect, perfect! I could not have asked for a better Farewell dinner - or a better Birthday Dinner. Today, I have been a good girl. Ham & cheese omelette for Breakfast and off to get a lovely salad for lunch as soon as I am done here. I am sure DH will have some spectacular Vegetable Delight for dinner - so I am all set. My big plans for the weekend include: shopping for post-op supplies (suggestions are welcome) and preparing for the arrival of some new Texas Immigrants. My SIL & her DH are relocating to lovely Carrollton (I think) and they will be arriving quite soon. That will be great for DH and for my phone bill... DH has been alone too much at home - now he will have another excuse to get out and talk to other human beings face to face. The cats have such limited conversational skills... Besides, Sis will make a nice fuss over me after the surgery. (Yeah, it's all about me.) :becky: What's up with y'all this weekend? Cindy - I may never miss the Lemon Passion Cake from the Grill - but right now I find that pretty hard to believe... :girl_hug: I'll get back to you in about 6 months and let you know. BTW - I would love to hear from you after the surgery. You can't get too much love... :] Ira - Thanks! It was great! Hope you are having a FAB day. Sherry - work is work is work.... I get that way sometimes. I was working like a dog at my last company - and finally had it up to here when after 4 yrs with the company - 2 yrs working 14-16 hrs a day - the office manager threatened my job because I made a mistake that caused her a little personal grief. I figured if I could work like a slave anywhere, and probably for more money. I was right. Maybe it's time for a change. Patty - You are being so good not calling your DexH the slime-ball he is... I hope you get the whole IRS tax thing corrected - but take heart. As a mtg underwriter - I review the divorce decree along with the credit report. If you include a letter explaining that DexH took all the 401k and ran and left you with the tax obligation, you may be ok. Keep fighting the IRS :boxing: and get whatever documentation you can to support the fact that HE took the money and ran. Besides - a lot of sins can be laid at the feet of the ex - even if they were partially yours... Just be sure that what you write in the letter makes sense with what your divorce decree and your other documentation says. Sometimes a Divorce really can be a clean start. Hey Betty - just in case you are as worried as I was... I had sent a message to Diane/Renee 772365 because her last post was like 2 minutes after her surgery. She responded that all is well, she is down 37 pounds to 190 and she has been lurking because she isn't much for typing... I was having these horrible visions of post-surgery disaster. So glad she got back to me. ***Hi Diane!!*** Hope everybody is doing great. Well, I'm off to grab that salad. I'll check back later, if I have time. It seems like the folks here save up the work until about 3 or 4... Mmmmm Salad. :ermm

Lots of docs to choose from at Surgery Center of Richardson - and you can check them out on the web and by attending their informational seminars. They have regular seminars every week. I am working with Dr. Louis Fox - and he seems great. I have heard wonderful things about him from others, also. Good Luck in your research!

You'll probably get denied and have to appeal - but it seems like that is a common problem, anyway... Anything is worth a try. The worst they can do is say "no"... In the mean time, you might start a Doc supervised plan while you wait. :]

Wowsa, Mandy!! That's GREAT!!! (I so love that around here we congratulate each other on being "Overweight"... hahahahaaha) Congrats & Felicitations!!

Wow! Happy Bandiversary, Jessie!! You Rock! Congrats & Felicitations!!

Aw - you guys are SO sweet... Thanks for all the kind words. I will tell you that tomorrow is the first day of my ten day pre-op diet (surgery date confirmed!! 2/06/06) - so guess what I am doing when I leave work? Uh YEAH! Let's talk Pasta!! Let's talk Bread!! Let's talk macaroni Grill... My "Farewell to Carbs Birthday Dinner" begins in about an hour. Hugs all Round!! Irene

Congrats & Felicitations!!

Was she regular BEFORE the surgery? I never have been - my body has so much fat that ALL the hormones get stored somewhere - and I have to induce that joyous event. Of course - I seldom if ever did for many years (I mean GEEZ - who WANTS to have cramps?) After several years with a Bi-Annual period, I started spotting every day... The cure was evil - but I suppose better than risking cancer or any of the other icky things that can happen when the bod ceases to function normally. Anyway - if she was all normal before - then it's probably just the fat/hormone storage thing. My doc told me that when I went in - one of the first questions she asked was if I had lost weight. Hope it all evens out, soon...

Yee Haw!! Unexpected success is always fun!! Congrats!

Wow, V! You get to eat FRUIT? Lucky dog... My doc has me on the 10 day pre-op - Lean meats and Veggies, only. No carbs, Low Fat. I guess I am lucky I don't have to go with total liquid diet... I start tomorrow! Good Luck, Veritas!

Hey Y'All I am a Fat & Sassy 41 - and I claim every minute of it, every wrinkle and every grey hair (at least for now!). It's only the Fat part I want to be well rid of. Thanks for the well wishes... Tonight is my "Farewell to Carbs" Birthday Dinner. DH and I are off to Macaroni Grill for some BREAD & PASTA. Yeah, MAYBE I will be able to eat those again - but maybe not - so I am going to revel in carbs and eat cake. Eat, Drink & Be Merry - for Tomorrow We Must Diet... Doc Fox's office called today to confirm my Feb 6 surgery date at the Surgery Center of Richardson. I would be ecstatic if it weren't for the fact that I have to be there at 7am - But, I guess I don't have to do any make-up or fancy clothes - so I will survive the early morning. Surgery is scheduled for 8am... EEEK!! Well My Darlings... I must also make it a short post today. I still have some work to do before I leave - and Macaroni Grill awaits... Hugs All Around!! I will hope for my LBT time tomorrow!!

Better Crystal Light than no liquid at all. Drink as much clear Water as you can stand - and then drink Crystal Light. :]

My Doc does South Beach Phase 1 instead of liquid diet prior to surgery for liver shrinking. SB1 is essentially Atkins with a restriction to LEAN Protein vs any old protein you want. I did quite well on a modified version of Atkins before... Lost 40-50 lbs (no scale - but based on clothing size & life experience). I was pure as the driven snow doing my under 20 carbs and eating mostly low fat meats and such for six days out of the week. On the seventh day, I rested - and ate anything I wanted. I never felt too deprived - cause I knew Saturday was coming around again soon. Of course, it was probably horribly un-healthy - but it worked for me. Just a thought, if you need to go long-term to lose the weight. Good Luck!!

What I want to know is can I do it with a mixing bowl? When I eat cereal - I usually eat WAY more than the proscribed 5 biscuits of shredded wheat.. (or whatever the number is). Guess I will have to stick to lean Protein and Veggies... DANG!~

Sorry about the Sticker Shock. Try to remember that the scale is in insidious liar, anyway. Think Non Scale Victory... The scale just gives you a number. How your clothes fit, and how you fit into the world, actually have an impact on your life - TOTALLY independent of what the scale happens to say, today. Congrats on getting your date!! :]

Rave On, Crystal. hugs!!

I think it is definitly an NSV. I mean, Geez... Here you had practically started doubting yourself on the whole diet trail. You worked and you worked and you worked - and got not very far (at least scale-wise) and NOW you know WHY. Like all NSV's it points out that 1) something is working - (even if it's only your doctors FINALLY!!) 2) you have hope for more good news in the future. The scale WILL move downward again, someday. Go Vines, Go!!! (and you look about 30 in your new avatar - so I can understand why folks think you are talking about a baby when you talk about DS!!) Sparkle Pretty!