SuzanneG

Thanks nyllrap. You will be very happy with Brengman. Also, oftentimes for follow-up appointments, I get Erin, his PA. She's very sweet and competent and I'm happy to see her for follow-up, but if I think I'm going to need a fill, I ask for Brengman. Best of luck to you and Kiz. Maybe I'll run into you guys in the office! I'm usually there on a Friday, so if you are ever in there on a Friday watch for me. Just look for the woman with short hair, carrying a Nora Roberts book! :-D Let me know how your surgery goes!

Oh, I couldn't think of a VA city that started with C and ended with Burg. I live in Frederiksburg and had my surgery in Richmond.

I love them too! But I do use a coffee maker. I also buy the coffee singles without the string, Foldgers even has a Hazelnut one, so yummy. Black and Decker makes one that brews one cup straight into a travel mug, it's PERFECT! I think I got mine from WalMart, but I was looking for one for my daughter and WalMart didn't have it, but I found it at RiteAid of all places!

I did OK after the surgery, but every time I get a fill, which my doctor requires 48 hours of liquids, I warn the family. I'm hell on wheels and sometimes can't stand myself. LOL It goes away the second I eat my first real meal. :-D

I was denied because my BMI was 35.1 and I didn't have one of three conditions my insurance company was looking for. I wrote two appeal letters, gattered letters of support from all of my doctors and was approved on the second go around, but I also ate during that time and raised my BMI to 37.6 by the time I was approved.

That's interesting. I have Basic Option and my surgery co-pay is $100. Are they different from state to state? I work in DC and live in VA.

I LOVE Dr. Brengman and Dr. Shroeder. Dr. Elliott seems nice enough, but I heard he doesn't do good with fills. However, he did one of mine and it was fine, but I did hear horror stories in the waiting area. I just can't say enough nice things about Brengman though, he's at the top of my Christmas Card list!

Hi, I've lost 61 pounds so far and my skin is holding up OK. I had 2 c-sections and a hysterectomy, so my stomach wasn't in great shape before I started, but overall, I'm OK with how it's shrinking. I also had a mastectomy, without reconstruction, so I put my "girls" on every morning and I love the way they look. I didn't have reconstruction because I was not pleased with the photos I looked at online, too many things to go wrong, too much pain and risk and, like many of you have said about the lose skin, for what? Only DH sees the difference, they look real to everyone else when I'm dressed, even in a bathing suit, which I wore on the 4th and felt surprisingly OK with. Jacqui, I'd love to see more pics of you. That little one is just a tease. We had similar stats, although I gained up to BMI of 36.7 for insurance approval, but you look so great and your posts always crack me up. I love your attitude!

Congrats gals! I love roller coasters too and can't wait to get to an amusement park myself. I met my long lost sister on here too and we're hoping to get together in the fall!

For me, I was intitially denied, then had to appeal, then got the letter. I was led to believe that I needed to stay overnight because of my insurance, but I never questioned it. One thing you may want to check on is fills. I'm charged a $100 co-pay, my surgery co-pay every time I get a fill because they consider it "surgery" if a foriegn object enters the body. :-( The part I couldn't understand is why my friend, who paid cash, had all fills included for a year.

I think I'm at 7cc in a 10cc band and I'm pretty happy with it right now. Oh and Happy 6 Month Bandiversary for everyone!

What's Cburg?

I did it as in-patient, but I drove to Richmond. I LOVE my doctor. Not sure where you live. I live in Fredericksburg and work in DC. If you want more info, let me know.

The one that gets me is "You're not fat, you're just big boned". I'm not big boned, I'm fat! Geeze.... On that same note, those same people constantly tell me I shouldn't lose any more because I'm at my normal size now. How the hell do they know what my normal size is? I weighed 105 when I got married the first time. I'm not a big person, I'm a small person whos FAT! LOL

I agree with Jachut. I think Fluffy is really used, all in good fun. It isn't meant to be factual, just silly. Some folks like silly, I'm one of them. :rolleyes2:

My BMI was 35.1 when I first asked for the surgery and I was denied. I took a month or so to gather letters of support from each of my doctors, stating that the condition they treated me for would improve with weight less, etc. Then I wrote 2 letters from me, one about the medcal issues and one about the emotional issues of being overweight. Anyway, while waiting, I was eating like there was no tomorrow. Partially because I was stressed and partially because I figured if they turned me down, I'd just eat my way to 40 BMI. Well, I made it up to 36.7 by the time I sent my package in and I included that BMI in my letter and my appeal was approved! However, I have BC/BS federal. Don't take no for an answer. You have one of the most compelling arguments with the sleep apnea, so you should have a good chance. If you get denied... APPEAL! I was told that some insurance companies automatically deny on the first pass, so hang in there. Best of luck to you and if you need to appeal, I'd be happy to share my letters. Let us know how it turns out!

I was told that caffeine can dehydrate you. I don't know why it would matter before the surgery, but it could be an issue after since it's sometimes hard to get all your water in.

Oh my, so sorry to hear about the deputy and your friend's daughter. {{{{{{{{{{{Kahty}}}}}}}}}}} I can't imagine being that parent, I'd go crazy. How old is she?

I've been a daily weigher for as long as I can remember. When I was gaining, it used to ruin my whole day. Now that I am losing, I can handle small spikes in the scale because I know they are temporary. As for the professional advice to stay off the scale, I find that a little hypocritical since I was denied my lapband the first time through. Then when I appealed and had gained about 15 pounds, they approved it based on the higher BMI and my letters. How can we ignore the scales when the doctors and insurance companies use it to evaluate our approval and success?

Nat, what are you going to tattoo on your wrist? I too have considered getting a tattoo when I reach goal. I saw where an actress, not one I'm fond of, but she tattooed "Breathe" on the inside of her wrist in white. She's white, so it barely showed up and I thought that was king of a neat idea, but couldn't decide what I would put there. Maybe "01/04/2008", my bandiversary date. I'd love to hear ideas from the rest of you!

What a great idea for the braclet. I didn't buy myself a gift until I started changing sizes. Then, every time I went shopping, I'd tell DH that I am celebrating because I lost, X number of pounds. One day he said, "You're always celebrating!" I said, "I know, I have a lot to Celebrate and I keep changing sizes so I deserve it!" Happy Friday everyone!

I had a similar experience after my thrid fill and am still trying to decide if I need a slight unfill. I've experience my first PBs and sliming and certainly don't want to make a habit of it. However, after my first bad PB, I went on liquids for a few days and then worked my way back to eating. I've noticed that I can't hurry AT ALL now and for some strange reason, I too can't eat baked potato. But, if I follow all the rules and take my time, I'm fine. So for now, I'm sticking with the fill. I have 7cc in a 10cc band.

I'm a Jan08 bandster and I've slowed to 1/2 to 1 pound a week. I think it's largely due to the fact that I don't exercise enough and I have also started to snack. I've had graduations, birthdays, and other countless celebrations lately to offer me opportunity for overeating. I started back on track yesterday and already feel better! Good luck with your fill.

I'll know if mine has helped by next week. I have been able to give up Nexium and my BP meds! Yeah! I too can't take the cholesterol meds, so I'm hopeful that mine will be improved. I'll let you know how mine turns out.

I take a stool softner, without laxative, every day. Works like a champ and my doc blessed the daily dose.