Poodles

Well, I have read and read about Rosacea. Seems to happen to women after they have a baby. Seems to happen to light/pale women (Irish, etc). I have tried Metrogel, Goldbond (don't do it... it burns), OTC creams, special soaps, etc. And your doctor is right, you have to find out what is right for YOU. My rosecea is so bad it looks like someone took curling irons after my face to burn my cheeks. It hurts, it itches, and my life is miserable when I break out. I have not worn make up in over 8 years, no mascara, no eyeshadow, no foundation, NOTHING because it will set off my face. I have tried everything. I have finally found somethings that work for me. 1. www.personandcovey.com/ has products to wash your face with dermatologist recommended, etc. I use aquanil cleansing lotion, and DML facial moisturizer (only once in a while). Ivory soap works well too. 2. I protect my face against cold air in the winter. (This is when I break out the worst.) 3. I wear a hat in the summer to protect against the sun. 4. Found Bare Minerals/Bare Escentuals makeup. I can wear the mascara, eye shadow, and lip stick/gloss. (I have not been brave enough to try the base yet) My face has become my "infection o'meter" if my face breaks out really bad, I know I have an infection somewhere. My doctor says it helps him out alot. :cool: A round of antibiotics seems to calm it down as well as get rid of the infection. But it never goes away. NEVER. Hope something here helps you.

Yeah I lied, I weighed this morning... lost 7 lbs so far this week.

Well, I did it. I stepped on the scale and am 7 pounds down. I can't believe it! Guess I am off to make a new ticker!!!!

Yeah Annemarie! So glad to have you back and banded!!! Good luck to all on the way to bandland today! We should have a lot to talk about this weekend!!!!

Anyone think of using dog tags??? Found a site www.dogtagsdirect.com They are 6.99 + shipping.

If you live near Richardson go to www.lapbandsolutions.com. Where do you live? That would give us a good start on who to recommend for you. And if you have a week off in between summer school and the start of school, you could get away with that!!!

Think it depends on what your doctor/insurance requires. You should call Dr. Spivaks office for specifics.

If your insurance will cover it, or you are willing to self-pay, I would say go for it. I know you want to avoid diabetes... like me. My goal is to make it past 58. (That is the age my parents died.) Keep reading all the positives and negatives and then make your decision. Why did you get the balloon first?

Cashley; that looks like a great program. I wish I could find one like that in my area. Maybe my classes should start a program like that.

So... if I am reading right... monkey butt is the diet secret of the fast lapband losers. Wonder if they have that at Walmart??? Have a questions for you guys/gals... how long after your surgery did you step on the scale? I was thinking about giving it two weeks, but do not know if I can make it that long. Tired Old Man- Welcome... come on in to the club house. We could always use a friendly male face around.

Yeah!!! Please let us know what happens. I feel like you will be approved shortly. Then you will be a member of bandland!!!!

From what I have seen, some gain and some lose. I gained on the PREOP diet the first week, then lost 5 lbs the second week. Was banded on Monday and feel like I have lost, but have decided to wait for a few weeks to weigh. Everyone says the liquid diet post op is for healing, not for losing. So that is what I am focusing on. Good luck!

Thanks all. I checked on the Gates Foundation website, and we do not qualify for the programs they have open at this time. Will have to check back often. Also found about 10 F500 companies in my area, so I will be writing them letters. One even has a very specific grant program for the arts, so I will cross my fingers so to speak. Thanks for all of the ideas. I really appreciate them.

Thanks all. I think it is pretty weird. I feel totally stuffed up top, but my bottom tummy is growling for food. I have less restriction today (day 4) drank my 6 oz shake in about 30 minutes instead of 2 hours like yesterday. I am totally full though. Just hope I can get my Water in today. I have not been doing a great job of that the past few days. Thanks for the reassurances. I get the growls, and every once in a while I will hiccup (you know those one hiccup hurting things) and I just don't want to pop a stitch, or something. So it is nice to know I am not alone in the tummy growling sector.

Ice is better. It reduces the swelling around the port site. I had two packs going one right after the other. It kind of numbs the site too. Heat feels great, but can inflame the site. My doctor always says if you use heat always end with ice. Don't ever just stick with heat only. Just think... Ice Ice Baby....

Hey forgot to say. #1 best thing to have post op is an ice pack. Really helps!

Chako Lady: I was told to be on liquid diet (which I posted on this thread) for two weeks, and then go to mushies. Honestly, I don't even think I could get mashed potatoes down. All I ate today was 2-6 oz Myocel shakes, 1/2 cup pudding, and a bite or two of Hawiian Delight Baby Food (which was yummy). I have about 1/3 of my 20 ounce bottled water to go and I will be done with that one today. It has been REALLY EASY to stick to the liquid diet for me, as I get full really quickly. But we will see about that when the swelling goes down. Every doctor is different. My doctor has his "rules" posted on his website: www.drbenavides.com/instructions.htm You are welcome to look to see what he says. Good luck. The time will fly faster than you know it!

I have beat the pavement to stores around the area. Largest city is Dallas and it is about 50 miles away. Guess I will send out letters this summer. Seems that the rich districts OVERPAID our district a million dollars, which we already spent, and when the auditors found the error we had to give it back. OUCH! It did not hurt the Superintendents salary, but they cut teaching staff and budgets. But in their defense they did cut administrative positions too. I have resorted to free Ecycle in my area to beg for things already. That little online community (thru Yahoo groups) has been very helpful. We have to do fundraisers for everything. Prom, graduation, any trips they go on, sports, etc. Our parents are tapped out. Honestly Wheetsin... speak with someone in your company. If nothing else their discards could help a district in your area and get them a tax break. (and if you are anywhere close to Dallas... let me know.) Flat screens would be awesome... I need 20 good computers. If I was really wishing I would get 50 for both the labs on campus. And I would get a color printer, and a few more scanners... oh to dream! And for Art, I would get a kiln and a throwing wheel and clay, and paint!!! Heck, I would be happy with proper drawing pencils and high quality paper. It is really sad that schools operate this way. We are expected to produce a product... you know educated students... but we are not given the tools we need to do it. But I have been informed that my subject areas are not as important as the "core" areas, so I should not expect much. F500 companies... look out... And please keep ISD's in mind if things come up. We can always use good things.

I am worried about water. I have had 2- 6 ounce shakes today, and not even one bottle of water. I get too full too fast. Anyone else having this issue?

Hey girl... was watching Montel and a girl had this issue and thought of you. Googled "eating while sleeping disorder" and found this site http://www.anred.com/nsred.html You might find more information or ask your doctor. It is a sleeping disorder and can be helped.

Just wanted to update my out of pocket. Including copays/myocel/etc this is what I have come up with... so far. 7. What plan are you on (1, 2, or 3) and what was your total out of pocket? Activecare 2, about $3485.00 out of pocket so far. __________________

Appeal. Look up appeal letters on this site and obesityhelp.com. Have every doctor you have seen recommend it. I had one from my PCP, OBGYN, and chiropractor. Do you go to a gym? Have them print out your log ins. Oh and regarding the doctors office visits. I was asked to have 12 months (but got away with 6). I went to my doctor for blood pressure checks, and he just happened to write down my weight and tell me to exercise, went to my doctor for a cold, and he wrote down my weight and told me to exercise, etc. Weight was never the primary diagnosis, but it was on there. It is all in the way you "play the game". I put a sample of my letter on the following thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15700 It has CPT codes and other stuff insurance likes to see, based on the research I did. If you want it bad enough you will work for it. I worked from October '05, and was just banded this past Monday. Insurance does not want to cover it, but if it is medically necessary they will, or the insurance board will make them. Good luck!

Hey guys/gals, just wanted to check in and let everyone know that it is day 3 for me and I feel great. Slept all night long, did not take pain meds at all. Still a little sore, but moving around quite easily. Hope to all three days out!!! Oh, and I ate a 1/2 of a jello pudding and am STUFFED! Guess this is restriction!! (yeah I know it is swelling at this point, but still can tell how it feels and it feels great!)

Well we know the word willpower. We know the word determination. You can do it if you set your mind to it. Just look at it like you must do it or you won't get your band. I once did the medifast for three months straight. (5 shakes a day) It can be done. This looks like it will keep your sugar levels steady, so after day 3 you should be fine. It always takes 3 days to get the "junk" out of your system, so day 4+ will be easy... Good luck!

Ok, I have the same issue... except with ice cream. I can not sleep without a bowl of ice cream or something similar. So I have made substitutes. What about a chocolate Protein shake with a little splenda, maybe a spoon full of Peanut Butter added in? Or a chocolate Protein shake mixed with decaf coffee (frappachino??). Or, get some low carb chocolate options to have on hand. If you are TRULY hungry then the shake is the way to go. If you are HEAD hungry then you may want to keep a low carb cheat on hand until you can figure out what the "trigger" really is. Good luck!