JoannMarie

Denver sounds pretty good... Next summer or fall? Great news about your loss, Lori. I hope you and your family have a good visit next week. You have said your mom is kinda negative -- but who can deny 70 pounds? I would say that is a positive change!! can't wait to join you!

That's a great idea! I just might do that. I was a long arm quilter for about 3 years, but my arthritis was getting so bad I could not stand for prolonged periods of time, and I sold my machine. I replaced it with a sit-down quilting machine (APQS "George"), which is a long arm machine head set into a table - so I move the quilt instead of the machine and still have lots of room. I actually like this process better - guess I just really enjoy the feel of the fabric, and I have a lot better control of the stitching. I'm excited that you are just getting started! Are you taking a class or winging it on your own? You have some great quilt shops in your area and should have great classes available as you progress in skills. I'm a big believer in taking classes. I've taught for several years, lately concentrating on machine quilting classes. I'm not planning on the Houston show this year - but NEXT YEAR look out!I was there in 2001 about 6 weeks after the 9/11 attacks. It was an incredible experience, especially the hundreds of quilts people had created in those few weeks to express their feelings about the attacks and the loss of life. People literally were standing in the aisles looking at those quilts and crying. I went again the next year, and this time had my own quilt in the show! It was a dream come true - a quilt I made for my son, who is in the fire service - depicting a firefighter entering a burning building. That quilt also went to the Paducah show the next spring, and it won a third place ribbon at a national show in Duluth, MN that summer. Today it hangs in my son's office at the fire department where he is now a deputy chief. I've made a lot of quilts since then, but it remains my favorite (Todd's too!). I've been addicted to quilting for lots of years (almost 30!), and always have more designs in my head than I will ever have time to finish! Great to talk to a fellow quilter. (there really are a lot of us, you know...:w00t:)

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Way to go, Lori! This is gone forever, baby, NEVER COMING BACK!

Actually I have my date set for December 4th. I'm a Medicare patient and working with a very busy surgical facility. Between the requirements of Medicare and the patient load at the facility, it has taken some time to get to this point. I was pretty impatient at first, but over the months I have learned so much and feel so much better prepared than I was in the early summer - it's probably been a good thing for me. Now that I have a date I go back and forth between excitement and hesitation. Today I am excited! Talking with the successful banded people on this site helps so much! Thank you for your words of encouragement.

Orea, I am so happy to hear you are doing well. Sorry about the computer dying - I have learned to actually enjoy my computer since retiring; it is really tough when I am away... It's so good to hear you are working with your crafts again. I agree with you - preparing for banding is very time consuming. I've spent a lot of time working with and coordinating the docs, reading the books, and getting as much information as I can to make the decision and then making it happen. I am a devoted quilter, both art and traditional, and those projects have stepped to the side while I've been pushing this along. I have been back with it the last 3 weeks or so. My art quilt group has made a quilt for show entries next year and my part is doing the machine quilting. I've been working on that for several weeks and should finish it up in the next couple of days. I've really enjoyed it and it has started the juices flowing again -looking forward to the next project. I love what you and your on-line group are doing with the yearly retreat. It sounds like a lot of fun. With all your experience along those lines, maybe we should start thinking about something like that for the LBT group(s). A lot of us are posting on the same threads, obviously have something in common and would have fun together. Have a great weekend!

Apples, I am a Minnesota girl, too. Actually born in Kentucky, but raised mostly in MN, north of Duluth. Where are you from? I've been missing the beautiful fall colors along Lake Superior...

Dixie, back on the main page of LBTalk there is a section for Support Groups by the month, go to 2008 and find the October thread. You should find other October bandsters in there and can join in with one of the threads. I just received my December 4th date and today I started the first thread for December Bandsters. So far no one has replied - guess it's just a little out there yet... 9 weeks from tonight I'll be laying back in my recliner wondering why the heck did I do that???

Welcome to all our new posters. This has been a great place to be - lots of supportive caring people. I am anxious to join all the banded people.

Orea, it was good to hear from you. I hope you are doing well. You are not posting as much as you were before your surgery and I've been wondering about you. How did DH's interview go? I hope he finds something he will enjoy doing. It's so frustrating to go to a job you do not enjoy. Good thoughts go your way, and his.

Apples - I am so relieved now that I know you did not lose 96 pounds in 3 months. That is a great loss, but I'd be worried if it was in 3 months! So, Welcome!! Good information about Fashion Bug. The local store in my town just recently closed, but I will check on-line as the need arises. It's good to know of less expensive clothing available that is still good quality. Hope you are feeling better soon.

Halloween, there is a thread on LBTalk for Slow Movers getting to goal (or something similar to that). Thread starter is from the UK and jump started her weight loss after a year or so of frustration. She has added more Protein to her diet in various ways and it has worked for her. Check out that thread and see if her story can help you get to your goal. Her first post is quite long and it indicates that in the title of the thread. Maybe her ideas can help you out. Good luck to you. I'm with the others who encourage you to enjoy your success and be kind to yourself. I'm concerned about being a slow loser myself - have always had that problem - I know I will have to extra patient with myself. I am thinking of this as a lifestyle change with no time limit. The band will be there to stay, and I don't have to be in a hurry, just keep working toward healthy food in limited quantities. It will happen.

Janet, you look beautiful.

Marilyn, you are in my prayers. Thank you for your update. I think of you so often and pray that everything will work out for you and you will have your surgery soon. You have such a great attitude and your love shows through your words. God bless you.

Blanca, I am so glad you are on this thread. You will find a lot of loving support here. Obviously, I did not know your mom, but knowing most moms as I do, I am sure she is pleased that you are taking this step for yourself and your health. She has always wanted that for you. I am praying that your surgery tomorrow goes beautifully and your surgeon's hands are guided by God. I also pray that you will be kind to yourself and understand how your Father loves you and helps you to be your best. My mom has been gone for 12 years now - it seems like it could not possibly be that long. She is with me every day, though, and I am so thankful she is my mom. You do have some tough days ahead, but know that the Holy Spirit walks with you. God bless you.

Thank you for your kind words, Rosey. I feel blessed every day - cold or no cold!

Well, I have my date! Surgery scheduled for Dec 4th! I don't think it has sunk in just yet. Probably blocked by the head cold I seem to have developed. New for me - I have had maybe 2 colds since retiring 4 years ago. I'd forgotten how yucky they can feel... I had my second sleep study Saturday night - started to feel the cold coming on 2 days later. I can't help but wonder... Ah well, minor setback. Now to think about Dec 4th and whatever I can do to make this all come together and work!

Lori, I really don't think my surgeon is that booked. (There are 5 surgeons in the group.) I think they do surgeries at their clinic/surgical center location, but for Medicare patients they must go to the Center of Excellence hospital. I have been told the hospital will only allow them 3 medicare surgeries a week. That sounds plausible to me, since both the hospital and the surgeons receive less money from Medicare than they do from self pays and other insurances. They have to protect the bottom line... However, if there are very many Medicare patients, that just makes the line longer for us. My friend was a self pay at another location back in late March. I think she had about a 3 week wait from putting her papers in to surgery! Sounds great to me! But -- I have had the opportunity to learn a lot over the last few months, and certainly enough information to have confidence in my decision. (sometimes I tend to question my decisions...) BTW - I saw my friend last Sunday and she has lost about 30 pounds since surgery at the end of March. She feels like that is slow, but her job has her traveling ALL the time and it's a very stressful job. I think eating on the road and under so much stress is hard for her and probably has slowed down her losses. But she is very happy with the loss she has had, feels much better, looks great, and is very glad she took this step.

Hi Pati, Welcome to this group. Phyl and I are no longer in our 50's (maybe some others, too), but since technically we are over 50, these folks let us hang around. You will find some great support here, and it's here when you need it. I've not attended any local support group meetings, but I've heard they are sometimes so heavily attended it's hard to make connections or ask your own questions. Around here you can ask away and someone will be answering you within a short time. I've been working toward this surgery since April, and have really gotten an education. Almost like having the band - but talk about NO RESTRICTION! Good luck on your journey.

Hi All - some of you may have heard on another thread, but I wanted to share my news here, too. My surgery scheduler called today - I have a DATE! I will have my surgery on December 4th! I've been working at this for so long - it just doesn't seem to register right now. Of couse I was hoping for a date a little sooner, but I am very happy with the timing. I know these next 9 weeks will go very fast.

Hey Janet - our notes crossed here and I missed your note about the commercial TOMORROW! You will do great - I wish we could all see it. Better yet - I wish we could all be there to kibbitz while you are filming, no need for a script, we would all just be laughing and having fun together. What a commercial that would be.

Thanks Janet! I have waited so long - I don't know if it has sunk in yet! It will probably jump to the forefront of my mind when I lay my head on the pillow tonight and it will mean a sleepless night... As I said earlier, I have a lot to do between now and the big DAY.

The shots are actually Euflexxa - a cartilage replacement type of shot. I had a round of 3 in March and they did help. Doc said I could have another round in the fall - gonna call him tomorrow. The goal is to get the weight well down before the knee replacement. I kinda thought the book was about me, but if you want it to be about you I'll share. :thumbup:

Well I heard from the surgery scheduler today. My date is December 4th. As you all know I was hoping for a bit earlier, but I am delighted just to have a date! I will use these next 9 weeks to get another round of injections for my knee and get serious about my exercise program; also to practice with a smaller plate, small bites, eating slowly. See, I'm listening. I've started an interesting book called "Mindless Eating." It's a very quick read, and the author does have a sense of humor. He has done research with people and their eating habits for many years. I'm only about 50 pages into it, so I'm getting all the interesting ways they perform their tests - but no solutions yet. Not too hard to figure out where it's going, though. Small plate, small bites, take your time. Have you heard that before??? I'm sure there will be more than that, I'll let you know. This book was recommended by the psychologist I saw for my surgery. Good luck to everyone on their October goals. Lori, you owe yourself a pair of earrings, right?

Lori, I think I love your husband! What a great guy! This was such a good experience for you, and he was so right to help you see how far you have come. That has to be very inspiring for you. Mia - time to look for smaller size pants! It's a good thing you were at home. I

I am so sorry to hear this. On the Medicare website it very clearly states they cover bariatric surgery with the qualifying BMI. I don't understand why a Medicare advantage plan would not pay. I have the regular Medicare with a supplemental plan for the amounts of a covered expense that Medicare does not pay. The surgeon's office assures me MC will pay the hospital charges and the surgeon (though I know MC does not pay as well as most insurances). Supplementals have to cover whatever MC covers. Please appeal this decision! If they were not going to pay, you and the surgeon should have been told this before you were very far in the process. Sounds fishy. Don't pay anything until your appeal(s) has been resolved. Is there a legal aid group nearby that you could go to for advice?