JoannMarie

Hi Don, You have been waiting so long - I know you have your heart set on CMMC, but in checking out the various Centers of Excellence in my area, I have found that the final designation, Medicare billing number, etc., can be many, many months of waiting. Not necessarily the facility's fault, but government wheels move very slowly and there are several parts of the puzzle that have to be in place. My first choice of facilities has also been told "any day now" for a long time. My second choice got the designation, then had billing issues with Medicare and it took 6 months to get it straightened out. Meanwhile the waiting list just kept growing. It would not hurt to check with other facilities that already have everything in place to see if you could get this done sooner. I am 66 and will do anything I have to do to get this done before any other health problems creep in. As it is I need a knee replacement now, but I know I will gain even more if I have it done at my current weight. The lapband and good weight loss has to come first! We have to be the managers of our own health and I will do what it takes to see as good an outcome as possible. Good luck to you, Don, whatever your decision. I know how frustrating it can be. I wish you the best.

Hi to all, I had my sleep study last night and it was uneventful. (I actually love uneventful, esp when dealing with medical procedures.) All the electrodes hooked up, lights out and nighty-nights by 10pm. I did not sleep as deeply as usual, but did okay and still felt rested this morning (though tech woke me up at 5:00am!). It was a "split" study - the tech would have awakened me to give me a mask if I had shown signs of low oxygen in order to determine correct oxygen level w/out a second study. Apparently I did not have low oxygen levels, because she did not bring in the mask. At least I can check off that requirement -on to the consultation on Sept. 3. Inch by inch. It is so good to have all of you here for inspiration and a little bit of hand-holding! Thanks...

Thank you, Long. I'm still waiting PATIENTLY!!! Actually I have my sleep study tomorrow night, consultation with my surgeon on Sept. 3rd. I am hopeful I will get a date at my consultation. I am so hoping for surgery this fall... heck, I would go first thing in the morning!! You are all such an inspiration to me.

You and me both! I am not a reality show watcher, but I do love that show... Until I started watching BL, I never realized after all these years of marriage, my DH can roll his eyes just like a teenager! Maybe that's where Tracy learned that skill! :biggrin: Your competition at the gym sounds like fun - and you are a loser! Yayyy!

Hi Charlene, As you know, I have not been banded yet, so probably can't go much by what I have to offer. Except that I'm looking in from a different perspective. And I have recently lived for several weeks in the same house with a new first time mother and a baby who was wonderful, but - guess what - he cried now and then! And I have been on the freeways of Houston - not driving! You are far more courageous than I am. Charlene, you have lost 27 pounds. I realize some of the loss may have been before you were banded, but it is gone. and the band is going to help you keep it GONE. I know people who have bypass usually have faster weight loss - sometimes more - but over the long haul, the wt loss of both procedures is usually about the same. It probably seems like you are in a race right now, compared to your friend. But it isn't really a race and you don't have to hurry. Could it be that your anxiety over losing less than you'd hoped at this point in time - combined with anxiety about your daughter, loss of sleep, etc., etc., could be working against your weight loss, too? I know Janet, Phyl, Long2Bthin, and all the others on this thread would be telling you to keep doing the right things as you have been and you will be fine. Love on your daughter, love on that baby, vent here, go for another walk... just keep following the rules and the weight will come off. Promise me you will tell me the same thing in 3 or 4 months when I am feeling anxious! Believe me, I know it will look different to me when I'm actually in your shoes. Good luck!

Driving on freeways is enough to make anyone anxious! I hope the cpap helps you through it all.

HA! Another household where the doggie never sees the inside of the doggie bag. My shelties have been trying to tell me they are the only dogs in the world who are so deprived. Lying little furballs... I think my days of pizza for breakfast are over. Too bad. I can live with that!

Phyl, you are doing so well. You are halfway to your goal! You are definitely my role model... You must be feeling so great. Congratulations!

Soulsister, thank you for all your prayers. You are definitely God's prayer warrior! I think your idea for a get-together in the future is great! It looks like Phyl and I are the lucky ones that don't need a card for the senior menu! WooHoo! I've been checking out menus at all our favorite restaurants. I don't feel too concerned about choosing the right foods. DH and I can share some, but he doesn't always like what I like (go figure). The appetizer menu and doggie bags are a good option. (The poor dogs have never seen the inside of a doggie bag!) I think the card is a good idea, but maybe the best thing is for the medic-alert aspect. My surgery hospital is not local, and it will give me a measure of comfort to have that information for the local folks. God bless you all tonight.

Lori - congratulations on your first 50! I am excited for you, you have worked very hard for this and you are on your way. Charlene, I hope your daughter continues to improve. Being a new mom is not easy even with the best of circumstances. I am glad she is coming to stay with you - her mom is just what she needs right now. and the new baby - they are so wonderful. I spent 3 weeks with my daughter and their baby boy last spring. It's so much easier to be the grandma... It was a time I cherish.

Welcome back, Phyl! We all missed you. I love your new photo. You look gorgeous, girl! Vacation must have agreed with you. How is that underwire going? It's been a long time since I have worn one of those 'cause I didn't like getting stuck w/wire... Maybe the secret is a good fitting. I'll have to try that one of these days. It's good to have you back,

Thanks for the information, Elayne. I have my sleep study Saturday night - my first and I hope only. It's good to know you slept well. I assume this study for me will be without the mask? Not my plan to be afraid of every little thing... What's with that?

Sounds like good advice, Jeanette. I took a look at your ticker - WOW. I'm going to be happy to take advice from you. You've lost 115 pounds! You are doing great. Glad you're back from NJ and in a more comfortable place for you. I'm looking forward to meeting you next week. I guess Lisa will be otherwise occupied that evening, but we will be thinking about her and wishing her a speedy recovery. :biggrin2:

Good for you, Karen. It sounds like you are well on your way. You'll be eating the real roast beef before long! Your 14 pound loss is really great. Nice to know they won't be back, isn't it? Keep up the good work.

Ellen, I had a thought while I was reading your post. I looked at your ticker and saw that you started with 85 pounds to lose. You are over half-way there! You are doing great - no matter when you lost, before or after banding - it is still gone and the band will help you keep it gone. Many people have started with a lot more to lose than you did. It is natural that they will lose faster at the beginning of their journey than you will. I'm starting at about BMI 43. I probably will not lose as fast at the beginning as someone who starts at BMI 50 or 55. I think I need to be aware of that from the start and not get frustrated that other people may be losing faster than I am. You and I WILL be successful. Your SIL is right - you are doing what you need to do and it will happen. I have to say this support thread is great. Not even banded, but I feel supported already! You all have such good questions, ideas, and answers. and a disclaimer: that DD of mine is the swimmer, not me! I can dog-paddle, but that is about it. As an adult she has gone on to running marathons (4 so far), and then started doing Ironman triathlons(3 so far). She is a mom now and takes her baby jogging with her in the stroller just about every day - not training, just keeping in shape. All this from a mom who prefers making quilts to exercising. That preference probably won't change, but the daily schedule has changed to accommodate workouts. I feel like this is my last chance to make sure I'll be playing with that baby of hers for as long as possible. Good thoughts and many thanks to all of you...

Everybody is pretty quiet tonight... Must be watching the Olympics. I am. Love the swimming - DD was competitive swimmer elementary school through college, so we had many MANY hours together at meets and traveling to and from. We have been "watching" the swimming together over the phone! Hope everyone is doing well.

Update: I have my sleep study scheduled for next Saturday (16th). I don't have any signs or symptoms of sleep apnea, but the surgeon requires the study if you are a Medicare patient. Apparently it is not a MC requirement but one of the guidelines and the surgeon likes to make sure all the t's are crossed and i's dotted. I am good with that. My consultation appointment is for Sept. 3 and I should receive a date at that time if all goes well. I am hoping for an October date. DH and I are planning a trip to Korea at Christmastime to spend holidays with DD and her family (Army folks). I would like to be well established with all the new processes before I go on such a long flight to foreign shores. (something to discuss with doc at my consultation!)

Long2bThin, good wishes for your surgery tomorrow. I'm going to be away from LBTalk for a couple of days beginning early tomorrow morning. I hope when I return I see an early message from you telling us all about how well everything went. You will be feeling so much better, and your continued weight loss will make you feel better yet. You are sooo on your way!

AND YOU LOOK GORGEOUS, DAHLING!! all this talk about plastic surgery? Your face (well, everywhere, but esp noticeable in your face!) is so smooth and beautiful. WOW!

Soulsister, thank you for that beautiful prayer. We are all blessed to have your company on this thread. God bless you.

Great to hear from you Karen. I'm sorry to hear you are so sore - please take it easy and rest. I hope you will have a speedy recovery!

Some interesting observations so early in the morning... Much rather worry about saggies than bulgies. I am interested to observe how many folks are unsure about what, when, and how - esp since their lapband applications. I think some doctors may not be offering the nutrition guidelines they should be based on the needs of the LB patient. Some people seem to be getting most of their nutrition info from successful bandsters on these threads.

Mary - you are probably already on your way to the hospital for your big party! Best of luck to you today - prayers are for a safe and successful surgery and a speedy recovery.

Denise, are you continuing to lose? I noticed Indio is still losing (although at a slower rate). I am just curious about goal weight and what the doc recommends as you are at your goal. Do they ever remove a little of the fill, or just figure you will stop losing if they just leave well enough alone? OMW, I wish I could hurry up and get this band. I keep thinking up questions. DH always tells me I tend to analyze too much (drives him crazy sometimes...). Can I help it? come from a family of scientists/engineers!! hopeless.

Good to have you back, PJ. Sounds like everything went well. I wish you a speedy recovery...