Dody

You refused me a piggy back ride, therefore, no new car for you. See what happens when you aren't kind and generous

I suffer from panic attacks and was allowed to take my Xanax. They told me it wouldn't affect the reading one way or the other, and it would be much easier to deal with then a panic attack. My study was done in two parts. One night I got all fixed up with all the gooey stuff and wires and slept without C-pap. I didn't think I would be able to sleep either, but I did. My room looked like a hotel room...TV and all. I went back a week later because I had severe sleep apnea and sleap all night on C-pap. Just the thought of having something over my nose grossed me out, but I took to it like a duck to Water and now I can't sleep without my C-pap (even for a nap). Talking with it on is impossible (you sound very much like Donald Duck on helium) and it scares my dog to death....I hope you have a great experience and ask your hospital, they may allow you something to relax you. Don't worry...all will turn out fine. It's a walk in the park.

You are a very special person to want to do this for your Mom. I hope she knows how truly blessed she is to have a daughter like you. On the flip-side I kind of know how she would feel. I would not let my daughter pay for my surgery (but that is because I can afford it myself) so I'm between a rock and a hard place on how you should handle this. If your mother is a proud person, this will be difficult for her, unless you find a way to make it seem not like "a gift", (although it's truly a gift of life). Wow, I have to think about this from a Mom's perspective and put myself in her shoes. If I couldn't afford the surgery, I'm not sure what I would do. I guess if my kids truly wouldn't miss the money I would consider it so I could be around longer and enjoy my grandchildren. That's my reason for having it done now. Gifting is a tough thing for those of us that are proud, and don't accept things readily. I think the best suggestion was don't tell her the cost at all, and just let her know it is out of love and the fact you want her around for a very long time. It seems like Mom is carrying a lot of baggage around as it is with guilt feelings. Let her know how much you love her and that this is a "gift for you and grandchildren" so that she will be in your life for a long time. You're a wonderful daughter.

I'm from Boise and wanted to say hi to you. I'm not having my surgery done here in Boise, but am going to Tennessee for it. I don't have much advice because I haven't even been banded yet, but wanted to say hi because we are from the same area.

Kevin's fan base is 12-year-old girls, which isn't all bad, because they are probably calling in fifty million times for him. That's why he's still there. I'm still shaking my head at Ace being in the bottom 3.....we need to be calling.

If you read through the threads (may take the better part of a day) you will have all the info you need from the people on here about erosion, slippage, etc. Just remember people come here for support. There are lots of happy bandsters out there that rarely show up here. We come here to learn from others and to give help if we can. I'm unable to help much because I'm not yet banded, but I won't change my mind for anything. For me this is the only option. I think people are OH SO TIRED of answering this same question over and over, so please...take a day or a week and just read everything on here. You will be so informed.

That conscious sedation is normally Versed. It is awesome...somewhat like two rum and cokes, but you say the durndest things!! Actually the shots are probably cortisone and they want to hit the right spot. They actually don't kick in for a couple days, and the day after you usually hurt worse than before, but when they kick in it's really, really nice. I would find out how often you need them, and I would be interested what disk it is. Some disks cause discomfort at times, but not all the time. Some disks cause permanent problems. At least they aren't trying to talk you into surgery, so I'm thinking it can't be that bad. Good luck.

Ace in the bottom 3....unimaginable. What are people thinking??

They make deliveries just about every day to me...from Northern Nights sheet sets (I'm spoiled) to anything and everything...just ordered 4 pairs of Birkies and 3 coats from Dennis Basso. I think they just get tired of coming here and my dog barks at them every time. Doesn't matter...I'm a QVC and HSN holic and never disappointed in what I get. They have some great stuff. As for Medicare. They are going to stop paying for the surgery at age 65. I thought I was in under the loop, but now they aren't paying anything unless you have a State Of Excellence Hospital perform the lap-banding. This consists of hospitals that have every facility available...open heart surgery etc. The dr's. at these hospitals in no way take Medicare patients, and I'm not about to wait for them to start. I hate the mess with the insurance companies too, but I'm just going to say the heck with it and pay for it. I don't have the time or the energy to mess with Medicare of all people. They aren't going to ever qualify a smaller hospital as State Of Excellence........just isn't going to happen in my lifetime. I'm just tired of the hassle and I've been fighting it for a year now, so it isn't like I just started this yesterday. I don't have the time to wait, and all my tests will expire and need to be done again, and the last thing I want is to go through all that again (especially the upper GI), so I'm just paying and they can kiss my big, shiny, white behind :hat:

Well, needless to say I'm still in a state of shock. I've had all my tests done and was leaving for Tennessee to have my surgery done when the Bariatric Center called me with the news that they got a letter from Medicare stating that "all bariatric surgeries must be performed at a state of excellence hospital". This means a big time hospital I'm assuming and the hospital I was going to was just a regular old hospital....nice but not state of the art. They can't do surgery there until Medicare inspects all these small hospitals that were doing the surgery and qualifies them. It could be weeks, months, or never knowing Medicare. After I paniced I called Vanderbilt in Nashville but the bariatric center is closed for the day...it's 5:00 p.m. there. I know they take Medicare but I'm thinking everyone who was lined up for surgery in the rest of Tennessee (with the exception of Memphis) is probably pounding at their door wanting their surgery. I am totally bummed. I have spent mo. getting rid of an ulcer and now another major setback. I'm unsure what to do at this point....by the time they get documentation all of my tests may be outdated and I don't want to go through all that again. Should I stay home, go to Tennessee and hope for the best, forget the whole thing (which is going to be difficult after all the work I've put into it) or just let things run it's course and hope they get qualified soon at the smaller hospitals? HELP!!

I was having surgery around the end of April and found out today Medicare will now only pay for surgeries at State Of Excellence Hospitals. Most of these hospitals have surgeons who do not accept Medicare, so I wish you lots of luck in finding one. In order to qualify to be State Of Excellence you have to have a neonatal intensive care unit, perform open heart surgery, etc. This ruling just came out. I am now going self-pay. It just isn't worth the hassle, besides which the fact that by the time they get around to doing anything Medicare is passing a law you have to be under 65 to have the surgery done. Sorry I don't have better news for you. Just remember your dr. has to operate at a "super hospital" not just a good hospital.

I miss all of you if you disappear for a few days, but I particularly miss the wit and wisdom of Jack. Has anyone heard from him. I was wondering if he went away on vacation and I missed the post. What a great and gifted guy. He can lift your spirits sky high and he's intelligent to boot...all this in a man....awesome.

You won't even give me a piggy back ride. Well, I guess you just aren't really a friend then. Just think of the weight you could drop lugging me around. The dr. would be amazed at you. I talked to my daughter tonight. I've just said "the heck with it" and told her I'm just going to come down there, enjoy my vacation and pay for the darned surgery. I'll be darned after everything I've been through if I'm not going through with this. It's also way cheaper in Tennessee. I think you have to go self-pay or face obstacles with insurance for who knows how long. I thought mine was a walk in the park until this....but they aren't going to make these smaller hospitals into State Of Excellence Hospitals...there isn't a chance. Bad luck for all the band and RNY docs too that do their surgeries there for Medicare patients.. Se La Vie (is that right)? Who cares. I'm past ticked off now and going to go and watch American Idol. Stress isn't my best thing to deal with...I've had enough of it up to this point, so this little set-back is not permanent. Here's hoping the dr. lives until I get there...that's about the only other thing that could go wrong unless someone hi-jacks my plane or something. That could be OK if they take me to Mexico...ROFLMAO. I'd rather not have the surgery in that case. I'm convinced there is a Mexican dr. in Caldwell doing lap banding in his kitchen as we speak (he just doesn't have a degree). I wonder if that durned Jack even knows we had a posse out looking for him.

I didn't go out and buy clothes today...was too busy making phone calls, but too late in the day to reach the hospital in Nashville. QVC delivered a whole bunch of stuff to me today (and the UPS man gave me his usual snarl) :hat: I'm thinking that Medicare is probably not going to change the policy on State Of Excellence Hospitals though. We have two of them in Boise (but St. Al's was NOT one before they added the maternity and NICU back) and now they are. All the other hospitals in Nampa and Caldwell are not State Of Excellence. They have to be performing heart surgeries and have neonatal intensive care units to qualify and how many small hospitals are going to add that...zippo. Anyway I was wondering if your back had room for one more on it. Seems your hubby is doing great un-banded. He must have terrific willpower. I just thought maybe if you packed me around too you would lose weight at 3 times the rate

You want him to go all the way...and my mind tells me you mean this in the purest form as in being the next American Idol :hat: Otherwise, I will have to e.mail Chris's wife and tell her you are totally into him. Wow, she sure is going to have her hands full if he wins...women love men that can sing!! Look at Clay Aiken, he's so homely he's cute and women just love him.

You are right, there is no point stressing over something I can't change. For now I'll wait until tomorrow and call Vanderbilt. My thoughts are...go self-pay and forgit about it, but then I think "why should I when I'm covered". I'm not sure what I'll end up doing. I hate to pay when I don't have too. Thanks for the reassurances. I guess I'll just go visit my daughter, enjoy, and what happens happens.....:hat:

Strangely enough I thought last night was Melissa's best night. I would be surprised to see her go home, but you just never know. "Baby cheeks" does have the following of the 12-year-olds and they sure can use a phone. He will probably be safe for awhile. Bucky looked somewhat cute with his new hairdo..."sure did clean up nice", but he isn't going to be there long I don't think. My vote for American Idol is Chris!!

F____ a Duck!! and please don't ask me where I came up with that one.

I'm looking at the end of April or the beginning of May myself to get banded...I hope anyway!! I have been jumping through hoops for a year...correct that I've been stepping gingerly through hoops for close to a year. I'm too old for the jumping game anymore. I'm a little nervous too, but after all the tests I've had to go through I'm not about to back out now. I think it is natural to get nervous as it gets closer, but this forum is full of people that have been through it and they will give you a lot of encouragement. As for the gas...I know nothing yet about it. I had gallbladder surgery and didn't have a bit of gas, so maybe I'm just not the norm. The dr. had told me I would have lots of gas from that surgery and I didn't, but then she also told me I would be pretty much down and out for 2 weeks and I was out in the car that very night searching for my cat who took advantage of my being asleep to wander off. I took a pain pill when I got home (same day surgery), slept 8 hours, and then just drove around the neighborhood looking for my cat. Would have broke my heart to lose him. I'm out in the country and at that time my house was the first one built in the subdivision so I wasn't going to run into any traffic anywhere......just construction sites. I bet you will do just fine and soon it will be behind you. Great support on here if you do have questions afterwards. I've been hanging out here for mo. and I'm getting smarter every day

We have two American Idol threads, but looks like everyone has wandered over to the other one. It is getting longer and longer. Paula...how come you are laughing at me for listening to Fuel when "you know who they are" You listening in your spare time too?

Loved when Chris sang Hemorrhage. Sounded just like Fuel. A Grandma can like rock. I love Savage Garden too although theyn aren't at the top of the charts anymore. I have to keep up with Rock for my kids and grandkids. I want them to think Grandma is with it. Kellie is a cutie...rough life and there is nothing phony about it, and she doesn't ask for sympathy. Simon told her she looked like a minx and she thought he said mink...so funny. Hell, how many people know what Simon is saying anyway and how many people could distinguish what a minx truly is. Simon was on Jay Leno and picked Kellie. He also picked last years winner from the very beginning when he picked Carrie Underwood. Simon is a big mouth but he does know talent...he cracks me up with sometimes and other times he is just plain rude. Simon said on Jay Leno he thought Kellie was "cuter" than Carrie Underwood. I don't agree with that one...think Carrie Underwood is a doll, although Kellie "cleans up real nice" She looked cute last night and completely out of her element. I'm glad she didn't have any wardrode malfunctions. I want a hair-do like Bucky's. Mine never looks that good. BLAH. As for Taylor. I think he has unexplained twitches or a light case of epilepsy. I never saw anyone convulse so much and so out of sequence. Maybe he just thinks he is sexy. Jay Leno says they are look alikes. Maybe Taylor missed his calling and should be a comedian. He cracks me up with that harmonica, but he sure can play it. He isn't my favorite by any means though, but I like his grey hair. Heck, he does remind me of Jay Leno in a way.....

That's cute Susan. I like it. It certainly does appear he has been "detained" in some way. Wish he would show up so we would know he is OK. The nerve of him just leaving us hanging I don't know which would be worse..Jack getting hi-jacked or Heaven forbid Jack getting high!!

It just isn't like him to be gone from this board for so long without saying "I'm going to be out of town for the weekend or something". It's been lots longer than a weekent. Jack, quit worrying us now and come out of hiding!! Last post I saw from him he had just got home from the dr. and had great news about his diabetes being much more under control.........and then poof he vanished. If anyone knows his phone # I think they should give him a call. I only know he's in the Oregon and that's one big place. I'm probably worrying unnecessarily, but I sure miss him...his wit, his wisdom, his courage, and his ability to make everyone feel good about themselves. COME BACK JACK!!

Let's see, if we can't find a little sympathy for Kellie who has no clue where her Mom is; her dad has been in prison all her life; she has been raised by her Grandpa whom she adores; and she is a country girl, then let's not feel sorry for Stevie Wonder with his millions just because he is blind. That's my take on it. There is nothing dumb about Kellie....just uninformed. This is the first time she's ever been out of that little town she grew up in, and I see her standing in the top two with Chris and Mandisa (maybe). I don't care for Stevie Wonder or his songs. I think he has gotten rich on a LITTLE talent and his handicap. There are a lot better songwriters and singers out there than him. Lets hear it for Chris. This Grandma loved Hemorrage...closed her eyes and saw Fuel. He is awesome, and I'm a country girl, not a rocker, but I think I know real talent when I see it. I think it's time for "baby cheeks" to go home, although the little girls adore him and he is funny. No one but Chris was truly awesome last night and he lit up the stage with his performance, but his take off on the Chili Peppers version was much better than Stevie Wonder's. Hats off to Chris. He is going all the way. I think we've seen the next American Idol in him. Just my opinion....you know what they say about opinions.

I had been in the hospital over 2 weeks when I was released. I was ABLE to drive as long as I put a pillow between me and the seatbelt. The fact is that they just don't let you get in a car and drive yourself, but I was given permission to drive (although not great distances), and seeings as I had only been taking aspirin for my heart for the last few days I was in no way impaired. Where I live it is desert...everything is straight...no curves...no view, (unless you count sagebrush) and I drove home very slowly. I had no problems, but I would not drive home the day after a surgery. You are still going to be very sore and on medication. The advise given by others is excellent. In my case I had stayed an extra 3 days for physical therapy before I went home, which was on a completely different floor. I had just moved into a new home in a brand new subdivision before my surgery, knew no one there, and my best friend had died of brain cancer the mo. before, so I truly was stuck to get my car home. I would have had to go back for it anyway, and I didn't feel leaving it there was safe. I worried all the time I was in the hospital about it....anyway...yes...take a cab, have a friend pick you up....take the advise of everyone on here. It isn't the same set of circumstances as mine were.