Cadets71

New Info for Cadets71: Current weight: 229 lb Original BMI: 44.1 Current BMI: 39.3 Goal: 130 lb Current Waist:45.5 Total lost so far: 32 lb Waist down: 2.5"

ML in VA, You more than meet the Tricare guidelines! So, I would call Tricare and ask to speak to a supervisor in the authorization department. While you may not meet CIGNA's requirements - you certainly do meet Tricares and Tricare is approving people with your stats...so it seems a little discriminatory to me. I am a Tricare beneficiary and have worked with Tricare for years. Good Luck!

I lost 2 more lbs! Ok, Jeni, I added my starting weight (good idea) and everyone elses's that I could find...(I really do have a life :biggrin2:)! Check your information, I might have made a mistake someplace! Name.............StartingWeight....Current......Goal.........To Go Bunkey1965........220.................205............189...........16 CQQlgirl..............200.................200............180...........20 Cadets71............239.................229............219..........12 Dreamsize8.........216.................216............190...........26 FeliciaLevy75......286.................257.4.........240...........17.4 Gayle21..............190.......... ......190............175............15 Jeni 85................189.................183............169............14 Laura bough........215.................210............190............20 Liz_hager............172.................166............150............16 MMarg.................220.................216............199............21 Newhope4me......163.6...............163.6..........150...........13.6 NukeChik.............227.................227............197............30 Scrappy_friend....222.................222.............200...........22 TexGirl................202.................198............180............18 Thininside28........271.5..............271.5..........245............26.5 Wannabthin.........199................199.............179............20

Okay! I lost the 3 lbs I had gained back!!! Bunkey1965......205..........189...........16 dreamsize8.......216..........190...........26 FeliciaLevy75....257.4.......240...........17.4 laura bough......215..........190...........25 liz_hager..........168..........150...........18 NukeChik..........227..........197...........30 thininside28......271.5........245..........26.5 Cadets71.........231...........219..........12 Wannabthin......199...........179..........20 scrappy_friend..222...........200...........22 TexGirl.............198..........180...........18 Gayle21...........190..........175...........15 MMarg.............216...........199..........21 Jeni 85............189...........169..........20 Newhope4me....163.6........150..........13.6 cQQlgirl............200...........180..........20

Felicia, I could not have said it any better!! This is not the place or the forum for private messages and private group meetings. Thanks for having the courage to post publicly!! Hugs to You!

I was banded on June 5th 2008. Since then, my Humalog insulin is reduced from 20u at each meal to 4-5; my Lantus is down from 70u to 10u. My doctor actually wanted to take me off insulin altogether but I wanted to wait until I had been on regular food for a while. My sleep apnea has disappeared (no more CPAP). I had a hiatal hernia repair and I think that helped a lot with the apnea. I feel wonderful. Swelling in feet and legs is gone. Back pain is gone. Hip pain is gone. I am so grateful for the lap band!

Kim, the very best thing to do is to call the Medicaid office and ask. Usually insurances have requirements that you must meet, e.g. a BMI of X or more; co-morbidities; or sometimes a certain number of pounds overwieght. Therefore, even if someone had a lap band with Medicaid in IL, they may not have the same BMI, weight etc that you have. So call them and that way you will know for sure! Good luck.

Carolyn, did you say that Tricare will pay for a tummy tuck? How did you hear that? Is there a reference in the policy manual. It would be great news, but I didn't think they did!

Not a great week for me. I had 3 days where I ate more than I should have and I missed two days of exercise, so I gained back 3 lbs. I have picked myself up, went to the gym today and am ready to continue. I still believe I can make my goal. Congrats to all of you...even if you didn't lose, you were hanging tough!! Bunkey1965......207..........189...........18 dreamsize8.......216..........190...........26 FeliciaLevy75....257.4.......240...........17.4 laura bough......215..........190...........25 liz_hager..........168..........150...........18 NukeChik..........227..........197...........30 thininside28......271.5........245..........26.5 Cadets71.........234...........219..........15 Wannabthin......199...........179..........20 scrappy_friend..222...........200...........22 TexGirl.............198..........180...........18 Gayle21...........190..........175...........15 MMarg.............216...........199..........21 Jeni 85............189...........169..........20 Newhope4me....163.6........150..........13.6 cQQlgirl............200...........180..........20<!-- / message --><!-- sig --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Yvonne, I will be there! Thanks so much for coordinating our August event. Looking forward to a new and improved group picture! :smile2: It was wonderful to meet everyone...it's just so great to talk with people who all eat the same and who really understand each other!! Hugs, Mary

We've been trying to pull something together for a while now. FeliciaLevy and I met today and decided it would be good if we could get together once a month. So we picked Sunday, July 13th, for an early afternoon lunch - say 1:00 pm. We thought a tapas restaurent would be good because of the small tasting sizes. Cafe Babareeba is located in the Fashion Valley Mall on Las Vegas Blvd. The food is excellent and it's about $9-10 per tapas order. If we all order differently, we can pass them around. They also have Soup if you are still on full liquids. Not sure the best way for us all to communicate. For now, let's use this thread. Keep me posted if you can attend. If our group gets large, I will make sure they can acommodate us. You can check out their web site at www.cafebarbareeba.com It was great meeting Sam - we ended up talking for 2.5 hours. We all have so much to share...and it is WONDERFUL talking to someone who is in the same place as you. Try to make this. Looking forward to meeting all of you!

I have lost 26 lbs since my pre-op diet; 30 pounds since my high weight. I have two more weeks until my first fill. I am not really restricted but I seem to be doing okay sticking with my diet plan.

Hey Everyone, I made our reservations today and since then had a cancellation. There are two others I am no longer sure about. If you decide that you cannot make it, PLEASE let me know so I can call the restaurant and let them know.

There are three practices in Las Vegas (that I am aware of): Drs. Soong and Atkinson Dr. Teng Dr. Hannah I know the first two practices take most insurances. I don't know about Dr. Hannah. If you watch tv very much you will have seen Drs. Soong & Atkinson, as well as Dr. Teng. They have ads on their practices.

OMG...You are awesome! :thumbup: Almost time to buy a bathing suit!! :biggrin:

The major problem with this video is that it is being presented by Dr. Robert Rutledge. Dr. Rutledge lost his license to practice in Florida and California. He now operates a clinic in Las Vegas. He does a procedure called a mini gastric bypass that NO insurance companies will cover. It is a dangerous procedure with significant mortality rates. He has nothing good to say about Lap Band or Gastric bypass (RNY). He is dangerous! Having provided that background, I will say that we don't have a lot of data yet on the lapband but somehow I doubt that the FDA and well-educated and trained doctors would be condoining and doing lap band if research is showing negative outcomes. The FDA in particular has a lot at stake and they are pretty good at following up; same with the National Institutes of Health. You have to be careful what you believe and always make certain the source is creditable.

Oops! Forgot to update my weight: Name.............Current......Goal.........To Go Bunkey1965......210..........205...........5 dreamsize8.......216..........190...........26 FeliciaLevy75....263.5.......240...........23.5 laura bough......215..........190...........25 liz_hager..........168..........150...........18 NukeChik..........227..........197...........30 thininside28......271.5........245...........26.5 Cadets71.........231...........219...........12 Wannabthin......199...........179...........20 scrappy_friend...222..........200...........22 TexGirl..............202.........180...........22 Gayle21............190..........175............15 MMarg.............220...........199...........21

Hey, Liz & Felicia!! Congratulations! I had a great weekend, and though I am not much for getting on the scale - I was 231 today! I have really been pushing the treadmill because in the end, the exercise will be the critical difference. NSVs:thumbup:: I have so many. First, I am off one blood pressure med (one to go); Dr wanted to take me off insulin last week, but I want to wait until I am on the regular foods for a month or so; No more swollen ankles and legs...I have ankle bones!! (everyone who knows me knows about my ankles). I am cured of my sleep apnea (probably the hiatal hernia repair), but it still counts for me; I have energy. Right before the surgery, I honestly could not walk one block without stopping. I am off Hormone replacement therapy - seems I am always cold now; My wedding ring is loose and well, I am just happy. No one has noticed my weight loss and I don't see a lot of difference in my clothes, but that will come.... Have a good week!

I know from reading these forums and threads that there is a huge difference in the approach surgeons take towards food progressions post-surgery. Some people don't move to real food for months, others are there in two weeks or less. My Dr. is conservative, so there were 2 weeks on liquids (clear to full), then 2 weeksd on pureed, then soft foods until the end of month three. I am fine with all of that. My concern is that once we are on real food, he wants to limit our calorie intake to 700-800 cals per day. I am a little troubled by this because it seems so stringent and not within all the dietary guidelines I have read. Anyone else have this type of diet restriction? Thanks for your input!

Hey Everyone! Thanks for your responses. The 700-800 calories is for after we go on a regular diet (4 months - forever). Right now I am at 500-600 calories. I have started to exercise and I am burning about 200 calories a day but that will increase as I step up the program. I will have the conversation with him, but he is a typical surgeon and doesn't like questions! In the end, I will probably just sort it out for myself. I am glad to know that this does seem a little restrictive! Thanks Again!!

Yep, I did mean Sunday. I also clarified on the other thread. Old age! It's past my bed time!

Confirming the date: SUNDAY, JULY 13th The Place: Cafe Babareeba at the Fashion Show Mall The TIme: 1:00 pm I will make a reservation under Mary McCarthy.

Ok, everyone. I think we have a good group here. These are the people I have that will be coming: FeliciaLevy Cherieinlv Dandy75 Cadets71 Mominlv Yvonne72 ModelWitchKatie GolfGirllv ACactus FLower And Hubby I will make a reservation for 11 (in case George can get away). If I have forgotten anyone - please remind me! If you have anyone else, let me know asap. I am going to make the reservation on Wednesday! I am really excited about how many of you are coming. It will be so great for all of us to meet each other!

Thanks, George. It is definitely in my head as well. Agree on the big support groups - not much chance for interchange. I am going to check this out. I need to figure out where it is relative to me and what time it is. Still hoping you will come Saturday! Also, I ordered the book on Lapband and weight loss success that you liked so much!

George, tell us more about Dr. Segura's group. Is it $20/seesion or per month? What do you talk about? Is it limited to WLS patients or just anyone wanting to lose weight? Thanks!