kim2bhealthy

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Yay!!! Happy Esophagus Healing! Wait, is than an earthquake, phew, no, that's me doing the happy dance too! Best wishes Alex!

I used it for a few weeks, it elevated my bood pressure, and I swear it made me hungrier!! Didn't work for me!

Well.. This is a very complex question... I was overweight as a child, I remember hearing people tell my mom "she'll slim down as she gets taller", well the taller I got, the wider I got. I have always, always been big, and to be quiet honest, I don't think I'll ever be "Skinny", but my current weight is ridiculous! I was the fun fat girl in the big group of pretty, thin girls in high school who got along with everyone, but got ignored by the boys.. I've always been the happy- go-lucky girl, every girls friend and every guy's buddy, but inside I'm not happy. I look in the mirror or see photos of myself and think "Who is that?". Is this really me? I'm single, 34 and never really lived life... I mean I've travelled, have a great family (who I probably spend wayyyy to much time with), and wonderful friends who I don't spend enough time with, and a great job. I am a nuturer.. I put everyone else and their needs ahead of my own... I'm the go to girl.. AND I'M SICK OF IT!!! I just hope to have the willpower to put myself ahead of everyone else for at least a while. I'm tired of being alone.. I think I hide behind my weight, I don't put myself out there because I lack the self confidence that I think others have... I spend a lot of time looking down at the ground when I'm in public... In a nut shell, my whole life has been a turning point, I just never seem to make the turn.. I just exist from day to day being the "happy fat girl", waiting on something to change my world. I hope the band will be what I need to help me to make the turn... Sorry for the rambling...

Tilly - Glad to see that the scales are moving in the right direction! Wow, a "strangulated umbilical hernia" sounds like a painful thing.. Congrats on your weight-loss so far, over 100 lbs in a year? Awesome, keep up the good work!

Yes those battles with Dale Sr. were great! That's probably when I soured on Gordon, he was messing with my man Earnhardt! NASCAR is still not the same without him... Though Tony seems to enjoy stepping into the "intimidator" spot (not that anyone could ever replace Dale Sr.). He's got little Kyle Busch shaking in his shoes! That cracks me up, because I just can't stand those Busch boys! Hopefully Gordon and Dale Jr will both be in the top ten this year, it was no fun for me without them last year...

Well, after waiting almost 4 weeks for my surgeon to submit my info to my Insurance, I called Tuesday to see if they had received it, they said "Yes, it was Denied". I said "When did you receive it?", "Today" was the response. Geez they didn't waste any time did they? I knew it would probably get denied because they have an exclusion in my policy that states " Surgical treatment and associated care for treatment of obesity" is excluded. I'm hoping that I can get arround this exclusion due to the fact that my diagnosis is NOT Obesity (Dignosis Code 278.0), but Super Morbid Obesity (278.1). Anyone else have this issue? Is it worth the fight? I immediately filed an appeal and will be bombarding them with documentation. I'll probably appeal and couple of times and if that doesn't work, I'll be a self-payer. Any suggestions? :help:

Thanks for the responses guys! Bubba-I have John Deere Choice POS insurance. I have several co-morbidities.. hypertension, sleep apnea, GERD, etc. My policy just states: "Surgical treatment and associated care for treatment of obesity" is excluded. That's it, nothing about being medically necessary or anything. I'm currently gathering info for my appeal and just yesterday received my official denial letter and appeal for from John Deere. Thanks 3loves, I'll do a search and see what I come up with. Go Dale JR!! What's up with Tony this year? He seems to battling demons from a couple of years ago! Where's last year's "Mellow Tony"? He's still my number two man! Later!

Well, Someone emailed this to me the other day.. Thought this would be an appropriate thread to post it to.. EEEK!!! Imagine the view from the front! Can someone scale this down, its pretty scary that large! Enjoy!

I was a big Gordan fan when he first started out, but then I soured on him (over-exposure, I guess) he's okay I guess.. Jimmie Johnson just seems to be a kiss a** to me... He is cute though... Kasey is a cutie! Wonder if he's still dating Terry Labonte's daughter? That was last year or the year before I think? I would like for Mark to win the Championship too! I like Tony because he's such a jerk! It cracks me up that he just says whats on his mind..... There's always gotta be guys like Tony to keep things interesting! I miss Rusty a little, he always had something to whine, err talk about!

I can't believe he won either!!! I can't stand him.. Actually I don't care for any of the Hendrick drivers either, I really can't stand Kyle Busch, what a punk(Smokes gonna get him yet!!) Tacwoman, I almost cried when they said Dale Jr was too fast on pit raod... I didn't agree with pitting for tires with three to go in the first place, then when he got the speeding penalty to the end of the longest line, well... lets just say there was some cussing goin' on at my house... 13th would of been a great finish for him there, oh well, one of the things that I like best about Dale Jr is that he's not a big wuss who doesn't take chances on stuff like that.. I've gotta go to Bristol sometime, I live only a few hours away in Tennessee, but never been to a race there.. Been to Daytona, Atlanta and Taladega, but never to Bristol.. I hear its an awesome track to go to..

Hello! I'm a NASCAR fan too! Been watching it since I was a little girl. My family has always been involved in racing (on dirt). I was at a racetrack when I was three days old! I'm also a Dale Jr. fan, I always loved his dad.... Tony is my 2nd favorite! Viva LAs Vegas this weekend! Anybody but Jimmie Johnson or the Busch boys! How's life with your band Terri? I'm fighting with my insurance company to get them to pay for it, but even if they don't I'll do the self pay... Gotta get skinny 'cause Dale Jr and Tony and Kasey and Jamie and Elliott and Martin Truex are all single you know! Haha! :mad: GO!! Dale JR!!!! (Though Vegas isn't his best track, fo sure!)

Thanks for the info Judy! My mom recently had both knees replaced due to arthritis, and she still suffers with it in her hands and back and hip. I'll check into this for her...

Hello All! I live in Soddy Daisy, TN (15 mins) from Chattanooga. I'm currently fighting with my insurance company, my surgeon will be Dr. Walter Rose @ Memorial Hospital. I work about 1/2 mile from Memorial....

My current PCP lectures me every time I see him about losing weight(which he should). He gives me diets, we talk, he lectures me about how much weight I've gained, or not lost, he points me out on his BMI chart mounted on the back of the door, and tells me how he can't believe I am not Diabetic YET, he asks me if I've considered WLS, etc.... Anyway, I'm sure lots of you have had similar "visits". Its not like he's telling me anything new you know? I totally agree and KNOW HOW to lose weight, its the follow-through that I fail on. Needless to say, I always feel like bursting into tears after these little visits and my self- esteem is always in the crapper when I leave... The visit before I decided to ask him to give me a referral to see my prospective band surgeon he says.."There's no way that you can have any self-esteem or self-confidence at your size, what's it gonna take for you to lose weight?" I thought to my self, no crap! Man you are the king of stating the obvious, and your bed-side manner sucks. I'm sure he was just trying to motivate me, but geez, he can be a real a**. What really galls me is that he could stand to drop about 50 lbs himself! And it really ticks me off that the last three times I've had an appointment with him his cell phone has rung, and he stops to answer it, and its always his wife telling him to pick bread or something up on his way home and I get to hear love you too, blah, blah, blah...That is soooo rude and unprofessional. I NEED TO GET A NEW DOC!!!!!!

:) B) :Banane09: Hi Candice! I'm not banded-yet, but I've been reading and participating(a little) on LBT for a month or so. Believe me, these people have a ton of knowledge, and I don't think that a single question thats popped into my mind hasn't been addressed somewhere on this forum. Take the time to read as many threads as possible, they are invaluable, and often really entertaining!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! I'm SOOOOO jealous! I'm still waiting to hear from Ins Co...... Call that surgeon! YIPPPY!!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :Banane09: :clap2: :Banane09: :clap2: :Banane09: :clap2: :Banane09: :clap2: :Banane09: :clap2:

I have the form of B-12 Anemia that Akbar is referring to, it's called pernicious anemia, because I don't have the intrinsic factor to absorb B-12 from the food that I eat. I have to take a B-12 injection monthly, and let me tell you, I can tell when it's time for a shot... I call it my smart shot, because I swear my mind is so much sharper after I get it and I have a lot more energy, as a matter of fact, I need to call the doctor and tell them I'm coming in this week for it!!! I will have to take it for the rest of my life... Pernicious Anemia can be very serious if not treated, one of my dad's cousins has suffered neurologic damage from it that is irreversible, so I definietly stay on top of it. My mom was recently diagnosed with it as well, so I guess its another one of those "gene things". I also have to take prescription iron supplements (hematinic) because I'm also iron amemic... Defintely keep on top of it!

I would love to be a part of the gift exchange! I'm trying to step out of the "lurking shadows"! I'll PM my info! Thanks for the opportunity!

I'm a Systems/Network Administrator for a small engineering firm. I'm a geek who works with geeks! Actually, the engineers are way geekier than me (I hope, anyway)! Its a great place to work, lots of fun, and the owners are real gems. I'm very lucky!

I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea just over a year ago, and have been using my CPAP since then. I have to say that I do sleep more soundly, and feel rested when I wake in the mornings, so it has definetly helped me. I almost must say that I absoluetly hate having to use the thing! It is one of my main inspirations for trying to lose weight (along with co-morbidities). I hate that I have to wear a mask hooked to a machine with a 8 foot leash (hose) when I sleep! I rolled over the other night and pulled the darn thing right off of my nightstand (to be fair this is the only time I've done this in over a year). I hate for family or friends to see me wearing it, its embarrassing. I hate that I have to haul it with me if I sleep away from home, go on vacation, etc. I hate looking at the darn thing on my night stand all the time! I hate having to fill the humidifier on it with water, I hate cleaning it and the mask, I hate hauling it to my Dr's Office to get it adjusted!!! Uhum, anyway, like I said, it has helped with the sleeping, even helped to bring my blood pressure down a little (though you wouldn't know it after this rant)! When I get the band, and drop some weight and get to get rid of the thing, I might just run-over it with my car!

Okay... I'm a lurker, whew, there I said it! I've posted a few times, but not lately. I had my first conultation with my surgeon on Valentines Day, and have been sitting on pins and needles since then waiting for approval/ denial from my insurance company. After all that I found out that my surgeon just submiited my info to them YESTERDAY, when I thought they submiited it right after my consult! Man that was a lot time wasted worrying when they hadn't even received it yet. I feel like I've been in limbo since attending the first seminar in early January, waiting for referrals, letters of necessity, etc. I"M READY TO GET MY BAND!!! I've been tempted to post on lots of threads, and next time I'll give in to the temptation!! I'm not sure what holds me back from posting, but I have to say that I have laughed with, cried along with, and gleaned so much valuable info from you all! Thanks everyone, you are an inspiration!

Glad to see all the positive posts and to know that others have this question, I take Synthroid as well ( 0.05 MG ), and I had my first consultation with my surgeon last week. He didn't express any concern over the hypothyroidism.., but I had also wondered if it would make my weight loss slower after I get the band..... It's amazing how much everyone has in common on this board, I'm always running across threads on here that I never thought I would see!

I just went to my first consultation last week (Tennessee). The self pay price that I was given is $17,995.00, not including fills which are like $228.00 each time. ($11,725 to the hospital, $5000.00 to surgeon, the rest is radiology and aneshtesiology fees) YIKESS!!!! Praying that my insurance will approve!

I'm on there!

I'm with you Thinjen! I cannot stand Sandra Lee! My eyes automatically roll when I see her on Food TV. She (or her production assistants) needs to get a life, because no one with a life and any commom sense would have the time or inclination to coordiate their wardrobe with the curtains and the serving dishes! Plus, her food doesn't seem that appealing to me. Give me Paula and the Contessa anyday!