K@t

Ok, my turn to vent. I am sooooo annoyed with my husband right now. I wish that I could just do whatever I wanted and not worry about what he thinks. So basiclly I'm on the Portuguese states waiting list for surgery which could be a year, or more, or not, or I don't really know because there is no way to check the status of my process and no one to call or ask....which I can't stand! I hate not knowing whats happening. Any way, so I started looking at the possibility of going to France instead. For around 6,000€ I could get the surgery plus flight, plus hotel, plus 3 days in the hospital, all inclusive surgery. (this includes a ticket for hubby plus a private room with an extra bed in the hospital for him) And I can do it as soon as April 5th. Hubby thinks im CRAZY :loco: for wanting to go to another contry. What about after care etc. I'm telling him, I'll get a doctor here in Portugal to do the fills etc. What if you have complications etc... And I keep telling him, this is normal lots of people go to a diffrent country its not any big deal. (He hasn't mentioned the money, but if I wait then it will be free, and if I go to France its 6,000 and I'm sure that has something to do with it.) So now, we are in limbo. I won't make a confirmation in France because if I do it with out his approval, then there will be this huge argument. And a fight and tears and thats not the kind of stress I want before surgery. Last night I tried to talk to him about it and he said that I have been fat all my life...what's one more year?!?! :mmph: Thats what some one who has never been fat would say. gawd it floored me! So now I don't know what to do, it's not like we can't afford it, we have the money. (It would be a strech but not a hardship) But it would be free if I waited, but its soooooooooo hard to wait when you finally have some hope that your life can REALLY change you know. So now I dunno what to do....get a divorce? (just joking) I dunno how to convience him that I NEED this surgery now, and not a year from now, or two years, or whatever the state wants me to wait for. And that going to France is ok and safe and things will work out fine. *sigh* :decision: I think I'm done. Any one else have trouble with their hubbys? What did you do?

I know I should wait for the state list, what if I need plastic surgery after for skin or something, that can add up as well. There is no way to find out where you are on the list. Its policy of the state, there are so many people on the states list for various things that they have no capacity to handle all the inquiries, so..they just don't answer any. However, I may have an inside track, my husbands uncle is a doctor and he said he will talk to some one at the hospital where they do it for me. So hopefully in a few days I will hear something from him....otherwise i just wait. In Portugal its all about who you know to get something done...

Any one heard of him, know any thing about him? The procedure is a lot less expensive in France then in Portugal and I'm considering this doctor.

gawd.....I know ur right.......

Your right, I know you are. Its just not the answer I want to hear right now. Sometimes the things we hate to hear the most need to be said though.... *sigh* its just so hard to wait...

Hey there, I don't know much about Belgium, but I'm thinking about going to a doctor in France. Called Dr. Anfroy. You might want to try www.euroband.org for some more info on doctors in Europe. I have heard good things from people who went to Belgium as well as France. PM me and I can give you some more info.

I'm having hubby problems as well, but they are a bit diffrent from the rest, my hubby is all for the surgery, but on his terms (when and where I do it) and we are not seeing eye to eye on this point. I made another thread in the lounge so I didn't take over this one. But men are the greatest.....when they get what they want they are...:faint:

OMG they have international shipping!!! And its not over priced either! Thanks for the site :biggrin1:

Hey there, I'm no expert, but I would call your doctor and discuss your symptoms, it sounds like it could be serious.

You know, I know all these posts are a bit sad, and they were difficult times in all our lives, but on the flip side, this thread makes me feel a bit better because I know there are others out there like me. I know that I wasn't the only one made fun of, or the only one that has problems sitting in restraunt booths or the only one that has to deal with ignorant and insensitive people. Thank you all for sharing and helping us to remember that we are not alone in our struggles. :clap2:

LMAO hehehehe.....that gave me a good chuckle. That must have made you feel really good! You should tell ur hubby he better be on his toes because hes got compeition now! :biggrin1:

Just a little add on to the protein queen... I have always had baby fine hair and brittle nails. I did a high protein diet for about 6 months a few years back, and my hair was fuller and my nails were longer then they had ever grown in my entire life during that diet.

I'm pretty much at the point where if the private surgen tells me I can have it done next month if we pay, I'll pay because I just don't think I can go another year being this fat knowning there is somethign out there that could help me. I'll have more info on the 8th after seeing the private surgen though, maybe it won't be as expensive as I think.

Ok, so here is the skinny on gastric banding in Portugal. I qualify for the government insurance to pay for my operation. Problem is, it will take about a year on the waiting list before I will get a date. However, it will be totally free.... I won't pay a dime, and it will be done in a hospital about 5 min from my house. I also have the option to go with a private doc who will do the surgery at his own facility. I can have a date as soon as next month, but it will run me around $10,000. Hubby and I could get the money if we really needed it and the doc said he would take monthly payments. So, should I wait a year and get it for free, or should I go ahead with it now and be out the money. It is quiet a lot of money. However, I have 2 big events coming up this year. In September my husband's brother is getting married in a huge lavish wedding with every one attending. It would be a really good time to show off some weight loss. In addition to that I'm finally going back home for Christmas in December and that would be a great time to show off weight loss to my family whom I haven't seen in person in over a year. I'm torn. My hubby kind wants to go the private way because he thinks I might get better care than a public hospital, but on the other side he hates to part with money, especially an amount that big. $10,000 is almost what I paid for my new car, and it seems a shame to waste that much when I can get it for free.....if I wait. Help guys, what would you do??? :help:

My cleaning solution: the maid Seriously, hire a cleaning profession, especially if your going to sell the house. It may cost a few bucks, but a lot less then you will spend in time and energy trying to clean it urself, the are the professionals. I must be spoiled, we have a maid who comes once a week for about 6 hours and she pretty much does everything (even the ironing) my kitchen looks spotless when shes done with it and i have a stainless steel sink as well. not to mention a glass top stove that is IMPOSSIBLE to get clean. I think the trick is to wash it with soap and Water and then dry it with a towel before it air dries...or something....thats all she does to my sink. This is my sink and stove after 5 days of use with no cleaning.

ohh.... im taking u shopping with me next time i go!

princess_n_thep: I don't know the specifics yet of the surgen because I am going to see him on the 8th. I just know what my husbands uncle told me (he is the family doctor in the same clinic where the surgen works) So hopefully by the 8th I will know the answers to all those questions, and thanks so much for posting them because I'm printing ur response and taking it with me to the consulation!! I don't look that heavy most people say I carry it well, but it's all in my tummy. My upper tummy to be exact, which is why most people think I'm pregnant. My arms and legs are pretty much the same size as a normal person, which is why clothes always gave me a problem, if I buy my waste size then my legs are swimming in the pants. I doubt I will get plastic surgery since I'm already married and no one else is looking under my clothes. I would only do a tummy tuck maybe if my tummy skin doesn't go back, so that I could wear a bikini. As far as weight related health problems, only high cholesterol and I'm hypoglycemic. And I don't have as much energy as I should, but I'm sure a little exercise would take care of that. As far as the state goes, they don't promise any thing. They didn't even say it would be a year, they wouldn't give me a time frame at all. I had to go see my state assigned primary care doctor. I told him that I wanted the procedure done and after a few questions he said fine and wrote a letter to the hospital. Then then they faxed the letter and some recent blood analysis I had done over to the hospital. Now basiclly I just have to wait for them to send me a letter giving me an appt. with the doctors at the hospital, and then after that I have to wait again for a surgery date. I have a friend who has been waiting for a breast reduction for 2 years now. She still hasn't had it done. The year time frame I got from the lady who had already had it done. Shes a nurse at the hospital where she had hers done and she said it was about a years wait. So I actually have NO IDEA how long it will be. It could be a few months, it could be a year, it could be 2 years. I honestly don't know and they won't tell me, there isn't even a number or any place that I can call the check the status. So thats where the delima is, do I wait, do I not?? I honestly really don't want to wait, but geezz the money........:faint:

Sorry Magic this is off topic, but what did you pay for your surgery in France? I live in Portugal and it runs 10,000 here, If it's cheaper in france, maybe thats an option.

Hey Cherie, I dunno if this helps or not, but I heard some people saying that they lost more when they ate a bit more, like around 1200 a day. When you eat to little I guess the system goes into shock and tries to save every little bit. I think u have to find the right balance. Hope that helps, good luck!

None taken, it made me laugh :biggrin1: Not much, I have gained about 20lbs in the past 3 years, so maybe another 5 to 10 if I'm not careful. Maybe nothing if I keep trying to diet. The no cost thing....well I'm not that certian. I know they pay for the surgery its self, but I may have to pay for the pre op testing, even though I was told by another person who did it, that she didn't pay any thing. I don't think the policy will change,the national health care has worked like this for a while, and serious health risks are always covered, and with a bmi of 40 or higher a person is considered a health risk. (I'm 40.8, so there might be a chance if I loose weight, that I won't qualify any more) My mileage is that I have had weight problems since I was 6. While Portugal IS a beautiful place (come visit us some time) they aren't very nice to obease people, I constantly get stared at, the kids make snide remarks behind my back and its hard to find clothes in my size. (even though I'm a 20/22) And nosey people are constantly asking if I'm pregnant or giving me diet advice, I mean complete strangers off the street! Plus, they would never say so, but I think it embaresses my mother and father in law. This is EXACTLY what the other woman who I spoke to told me. She waited I guess and she said it was worth the wait because eventually she would need plastic surgery and she couldn't afford it otherwise. I don't know if I will need it or not, im 242 and 5´5 I was hoping to exercise and maybe get some tissue massages to help the skin snap back. Plus I'm still pretty young, however I guess there is the possibility that I may want it further down the road. I really hate the idea of waiting another year, but I also really hate the idea of having to spend all that money when I could get it for free if I just waited. There is no garuntee that it's going to be a year either, that was the average time. It could be shorter, or it could be longer. I would hate to go ahead with the private surgen, and then a month later get a letter from the state saying that they are ready for me. Or on the other hand, wait a year and then never hear any thing when I could have done it the year before with the private surgern. *sigh* I dunno..... :confused: :confused: :confused:

Wow! That must have made you feel good! How come I didn't know you when I lived in Tampa, I went to USF there for 4 years. We could have had some fun together! -My good story- When I first moved here to Portugal I went to a new salon with a friend. They did my hair all up, gave me a scalp massage, all the good stuff. Afterwards, hubby picked me up and we went out for dinner. I ordered a diet coke and here in Portugal they usually bring a can or a bottle (they aren't to big on fountin drinks) and on the can of diet coke was a picture of Shakira. The waiter brought the coke and then pointed to the can and said.....look its you on the can!!!! :biggrin1:

Hey guys, I'm a newbie too, but this is what I have read in other posts. You should drink LOTS of Water in between meals to keep yourself hydrated. If your body is already well hydrated through out the day, then you won't be as thristy during meals. I too fear this will be a difficult thing to over come, but I think really you just have to bite the bullet and try to make it a habit. Just try to get in as much water and liquids in between meals as you can.

I'm so gonna do the ebay thing after I get banded. I have so many things that it's insane because I buy tons of clothes and most are bran new and I never wear them because they never fit properly. Thanks for such a great idea, I never would have thought to ebay it!

You can sell used clothes on ebay??? how does that work? I have bags of stuff here, and I'm at the point of thowing them in the trash because no place here will take them as donations because they are such large sizes.

Well, I have many of these stores where do i even start. -I had a crush on a guy in 5th grade and he and his friends laughed at me and called me a fat bitch. (pretty deep stuff for a 5th grader) he got his due in high school though, he got some girl pregnant and got hauled off to jail for having sex with a minor! -I feel so ashamed when people pat my belly and tell me I need to work on that. Every one from my grandmother, to my mother in law to complete strangers on the street have done that. -When I went to McDonalds the other day, the guy at the drive in knew who i was. :faint: -I've been asked if I was pregnant numerous times, to many times to count. I was once away from work for a few days for a fair, and when i came back a regular customer looked at me and said, your back so soon?? what about the baby...she thought I had gone to the hospital to give birth. -Every time i get on a plane im afraid the seatbelt wont fit me and ill have to ask for an extension. -probably the worst is from when i was a child, 6,7,8 and my dad use to sing to me "fatty fatty 2x4 can't get through the kitchen door." I knew there was a reason I loathe that guy. There was a really good one I had thought of as well and now i cant remember i'll come back and edit the post if i remember. *I remembered...... I went for a boat ride with my husband and my cousins husband who is a very fit Army captain. My cousin didn't come because she had to work. We got pretty far out and found a really nice place that had clear blue waters, but no land near by. It was really hot so we decided to swim. We all jumped off the boat into the Water and had a nice swim. It was only after I was ready to get back in the boat did we realize that the boat had no ladder to get in. My hubby and my cousins husband pulled theirselves in no problem. I tried getting in, but my foot slipped on the propeller and I sliced it open. I tried 3 more times with their help to get in but couldn't do it. I felt my strength drained, and it started raining. I was afraid sharks would smell the blood from my foot and start coming near the boat. I was near tears when finally the army captain had a brilliant idea. He formed a rope ladder from some rope on the boat and haulled me in. Amen for army training!