TheWomanWithin

dialidol.com has been pretty much right each week, so we will see -- the week they put Chris in the bottom 3 I cringed! after last night's votes this is what they say: Elliott Yamin 27.643 Katharine McPhee 24.583 Paris Bennett 23.375 ****disclaimer**** this is not an exact science and not meant to be taken as WHO is going to be going home, just a fun thing to watch as someone else posted on how we voted for the worst in a previous post...:paranoid

The only one I have found that does not require media player (or I dont think it does) is this one: http://www.jawadmd.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=120 Dr. Jawad's website

:youcandothis:Teresa woot!!! wtg - 3 lbs gone I saw you were walking extra this week....Forgive me if I read wrong - 2 hours sleep in 3 days is getting to me lol (sick kids) so I have not done a thing except go to the Zoo Sat and get groceries Sunday. :cheer2: :cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2:

Im much like you Lisa, I was a paralegal then went into Real Estate and had to quit working (due to a pregnancy complication) it took awhile but I got used to working for myself - ups and downs are a bit hard to take when you are used to a steady income though. My husband started a Pool Business 10 years ago, we do maintenance and repair, the family business is building pools but he didn't want to do that too. DH has a BA in History and taught school while building the business up - at one time we had 5 FT employees 2 PT and ourselves. If he could make the same amount of $$ as a teacher he would jump at it. He doesn't want to go back to school and finish to teach college he LIKES working in the 9000 degree weather lol I started my Home Decor and Gifts Business last year, but I do sole proprietorship since it's so small. Owning a business is great BUT over the past 8 years the things I have found are this: 1. The government is a pain about taxes - each month business owners pay W/H - double medicare and SS for each person who works for them. For some small businesses such as ours - this can be astronomical. At one point we are paying over $7,000 just in Payroll taxes. 2. Health Insurance is a major pain to get for you if you have under 5 F.T. employees, then they sock you with almost double premiums. 3. Auto and Liability insurance - we have to maintain a $550,000 auto policy on EACH vehicle we own. We carry a $2 million liability policy for the business. Each month alone that is almost $2,000. 4. We pay an CPA every 3 months $250 to do our quarterlys - a must for Incorporations. 5. We pay that same @&%# CPA $1,000 just to file our 1120's - we do our employees on our own, that was an additional $250 (he's the best though high priced - he worked for the IRS hehehe) 6. Licenses are about $500 yearly with everything - Local business license like $40, INC license was $700 initially and $150 yearly, etc. 7. Loans when you are self-employed or even own your own business are a pain to get - and they jack up the rates for stated income if you don't do w 2's or run most of your bills through your business. 8. I forgot to add Sales Taxes - how I forgot that is beyond me - each state is diff and FL is a pain in the rear about it and how to handle it. 9. Unemployment & Workers Comp - I don't even want to get started here lol too long - check your local laws. There are so many forms and things we have to file each month for each of these I think they do it just to harass you and make you give up your business. I wouldn't have it any other way though. We are our own bosses, take whatever business we can and send people to another reputable company if we can't handle the extra business. We advertise periodically, but most of ours is through Pool Builders we know/have worked with or word of mouth. Basically, whatever you put into that business is what you get out of it. It affords us to be able to work or not work when we want or to reschedule things if we need to or want to go on vacation :grouphug:

OHHHh Penni I am jealous! I love your car and looked at one 10 years ago - the model has changed some, but they are soooo nice. I went with a gold Sebring sports package then, but wished I hadn't. Hmmm wonder if I can talk the hubby into one of those instead of an suv or van for our next vehicle hehehe <going to drool at Chrysler now>

Morsaille, I said that too. we saw an interview with him - he's been with the "boys" apparently, he admitted he's gay. His eyes are sooooo....ummm...dreamy? lol wouldn't we all like to have lips like that ... ok back to work for me before I get in trouble... The community we live in, the HOA fees include basic cable :grouphug:

I drive a typical "mom on the go" van, desert sand colored 2005 Ford Freestar with a dvd system like some others so my kids can be veggies on our trips to disney! lol Trading it in for something else in 3 or 4 months - it's been recalled 5 or 6 times since it came out :confused: Hubby drives a 4 dr Ford Ranger, oldest son drives a Ford Ranger, oldest daughter drives a 4d Nissan Altima. If we have company, they have to park across the street because our driveway is too full :eek:

I know I have seen this listed, but I am clueless when it comes to medical codes. My new insurer asked me if I knew the - CPT Code for the surgery - specifically LAP BAND for MO. How do I find this out?Are there different ones for diff states? Thanks for any information anyone can give me. I found some info on another thread finally - gastric banding CPT CODE:43770 is this a code that is used from a particular source? Or is there another code they should try?

wahooooo I found my answer - thank you Dr. Hekier for posting this: Some potentially big news came out a couple of days ago. Lap Band now has its own CPT code from the AMA! As many of you know, the way a physician files for a service performed is by providing a CPT code to the insurance company. When a new service is 'invented' there is generally a several year lag period until a CPT code is assigned. Until that point the physician needs to use an 'unlisted procedure' code which has been the case until now for Lap Band. This creates problems for both the patient and the physician, since the insurance company can essentially say 'this procedure doesn't officially exist' and will assign any value to it that they wish, or just deny it. The new code is valid January 1, 2006 I am told. It is 43770. 43770 – Laparoscopy, surgical, gastric restrictive procedure; placement of adjustable gastric band (gastric band and subcutaneous port components). In our practice we will probably have people who were denied coverage for the Lap Band being 'investigational' or 'experimental' refile with their insurance company January 1st. However, the new CPT code will probably not help those who have an outright exclusion for morbid obesity surgery on their policy

Don't you just love starting a new month? I hope it's as nice in other places as it is here today - 85 and sunny and a little windy instead of muggy hot and humid:heh: as usual. Good luck to those May Bandsters and hope all is well with the April ones who just got done. I feel both happy and sad at the same time (im a book full of contradictions huh? LOL) I would have been banded in April, now May will not even see me. Thanks to all those who have helped me, despite a difference of opinion, thoughts or convictions for sticking it out and giving me some great advice.

Susan, a customer of ours owns an aluminum business and we own a pool business - barter works out great for us sometimes :confused: I think out of pocket for a 15x12 room we are having done is $1,000 through them. HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY Tricia woohoo have fun trying heheheh

Diane, we are in the same boat as you. And I was turned down for individual ins once - that was at 40 lbs overweight through Humana one - so we went with BCBS a small business plan - it pays some things but not others and excluded WLS at all in FL as of 12/31/05. I finally found this company (United American Insurance) that if you are over a certain weight will cover you they just up your premium some. For us it was $26 extra a month - STILL alot better than paying $689 per month. Im waiting on them to fax or email the specific papers to say yes to WLS. Then they said it's a 6 month wait to be covered for surgery. Anyone ever heard of them or used them?

What a gorgeous color Paula, are Hibiscus easy to grow? I would love that color with our walkway - I never know what to put in the rock weed pit we call a yard lol :doh: we went to Walmart yesterday and I didnt even go to the garden dept to look for anything for the clover - we pulled all the weeds out Sun morning so I need to put something down so it doesn't come back. I love Hydrangeas but can't keep up with them - I planted 2 in the garden and the one is getting ready to bloom, but I think I killed the other 2 potted ones <sigh> I forgot to pull the plug on the bottom of the planter and the water couldn't drain:embarassed: Going to try the weed be gone or weed and feed - making a note now or I might forget again.

MelAnne, don't think of what you have lost, think of what you have gained ....a whole new perspective on life that takes a lifetime of patience, control and learning. 19 lbs in 3 weeks is FABULOUS! that is 19 lbs closer to your goal. (or 18 if you count the 1lb that you will probably lose back tomorrow) Celebrate that - back off the scale if you are doing that more than once a week (or so Ive heard) the weight will come off, just give yourself time and enjoy being banded :confused:

Thanks Susan :confused: maybe I have learned some patience in my years lol Usually when I forget the lessons Ive learned and let stress and frustrations get ahold of me, all I do is waste energy on something else or something not worth fretting over. Through this journey so far, Ive had so many ups and downs its crazy, and if it had not been for alot of you - I might have given up. The good of all of my waiting and rescheduling is: I found an insurance co here in FL that will pay for my surgery after 6 months on the plan. If I factor in the 2-3 months that I have to wait for tests, find out whats wrong with my kidneys - I will only have to wait an additional 2 or 3 months:phanvan This way my household stays happy lol I get surgery, get healthy, my DH gets 1 yes ONE new pc not 3 :eek: we screen in our back patio, granite counter tops and go on vacation....woot! btw, I love the Maypole in your post

Has anyone heard of United American Insurance Health Insurance or used them? Their web address is www.unitedamerican.com They are half the price of what we are paying for a BCBS of FL policy. We have been in contact with them because I was calling around about insurers for our business. They said this pertaining to Lap Band Surgery: I know our insurance covers different treatments… Like for instance, it covers chiropractor, herbal healing, and different things like that. I also know it doesn’t cover cosmetic surgery.. But weight loss yes, as long as it is a surgery and done by a surgeon. You would have a $500 deductible and then it would cover it at 80% of hospital stay and 100% for the surgery up to the limits on the policy. Just waiting for a firm letter from the company to agree yes or no for surgery. I am not sure how personal or non HMO policies work, any info on this?

Thanks Teresa - Ive lost more, but I am not playing the scale game any more - I just go by clothing and how I am feeling. It's been a tough 3 months but I have done it - and struggling to stay on track and keep to this prison of dieting lol oh wait, "lifestyle" change I forgot <pulls hair out> I need my band :hurt before my husband decides he really DOES want new computers lol

Ive already cleaned my whole house top to bottom, 3 loads of laundry, mopped 3 or 4 floors, breakfast for kiddos, vacuumed (sp) done the ceilings ugh yes IM a compulsive cleaner!!! Now Ive got EOCD on top of COCD lol (exercise and cleaning compulsive disorders) We did an hour or two in the yard yesterday which killed my left quad so I am taking it easy and only walking for 30min today no crash and booms here I hope :eekB: Going to add in 40 or 50 reps of arm exercises so I can start wearing sleeveless shirts again hehehe People can stare Ill just stare right back and smile and act like I can read their minds :muahahahaha:

Well as of Friday evening, I am officially kicked out of the May band crew :eekB: My urologist called and I have to have more testing on top of the testing Ive had - possible kidney damage and something on my kidney. So I have cancelled my surgery until I can get this all figured out and get that taken care of. Any of you not have to do barium swallows? Im interested because I had an allergic reaction and Im learning not all doctors make you do this. Good luck to all you May banders! and Im not going far - I need LBT for support and something to look forward to in the coming months.

I talked to Carolyn at Dr. Ortiz' and asked her about the barium swallow and she said yes they require the barium swallow but they use a diluted version of it <SHIVERS thought the at> I will have to talk to them again and make sure they understand what I am talking about and get them to not do the barium I really don't want to go to another doctor, Ive been working with Dr. Ortiz' office since February. That's why I asked here - so many doctors are different, and I wanted to see what others said about theirs. Now I need to find a fill dr for aftercare who will not require the barium. Is this correct ask if they require barium swallows or an alternative method? (oh btw, I bet it's the sulfate too, I even said that to my husband - there is one antibiotic that makes me sick - Septra, just not as bad a reaction as Penecillin) I still have to get through the obstacle of kidney problems, waiting till May 10th for the CT and IVP. another ivp - showed something on my kidney and my other tests showed possible damage I just found out Friday evening. Thanks all! my husband will be disappointed - he was looking at spending my $15,000 on a new computer! :eekB: j/k

sorry that is very vague BUT I need this question answered - just figured a doctor/nurse might know the difference in medical name. What is the name of the barium used in Lap Band procedures and used under x-ray? Is liquid barium the same as Barium Sulfate Suspension? I had a very serious allergic reaction last week to Barium Sulfate suspension for a CT scan and my Urologist called and told me that he advises against me getting the band because Barium is used :think If no one knows, is there any way to get around using barium with the band? Im desperate here - my surgery is May 26th and i don't want to cancel it :phanvan

We paid $2.86 near Tampa Florida yesterday, but saw it for $3.11 when we were out in Tampa.

Thanks all :eek: yes I talked to Dr. Ortiz' office already - they said yes they do use the barium, just a diluted version of it. This is why my urologist and PcP said NO way for the band. Their office did tell me there was a different way to do them, but did not say [gastrografin]. Barium, I understand is look to see how your band is doing and how much is getting through, so it's a given they say that you have to do something to check it. Anyone had gastrografin before? after last week, Im really leery to do anything else LOL Im still looking for a followup doctor - pretty much decided Dr. Grossbard, so I will have to call his office too and ask him about alternatives. oh btw Cindy you might like this since youre an xray tech -- I got sick within 10-15 min of starting to drink the barium, throat started to swell some, and nausea etc. I thought I was just having a problem with the texture/taste of it, so I kept on. I stayed violently sick until 9am the next morning, called the Radiologist and they told me to come in even being sick and they would have to give me MORE barium since I threw it up. I told them heck no I wasn't going in, I was too sick for them to call my doctor. The xray tech got ticked at me messing their schedule up and said she had never had anyone who had an allergic reaction to barium just to get over it and come in. My doctor had a talk with them after learning this:embarassed: and Yes I had a non contrast ct, having another sort of IVP and MRI on May 10th

I can't join - I will just sabotage myself with a challenge at this point <cheerleading for you guys> Hey Diane [i AM DONE WITH CAPTAIN CRUNCH!!] can I have them?:hungry: I'm still not banded - new date May 26th now, so Im chugging along on my own until then. Waiting to hear news back from my dr. If you do a June challenge I'll join; unless of course Im thrown another brick wall.:frusty:

Can someone just push the button on the instant coffee pump I am having installed with my band? I think I need 2 more cups today LOL Thanks Teresita hehehe what a sexy new name - I didn't notice it until I read it again. And if I could, I would live somewhere COLD all the time again - wonder how the pool business is in Alaska :hmm: