TheGh0st

PS - another catch - have you and your family spent more on medical this year than you expect to next year. (Lapband aside that is) If you decide to have it this year you will want to take every and anyone you can in for check-ups, dental appointments, whatever you can think of. And refill all possible prescriptions before the end of the year as well. As the money you spend on them also counts. For tax records - I was able to call the various pharmacies I frequented and they were able to print an annual report for me to give my accountant. Same with the co-pays and other out-of pockets for the doctor's offices.

hmmmmm..... Are you also saying you can't afford to pay for the surgery until after you pull out the money from this virtual game? But by pulling the money out you will ruin your SSI status? If my assumption that you do is yes. The flip to that is that you only qualify for a deduction for the portion over the 7.5% level and paying for it in a year with a smaller income would put that threshold lower giving you a larger deduction. This makes me wonder if you could schedule the surgery for sometime mid to end of December pay for it with a credit card in December. Then cash out the Virtual Money January 1 and immediately paying the credit card off so it doesn't have any fees. This might allow you the best of both worlds. A larger refund for this year but not being disqualified from SSI until next year. Talking to an accountant is always the BEST advice. But sometimes it doesn't hurt to get ideas from places like here first then run it by them.

Like Pattypoo said you can make this work if you want/need to. But I can totally understand if you decide to postpone it a couple weeks. You will probably never find a "good" time to have the surgery but it sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now. More than normal that is. Would it be possible to just postpone it a few days? The best would actually be the Friday right after Thanksgiving, or possibly the following Friday. That would give you both a little more time to settle into your new home and job. And a Friday surgery would give your husband the weekend to help care for you. The surgery hits everyone different and I'm a bit of a stubborn old bird but for me I was well enough to have been back to work in just a couple days. But I really appreciated having the help at home that first day or two.

All in favor of re-instating Santa's right to say "HO HO HO!" and removing Derrick's rights to same said phrase say "Aye!" Aye!

Don't forget, once you hit that 7.5% threshold you can deduct ALL your family's medical expenses for the year. Not just the band related ones. On the financing question. I too say ask a professional accountant, but I would think it would also depend on how you had financed it. If you did NOT finance it through the doctors office but financed it by taking out a second mortgage, on a personal credit card or some other method then I would think it would get deducted the first year, not as you pay it off. After all the medical bill was paid off fully the first year as far as the doc is concerned. The fact you took a loan out from a 3rd party should not affect that. AGAIN I AM NO PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT NOR DO I PLAY ONE ON TV OR ONLINE.

The trainers all seem a bit competitive with each other as well. She was also Jillian's Replacement last season so she is probably even more upset by the idea of her team not making it as far as Jillian's. Especially after Amy switched sides. *RAVE* Still ticks me off that she couldn't apologize to Amy for lobbying to get her voted off before. I know Amy came across as a bit whiny in the editing of the show but Kim was in the wrong on that issue and should have apologized for getting involved with the "game-politics". I know I never would have trusted Kim again if she had been my trainer either.

I wonder if they do something similar just for the arms and thighs?

Thankyou Mariposa It's good to see you! I know I'm pushing myself more than I should. Its just so hard not to with my personality. But honestly, I am trying to keep myself in check as much as possible. The doc had cleared me for switching to the Spanx 2 weeks ago but when the swelling started to increase I switched back to the hospital garment on my own as a precaution. As far as the pitting edema in the legs, I'm a bit prone to it I think. I first had (or at least noticed) it when I was pregnant with my son 4 years ago. They diagnosed it then as pre-eclampsia. Only after the pregnancy it never went away. Atleast not until I'd lost over 70 pounds 3 years later. I remember being very afraid that it was a sign of either heart or liver failure as the internet suggested and that it would disqualify me for the band. But before the band surgery I was cleared of either problem. I still worry a bit though that my tendency to "pit" anytime I swell might be a sign of an increased risk for either heart or liver failure.

Thanks everyone! I haven't posted this thread for the compliments but they are still appreciated :Banane20:. My doc is requiring I wear a compression garment for the first 3 months post-surgery. I'm using a Spanx that goes all the way up to my bra line. I'm suppose to wear it 24/7 only taking it off to shower (or take pics). After the increased swelling over the weekend I did put the hospital garment over the spanx for even more compression the last 2 days and went back to wearing some compression stockings as well. I've also tried to take things a bit easier this week but haven't been putting my feet up under my desk like I could/should. The swelling has gone down considerably in the last 24 hours. The doc wanted to see me today to try to drain off some of the excess (i.e. giant horse needle !) I'm going to call this morning in the hopes of talking him out of it.

Location: USA - Kansas City Procedure(s): Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) - $ 4,500 Extended Tummy Tuck - $ 8,500 Full Lower Body Lift - $ 13,000 Inner Thigh Lift - $ 8,000 Notes: I only had the Extended Tummy Tuck but went ahead and listed the other prices I was quoted. These prices all included the Hospital's Facility and the Anathesia Fees as well as the Doctor's Fees.

THANKS Juli! I kept thinking my belly button was too low. Guess after so many years of all that extra skin hanging below it my perception was a bit distorted. But my new belly button is starting to grow on me now. Paulax - I meant to take a camera that morning but forgot. So I don't have any pics of the surgical markings or the excess skin. I did ask the doc at my follow up and he says they don't take pics (at least not on non-insurance patients) unless the patient specifically requests it and provides a camera. The scar line is slowly starting to distort a bit. Not sure if it matters to me it is still so low there is no risk of it showing above my underwear. But 24 hours out it was much straighter across. I think it has slowly pulled up some of the skin from my upper thighs which I suppose isn't the worst thing that could have happened. I'm also having a problem this last couple days with increased swelling. With that relative coming into town last week I think I pushed it to much. The doc had cleared me for walking but I'm not sure he meant for me to be on the go the entire day and night with only 4-6hours sleep per night and no real down time just lying down with my feet up reading or watching TV. I can tell that the Seroma in my stomach has really increased since I saw them last week and my legs are having pitting edema nearly as bad as when I had pre-eclampsia during my pregnancy 4 years ago. I took a lasiks pill they gave me a couple weeks ago when my legs started swelling before but it hasn't seemed to work this time. Think I'm going to have to cave and give them a call. I REALLY REALLY REALLY Don't want them to put drains back in me OR try to pull the fluids out with a needle again like the did last Wednesday. At least not without pain meds this time. Hopefully they can give me another dose of Lasiks and it works this time. In the mean time I know I know quit pushing myself. Honestly I did try. I didn't lift anything over 5 pounds (Well maybe only once or twice) but I was on my feet way too much. Things should be calmer this week.

Lizzie - It's great to see you on the "other side". I'm glad you were able to work past your families issues. And congratulations on your weightloss so far. You are doing GREAT!!!

I was able to sleep on my stomach a few days after surgery as well. However, I found the port a bit uncomfortable at first. Not painful just weird. I found it helped if I lay with my hand cupped over the port area for a minute or two then I could pull my hand out from under me and I was fine.

I'm so excited for you.

Finally. Here are the new pics. Sorry the most recent ones are a bit grainy, but the best I could get from the doc. I look quite a bit more puffy now than I did one day post op. He says I'm at my peak swelling and probably have around 4" in swelling around my waist. I do have a couple of seroma's (pockets of fluid under the skin). When you tap them the skin ripples like you tapped a water bed. He tried to drain them but said the fluid seemed to be "honeycombed" in the tissue and couldn't get any out. He will be watching to see if it doesn't get any worse, but says my body should re-absorb them on its own.

rrod0991 - I am so sorry for the issues you and your family has had to experience. My father also experienced something similar but at the hands of his elder sister. My mother was also abused by her uncle for many years and my sister & I though never abused as children had to endure many unsuccessful attempts by the husband of our father's sister while growing up (yes the same one that hurt him). Then were both raped by "boys" in college. Experiences like these can severely impact ones view on sexuality and other activities in the bedroom. I actually consider myself fairly lucky to have come away as "unscathed" (compared to my parents) as I did. Yet even I have some serious issues that my husband has troubles understanding. I doubt that Applesmith meant any disrespect. Its just sad that the solution can't be so easy as that for many of us.

Foodstampchamp Are you out there?? We've missed you!!!

Jachut - Good info. There was something similar on NPR (National Public Radio) here yesterday. Made me late back from lunch listening to it in the car. The general gist the US doc was trying to convey was that some recent study found that for a BMI of "normal" vs "overweight" (NOT "obese" or higher) they were finding mixed results. Mixed in the sense that for some health issues such as diabetes being it was better to be in the "normal" BMI range but for other issues such as Heart Disease the "overweight" BMI range showed NO increased risk. Even more surprisingly for issues such as Parkinsons and another (maybe a type of cancer, I can't remember) you actually were better off in the "overweight" category as opposed to "normal" OR "obese & higher". This study did NOT NOT NOT say it was better to be overweight than normal across the board. But that both categories had its positives and negative. PERSONALLY - I view the results as similar to things like birth control pills, that can help your odds with one disease but increase your odds for another one.

Tonights the plan for the pics. My DH's aunt flew in from France last night. She married a Frenchman nearly 20 years younger than her about 18 years ago and has been living there since. This is her first trip back in almost 5 years. Between, work, home & recovery I didn't get around to having any kind of meal ready for her or even any real food in the house. So at the airport we asked what she'd like us to pick up for her. Would you believe of all things it was Long John Silvers and an A&W Rootbeer float. Her sister (My MIL) was mortified that is what we fed her last night, she's one of those Martha Stewart types that think homemade or 4-star restaurants are the only way to go. Tonight we are taking her to a Mexican Restaurant where no one speaks english including the waitresses, I doubt they are even on the radar of whoever comes up with those star ratings. My dear MIL can feed her all the homemade gourmet food she wants after we drive her up, but for now she is going to enjoy all those "Bad" foods she hasn't had access to in France. --- Congrats!!!!! I am JEALOUS! (and happy for you) Sounds like you made it with some cushion to spare for your weigh in. Here I was waiting to suggest one of those dreaded (and disgusting) suppository meds that make you poo like crazy the night before.

Of course we are not impartial on the subject. But I hate to see anyone choose Bypass over the band just because they think it is a faster means to their goal. I understand it mind you, I considered it myself pre-band, still I hate it. Most (Yes, not all) people do drop weight fairly rapidly at the beginning of the lapband process. Losing 10 to even 30 pounds per month. I know you feel you have a long way to go and hate the idea of it taking "so long" to get there. But you will be surprised how quickly even a modest weight loss will help some of you health problems. Feel free to send me a private message if you would like to talk more. BTW - I'm from the Fremont/Lincoln Area just living in KC now.

:whoo:I got my updated "After" Pics from the PS yesterday. Sorry I didn't get them online yet, but we had to pick up a relative at the airport last night. She was tired from the long flight and went straight to bed, unfortunately, our computer is in the guest room. I'll make sure to get them posted tonight for everyone though.

Back to a different issue - Enterprise - Inquiring minds want to know how you are doing on reaching the 10 pound goal? Update Please.

I agree 100% I would miss you terribly Wasa. If I had a laptop I'd offer to loan it to you myself. That said it is probably a blessing I don't have a laptop. Just imagine the damage my two personalities could have inflicted on my reputation (whatever it may be) if I'd been posting in RNR's under the influence of all my pain meds a few weeks ago.

Yeah, mentally I got that. It was only emotionally that my own personal head issues/insecurities allowed me to feel hurt even though I knew I shouldn't. My DH frequently calls me CRAZY for these dual thoughts I have. I'm also a bit sleep deprived at the moment making the simplest comments go awry. Such as your straight forward post "I believe it did end, a few days ago." Which I first took as an agreement with my initial comment of "I'm just glad that other thread finally died." Then started wondering if you were instead referring to my "PLEASE PLEASE.. LETS ALL JUST DROP THIS...." comment. Making me worry you were "further" upset with me. (I know, I know you weren't upset to start with - just my crazy half kicking in again) I think I need to just go to bed now before I've shoved my foot into my mouth all the way up past my @$$ and end up upsetting you.

Another reason I sometimes send PM's on issues not originally involving me is to give either or both parties the opportunity to politely tell me to but out without adding fuel to the already flaming thread. A possible example of the first two steps in the above outline.... (by the way - sorry Chickie if I'm hijacking this thread onto a different issue) Wasa posted a comment about not putting merit in PM's. And though I love her dearly and I mentally can see she wasn't insulting the people who may have sent the PM's I still came away feeling hurt and offended both because I had been one of the people who had PM'd Mariposa and because I have PM'd Wasa in the past. (about a completely different thread) It made me feel like she was calling me a chicken for PM'ing both Mariposa and her. I'm trying to ignore my heart and pay attention to Wasa's words and my brain but it is difficult. I'm also not asking for an apology because how/why should she apologize for something I honestly believe she didn't intend to be directed at me. Still it is sadly possible even her & I could end up in our own spiral all because I chose to share this with you all instead of keeping quiet or PM'ing her directly.