riley4183

LOL John, seriously thank you, I could read that without holding the laptop up to my nose!! Pammie yes, they did break it down, and the tummy tuck is 1 less hour of work than the breast lift - that stumped me until I figured out that there is 1 tummy and 2 breasts, LOL! Surgeon fee $4720; Facility fee $1525; anesthesia $550 so $6745 for just the tummy tuck. Mine is all in front so it's limited - does not go around to my sides so it's much less than an "extended" tummy tuck. BTW it is not a kaiser facility where they do the surgery; it is a small local private hospital (Palm Drive, in Sebastopol) with great staff - been there & I really like it. About 15 minutes from my house where I live now, but about 30 from Chris's where I'll probably live then. And NO I can't afford it! We are on MTO also, and I lost $17,000 in income last year from the reduced hours and zero overtime, and I expect to lose the same or even more this year. Chris has offered to help out with his next year's tax return, but with his new house and the child support payments he just had to decrease his witholding so there will be a lot less of a return that he got this year. So here is what I'm doing: I took my youngest off my Kaiser plan @ work, as it was costing me an extra $500 a month (as he put me in the "family" category - and a private Kaiser plan for him is only $125), so that is saving me almost $400 a month, which I am turning around and putting into my 401K account, (which I can turn around and "borrow" back at 0% interest), which is (hopefully) going to reduce my tax bracket even further because I'm losing a dependant. Still, the only way I could really save it up in time is by moving in with Chris, which would save both of us money, but . . . .it's too soon. I want us to have a year together before I take that HUGE step. I may not get everything I want, when I want it, but I'm sure going to try!:tongue2: And John, you are right about saving SO much money on food! Now if only my other costs of living would go down . . .

OK I have only read 1 page - who knows what else is on here I can't possibly catch up - but what I saw I liked! Go, Ash! Happy Birthday tomorrow, Mo! Yay Reggie, girl I miss you BAD. Heather glad you're settled in! Tina did you get my ugly mug I texted you? Eyelid surgery not half bad, very little pain, although the ITCHING and NOT SEEING are driving me crazy - and as Chris would say, it's a short drive, LOL! I had an eye lift last Wednesday to remove redundant skin over my eyes, for those who don't know. Not a real fun way to spend an hour, but not too bad either. Just back from the Kaiser Plastic Surgeon from up here, got a detailed work-up of what he could do - and he says what I'm asking for is very reasonable - and a detailed estimate. Drum roll please, this is for my breast lift and tummy tuck . . . . . doctor fees, hospital fees, anesthesiologist fees, compression garments, and 6 after-surgery cellulite treatments: $12,490. That's about $4K less than what I was expecting, and it's with the doc that I really liked. Friday April 8th, 2011. I have no idea how I'm going to save enough for it by then unless I move in with Chris earlier than I want to, but we'll see. Aargh, I want to go out walking but can't see well enough to be out by myself, LOL. Stitches come out Wednesday, so hopefully by Thursday I will be seeing again and back to work. I have very little bruising (yay Arnica!) but still have quite a bit of swelling. I can already see an improvement in my field of vision tho, even with the swelling, so I'm hopeful that the end result will be all that I'm looking for! My challenge is uhm, to follow at least some of the rules, LOL! My band is doing its job, but I'm not. I need to take 'yall up on the water challenge and the lo-carb challenge. I told Chris that I didn't want to eat in my room anymore so now he doesn't let me, which pleases me one second and pisses me off the next. Sigh, it's what I need. I must be impossible :tongue2: to deal with!! Type big to me ladies, I can only see about 4 inches from my face

Tamra, LOL I am (was, in an earlier life) RDA, CDA with expanded funtions, x-ray, coronal polish! Ha, it's fun you will like it - SO worth it!! Very important to find the right dentist tho :-)

My best band foods (fill the pouch without getting "stuck" or PBing) are fish - including tuna, but not slathered in mayo - and nuts baby, nuts. Specifically, a mix of macadamias, cashews and almonds. Macadamias are extremely low in carbs (1 net carb per serving), but high in fat and calories (210 cals a serving) and low in protein so they need some almonds and cashews to go with 'em. I love cheese but it doesn't fill my pouch like nuts and fish do.

Morning all, I am VERY nervous about my eye surgery in a little over an hour . . yes Kaiser is doing that one for my outpatient co-pay, $10 because it is medically necessary - the redundant skin over my eyes forces me to tilt my head back to see, and that hurts my next & upper back. So THAT is covered. The breast lift and tummy tuck are NOT covered. I was quoted $7000 for a lift and augmentation, but I don't want the augmentation so the cost of the actual implants (like $500 each) will be backed out of there - otherwise, it's the same procedure. I have not gotten the quote on the tummy yet; he just said no to panniculectomy only, and I go see him (naked) on Monday for a quote. Kaiser will cover the breast reduction for your co-pay if you have a history of problems (back pain, trench marks in shoulders from bra straps, rash, etc. AND they take 500 grams from EACH BREAST. That is a ginormous amount! And you have to be w/in 20 lbs of goal weight AND under 180 lbs. before you can get it. They will cover a panniculectomy ONLY if your pannus hangs to your knees and interferes with movement. SO. I will be self-pay, but Chris has offered to help and I am planning on putting $400 a month into my deferred comp account, which I can turn around and loan back to myself at 0% interest. Hopefully that will drop me into a lower tax bracket so it will feel more like $200 a month . . . which I should make up for by getting my 18 year old off of my health insurance. Still, I don't make my monthly obligations right now so it's a total leap of faith. It will take me a year to save it, and Chris's next-year's income-tax return, so I'm still a year out from the breast lift and tummy tuck. K off to get my files together here at work, then a hop-skip over to Kaiser for my IV and no-care juice :w00t:

Welcome Stacie!! Glad you found us :thumbup:

I second Steig's books for summer reading! And for something light, any of Janet Evanovitch's "number" books or the nascar ones (Motor Mouth & I can't remember the name of the other one . . ) Tina I have Women, Food and God and it really, really speaks to me. BUT. It is way to deep for me to just read!! I mean, these are my core issues. I so need counseling!!! One-on-one with someone who GETS my food issues. Maybe I will call my EAP today . . . . I can totally see how Sharon Osborn used her band to help her bulemia. That's why they dont let you have one if you have a history of bulemia. I am a little too tight now that I have gained weight back, yet I keep not wanting to stop at 1/4 cup because i KNOW I will be hungry again way too soon. And when I do PB - which I could do every day if I let myself just go for the food to the point of being too full - I always wonder, how much of this am I supposed to log? So my goals now are no PBing and to get OFF the carb-wagon! I have gotten an ulcer again - in my lower stomach, thank goodness - so have had to cut out wheat again and I already feel better & less hungry. Only fruits for carbs now, as they don't trigger me to keep eating more carbs. My first post-weight loss surgery is tomorrow! My eye lift to get rid of the redundant skin that droops over my eyes - Kaiser is doing it for my co-pay :thumbup: And on Monday I have a consult with a Kaiser plastic surgeon for a breast lift (no implants, thanks) and a tummy tuck. I wanted just a pannecilectomy, but he said no, they would go in and tighten the muscle too. Wish me luck! Support group tonight thank God. Starting to get nervous for tomorrow & don't want to stress-eat . . .

Candra, Chris's mom is in FAA or whatever they call it, she lost a crudload of weight and has been very very successful with it. There are many, many, MANY things she can't eat, she has a "quit date" just like AA or NA, but she's totally doing it and really close to goal - like closer than I am, and I had flippin' surgery! The dedication it takes if profound, but she's rockin' it :smile2: Hi everybody!!! I still haven't weighed, LOL. Layoffs here at work, the ax (narrowly) missed me but it cut off some very dear friends and things are really sad around here :smile:

Morning again. I did good yesterday but forgot to weigh in this morning, can you believe that?? Ah, how I miss the days post-surgery where I would spring out of bed every morning and eagerly jump on the scale even before my eyes had opened, so eager I was to see another lb. gone like freakin' clockwork. Those were the weeks! Now . . . not so much. To be honest, if I REALLY follow the rules and write EVERYTHING down and do not allow myself any little slip-ups at all, I can still lose 2 lbs. a week. I've just gotten lazy. Time to work; more later. I miss my gurlz!!!

Good morning all, Loads to get done at work and no more internet at home 'cause my son wont leave his room if he can play games all day. SO. Work is stressful, Chris buying a house (escrow closes next week) is stressful, change is stressful, getting my older son to Sonoma every day for his externship is stressful. Money troubles are REALLY stressful. Bill collectors are stressful. YIKES! I am one big ball of stress! Changing my ticker to reflect reality - I am on my way back down after 5 months of ignoring the rules. It's only a tool . . . Hopefully I can get on later to post more, right now I'm just checkin' in!!

Hey all, good morning! Happy birthday Candra!! I am the shinig example of "the band is just a tool." I have regained weight to the point that my pants are too tight, and guess what, so is my band! This is not my band's fault; it has done nothing wrong. Instead, I have wronged my band, mostly by eating carbs, sugar, and sliders. I have even been eating wheat (in the form of crackers and cereal) which is KNOW is a big no-no for me, it's causing horrid bloating and gas and cramping and "other." This is the down side of love I guess :blushing: Chris needs to lose 10 lbs too but so far neither one of us seems to serious about it! At this point if I can just take the carn bloat back off I'll be good for a while. Maybe if I had something like a big vacation in my future I could find my motivation again . . Anyhow, love to all, got to go back to work now! :thumbdown:

Morning all! Hey Ash, I did not know that I had a hernia OR acid reflux until I got out of surgery, LOL. I would have issues with an acid-y stomach and feel like I constantly has to have something nuetral in there to stop the feeling, leading to a lot of overeating, and could not eat spicy stuff late in the day or had problems when I lay down. Since my band and hernia repair, I have had that acid-y feeling only twice! It was a miracle cure for me. In our Sonoma County group, we have a sweet young gal named Paloma who has severe, severe acid reflux disease since she was an infant. Totally screwed up her life. She has RNY at the age of 17 to fix it - after trying every treatment known to man - and it has resolved totally. RNY is the standard for severe acid reflux, but being obese by itself can cause acid reflux too! I don't know why the sleeve would not be effective in eliminating a mild/asymptomatic form of it just cause of the weight loss. Research research research! Chris is putting in an offer on a house today . . . I love the house . . . maybe someday I will live there!! scary stuff . . . . Have a great day everyone!

Happy Birthday and congrats, Pat! I missed my hug Saturday too :-( I am speaking in Tim's clas tonight, and will be attending the Kaiser support group this Thursday - will I see you there? And YES, let's get together for a nice hike this weekend! I am up for some HILLS sista . . . I had to come on and post this . . . my Proverbs 31 daily email really hit me today . . . those of you who know me will understand why! I have been feeling like I should be "disqualified" - then was asked to speak in this class tonight about my struggles . . . . then get this verse this morning - I feel like I'm exactly where I am supposed to be right now, and must just get back to discipline!! Have a great Tuesday all :-) "I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." I Corinthians 9:27 (NLT)

Hey all! Just posting to say hi, everyone is doing so well, I amd SO PROUD OF YOU ALL! I've been sick (still) and not able to get to the gym, which does a real mental downer on me and makes me want cookies! LOL. I have gained a good chunk back and it scares me. I need my mojo back! Will some of you send me some please? Other than that, I am well and blissfully in love :confused: I knew it would happen again eventually!! LOL. Off to work! yes I know it's Saturday, but I missed so much work being sick that I'm way behind. Healthy choices peoples! I miss you all :-)

Great Dr. Oz on right now! Genetic types & diets that work for your genes

Ugh . . . my head hurts!! Wasn't someone on here recently asking about the band getting tighter when sick? I know it's happened to Tina and someone else - Pam maybe? - and I'm here to tell ya, it's hecka true!! I've had this band on for over a year, only have 5.5 cc's in it, no fill since December, and I dont have problems with it, and I have never had a problem with being too tight. Yet now, when I'm sick (but not with a stomach flu), here's what does NOT stay down: 2 soda crackers. Hello again! Tried again later with 1 Tb. peanut butter - nope. So then I tried 1 tb. tuna fish, made with plenty of mayo!- nope. Hot water, diet sobe, and fruit all go down, but nothing solid OR slider. I finally gave up! Starve a cold, right? Mug o'hot water, herbal tea . . . maybe I'll send a kid to the store for some diet popsicles. Back to Stage 1 until I shake this thing. Fortunately I'm not really hungry. . . .

Way to go Mo!! You're rocking that band - and the size 12 lil black dress!! Go Mo, go! Home sick 2day, no appetite. just want water . . . . wish i felt like exercising, i could be losing!! Later yall

Good morning all, I just logged on to say that I miss all you guys turribly!!!!!

Congrats to all!! Hey Ash, I just logged on to say, at my local Kaiser they give tacit permission to use the lounge areas in the evenings for kaiser-related meeetings!

YAY Tina, you are back!! I miss you girlie :-) Candra, LOL! I gained back 10, but have lost about half of that again. I didn't gain it because my band failed me or for lack of restriction - the more I gained back, the more restriction I had! I gained it back because I didn't follow any of the rules. The ONLY thing I was doing differently than BB (Before Band) was eating less at one sitting. Grazing all day with a band yields exactly the same end result as grazing all day without a band. My bad! Back on track now - my 10s fit again. I still have size 8 as a goal, and I want to hit it by my 30 year HS reunion in late July. I have a goal!!!

I'm not going anywhere! I think it's important for all of us to remember that, no matter WHAT kind of surgery we have had, rapid weight loss causes HORRID hormonal fluctuations, which causes HORRIBLE mental symptoms in most all of us. Depression, anxiety, severe irritation, agression, etc - those are all NORMAL EMOTIONS TO GO THROUGH following WLS. If you can't go through them here, then where? That said, I TRY to stay positive and I think we all should strive to. When I have something negative to say to someone about a doctor or whatever, I PM them rather than put it up as a post for all to see - I don't want to scare anyone away from Kaiser :confused:

Pat can I just come to your house and we can go to wetlands together? If so please PM me your addy again - I know I have been there several times but I've caught Candra's Sometimers!! LOL Happy Thursday everybody!!

Good morning Tamra my sweet - I never got the full effect of a fill for a week - seriously! A little gurgle right away, then nothing until about day 4 or 5, by the time a week had gone by I was as tight as I was going to get. You dont want to be TOO tight!

Nicollie - WoW! Congrats! Did you see this coming??

Broke my carb cycle! OMG I cannot begin to tell you all how much more in control I feel without those crazy urges and cravings that I just kept giving in too! It took me what, 4 days? No wheat, either. My gut is thanking me! Took the boys to taco bell this afternoon, and I was perfectly happy with water - really. I'm on my way again! Scale moved too - almost 5 lbs in 4 days. YAY ME! Laurel - hi! I went back to work (desk job) in 1 week and was perfectly fine. Surgery on a Monday and back to work the next Monday. The first day I got tired and went home early, but by Tuesday I was up for the full day. I think it's the lack of food that makes folks tired out further than week 2. Its hard to get enough protein the close to surgery, but you can do it! Buy the magic bullet and puree protein foods into soups :-) More tomorrow - I'm waiting for Chris to get here now. I said no to movie theater movie because we always get popcorn - he's renting one on his way and I can munch on cucumber & hummus :-)