spud.mama

Hello :w00t: Hypertension is a comorbidity--even if on meds. You should be fine qualifying. Don't worry. Aetna has a lot of hoops to jump thru, have u seen the requirements? U can find it on aetna.com somewhere, or google aetna, obesity surgery. It's also on here somewhere on the insurence forum. Most people do the 6 month program, but I'm trying to do the 3 month multi-disapplainary (which it ending up to be 4 months for me cuz I missed some exercise classes and I started late--love that exercise!! :tt1:). Talk to the insurence person at the surgeons office, she should be able to tell you exactly what to do. OH, also make sure the surgeon is in network. Good luck!

I am a hairstylist so I baby my hands and wrists (therefore they are weak), so I am just curious if my hands hurt and are swollen because the muscles in my hands and wrists are not use to weights and repetition of the moving handles on machines, or if I sprained my wrists/hands due to the repetition? I'm hoping is just like working any muscle too hard too soon, cuz I'm ready to go stagnant with my hands again. I will ice them now. But let me know how not to make them hurt next time I workout.

That's Cute!

Do you feel better now Ben? So now put it in a small coffin and bury it, never to be seen again. Or dig a hole and set it on fire. You could make a list of all the people that have made you feel this way and then set that one fire. No, wait, PEE ON IT FIRST! LOL You are on your way to show them up! On to other obstacles. For me, I fear being angry (when I'm skinny) at the people who treat me nice when I know they wouldn't give me the time of day when I was big. Or getting that promotion that I should have gotten years ago but didn't "fit" the image--I just don't have the look! Will I really want the promotion then?? Don't worry, Ben, we will have plenty of times for verbal vomit as we get smaller and smaller. Not to be a downer, but we all have to bitch once in a while, especially when it's in a safe place like here.

Dude! You need to eat more! Add an egg or two to your shakes, you can use the real thing or get the boxes of liquid egg whites at the store. Get some egg drop Soup. Look more through the forums, there are plenty of threads on this subject. I don't know what lortab is, but you need your Vitamins too, try Flintstones chewables. And Iron may help as you may have lost alot of blood in surgery. Good luck! Hope you feel better real soon!

Do you guys remember your first bra?? Ya know how you couldn't wait to get boobs to fill it out so you stuffed it?? (Except me, I went strait to the real thing!) So this topic of being sick of liquids reminds me of the first bras. LOL :thumbup: Do you also remember when you couldn't wait to start the liquid diet cuz that meant you were about to start a new life?? I guess the NOVELTY of it has worn off. LOL :laugh: So I don't get banded until the end of May/beginning of June and I can't wait to be on the liquid diet!! I am very happy to know that my doc only requires 2 or 3 days of it before unless you have not dropped the weight he wants (for me only 13 lbs). But I am happy to read your posts to be aware of the dreaded post-op liquid diet.

RestlessMonkey is right on the money with the nutrition making a difference on your hair. Not knowing what you were using b4 Head and Shoulders and without seeing and feeling your hair makes it harder to give the best advice as to what to use. First, you say you have "dandruff". Well, most people think that white flakes are dandruff cuz the commercials steer you that way. Well it's not. True dandruff is big, yellowy, chunks and it smells. Little white flake is dry scalp, which is mostlikely what you have. What you need is a good Professional moisturizing shampoo AND conditioner. If you can 'hear' your hair scratchin together and can pretty much snap off the ends then you have too much Protein (not to be confused w protein in your diet). Therefore, you would need to add a little shampoo w protein--but too much will be revert back to braking off so you have to be very carefull. If your hair feels very conditioned then all of a sudden breaks off again--then youve over done it and need to back off and use moisture and oil more. Your hair is made up of moisture, protein and essential fatty acids (oil-which gives you elasticity). You need all to have heathly hair--so not just one kind of shampoo and conditioner. Just like we need protein, carbs, fat, and Water in our diet. On the chance that you were using a professional product you need to get one the other ellements to balance it out and alternate days. Don't forget the importance of 'clarifying' (stripping) your hair every few weeks every type of product will build up on your hair, but store bought products contain ALOT of wax as fillers so its not as pure of the ellements that you want. I do not think your hair falling out it cuz of the band, but might very well be your nutrition. Your blood supply makes your hair grow. So in a sence what you eat ends up on your hair. I know this is a lot. Let me know if you have any questions. Hope this helps all.

OK, need some extra motivation. Need goals/challenge for myself. I've been walking for about a month for 30 min 3 or 4 times a week. Last week started my Dr supervised exercise program--2 days a week for 1 hour. I would like something to work towards besides weight loss. Do I do a time challenge for a week, or miles, or a challenge for a month, what?? Looking at the veterans challenges--I ain't the one!--YET! If I do a time challenge do I include the 2 hrs that are a given each week? I'm so confused as to what to do. :wink:

That is a great idea to write something! The nurses have an on-going pool to see who can get the surgeon to laugh cuz he's just a little bit on the OMG serious side. I will have to conspire with them if I decide to write something. LOL Good Luck Dr. Suess!

I was told they go off my BMI from when I first started the 3/6 month diet. But that's my doc and insurance. I'd call the insurance person at your surgeons office, she would know best what your insurance expects. Good Luck.

In the WLS for Dummies book it says that carbonation stretching the stomach is a myth. What it does do is cause lots of gas that make you feel very uncomfortable. I think all doctors across the board tell you not to drink caffeine. And I do wonder how things affect the band on the outside.

I'd either go full liquids, cuz you know that has worked for people, or go full on low carb. That means less than 20 carbs a day. The way i do it when i do low carb is lot's of meat, chez, and nuts. For me i did not count carbs in non-high-glycemic veggies, chez, meat or nuts. If it has less than 5 carbs--to me it's free. So, no fruit, bread, Pasta, milk, Cereal, corn, potatoes, rice, etc. It's only a week. Personally i'm a milk drinker and i like protien drinks so I might like the liquid diet--but only for a week or so. Good luck.

I have not heard anyone say they regret getting the band even after having complications. If you feel you are informed and are ready then go for it. Not all doctors are for chiropractors but they prove worthy too. If you don't have a great relationship with your doctor otherwise I would highly consider finding a new one as you will still have to see him/her for years to come after the band. Either way I would get your doctor pamphlets of info from you surgeon and explain to the doc how you felt about what he said and that you feel you are making an informed decision. Good Luck!

Thank you all for the suggestions. Obviously I must look into a 5K to work towards. Thanks a bunch. :party:

How the heck do the May and June 09 forums get started if I can't start the thread. :wink: Does some majical hire computerland person-thing put it on there? When? Do they wait till we complain that there isn't one and then put it on? :thumbup: Do we have to go to the top LBT computerland person-thing? I've been waiting patiently, but somehow my patience is walking away :eek: (OK I'm cranky anyway and have to take it out on an unknown computerland person-thing cuz my kids won't let me kill them :smash: ). OH, and question---Why don't they just have Jan-Dec 09 on there automatically? Why go a month at a time?? :frown: OK, I'm done. Thanks for letting me vent.:rant:

Not trying to negate your sensitiveness about the big 5-0 at all. I'm just happy you mentioned not being able to get on this site. Lol. I had a computer virus and did some fixing on my [computer-illiterate] own. Thought I did a good job until I couldn't get on here. Phew!!! It's not just me!! Thanx!! :cursing:

I talked to someone who became addicted to lottery tickets and shopping.

I feel very fortunate that my surgeon's office is a multi-disapplainary office. I am able to do the 3 month multi-dis. I was very confused until I found them. It can be done on your own, however. I am seeing their doc once a month--he knows exactly what to put in the file. I see their dietician once a month--love her and she's all about the surgery (duh, or she wouldn't have a job there). I also am doing a "medically supervised" exercise program through the cardio rehab with their community program. They have therapists there the whole time. Of course I'm doing the other things my surgeon wants--EKG, psych eval, yada yada. I asked the insurance lady at my surgeons office exactly what to do and she was a big help and very reassuring as to what Aetna will accept. She told me with her experience that the med. sup. exercise has to be with a therapist and not curves or just a gym membership. Also I don't have to do weight watchers or something like that cuz of the dietician putting together a plan--2 birds with one stone. There is a whole discussion on the forum board under insurance. It was an old convo I read so it's probably far in the back. Good Luck

I think dizzy and headache is a sure sign of dehydration. I also agree with potassium. Good luck.

It is ketosis my dear. Which is actually a good thing if you are doing low carb--no arguments needed. Your fat is being released by your pee, sweat, and breath. So with every bad breath you take think of it as--you're losing weight. :thumbup: Do not try to hyperventilate to lose faster--it doesn't work. lol. Good luck with the Lysterine.

OMG!! I am going in two hours to go for my first "Therapist supervised" gym session. And I was scared before of the 'skinny' people, now I have to be worried about the unsympathetic, once-over-weight people being SNOBS. JUST GREAT!!! Good thing I have to do my supervised thing at the cardio rehab where it's mostly old people. I'm thinkin' you people wont see me in the gym for a LONG time! Thanks for the encouragement!! LOL:wink2: (Hey, atleast you can admit your a snob, that's half the battle!) I'm off to reluctantly go the the gym! :smile:

I am HOT and sweaty all the flippin' time that I can't wait to be cold!! And who knows about peri-menopause?! We are at that age--damn it! Just a side thought--Meds. I take an anti-depressant that has a side effect of sweating. Just thinkin' that maybe you're not taking something anymore that made you hot/warm but you didn't know at the time. Just a thought.

Hey Babe, you might re-think the sports bra recommendation if you read her blog about her incident (and injury lol) with trying one on. LOL :smile:

LOL! :cursing: At first I thought of making fun of you like the others, BUT, it makes sense to bring a bunch of that stuff if you are going to stay for...let's say...a WEEK. :smile: LOL Just kidding. You may get bored but I'm sure you could lessen the list if you really think that for one--it's 6 weeks away, and two--you will be so excited and exhausted that you really wont want to do much but walk, sleep and watch TV. I'd be writing in my journal or on here. The only thing the I HIGHLY advise NOT to bring is a SPORTS BRA!!! LOLOLOL!!!! :thumbup::cool2:

As you all know I have not been banded yet, probably not until June. My question is how to help her lose weight, as I have not been a good influence on that one, but am in the process of learning. She is athletic but is, shall we say, 'weighed down' a bit to even want to get up and move. She is in her brothers shadow who is a basketball star, so feels the pressure and rebels against it. She is 14, 5'9", 234lbs, 42DD (can't find sports bras in that), and has a ghetto booty and thighs. Have to explain that I am white, she is black, and we live in a very white city. All her friends are Mexican (don't want to offend that's what they want to be called) and are short toothpicks. It is hard for her to understand the difference in body type amongst the races. I would like to know if while I am doing the pre-surgery diet stuff and after surgery will her portions and overall diet and motivation inadvertently change? She wants to lose weight but also wants to keep eating sugar crap (says she has to "feed her fat"). Where's the line of helping yet letting her be a teenager? We all have times when family says/does things out of love but it ends up being hurtful. What do I do? Spud Mama :tt1: