lose2regainme

UPDATE!!!!!! I FINALLY GOT APPROVED!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED I DON"T KNOW WHETHER TO JUMP UP AND DOWN SCREAMING, THROW UP OR CRY!!!!!:frown:

BCBS of IL (PPO). I have been roasting in insurance pergatory for almost a year. I clearly qualify, but I have been declined three times, the last time with the Obesity Advocates. BMI 41.2. A LIST of comorbities. 6 month medically supervised weight loss program completed before first filing. Met with and approved by Nutritionist and Psychologist. I have been attending the twice monthly support group meetings at the surgeons office since Oct. 08. The denial letters state different things as missing each time, but it IS ALL THERE!!!! I had to refocus my attentions over the last few weeks to knee surgery, now I am again gearing up for an appeal. I wish you the quickest, easiest approval ever heard of!!

So.......will my husband gain an inch for every thirty pounds I lose? Now that would be some incentive!!:thumbup:

My mother has this uncanny ability to find four leaf clovers. She used to pick bouquets of them!!!! Once when I was little, I asked her how she did it. She told me that her grandfather could do it, and told her that when he died, she would be able to do it. She giggled and didn't believe him. Fast forward nearly twenty years. Her grandfather died in August of that year, and a few weeks later she was out working in the yard planting bulbs and spreading mulch, etc. She looks down and there's a four leaf clover! So, she of course thinks of her grandfather and the story he told her so many years before, and starts searching around and found several! Ever since, she has been able to find them easily. She says when she looks down at the ground, it's as if the four leaf clovers are taller and just a little brighter than the grass and other clovers around them. Cool, huh?

I have had many experiences. The house we currently live in is haunted. I have been awakened several times to see a ghost standing at the foot of my bed, or beside my bed, or in the doorway of my bedroom. The very first time it happened, about three years ago, I woke up and saw what I thought was my teenaged daughter at the foot of my bed. I asked her what she wanted and when she didn't answer, I raised my voice and again asked what she needed, this time getting annoyed. My husband woke up and looked at her and said to me "Melissa, that is not Kalyn!" I reached over with a shaking hand and turned on my reading lamp, and it was gone. I covered my head with the blanket and started praying!!! Eventually fell back asleep. Similar things have happened many times, but my husband won't look any more!!! He said one time he could feel them there and he didn't want to look again. There have been many different ones, young and old, male and female. None look familiar. I don't know who they are. We have also seen a blue glob of light in the hallway get smaller until it went out, a cloud of blur move from one room to another, and a loud clear voice once said "Hellloooo!" from the hallway when I was running to answer the doorbell. We bought this house nearly eleven years ago, so it's strange that it just so recently started having this activity. This has been my first experience with ghosts, but I had two premonitions in two days when I was nineteen that both came true. I will tell you about that some other time.:thumbup:

I like to leave myself notes around the house, especially at my desk and on the refrigerator and other places near where I do work. Any suggestions for some encouragement? I am still lingering in "Insurance Purgatory" and I have been really sick for weeks. I could really use some uplifting. (comedy is always appreciated, also - I have a pretty quirky sense of humor! :biggrin:) Thanks! You are all awesome! Finding this place has really helped me over the last year of trying for surgery. I am just starting to wear down a bit.:cool2:

You are all AWESOME!!!!!! I really needed this today. Your sayings were great, some I have seen before, many I have not. Some made me laugh, and some made me cry. Others made me think. All of them I really needed. Thank you! You're all the BEST!!!:confused: P.S. Thanks, also, for commenting on my user name. I thought long and hard for something to keep my attitude where it needed to be.:w00t:

Thank you for your response! It is very encouraging to hear that I can still get them afterwards! My neurosurgeon says I will probably have to eventually have the surgery to bolt three vertebrae together to realign the one that is shifted, but getting some weight off will make it easier to put it off longer. I hope to put it off forever! It never makes you feel good (not!) when the surgeon doing the surgery tells you that you don't want the surgery unless you absolutely must. He said the pain and aggravation from the bolts is nearly as bad as the current issue.:biggrin: 6 of one, half dozen of another......

I get regular cortisone injections in my lower back for a dislocated vertebrae. How long will I have to go without one before and after the LapBand surgery? I also take large doses of ibuprofen often, for the same reason, and have read on LBT about not being able to have it at all after the surgery.:tongue_smilie: Anyone else dealing with this? Advice?

Thank you, that's a good one. We have some of his books, my daughter likes him a lot! My aunt quit her 20+ year job and went to nursing school at age 50, too!!!! That must be a "self examination age"!

I didn't do the cortisone in my lower back when I was at the slipped disc stage, as my doctor recommended, because when I had one in my shoulder I passed out and was terrified!! (actually chicken may be a better word!) Once the vertebrae was actually shifted and pressing on nerves making my thighs go numb and pain to shoot down over my hips and down my legs all the way to my feet, I gave in.:biggrin: I wish I had done it sooner. Yes, it hurts. For a few seconds. The worst part is when the cath thingy actually bumps the nerve and sends lightning bolts down your leg. But only for a couple of seconds. If you can handle that, within a week to ten days you will feel great!! Mine usually lasts 4-6 months, depending on how well I behave. You still have to stay away from activities the dr. tells you not to do, but it gives me great pain relief. I get mine done at an advanced pain center by an anethesiologist. If I have to stop getting them after I get lap band surgery, I will miss them dearly. Go for it!!

Thank you for sharing the info!!! I have tried some of their products and they are great! i just called and ordered mine!:biggrin::w00t::cool2:

I tried the Fage brand, and it tasted like thick sour cream. My local Kroger only carries the plain. It was fine in a strawberry smoothie, but I couldn't handle it right out of the container. The sauce idea sounds good, though.

My answer is simply YES!!!!!! God is real. I experience evidence of His existance every day. My husband and I have family and friends who are of many different religions. Whenever we discuss beliefs with them, I am always amazed at how similar everyone's basic beliefs are. There is only ONE GOD! Different religions have different names for and beliefs about Him. We are Baptist, but I do not consider my very best friend of 24 years any less "Christian" or "religious" than I am just because she is Catholic. Some people get a kick out of arguing points of discussion, just for the sport. regardless of what you believe, there will always be someone who believes differently. Who is right? Well, I will say this: If you live your life like there is no God, you better PRAY that you are right!!!!!!!!! As for me, my faith is in Jesus. If I am wrong, what do I have to lose?

I have BCBS of ILLINOIS. They have been pretty tough so far. It has been a year now since my PCP referred me to Dr. Ray, and I had my first consult with him in June 08. I did the 6 month thing with my PCP, and the Psych and Dietician appts with Dr. Rays office. I was declined by my the ins. co because the notes for the 6 month thing with my PCP were not specific enough for them. Right now I am working with an attorney advocate for an appeal. I do clearly qualify, BCBS is just being really persnickety about the i's being dotted and the t's being crossed. :w00t: Anyway, I cannot exercise because of a back injury. So, I'm just waiting......and waiting......and waiting........and trying to eat less and get some weight off. I hope your experience goes smoother. Do you go to Dr. Ray's office for Lap Band Support Group? I look so forward to that. It makes me feel like I am still actively doing something to move forward in the process, and I am also learning a lot about living with the Lap Band so when my time does come, I will be an expert!!!!:thumbup:

Not YOU, just tattoos in general. Yes, please do not take that personally. It is tattoos in general. I don't think I am alone in thinking this. I personally do not see anything attractive about tattoos. A persons individual experiences molds their individual beliefs. In my experience, MOST people that I know who have tattoos regret them at some point in their lives. My own husband is a 6 foot tall beefcake former US Marine, and I am happy to report, untattooed! Very sorry if that came off as a personal insult. Not my intention.

Sounds interesting.......what kind of degree do you need for that?

BCBS? So, really, tell us the truth, does BCBS employ a special department to come up with interesting terms to use for reasons for denials for lapband requests? Mine was "physicians notes not specific enough". Seriously, I'm not making that up. Any advice? My surgeon has sent my case to an attorney advocate. My PCP, upon hearing the reason for denial, said "That's Bullsh_t!!!". Just wondering if you had any secrets you could share.

LMAO!!!!!!!!:laugh::thumbup::laugh: Awesome! I want that job!

I don't have my band yet, I'm still jumping through the required hoops. But, the goals and celebrations upon meeting those goals are something I have been daydreaming a lot about lately. There is a particular outfit I like, but could not currently wear, diamond earrings, getting my engagement and wedding rings repaired and resized (they had to be cut off when I was pregnant with my youngest child who is now 11), a new PUPPY (we currently have two older miniature dachshunds), trading my crappy old van for a nicer used vehicle, a weekend anniversary trip with my husband without the kids, a nice piece of furniture, an ipod touch, a really nice digital camera, a piece of art that I really like, finally having a FAMILY PORTRAIT taken, etc. I guess it just needs to be something you have been depriving yourself of, whether because of the weight, low self esteem, etc. But, it should of course NOT be a nice dinner out , and sorry, but I really wouldn't recommend the tattoo . No matter how "tasteful", IMHO they are trashy and gross and no matter how much you like it today, you're probably not going to always feel the same way. This should be what YOU want though, not your husband or kids. Something that reminds you how hard you worked to get it, and makes you smile and be proud of your accomplishment. (Even if it turns out to be a tattoo!) Anyway, Congratulations on your success!!!:thumbup:

How about for the first date or two, try to suggest activities for the date that do not include food. After a date or two, if you want to keep seeing him, at that time you can explain everything to him. Just reassure him that it is positive to your health and keeping your "girlie figure" and it will not in any way hinder your ability to have children, etc. (An added plus- you are cheap to take to restaurants- just share!) As for the bedroom part, I'm old school on that. You will NEVER regret waiting untill you are married, but you WILL definately regret NOT waiting. I deeply regret not waiting, and there was only one other guy other than my husband. I am not preaching here, I respect that you have a right to your own life to live as you want, freewill and all that. Just sharing my experience. I tell my teenage daughter if she would just learn from MY mistakes instead of making all of her own, her life would be much better!!! HaHaHa!!!:laugh::thumbup::laugh:

I just saw the video of Octolittermom with her 2 or 3 year old biting and hitting her. What is she going to do when she is feeding a couple of the new babies in her lap and this one and maybe another one starts beating on the other six fragile preemie newborns? It will happen. One of my cousins was about three of four when her baby sister was born. She was all lovey-dovey and asked to kiss her newborn baby sister. When her mom let her see the baby, she plowed her fist at her. Children who aren't disciplined, constantly test their boundaries and when they do NOT reach them, keep going. God help those children if they are left in her care.

Thank you! It is encouraging to hear that it finally all fell into place for you. It gives me hope! :w00t: Congrats on your progress so far, and best of luck for loss continuing!

I am in the same position with BCBS-IL. My case is with an attorney advocate. How is your approval going?:tongue2:

Anne- Thank you for sharing! I am really looking forward to all of these changes. I just wish the insurance company would come through.:tongue2: