TwilightLover83

I'm 10 months post-op & 113 pounds down! wahooooo!!! Life is good!!!

Just a small correction it's an Echocardiogram. I was lucky enough not to have to have any cardiac testing.

So they are really helping you? I asked my Physical Therapist about them, she is very skeptical of them & told me to save my money. PT b/c my knees are killing me from the gym & all the movement now! But you totally have me rethinking this!

I have Personal Choice BCBS in IL and i think it took bout 3-4 days to be approved after my 2nd appeal. Would've been GREAT for BCBS or even my surgeon's insurance coordinator that I had to have 6months of supervised diets by my PCP! My surgeon's insurance coordinator was "out of the office" the day of my very first consult, and the person I spoke w/ at BCBS didn't know her butt from a hole in the ground I've decided, telling me all i needed was a letter from my doctor of medically necessary. Boy was she wrong. So start to finish for me, just under a year.

Funny you should mention this. Just yesterday I seen my PCP- he asked me who was treating my thyroid. I said "i didn't know there was a problem w/ my thyroid." My t3 & t4 levels are elevated (so opposite of yours), not sure bout my TSH. Ive been cranky, sleeping more, & unmotivated. So we are checking it again in a couple of weeks. What I find funny, the lab he was looking at was my PRE-OP labs from March of 2009!!!! He is just now addressing it? WTH! I've been to his office like 4-5 times since then. However, .2 seems alittle silly to me to jump u on meds. Maybe do a repeat lab in a few weeks? Could be an error? Good luck! let me know how everything turns out for ya!

There is what they call "soft stop" warning signs... I believe those include running nose, hiccups, burping. maybe a couple more that I dont recall off the top of my head.

Hey All- I went to see my PCP today, and we were discussing my progress w/ the weight loss. My goal weight came up. My goal weight is 145 pounds (that will put me at a healthy BMI for my height). He told me that 145 pounds is too skinny. On the other hand- my surgeon will not tell me what I "should" way. His office just doesn't do that. Should I rethink the weight? Did my PCP tell me this b/c I'm coming up on a year for my band, and is worried I won't make my goal weight, and doesn't want me upset? Has anyone else been told by their doctor that their goal weight is too thin???? P.S. my apologies if I shouldn't of stuck this thread here, I was at a loss on where to place it. Thanks!

I really enjoy Wendy's small Chili, like said earlier high protein & low fat. I like a fruit n yogurt parfait from McDonald's but recently found out I can eat an ice cream cone from there for less calories if I add the granola! Steak n Shake's chili is yumo! Not so healthy though!

I'm in the same boat as 2GoodDogs too embarrassed. I just either do soup or salad when I go out. Plus alot of times I've glanced over the Kids Menu and it's usually all higher fat items, nothing that we should truely be eatting. Plus if I went to Olive Garden I'd really want a breadstick, haha!

My doctor charges $250 for a fill, thank goodness my BCBS covers it.

I vote Elliptical. The elliptical is easier on my knees & joints. I also feel I get a better work out on it vs treadmill. Also- im uncoordinated & feel if i run on the treadmill I'm going to trip over my own feet & go flying off the back of it like those youtube videos lol. Took me a bit to work up to the elliptical as far as balance & such. But I got there!

Let's see how today went... B- 2 bites of taco meat S- 100 Cal Slim Fast Bar (delicious!) & 1 bite of pineapple L- Salad w/ boiled eggs & shredded cheddar cheese w/ Light Thousand Island Dressing. 1 bite of homemade pizza, 1 bite of garlic bread S-3 grapes D- approx 3oz of taco salad meat w/ 3 tortilla chips Drinks of the day- 26g protein shot, Choc Unjury shake, water, & decaf ice tea w/ splenda! Exercise- 30min of cardio:thumbup:

Consumed- Clear liquids (chicken broth, sherbert, italian ice, Water, apple juice, cranberry juice, etc) Length- 5 days Lost- 8 pounds (I was told this isn't real weight loss) I was extremely tired on the clear liquid diet. I take Parlodel for a Pituitary Growth.

Id say not normal. Maybe you should call your surgeon's office & inquire w/ an RN?

Make sure you are drinking plenty of your fluids & are moving. pain meds can make you constipated unfortunately. So I only took mine when i HAD too. Miralax is still my friend. However, they do have a Light Prune juice w/ less calories at Super Walmart. :w00t:

My first thought is no they won't cover it, if they don't cover the surgery. But if I were you, call your insurance company and inquire.

I agree w/ Humming Bird 100% Also I think she came off as rude.

Goalwatcher- Headhunger bites the big one huh? My head still hasn't shut up after 10months! But I guess when it's been talking to me for 26years, it may think it has a right. haha I was just going to mention that when you get a fill/adjustment- maybe giving your stomach a rest. My surgeon advises that you do a clear liq diet for a day or 2 after the fill/adjustment and work up to fulls for a couple of days & then to soft and then normal food again! Gives your tummy time to rest from the "trauma." I've found it to be a good idea, especially since I'm not hungery after the fills. Just an idea :thumbup:

sounds like you are doing everything right... lots of protein, biotin everyday. my doctor advised me not to perm or color my hair between 3-6months out b/c that is a crucial time for the stress from surgery etc to cause hair loss. Another thing they recommended was Flaxseed Oil for the hair. Hmm... also there are special shampoos & conditioners..I think called Nixion or something like that. I used it for a few months, seemed to help. I'm now nearly 10months out and notice my hair coming out semi easily, just pray it stops. Thank goodness I had thick hair in the beginning!

Hey there- Do you mean a bariatric referral letter? Or do you mean the lovely letter that goes to the insurance company, hoping you get approved the first time? As for the bariatric ref letter, my PCP simply put down my lifelong struggles w/ being obese & if you have any co-mordibities. Sorry that probably isn't much help. However- once you are in seeing your bariatric surgeon ask him/her for a sample letter that your PCP writes to the insurance company. It's pretty detailed (atleast mine was). My surgeon gave me on at the informational seminar that he required everyone to attend in the beginning of the process. Goodluck!

Whats your diet consist of? I know my surgeon tells everyone 600 calories for the first year. My system thought I was starving itself. When I increased my calories by only bout 100 or so, i started seeing better results. Im not necessarily telling you to go against doctors orders. Just a tid bit to think about. :thumbup: Also- dont compare yourself w/ anyone but yourself. You can do this. Everyone's body is different. Good luck!

Let's finish what i started from yesterday. It was a rough day for me. I couldn't seem to control the hand to mouth repetition. lol. So after my prune juice came the following... -Special K chocolate protein shake (only 10g of protein, couldve made a better choice) -1 chicken nugget from Wendy's & bout 3-4 bites of Wendy's chili -1 oven baked chicken breast tender w/ small portion of augratin potatoes :tt1: -Coffee w/ splenda & SF Hazelnut creamer -Unjury protein drink -a few animal crackers 45min of cardio (scale moved alittle today in the right direction) I just started myself on a mini challenge for my birthday!! Something to keep my motivated! I want to get under 200 so bad!!!!!! I weigh less today then I did at my Highschool Freshman physical by 20 pounds!!!!:thumbup:

Yesterday.... B- 2-3oz of low fat cottage cheese S- Protein Shot 26g of protein L- 75% of a house salad w/ lowfat ranch@ Texas Roadhouse (i didn't have any rolls either!!!) D- 2 chicken nuggets from Wendy's Exercise- 45min of cardio & lifted weights Today.... So Far B- 2-3oz of Fat Free Light Yogurt S- Light Prune Juice (yumo!) Getting ready to hit the gym!