TracyinKS

Tammy!!!!!!!!!! Your day is fast approaching! Linda: My best advice to you would be to consult with SEVERAL doctors. Some are bypass biased and some are band biassed.... My two best girl friends in Real Life have both had the bypass..... one Lap and one Open....... one is 4 years post op and one is 2. BOTH were well over 300 lbs and both Went down to UNDER 200...... One has gained back a significant amount of weight because she never experienced the "dumping" syndrome which means she ate anything and everything and now her pouch is stretched out again. The other just had a boob lift and tummy tuck.........she is 5'10" and at right around 200 lbs she is in a size 10 maybe an 8 after swelling goes down!!!!!!!! All their sucess viewed first hand by me and I am going with the band.... I chose the band because it is less invasive, I will only be taking 2 days off work vs the 6 weeks they had to have. ALL my internal organs remain intact. Their procedure is a MALABSOBITIVE procedure meaning that their bodies don't absorb the vitimans and nutrients like those with the band do... the band is for life, BUT IS Reversible if needed. Even if you lost 40-50 lbs a year............. that is STILL 40-50 lbs LESS and at the slower rate, you might not have so much problem with sagging skin...... I may say that I want to get down to 150, but I know that I look good and feel good in the 180's.............. no, I'll never be a skinny minny.. its not in my genes and I'm fine with it.. but to be able to wear a size 12 swimsuit and feel like i'm OK.. well that my dear is priceless..... We each go our own course, and only YOU can make the decision.

Ok.. I am a premie (April 07) but DAMnmmmmmmmmm! Lisa: OMG!!! the transormation is unbelievable!!! No way do you look the same. It is amazing to me how your beatiful features were hidden in your befor pics and now that you are so tiny they just stand out! SKBishop: AGAIN, OMG the transformation! You now look like the beautiful second cousin of your before pic! You guys are my heros!!!!!!!!!!!!

BAND ME BABY!!!!!!!!!! I'm ready!

CONGRATS ON your decision!!!!!!!! Now the next step is GETTING YOUR DATE!!!!!

Holy Frickin Frogs Teeth LOL!!!! I LOVE THIS!:biggrin1: Also.. you may just of inspired me to walk at my lunch break tomorrow!

Thank you BETTY!!!!!!!!! You don't know how much your little post helped! I'm with you TerriDoodle!!!!!!! GROUP HUG ME BABY! :eek: Jennifur: I'm glad you were able to tell your mom your secrets.. hecking getting them out there is half the battle.

The percentage of slippage and erosion is very small compared to the sheer number of bands being placed. Most of us on LBT are newbies, preemies, or those with complications coming back for help... so always take it with a grain of salt, and more importantly talk to your doctor about it.

Welcome to LBT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BCBS of South Carolina is where all the benefits are coordinated from but yes.. depending where our employees work is dependant whether it is BCBS of Kansas or Kansas City..... they all work together (or their supposed to)

Jennifur: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!!! I am so down on myself it is not even funny..... I won't go into all the gory details, but all I want to is sleep.. I know it is because I am now at an all time high weight and this time two years ago I was getting into size 10's!!!!! (after losing over 80 on Low Carbing) this year I don't even have a short sleeved shirt that is long enough to cover my belly, but I refuse to buy anything new because I KNOW that I will be losing over the next couple months. I am REALLY worried about my obsession with not wasting food... I am REALLY worried that my new way of eating is going to affect my relationship with my dbf... he does most of the cooking and he makes all the high carb comfort food and then gets offended when I don't eat it, and he makes too much and then doens't put it away or lets it go to waste.. (drives me crazy) We have been talking about these huge differences, but he has flat out said that he doesn't think he can cook any different....... (and he turns his nose up at things I cook) for instance he doesn't eat Pork of any kind....... Chicken is BONELESS breasts ONLY...... hamburger is meant to make spaghetti, sloppy joes, hamburger helper.....(he is in a major cooking rut) He says he's supportive but he admits its going to be hard for him to see me NOT eat........ Not to mention that it is going to be REALLY hard for me to pay a full price for a buffet and not be albe to "get my moneys' worth!! (I even hate it when the kids waste food there) ok down off my soap box NOW! See your not the only one with head issues.

isn't the saliva mucous stuff called sliming??? try the tricks of drinkin something warm first to losen up your band/ stomach lining, and yes you may need an unfill.

HAPPY MONDAY MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is going to be sunny and 70 degrees here today, and I have a huge case of Cabin fever! Last fall we bought a used camper and the week before my surgery we are planning to break it in! (originaly we had planned to camp the following weekend but I don't think that I'd be up for it a week post op) I am ready to take this weight off for once an all... I am so tired of losing and then regaining. Have great day!

Good Monday Morning ALL!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Band Day to all that are getting it done today! I am sooooo sleepy

Mary: Check out Tallgrass, I think they have the best self pay price around KS!!! Several here have used them. WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are a long way from retirement then I don't see a problem using your 401K to fund your surgery, and yes are paying yourself back the interest, and no you won't be "growing" the money you take out in the stock and mutual fund markets they are curently enrolled in... BUT you are making back the interest, it IS YOUR MONEY, It does NOT show on your credit report... There are differences in plans, and in loan rules.. most all have these types.. Borrow up to 50% of your vested balance (YOUR MONEY, NOT your employers matching funds) For a down payment on a house: typically you have up to 15 years to pay it back. For a general loan 3-5 years is pretty common Hardship Cashout: Doesn't have to be paid back (at least not in my plan) What happens if I have a loan and then I change/get laid off of my current job.. and DON'T want to pay it back? - The proceeds of the loan counts as INCOME plus you will also be hit with all the tax penalties which means that come 4/15, you could end up OWING A LOT if you are under age 55.5 years old, but Like Kats hubby.. you could roll it right over to the new company (if they are set up for it and continue on) (I put $3900 in my Flex Spending Account) which covers my annual out of pocket max for insurance. It is $150 pre-tax per paycheck....... which is stretching my budget a little thin.. but at least it will be paid for in a YEAR.

Waving to SUE in RUSSIA! How interesting to be living a world away! Congrats on your surgery.... and I bought a brand new heating pad the other day.. its just waiting for me :girl_hug:

Pam: Ok I am now at work resetting all the timeclocks via my computer.... and I read you post about your hubby..... FIRST and FOREMOST: CONGRATULATIONS on NOT BINGING!!!!!!!!! This is proof that YOU are taking control. The ass part... oh honey I can relate, (and I am not even married to him) but we are raising our kids together and yesterday he dug up 8 feet of main line pipe underneath our house and REPLACED it, so I'm keeping him. LOL but like yours............. he really sux at gifts and romance... I got absolutely NOTHING on Valentines Day..... (not even a card) Christmas he bought cheap jewelry (thinking that I would like it) and all along I was like YOU ASS!!!!! you could of bought me ONE NICE RING instead of this crap, but then I'm like.... well I AM better off tax wise NOT being married to him, and his credit is screwed up because he has no idea how to rebuild it........ WE HAVE ISSUES...... not to mention we don't even do "IT" anymore, it took him 3 months to figure out that I was no longer using my birth control. In the two years we've been together I've gained all my weight back... I was in the 170's when I met him and now I'm NOT. I'm not going to go on and on about this.. because when it comes down to it.. He doesn't cheat, He has a good job, He is good for my son, He doesn't drink or do drugs, and he fixes things! so I am in it for the long haul. Pam: I know you expected big things and believe me I KNOW how you feel... I am so proud of you for taking control of your emotions and managing NOT to binge... Some guys just truly DON'T HAVE IT IN THEM to satisfy our romantic side........... (which is why I like to read smut novels... ROMANCE NOVELS) :girl_hug:

Hey there all... HOLY CRAP! I just remembered I have to go to work in a few hours to RESET the dam time clocks!!!!!! (software glitch in the daylight saving patch)P

BB: I think so.. I used to work in the Mission Bank Building right on the corner of Foxridge and Johnson Dr... (also many moons ago) I was suprised when I realized my doc was right down the street (on johnson drive) It has be DEVELOPED to the max.

If I didn't have insurance I would either go to Denver OR Mexico.... but thank the lord my insurance approved it.... One thing I will add is that my doc said almost EVERY patient that he bands HAS a hernia, and if it is too big he will fix it, because it only adds 3 minutes to the surgery..... I would maybe investigate the fact that you could have a hernia and have your insurance pay for that instead and get the band placed as a bonus. My doc also does fills on Mexican banded patients.....

yes Dow, it is the same Dr..... Very Sad indeed, threads that I have seen said he was a great doctor., and person..

PRAYERS for you!

Happy Saturday night everyone! It is getting closer every day! Welcome to everyone who has joined this list!... I am lucky to have insurance coverage as well, but I did put $3900 in my Flex Spending Account (that covers my annual out of pocket max) Which is a lot better than the $16.5K my doc charges for his cash price. I often go check out the April 06 bandsters for motivation.

Most of us on here are either newly banded or WAITING! A few vetrans post because they are AWESOME people! Most are out living their lives and the weight is no longer a forefront issue for them.

HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR POSTING!!!! I'm sending your pics to my mom and step dad! A true inspiration, and you guys look WONDERFUL!