vessa

ok, so UPDATE: Got insurance packet from Humana (after 3 long uninsured months), absolutely no coverage for surgery involving morbid obesity or successive treatments . SO, at first I was bummed, but then relieved not to have to deal with all the rigamarole of finding new doctor. But now what, right? So just out of curiosity, does anyone think my eligibility for fills would override that clause because it is treatment carrying over from previous surgery covered from previous insurance (i'm not sure what it is called, proof of prior or something?) You know, my fill is working great (i've had 2, doctor never told me how much) i'm still on 1/2 cup a meal, fluctuating more and less during the day). It has maintained this for 50 pounds lost, but there's always the good chance it won't forever. And I can't never see another doctor, right? I mean, I'm relieved temporarily to not have to deal with finding new doc and the hassle it is, but eventually there will be necessity for it, I'm guessing sooner than later. I suppose unless I can get through with the loophole in insurance for prior coverage, there's going to be a decent bill coming my way. I have talked to the gal at Thedacare, and she said $2000 up front for 10? fills and all classes an doc visits, everything. Man, that's pricey. Maybe not for some, but I had a baby last year, and we are a one income household. Gawd, I feel guilty buying fresh chicken instead of cans, just to save a few cents. Anyways, not ranting, sorry if it seems like that. I have a strange peace about it, like it's out of my hands at this moment (at least until we can get our car paid off and have a few quarters to throw at the doctor). p.s. I apologize for my rampant use of italics.

thanks for the interest, i'm...well, i appreciate the thought. Mostly my hands get "the treatment". It just seemed with water they were never clean the first time, or the second...etc. NOT POKING FUN OF OCD, by the way, it's a thing I've lived with all my life. I guess I got to the point of it being humorous instead of sad, I mean if I have to live with it, I'd rather think it was perculiar and funny than sad, and be totally depressed. it is a deeper thing, I know, I know... but on the positive side, my New Year's Resolution was to use water on me, and only Purell with Aloe on my hands (that germx is rough). And it seems to be working, my hands look decent, not chapped, VERY CLEAN...

Waupaca wi

HAHAHA my thoughts exactly! How funny you said this! I think as generations go by, skin color will be less and less important, it is already becoming of less importance, you can see it in schools now, I think it is humans evolving, finally, but it is one of the gems of younger generations (in my opinion) that they judge skin color or sexuality less than their parents or grandparents. I occasionally used this word with my friends or family, mostly to describe moronic white-gangster wannabes when i was in high school (i grew up in Northern WI, 98% white people). Interestingly enough (or not) I seen a southpark episode on this word, where Token told stan or kyle (i don't remember) that they'd just never get it, the pain in it, for people who are hurt by it. And it really hit home, because that is how I feel about the word FAT, for my own sake, I wish I didn't but it is just a part of me, even when I was very thin for a short time, it was a very offensive word. (It always upsets me, i feel injustice when I hear it being used to escribe people on TV, being tossed around like it's no big deal.) Anyways, I vowed to never say that word again, because I finally get it, but I feel sadness at my ignorance, but thankful my daughter will not be taught that foolishness.

don't overdo it on the pain meds, at the hospital (morphine drip) or at home (pills or whatever). From personal experience, I threw up a lot and it made recovery miserable, and could have made it dangerous, thank God I was ok. Nurse told me a huge percentage of people have allergy to morphine and it makes them sick. I don't know if that's true, but man, it sucked!

www.thedailyplate.com i love it!

i use germ x alll over my body, all the time. i know this destroys good bacteria, and you can get sick from it, but i'd rather do this than.... (check this out) [ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=QmqhZqkLIqU]YouTube - Wash Wash Wash Wash Wash Wash Wash Wash Wash Wash Wash Wash[/ame] like i used to

I had bcbs of MN an went to mayo in rochester, it took about 6 months with a few doctor visits, and a 6 week psych thing. BCBS tol me mayo was highly respected and insured me in less than 2 weeks over the holidays. Mayo did all the paperwork, an they in't make me o a million things in rochester, since i was from mankato, they helped me find a psych there, and only made me visit when totally necessary, scheduling oc appointments all on same days, they are very accomidating, but expensive (my surgery was $28,000, but i din't have to pay a cent) well worth it to me.

P.s. I was SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE, what a title, huh? oh, and just tell them the long list of stuff you've already tried (im sure you have we all have) diets you've gone on, exercise programs, (i was terrified they'd ask for reciepts, NAW!) Also, knowledge of stuff, nutrition wise and things of health seem to show my doctor I knew what I was talking about, and wanted it bad enough, and could act accordingly with band, but couldn't get there without help).

From what i know, almost every insurance company says, "must be medicallly necessary..." THAT"S GOOD!!! It's not like they would say, "yes yes go now! Here's the money!" Basically, they are saying, you have to have, in a doctor's written opinion,sent to the insurance company, that you should have the operation, based on the necessary to save your live, or improve it dramaticallly. I had trouble with this too in beginning, I in't have regular doctor, so I just went to some random family doctor. Big mistake, the woman obviously had no concept beyon herself, told me(after knowing me a whole 5 minutes, and interupting me too, that "I needed to drink less soda (i clearly stated to her I did not)and maybe work out at a fun place, like curves". ERRRR I could have thrown her out the window! (I really could have too, she was like 95 pounds!) It sounds like you have gone to a good place, that you have a consult, in my opinion, the only doctors who can really understand obesity are those who specialize in it (and perhaps a select few). If you are going to a place or octor that specializes in it, if you need it, you will be fine. I am 26 too, but was over 300 lbs, but 5'6", but also no real problems, yet. If you meet the criteria, sometimes just the BMI is enough (usually, i would suspect). Also, the doctor isn't going to find you meically necessary if you have issues that are more important that losing weight (i.e.mental things, a lot of us have to get psych evaluations first, it is mentally tough to go thru life the first year or so after band, lots of big changes, so you have to be mentally fit.) Also, things like if you can't make it thru surgery because of other medical reasons, heart stuff I would assume. I'm sorry this is long-winded, I've been where you are, it is a heavy worrisome place, wanting it so bad, being afraid of being denied. oh, man, I had weeks of no sleep! An everything went swimmingly, in fact, the doctor's usually thing was to do all the paperwork themselves, I just got the approval, in less than two weeks, over the holiday. It was so awesome! don't be worried, "must be medically necessary" is gold, alot of folks, get the "no way, jose" right in there insurance paperwork. This is based on what i've experienced and from reading a lot of other's posts too. My husband gets Humana in February, so your post gives me hope too, you hear alot of chatter here, things that scare you and make you doubt (i'm in a situation of having to find a new fill doctor in wisconsin because of moving here) so i hope i have given you a little bit of hope, as you have given me.

p.s. GO PACKERS IS RIGHT WHOO HOO!!!!

Hi, i had my surgery quite a while back and my husband and I moved to Waupaca for him to start foundry work in October. So, my life is going well, and band is working great, slow weight loss, but works really well. ...this is a bit complicated, but i will post it as easily as I can. (I am confused from it a bit, you see). I had my surgery ay Mayo "super-duper everyone thinks is the greatest place ever" Clinic in Minnesota, becasue we lived there. We had to move really quickly for my husband to get his job out here. I followed up with Mayo, and the nurse said, "sure I'll tell doctor and she will find you new doctor there..." no call. So i looked into a few places, called around, and got the COLDEST SHOULDER EVER! From Neenah, Steven's Point, and a place in Appleton. Basically a speech on how their doctor REALLY dislikes seeing new patients that aren't theirs, and that I'm going to need money up front, and that I have to go to the introduction thing again, plus get the last 26 years of doctor visits in paperwork, etc, ETC! Ok, here's more... I had a baby shortly after I got my band, so I spent 10 months without restriction (not in my doctor's favor, but I did good after, and baby was totally healthy - which is so much more important, duh). So, here I got this brand new baby, I'm a stay at home mom, I understand and I am willing to work with doctor to follow good plan, but as far as "loads of cash and lots of free time" go, not me! AND moving to a new state, insurance didn't follow us to Eric's new job (except if we were willing to pay $850 a month - please!)So it finally kicks in in February. Mayo had a hard time understanding why not having insurance was was a problem, i could just pay for fill (and doctor visit and floro,and classes, and dietician, and other requirements of new doctor,etc. right?) and not feed my baby for a month, I suppose. I begged Mayo to send me my paperwork in the mail so I could see doctor when I got husband's insurance (they said, "no problem", and never sent it) So I stopped bugging them, figured, screw it if i can find a doctor, I will have them send for it, Mayo can't mess with them. Anyways, so so so sorry for the rant, it was all going so well, then i moved back to my hometown area, and I am treated suspiciously, as if I had my band done in some dark alley for $400, and have no idea what it's about or how it works (iv'e had it for almost two years now, 10 months of them with baby, lost over 50 pounds, did psych counceling, took 8 months of hard work to even get it!) So, after trying around the area, I've decided, maybe try Dr. Kemmerling? I don't know, I am scared stiff it will be like other offices (never even got to talk to doctors, just snooty nurses)and I know there are places in Milwaukee, but so far away, my husband works really hard to support us, and like I said, stay at home mom here, I will do what I have to, but please, I got priorities too, right? Anyways, for anyone still reading this, PLEASE PLEASE understand, I am weeks away from having insurance, and almost too scared to call for a new band doctor and get same bad treatment, all I want is a doctor to help me stay on track. My band is working well, I've had 2 fills, I might not even need new fill for a while, but I really invested SO much into this, and I am freaking out that I will never get to see another doctor again. Does anyone know if Dr. Kemmerling is..., you know, do you understand what I am asking? Decent? Will he understand this? Or treat me like crap because I had the "nerve" to move to a new state with my husband and daughter? I have already entertained the thought of "i might not ever get to see another fill doctor again...terrifying!" So I ask, what now? It's over just because I moved? I have a new baby, my first, my only, the stress of this can really be overwhelming, and the last thing I expected was trouble finding a new doctor...HELP? any suggestions...??? Feeling hurt by the system, but trying to stay positive.

My band flipped too. There was no answer, no one could figure why. They bent 3 neeles under floroscopy before they figure out it was completely upside down. I was so pissed when they tol me it'd have to be revised that I cried an cried. I had just ha my baby 6 weeks earlier and didn't have the time, money, or stamina to do that. Thankfully, they scheduled the surgery within 2 weeks, and when I got it, it went SO fast, and it was considered out-patient, so I got to go home that day. I was up caring for my daughter the next day, no pain at all. And I was scared, because my port hurt like crazy for weeks after they put lap band in. I've had annual womanly exams that were worse than my revision surgery. Now it's just a distant memory, it will be over before you know it.

Ok, this might be so dumb an idea, but i have been where you have often with my husband, we are extrememly broke all the time, an have months on end where we basically pay only bills and get few other things. SO...my point is, we always make plans to do things in a couple of months, but then some other things come up, and the plans are forgotten or pushed farther away. If I really really want something, I just don't let up, I find every convincing argument in my favor, and throw it at him. Yeah, it does piss him off time to time, becasue he knows that I know that we can't afford it. BUT he also knows me well enough that if I don't let up, it must be pretty important. And he loves me enough to help find a way. I like to think if my husband an I were rich, we'd never fight, because it seems that's all we ever argue about. Perhaps he has bought something really expensive you didn't want him to, but he worked you over until you gave in? Bring that up. I taught my guy about the band through this website, he was pretty interested when I would read him stuff, it helped me to get him involved. Perhaps you could print out some of the really inspiring stories on here and put them by the john? I can be a Smooth Operator with my husband when I want something, I just have to show him how bad he wants it. Good Luck. I hope I have been helpful a little.

i went my whole pregnancy without getting unfilled. BUT i had very little restriction. No problems at all. I straight up told doctor, "No, I'm not throwing up, I'm eating normal for a pregnant woman, and if I have problems, I'll call you." Not in a bitchy way, but hey, she's my doctor, I pay her,I respect her opinion, but I know my body too. I have the right to decide what was going to happen, not let her tell me what she was going to do. She was totally respectful an things went great. Oddly enough, without a fill, my restiction picked up 6 weeks after baby, doc says everything is great. And, not that you are dealing with this, but sometimes I cannot believe how arrogant and pusky doctors can be, and especially with pregnancy and the band. Mine was unplanned, but I rolled with it, had a great obstetrition who was positive about it, and a band doc who respected me as long as I respected her. I hate bully doctors, as a chob, I've dealt with them often, and I found it best on my self esteem to listen to them and respect their knowlege, but also respect my instinct with my own body. p.s. if your doc totally not like this, please don't get mad, just ranting :eek:

I went through a MONTH of binging, bought soft foods that go down easily, etc... lost no weight whatsoever, I had it coming, I know. This helped me get back on track, I got an idea from a website, and I tweeked it to my needs, it is a piece of paper with big black letters that says... AM I... ...STRESSED? ...TIRED? ...BORED? ...TEMPTED? ...or hungry? I would assume (for me at least) kit kat blizzard would fall into the catagory of "tempted" seeing as how awesome they look in commercial and in person, and how cool they sound, and how great they look in my head as I type this. haha anyways, when I see that big blaring note on my fridge, its not like an accusation, its like a (metiphorically) councelor saying "hey", - "talk to me" being myself??? I'm not sure where I'm going with this, sorry, it is 1 am an I really should be sleeping. But anyways, it looked stupid, but its been one of the most helpful tools I've had so far in fighting my mental "starving" demons.

I lost 110 pounds in a year by starving and compulsivley exercising (while in a rehab for other stuff). Kept it off for a year, and then got in bad car wreck and totally messed up my ankle. Couln't walk right for months, always will be damaged... I gained 173 pounds in a year and 1/2. Total depression, went to food addiction after drug addiction to deal with chronic pain. I still have bad arthritis in foot (im 26) and bad weather or too much exercise hurts real bad, but doesn't stop me. I am 10 pounds away (about) from the "fat I never would be again". Can't wait. This is life, if you can do it, DO IT!

I have always had huge problem with sweets. I remember as a kid hiding a bowl of sugar and kool-aid in my dresser and eating it at night. I used to eat frosting, plain, out of the container, for "fun" - or whatever you'd call it. I read a book called "Sugar Blues", by William Duffy, super awesome about sugar being a drug as addictive as cocaine, could be contraversial to some... I am very lucky to have a husband who doesn't like sweets, so we basically keep them out of the house altogether, and that seems to help. Also, I have been having great success with my hunger, understanding it, I mean, and it was really easy. (but can be a challenge to go through process) I seen this list on other website, and tweeked it to my personality, it's just a piece of paper on my refridgerator that says in big black letters, AM I... ...STRESSED? ...TIRED? ...BORED? ...TEMPTED? ...or hungry? It works so well for me! I don't know why, but I won't overeat when I see it, because when I want too, I get sick and puk-ey and I HATE that, feel like a failure. p.s. hungry is in small letter because it was always big huge letters that overwhelmed everything before, now I know, only about 5% of the time I am actually hungry. Hope this helps, good luck with the sugar monster, it's not allowed in my house no more, once an awhile we visit, but it's not much fun no more.

Very poetic, and deeply moving...summary of my life the last year before my band, "food consumed me"

when my port flipped I was pissed, because my obstetrician took extra care in doing my c-section without touching it, an after my pregnancy, I was irrationally in a big hurry to start losing again. My band oc couln't get needle in, took a look, an said the stitches came lose and it had to be repositioned. Nobody did wrong, perhaps me or doc or whatever, but it happened. Good thing- surgery was really really fast, I went home same ay, no pain, easy! and losing like right on track, revision is a distant memory. Bad thing (kinda) - insurance paid for it(which is why the "kinda")revision bill was $8,000!!!! surgery was $28,000 (completely covered by insurance, thank God!) I guess a huge bill is what I get for going to Mayo, thank God I'm moving soon - my floro bills also are over $300

Very interesting to read other's posts....like looking in the mirror sometimes. pre band - easily a whole pizza, a whole box of rice or pasta or cereal, bag of chicken wings, huge steak...etc... total binge eater, perhaps compulsive, seeming as though as soon as a package of food was opened, it was as good as gone. Basically, "family-sized servings" post band - 3 oz meat at a time, any meat, but no more than 2 or 3 oz. any ice cream or soft stuff (avoided unless a treat) single servings of anything (to control the beast within) any more than this at one time will make me hurl and be hungrier, curiously... huge mental challenge, to take away my crutch, eating

"OMG I not only still have my fat clothes, well I still wear them." ha ha, me too, isn't it crazy? all that time spent wishing i could wear other clothes, and now a hold back. All my big pants I have to belt own with a belt that practically goes around me twice! I have 1 pair of pants that fit me, but of course, i have no idea what size they are because back in the day, I thought they were too big and I cut the tag off them! (some kind of denial, I guess) At least I got rid of all my pregnancy clothes (except the expensive pair of pants I plan on passing to my sister someday or some other "worthy" plus size woman. I also have a shirt, God knows why I have it, that is a 4x, it looks like pajamas on me! The other day i tried on a size 20 shirt and that fit, so I don't know why I hang onto it. I am hoping to get some new clothes after Christmas, I was at walmart and was going to buy a shirt, but then realized, I had the 4x picked out (perhaps my brain needs to start losing some fat, haha) and that also, In a couple of months, no matter what fits me now won't fit me later. I ddon't have a lot of money, so I can't afford to keep buying new clothes, so I guess until someday, I will wear my husband's (when I'm thin enough and have enough money - Oh the dream!)

I can drink absolut and diet cranberry juice or diet v8 fruit fusion in a jagerbomber glass(like a shot glass inside a cup). But i will get really wasted if i try to even drink close to what i used to be able to put away. I would suggest eating WELL before drinking, as your liqui can get stuck behind it (not enjoyable with 80 proof liquor, I tell ya!) And also, it can be har to recover in morning (at least for me because eating a ton of foo the next morning used to be my hangover cure). Since I had my daughter, I can rarely drink, but when I get the chance to cut loose with my husband, I do.

You know, I watched it the first time, an i thought, "MAybe...this had some potential..." but after watching it tonight, I totally think it doesn't. I guess I shouln't be suprised, it is very dense of me to think that there would be a tv show, especially on basic television that truly wanted to help people or encourage them rather than exploit them. In my opinion that is exactlly what it does. It didn't seem to take any of the "marchers" personal issues into consideration (even physical trainers and doctors do this!) And it seemed to pit the walkers against each other for "drama", and then when someone seemed to really break out and take her heath into her own hands an get excite about the exercise, she was belittled and picked on by not only the other marchers, but also the "trainers" (or whoever those loud abusive skinny people are). And was told she wasn't part of the team, and was annoying. Far be it for someone to enjoy themselves, since we all KNOW how much fat people should hate exercise! I'm just really bummed, I was looking forward to seeing it, and I rarely follow the reality thing, and now I know why. It is a bummer that this show coul really be great and overweight people coul empathize and relate to the people on it, but instead they are exploited as fat and lazy, needing strict constant critisism, and complaining nonstop. The people it could help, it turns off, and the people with bad attitudes about overweight-ness, it just reinforces that. All for the love of money. Shame shame. Sorry I am all over the place here, when I get angry I cannot say what I mean as well as I'd like. Two big thumbs down from this avid walker (and I love it! )

I know full well the sugar thing. And the carb thing, I used to eat a cup of sugar and kool aid mixed together when i was young. I hi it from my parents. I remember still being in grade school and doing this, and also eating frosting by the jar. I'm sure there are many many other things as well. I know how ice cream can be too, SO easy to eat. Since I have good restriction, I do pretty well getting my protein an very small amount of carbs in every day, but to not drive myself crazy, I get a Ben and Jerry Creme' Brulee on the weekend. I don't do it everytime, but I feel so satisfied and strong when I have that and it oesn't turn into days of binging, just that one small container. (even though there are over 600 calories in it). It is really a treat for me, and it keeps me from blending or grinding up other high calorie stuff to overeat. Before I got the band, I read an incrediable book called "Sugar Blues", by William Duffy that really opened my eyes. The back cover reads..." Like opium, morphine and heroin, sugar is an addictive, destructive drug, yet Americans consume it daily in everything from cigarettes to bread. If you are overweight, or suffer from migraine, hypoglycemia, or acne, the plague of sugar blues has hit you. In fact, by accepted diagnostic standards, our entire society is prediabetic..." It is a great book, but has some real contraversial stuff in too. I liked it. Anyways, I feel great and have a lot more energy and feel better now that my primary calories are protein, but I o allow sugar in occasionally, just because I know my own limits, and I have managed (with the band, of course) to be reasonable, but, it did take my band to get there, thank God for it. Hey, read that book if sugar drives you crazy, you'll see why.