Nathalie

Hairtopia hair Vitamins have Biotin and other vitamin/mineral/amino acid stacks that are good for your hair. I just ordered some to get a jump on thickening up my hair and nails for after banding. I'll report back in a few months to share whether they're worth it or not

StephC - you better rely on your driver to get you through the liquid phase. I hear the first 3 days are the most difficult. I start mine officially on Friday, and I'm grateful. I'll do my hardest days at home. I'm going to keep drinking Water and water and water in hopes of making it. Even when I'd do my fruit fasts or my juice fasts, the hardest part (not eating) wasn't so hard after 3 or 4 days. Hang tough girlie girl! I love the idea of freezing some of that slim fast shake and using it to blend into another Protein shake. I tried mixing a scoop of protein powder in my oatmeal and it was so so so so so so nasty I couldn't do it. I had to dump a bunch of sugar free syrup on it to make it palatable. Today I ate under 1000 calories. I failed to exercise though. I'll be up and at 'em again tomorrow. My plan is to get up at 5am to work out. I'm also going to call on Jesus for strength. It's easy to say "I'll get up at 5" but at 5 it ain't so hard to roll my carcas out of bed! My surgery is 12/14, 2 days after you. Stay strong and keep your eyes on the prize, StephC! Nathalie

laurend - Be persistent! Call every day, or even get pushy and go to the office to get what you want. Do you have children? Imagine if your child needed surgery by the end of the year. What would you do for your child to make it happen? That's how I looked at this surgery. I needed it by the end of the year so that it would be covered in the 2006 insurance calendar. I became a total pest, calling every day for the status of my case, calling to set my next appointment, never waiting for them to contact me, etc. I'm scheduled for 12/14. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, girl! Work some magic for yourself!

Hi All - I am extremely concerned and want to be proactive about my hair loss. If I do say so myself (smile), I have a gorgeous head of hair, and I am okay iwth the fact that it may fall out after I am banded. I have a few questions for you. 1. Do any of you take flax seed oil? I'm not much of a meat eater, so the flax seed oil gives me essential fatty acids and Omega-3s. I believe the flax seed oil makes my hair glossier, and my nails stronger. My skin also glows with it. I only take 1 Tablespoon per day. Think there is any harm in continuing the flax seed oil post banding? 2. I was talking to a girlfriend (who happens to be a beautician) about hair Vitamins and she recommended Hairtopia vitamins. Does anyone take any kind of hair vitamins at all? My only question is wondering if I can pass them through my band. I haven't seen them so I don't know how big they are. Maybe I could crush them into applesauce or something? Just curious to know what others are doing, if anything, to care for their hair from the inside out. Thanks! Nathalie

I asked my friend, a hair stylist, about what you could do to rebuild your hair, or help it to grow in thicker and healthier after a significant loss. She recommended hair Vitamins. Hairtopia, to be exact: http://www.hairboutique.com/tips/tip1012.htm She swears by them. I already take Flax Seed Oil, and it has my hair a little glossier, my nails are stronger and my skin glows. I am going to look into the Hairtopia vitamins. I am resolved to the fact that I will lose some hair. I plan to cut it short at that time. My hope is that it will grow in thicker and faster after the cut with the help of the vitamins. I already placed the order and I'm excited to see how much faster my hair grows. Nat

I am also looking forward to double crossing my legs. I'm at a size 14 when I can do the cross-and-hook. I can cross my legs now (being tall) but they are up high, as I'm a pear's pear. I also think I will wear more skirts and dresses once my thighs are less bountiful. Itsuptome - what are the "secrets" you've learned with the Protein shakes? I start my liquid diet on Friday and am a bit anxious.

This is our first Christmas in our new house. There is no travel this year, which is nice. We are putting our tree up next week, but with a toddler (17 months) we're getting a smallish tree (3 - 3.5' tall). I estimate spending $400 total this year on annual picture cards, gifts for family and the tree/decorations. No more than $500. We're not having a large Christmas dinner, as I will be freshly banded.

I've always wanted to SCUBA Dive. Can you do that with a band? If so, I'm going to get certified and go diving. I imagine myself looking like a Bond girl in my wetsuit... A girl can dream, can't she? btw, I've had the same concern, but it's more of an exciting concern for me. I want a new bicycle, I have a 17 month old son who needs my energy, I want to get involved in the community. I feel like the only thing holding me back is lack of energy. After a 14 hour day, when I get home the only thing I want to do is rest. I am looking forward to my boundless energy! Thanks, too, for the list of hobbies! And how great that you sold your things and moved to Africa! Have you been on Oprah yet??! I think your story would be a fabulous one to share. Nathalie

I am so excited for us! I am bummed that we have 2 December Surgery threads. Twice as much to keep up with, and I feel like I'm repeating myself. ANYHOW, I have started my own liquid/high Protein diet today. I go in on Friday to meet with the Nutritionist and to have my surgery orientation. I think it's 4 hours long! I figure if I can lose 10 pounds on my own prior to going on the physician's diet, I'm ahead of the game. After much internal debate (and 2 glasses of wine) I decided to tell my Dad about my surgery and ask him for help. I haven't told my Mom or my Sister as they are size 6 and 8 respectively, and have always been hypercritical and negative about my size and everything I put into my mouth. My Dad was so kind and supportive, I ended up crying on his shoulder. (It's also my time of the month...) He is going to take me to the hospital and bring me home the next day, and said he will help me any way he can. After our touching moment he said, "Are you getting the Star Jones treatment?" All I could do was laugh. I love that man so much! So now I'm less nervous, more excited and entirely too anxious for these 18 days to pass! Come oooooooooon December 14!!! Nathalie

Hi Babs - I wanted to address the point above. COBRA is not just for people who can't get insurance. It is for continuation of insurance. If you are insured and then have a break in your insurance, companies will look for any reason not to offer you insurance as soon as you are eligible for group coverage. Many states have waiting periods for up to a year or longer depending on the length of your break in insurance. With COBRA, you will have no break, and therefore the new company must continue the insurance coverage. You will not be a "high risk" or be excluded from plans. If you do not opt for COBRA and lapse your insurance coverage, then you will have what the new insurance company will consider a "pre-existing condition," which is why they may try to deny coverage, or have exclusions for you based on the band. In my opinion, the best option is to go with COBRA if your husband will have new insurance soon. I know it is expensive, but it is worth it. Through COBRA you are covered under the same insurance plan you have now. When your new insurance is offered, you have a certificate of coverage to provide the new insurance company, and therefore your band is not considered "pre-existing condition." you will be eligible for coverage immediately. When I got laid off I elected COBRA coverage at $760/month. However, I had a new job in 3 months, and submitted my Certificate of Coverage to BCBS. We were covered from day 1, no questions or denials of service. Had I not elected COBRA I would have had a 12 month waiting period for coverage of any pre-existing conditions. Additionally, I would have been eligible for insurance after 3 months with the company, because you have to wait the same amount of time that you were without insurance before the new company will cover you in the state of MI. Do your research. I believe you have 90 days from the time your coverage lapses (it may be 60 days) to elect COBRA, so you don't have to do it immediately. However long you wait, when you sign up for it, you will have to pay the entire premium for the back-coverage. I hope I didn't give you too much unnecessary (or unrequested) information. Regardless, good luck with your decision. Nathalie

Sherilynn - Know what else helps me? What I call "Reward Goals." If I exercise 10 days straight I buy myself a CD. If I exercise 20 days straight I'll get myself a book or a massage. The more consecutive days I exercise in a row, I reward myself with something that I want, but wouldn't otherwise allow myself to buy. Things that are treats for me. I also do it with weight loss. I have my reward chart all set up for hitting weight milestones. They are usually in 10 or 15 pound losses. Good luck! Nat

Hi - A question to all of you post-surgical bandsters. My surgery is December 14. I need to stay overnight in the hospital because my short term disability only goes into effect the day after a hospital stay. I would like to have the week following my surgery off as STD. Then the week of Christmas is paid vacation for the company, so I'd have 2 weeks off from work to rest and recouperate. My question is, how should I present my situation to the doctor so that I can stay overnight in the hospital? I'd feel more comfortable doing that anyway, but what are valid reasons for me to provide the doctor to qualify for an overnight stay? Thanks, Nathalie

You're looking for a regular physician? My old PCP was great. He's an internist - James Fisher. His office is on Lacy St. in Marietta. I absolutly LOVE him to pieces. His PA is also fabulous. A very caring staff. They are generous with prescriptions, too - which I appreciate. I've also got a great dentist to refer if you need him! Nathalie

sherilynn: Call the insurance company and get a list of doctors who are covered. THEN call the doctors to tell them what you need from them. Surely someone in your area will provide you with your behavioral assessment. Nathalie

sherilynn - I hate to exercise, too. That is why I'm fat. I have an elliptical machine in my living room. A $2,400 elliptical machine. But in order not to be fat I know that I have to get my fat butt up on that thing for 30 - 60 minutes per day to burn some calories. For me it's a daily struggle, but I have been up at 5am (cussing the whole way) and forcing myself to get up on that b*tch and ride it ride it ride it. I slap my thighs and talk to the cakes and pudding and pies that are in there. I rub my belly and tell those baked potatoes and plates of nachos they gotta come out. And I sweat. And I swear. And sometimes I whine and cry. But I do it. I figure I don't have to like it. But I do realize the importance of exercise. And even though I hate it, once I get going it's not so bad. I know that it's helping me extend my life, breathe easier, strengthen my bones and muscles, and make me a healthier person. I love me enough to do something that I don't want to do. And in the long run that's all that matters. Just do it. Babystep your way up to a mile. Even if you go 10 or 15 minutes to start, that's a step in the right direction. Put on some music that gets you pumped up or put a portable tv in front of the treadmill so you can watch tv while you walk. Realize that you're worth the pain and sacrifice of exercise and walk your azz off, girlie! You can do it! Nathalie

I first went to orientation on July 31. I was rather pushy and forced myself onto the schedule at an accellerated rate. I had my appointment with the internist and the behaviorist on August 1. I had a meeting with the surgeon a week or so later. The surgeon recommended an endoscopy for me, and I had it on August 17. I had my labs the same day (blood drawn). I had a 2 month delay because my Iron count was low, so I had to go on iron pills for 2 months. (I didn't get that message until August 30 because I had been out of the country and couldn't be reached by phone.) October 30 I went for bloodwork and got the OK. Then we had a fight with the insurance company, which had 2 appeals. I finally got approval on November 10, learned of it on November 17 and scheduled my surgery today. (woot woot!) December 14 is the first day they can get me in. I have to go through 2 weeks of a surgeon's diet prior to surgery, so that's about as quick as I can get in. All in all 4.5 months. Not too bad if I do say so myself. It may help if you are a little aggressive when trying to schedule your appointments. The surgeon's office is probably very busy, so unless you are making your voice heard, you'll be mixed in with everyone else. (just my opinion). Good luck! Nathalie

Wheetsin: My STD is automatic the day following an overnight hospital stay. If I go home the same day, then I have to be out 5 days before STD is effective. That is per the STD policy at my company. I don't know if "because I want to go on STD starting tomorrow" is a valid reason for them to keep me in the hospital. I'd think I would need a medical reason (not a fianancial one) to stay overnight.

Edited to clarify my thoughts. I don't think my initial post was clear enough.

I had an endoscopy. I was anxious at the idea of having an IV and a tube shoved down my throat, but it was painless. I was heavily sedated, laid on my side and don't remember anything clearly for the rest of the day. My friend took me home and we drank wine and giggled with each other for hours. That rocked. *laugh* Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I expected.

I just got my surgery date: December 14. I am excited and nervous and disappointed all at the same time. Excited and nervous are self explanatory. But disappointed because our corporate holiday party is December 16. I don't think I'll feel up to going to the party. I just bought a dress and everything. Oh well. December 14, my life will change. I have 1 month to get myself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually prepared for the procedure. I'm excited for us ALL! Nathalie

My pre-surgical behaviorist told me I had to go to therapy. I've been going for 2 months now. We're not only working on body image, but the psychological things that made me fat in the first place. I'm learning to set up boundaries, break out of my comfort zone and balance my life. I am finding a totally different place in the world, which is definitely needed. I don't have a surgical date yet, but I anticipate it will be in December. I plan to continue therapy every other week until I am "healed." My therapist had RNY and went from 320 to 156. She totally understands the BD and other issues related to losing a lot of weight. I love her.

Paulax - that is a great and motivating post! What is in your homemade broth? Does cabbage soup broth or boiled veggie broth count as "clear liquids"? I wonder if I could do 30 days of clear liquids...

Hey there Past and Future Bandsters - Ole Nat has good news! It seems like every time I post here I'm b*tching about something. Not this time. I got my approval from the insurance company yesterday. I should have a date by next week Wednesday. I may even call the surgical scheduler this afternoon to see if she won't give me a date today. I went in for my initial consult in August. I thought we were ready to schedule surgery, but my Iron was low, so I had to go on iron pills for 2 months to bulk up my blood. I retested on October 30 and my blood is A-OK. Then the insurance denied me, so we had to appeal. They denied the appeal and reqeusted 6 months of medical notes from my primary care physician. I hadn't gone to my PCP in that time, so I requested that every doctor I've seen regarding health issues related to my fatness forward their medical notes to the insurance company with a letter that I wrote for each of them. I only sent the letters this week Monday. Well, come to find out the insurance company overturned the second denial without even receiving the letters and medical history from the doctors. I am so darn happy right now. I'm also bummed. In August the doc told me to lose 15 pounds. It's been 2.5 months since then and I am 7 pounds heavier now than I was then. So instead of 15 pounds, I have 22 pounds to lose. Hopefully I can get a surgical date in the month of December. It will be a fabulous Christmas present for me. I'll be a diva by Spring. Of course I'll keep you updated, and thanks for the support ladies and gents. Your successes kept me motivated and optimistic! Nathalie

Grand Rapids here. Just saying HI. Hope you're all doing well. Nathalie

Hi kindredspirit - I was initially declined for the procedure, but received approval from BCBS just yesterday. Keep up the good fight! Nathalie