voodoo

My family keeps asking me what I want for Christmas. Yeah, it's 2 days until THE day, but I keep telling them that every thing I wanted has been put in place (12/15). They don't quite get what's happening. For the last 4,745 days I have thought about (in some negative way) my weight. Every...single...day...usually more than once. I can't think of one material thing that could raise my spirits more than having my life change forever for the better. Okay...the one thing I mentioned was a pair of Shape Ups by Skechers. Just another small tool to help with toning. Can't hurt, right? :biggrin: I hope everyone has a great holiday. :tongue:

I was glued together but I still have my five little stripes to contend with. I know that rosehip seed oil will erase scars and stretch marks. Massage it in the area twice a day. Never on open wounds though... they have to be healed before using rosehip seed oil.

During my pre-op diet and now that I'm newly banded my husband refuses to eat in front of me. He cooks for himself and eats all of his meals down stairs. Sometimes I ask him, "So, what did you eat for dinner?" He always says something like, "It was crap...tasted like ass." And he says it totally seriously. LOL After surgery he responded to every need never acting put out. I love him but now I'm starting to worship him. :thumbup: Anyone else have a spouse work pretty hard to keep you comfortable during the tough phases?

I always feel like the only one in the world who fears the prick of a needle. But I know there are a few of us out there. So I just want those people to know that EMLA cream worked for me. I asked my doctor for a prescription and he kindly obliged (he knows my fear and is sympathetic). I slathered it on the back of my hands, covered them (per the instructions) and crossed my fingers. When it came time for the IV the nurse said, "Okay, you're gonna feel a sting." I waited and waited for it. I looked over and she was taping my hand up. It was so numb I didn't even feel the pressure of her putting it in. You can't know how happy that made me. I didn't have any other fears really, except the needles. Silly, I know...but there you have it. EMLA cream...get you some. :thumbup:

So I'm finally getting to the pain-free point. I had shoulder pain for a day and that's it. I thanked God for that one. But my abdomen was so bloated I couldn't even stand up straight or take a full breath. Anyway...doing lots better (other than starting my period!:thumbup:). My question: When I move in bed...from left side to right (and vice versa), or when I sit up, I get this strange sensation in my stomach. It feels like slight nausea and a large bubble moving around at the same time. I'm guessing it's my band shifting with my stomach as I change positions. It's creepy and gross. Does anyone else feel this? Does it pass eventually? I don't want to feel my innards, thank you very much.:ohmy:

Hey, girl! I'm right there with you. I get banded on Dec. 15th...3 days after my 14th wedding anniversary. My husband didn't marry me like this so I'm excited to turn myself back around and get to movin' and groovin' again with life. I'm self pay so I was able to push through all the malarky pretty quick. How are you doing with all the changes?

I keep reading different things regarding the loose skin issue. First I read that loose skin is an issue for most people...hince the body tucks, tummy tucks, etc. Then I read that you lose weight so slowly with LAP-BAND® that it's not an issue. Then the nurse says that I will only lose 4-6 pounds a week so loose skin will not be an issue. But from what I've read people loose weight faster than that. I'm a little confused.

I had complained in an earlier thread that I have a major fear of needles and I DREADED doing the Blood Gas test. Everything I read (not just here) was like, "OMG, it's bad! I cried!, etc.) I was contemplating not doing the surgery because of the test, if you can believe it. THAT'S how freaked I am about needles. So I call my PCP and he prescribes Xanax (just a couple of pills to get me through it). I'm thinking, "yeah, that'll keep me from puking and fainting and punching the nurse, but it's STILL gonna hurt!" So the Xanax kicks in and they call me and first they want to do the regular blood draw. Even though I'm feeling the Xanax, I still request to lie down. The phlebotomist was so wonderful and had no problem with it. Then I tell her to make the tourniquet too tight so it will hurt. (helps distract from the other pain.) One teeeeeny poke later and she's in! I'm so "high" I'm like, "That's AWESOME!" Then in comes the ABG girl. And normally I would be FLIPPING out knowing what I'm in for. But we are joking around and of course, my boundaries are majorly lax and after looking at her big round tummy, I was like, “You’re pregnant…right? Or just fat?” LOL!! She laughed…yes she is pregnant. Whew! Here's the part that's important. ABGs are NOT that big a deal, folks. Pain-wise... not pleasant. I mean, I wasn’t like, “Please sir, may I have some more?” But I didn't feel violated or scared or anything. And on my right arm she had to DIG. Normally I would’ve been crying or getting seriously worked up. I go, "That's not so bad...Xanax is awesome." She started laughing and had to remind me that she had a needle in my arm..."Don't make me laugh." She had to go into the other arm, again which would have made me completely insane. Was no big deal. A little pain...no digging, she was done. I'm not saying this to imply that others who have had it done and said it was awful were in some way cowards or overly dramatic. Not at all...everybody handles pain and anxiety differently. I normally handle the needle thing pretty badly. There are very few things that make me so afraid I want to cry... needles are at the top. For those in my boat (fear of needles/pain), know this... 1. Blood gas doesn't hurt that bad. It's more of a "Wow, I wasn't expecting that. Me no likey." Then it's over. Have you ever had a blood draw where the person sort of messed it up, making it pinch a little more than normal? That’s what it’s like. 2. There's no reason to suffer. Ask your PCP for an anti-anxiety pill for the occasion. It eliminates the anxious heart, irritable bowel, hyperventilating, etc... whatever your symptoms are. Ask for what you need…meds, to lie down, whatever. A weight has been lifted. Now I just gotta schedule the surgery!

I just found out that I have to have a blood gas test. I already have an extreme anxiety with needles. I try to suck it up for regular blood work, but upon waking knowing I have blood work, my heart is pounding and I'm a wreck until it's over. Blood gas is taken just below the wrist and apparently has to travel deeper into the arm than normal. UGH...I feel gross just writing this. On one of the "how to" things I read it said, "Make sure you don't hit the bone because it's very painful." :eek:Ahhhhh!! Can someone tell me what happens and what's it's like? Do you think EMLA cream would work to numb it?

Well, EMLA only numbs the skin, so that won't be any help. I talked with the nurse and she said that the guy that does it is really good. Patients always come back with compliments about him. To me it's like medieval torture...but it's gotta get done. :smile:

My insurance company said "yes, it's covered." Then another person said, "No, not covered." Then a different person said, "Yes, that last person was wrong." Then another person said, "No...absolutely NOT covered." I finally got ahold of the huge book of coverage and read through it. NOT covered. I'm really sad. It has to be out of pocket... but they are having a "sale" right now. ONLY $11,400.

Aetna...and in their documentation it says that they see WLS as "medically neccessary," however, my husband's company has it as an exclusion. It was just kinda painful to be given hope then have it snatched away...twice. We don't have $11 grand sitting around so it might have to go on a credit card, which is a scary thought. I have PCOS so losing weight the "normal" way isn't working, no matter what I do. Every year I'm just a little bit bigger...

I have aetna and I had something very uncool happen. The insurance coordinator called aetna to ask if I was covered. She called me back to tell me how sorry she was, but there was an exclusion on my policy. I sat at my desk and was completely deflated. Then I thought, "no...this feels wrong. Not taking 'no' for an answer." So I called aetna, talked to a very nice woman... told her what happened. She pulled up my stuff and said, "Um, no...there is an exception in here." And that's when she listed the comorbidities. She made a conference call to the insurance coordinator to tell her. Come to find out, the girl that spoke to the insurance coordinator, didn't look into my file, she just regurgitated the most common answer to the WLS question. She was reported to her supervisor...for almost changing the course of my life! What if I had just cried myself to sleep and hadn't fought harder? My first consult is Tuesday. Can't wait.

I used to be 5'5" but the insurance coordinator asked me to recheck. I've shrunk a 1/2 inch... which normally would piss me off, but it helps the math. Then the coordinator said something very sad... "The insurance company doesn't care about you...so we have to play the game." She made a joke about wearing heavy shoes then said, "I didn't just say that." LOL Now I'm 39.7 BMI! Come on, people! Ugh. But I'm happy the you got under the wire.

I'm a licensed esthetician and I know that Rosehip Seed oil works wonders. The others ladies are right though... do not put it on an unhealed wound. Rosehip Seed oil is just about pure Vitamin C (also has vit A&E) and is great for scar prevention and soothing out old scars...including stretch marks. Emu Oil is great for helping scars soften and clear... plus it's a deep penetrating carrier oil which means it will carry other ingredients with it into the tissues. So you could combine rosehip seed oil and emu oil together for whopping scar remedy...but rosehip seed oil would be enough. There have been numerous studies on Rosehip Seed oil. Here's something you'll like. "The first major confirmation of its capabilities came in 1983, when the University of Santiago conducted research on 180 individuals. These tests studied people with extensive facial scarring, acne scarring, deep wrinkles, UV damage, radiation damage, burn scars, surgical scars, premature aging, dermatitis, and other skin related problems. In these tests, rosehip seed oil regenerated the skin, reduced scars and wrinkles, prevented the advancement of wrinkles and aging, and helped skin to regain its natural color and tone. Since this time, other universities and labs have also completed studies, also yielding positive results. Another well-known study in 1988 was conducted on twenty women between the ages of 25-35 with extensive premature aging to their skin. Their skin was wrinkled, and had sun spots from overexposure to the sun. After four months of applying rosehip seed oil daily, their wrinkles and sun spots had almost completely disappeared, and the skin had a fresher and healthier look." Massage into area for 20-30 seconds at least once a day. It's a "dry" oil so will not leave a greasy residue. NEVER apply to broken or irritated skin (or acne)! I have read on several forums, women who have used this and have completely "erased" their stretch marks. You can buy it cheap online (ebay maybe) and the site below. I don't work for this company, but have purchased many active ingredients from them. They are AWESOME. You will find other ingredients to add to your lotions, etc. to boost tightening and smoothing. If you are like me...you will get addicted. www.skinactives.com (4 oz. bottle for $11) I hope I'm not breaking a rule by posting this link. But this is one of my worries...loose skin and scars... when I go get the lap band. I'm in the boring "paperwork stage" right now. I hope this info has given you hope! You finally get a flat tummy and it's covered in scars and stretch marks! :ohmy: Who wants that, right? Good luck!:wink2: