BetsyB

If the excess skin is causing infection or back pain or anything that is more than simply cosmetic, she needs to go to the doctor routinely to complain of [fill in the blank--itching, pain, weepy rash, neck and back pain, loss of mobility...] and have the doctor document her complaints and prescribe a remedy (prescription cream, physical therapy, special medical-grade corset, whatever...) She should photograph all rashes with date stamps. Document, document, document. It may not result in full coverage for reconstructive surgery, but it can take it out of the realm of "cosmetic" and into the realm of "medically necessary" so that partial coverage is given. (I don't think I know anyone who's ever had insurance cover arms, though--breasts and belly? definitely workable.) Writing a letter to the insurance company will be wasted effort. They go strictly by what is in their contract. The employer is who needs to make changes. They chose that policy, probably to save money. Demonstrating to the employer that the costs of obesity and related conditions (as well as employee time lost to illness related to these things) is greater than the cost of surgery is the way to go.

I don't know if you've had other surgical experience, but by comparison to the things I've had done in the past, banding was a breeze. I guess I'd describe it as nuisance-level pain rather than really significant pain. I am not like the others who posted above. I did experience pain--enough that I took Rx pain relievers for several days. The first night, I took every med the nurses offered---and it made a HUGE difference in my mobility. I was medicated, but I was up and walking all night, feeling good as I did so. Once at home, I did have port site (and other incisional) pain that was not insignificant. I chose to take meds so that I could stay moving. And getting moving was instrumental in feeling better. I was doing things like walking outdoors, household tasks, and work-related things almost immediately. But it did hurt some--and because I work from home, I did take it easy for about a week.

Elfie, I'm so, so sorry about your friend. How heartbreaking. Many hugs coming your way.

I didn't really have an AHA! moment. I'd struggled with weight for most of the time since my kids were born--and it was just time. I was just...ready. I was tired of paring down to impossible levels to lose, and almost-as-impossible levels to maintain. I needed help. I still have to pare down to ridiculously low calorie levels. It's just the way my body is. The band makes it possible to sustain this long-term.

:thumbup::smile::smile::smile::smile::smile: What an uplifting post!

I am a former Curves member, and am anti-Curves for a number of reasons. The most important is that I don't believe the use of hydraulic equipment is as safe as using other forms of resistance. The machines at Curves are hydraulic. They provide more resistance the faster you work. The gimmick is that you get your cardio and weight training simultaneously. The reality is that you vastly increase the risk for injury. Resistance training is safer and more effective if you slowly move through a range of motion. Hydraulic machines do the opposite. There are now orthopedists who refer to certain injuries as Curves Injuries---I kid you not. So, that was one thing that prompted me to un-enroll. Another HUGE problem with Curves is its hours. It's owned by a man who believes that women belong at home with their families--which is totally his prerogative. But, it impacts the hours the facilities are available to the very women they serve. If you want to work out at lunchtime or in the evening, you might be out of luck. (Some franchises are open longer hours; check yours before you enroll if it's important to you to have flexible hours.) Thirdly, it's a routine that is VERY easy to outgrow. Yes, you can work ever faster and faster---but the regimen does not change, and it's...well, boring after a while. It's definitely nice to be able to sort of mindlessly do a workout while chatting with others, but it's not, IMO, the best workout for your workout dollar. Finally, the owner of the company donates a great deal of money to American terrorist organizations of the sort that shoot physicians who provide women's health care services and bomb clinics. I am not interested in supporting him in any way. Not that I feel strongly about it or anything :thumbup: I guess if I had to give a short answer, I'd say, "Check out the Y first. There's more to do there, the hours can't be beat, the whole family will love it, their values are strong, and it's less expensive." ETA: Since you're not sure you want to join anything, how about Option 4: Lace up a pair of shoes, slap on your iPod, leash up your dog (if you have one), and head outdoors for a good, long walk each day? You can vary the terrain, the speed, the distance---and make it a really good workout.

My loss has not started--but the nurse coordinator at my doctor's office recommends a salon regimen of Nioxin. (She specifically suggests going to a salon and having a regimen set up for you, rather than buying it off the shelf; I suppose this is intended to better tailor the program to your needs.) Also recommended, of course, are the usual Protein and biotin!

HB--Awesome loss! Congratulations!~ Liz--big thumbs-up on the exercise! I'm so impressed that your heart has responded so dramatically. That is HUGE! Denise--Truman needs a Stella in his life. His current object of love is the mailman, Greg. If Greg is anywhere in...well, the county, it seems, Truman is on amorous-alert---racing around like a fool until I put him out to run from fence corner to fence corner to fence corner, just hoping to catch a glimpse of his one true love. A female of the same species would be an improvement. And probably save both the lawn and the fence from wear and tear. Christie--have an awesome weekend, lucky woman! Everyone else--I surrender. I've read all the posts, but can't hold enough in my feeble mind to remember what to post! I will keep up better from now on--just know that I wholeheartedly support you! Well, THIS morning, the one-hundreds did NOT vanish when I stepped off the scale, then back on with camera phone. Excuse the darkness & graininess--it was 5:25 a.m., in my closet, with a camera phone. Not a good prescription for a quality photo! I needed to memorialize it because my next recorded weight will be on Friday, fully-clothed, mid-day at the doctor's office---a hostile weighing environment! ETA: Welcome to the newcomers!

It's no fair, huh? I feel you, truly. I've been exercising regularly long-term, too. Know what? At first, the extra exercise was just another one-foot-in-front-of-the-other job for me--and now I really look forward to it. I hope you find the same to be true! Remember that you don't really have to double the time spent--you can simply mix things up in a way that your body doesn't quite recognize. For me, this has translated into upping my mileage and paring minutes from my time--I do more cardio in less time. When I get comfy, I then increase the duration at that rate until it's too easy. Then lather, rinse, repeat. It's lots easier as you lose, too. :smile:

My goal weight is not written in stone. It's a goal that is at the bottom of the healthy range for my height, but was chosen because I have back issues that really do benefit from maintaining the lowest weight possible. Whether it's a weight that is possible remains to be seen. I will be very open to change if, as I approach it, I find that I look and feel good at a higher weight. But I didn't have this surgery to settle for "sort of" losing weight--I want it ALL off. So I won't be satisfied until I do reach a point where I look and feel good. I have been both thin and fat as an adult, and was near to my lowest weight after having both of my kids, so I don't view having had kids as any sort of barrier to loss. (I do, however, freely admit it is a major contributor to my need for plastic surgery----tennis balls in tube socks, anyone? :smile:) But this perimenopause thing? I have no idea how that will ultimately affect me in this adventure! We'll see....

How frustrating! Have you thought about approaching HR to see if the policy can be changed? Most employers renew policies annually, and do have the ability to make such changes. Most believe (wrongfully) that weight loss surgery is tremendously expensive. In fact, the healthcare costs associated with morbid obesity are far higher. And then, from an employer standpoint, there is also stuff like missed work. Adding more liberal coverage for bariatric surgery can be presented as a cost-saver! In terms of what to do while you wait, I'd hold off on seeing all of the ologists until your surgeon asks you to do so. Many times, surgical clearance can only be a certain "age" (for example, no more than three months or six months old). Good luck--don't give up hope!

Congratulations!

My doctor has nutrition/exercise seminars every three months or so for the first year post-op. They are "required," but in all honesty, the nurse coordinator reports that, after the first one, attendance really tapers off. They sometimes involve just the coordinator, and other times the dietitian. And no, they are not valuable to me in terms of content--not at all. I do eat the way my surgeon recommends (though I bump up my Protein a little more than he outlines)---but once I learned what those recommendations were, the real learning stopped. I have not gleaned anything from the classes that I did not already know. (And, in fact, the dietitian has been known to give inaccurate information. Nothing glaringly horrendous, just little things that sort of undermine credibility. Like, "Butter and oils are all 100 calories per teaspoon." If said once, this would be just a mistake. When said repeatedly over more than one session, it makes it harder to accept other information given. (They are around 100 calories per tablespoon and 33 calories per teaspoon. Again, not huge--but just one example that makes me tend to just smile and nod at what she has to offer.) That said, I do like the camaraderie with the group of patients banded at the same time I was. The support group is larger, and has a different "population." Their input is great, too---but it's nice to touch base with people at the same stage as I. So I go, and enjoy that aspect.

My surgeon did the first info seminar, and delegates much of the patient education to his nurse coordinators and dietitian. BUT he does each and every fill (using fluoro), and therefore knows each patient and keeps on top of his/her progress. I think it's very reasonable to have support staff handle much of the patient education; that's just the way labor is divided in the medical community. But I would not be comfortable if the extent of my surgeon's involvement were the surgery itself. Not with this type of surgery, with long-term follow-up.

My favorites are Inspire shakes from bariatriceating.com.

Yep, totally normal. Sometimes, I can pinpoint a reason (ovulation, period). Other times, it's a mystery!

My 4-year-old shepherd-Lab mix, Truman, is my personal trainer. He requires at LEAST an hour of brisk walking each day---usually 4 mph or so, at this point. (As I lose, we move farther and faster.) He vastly prefers twice a day, and we do that most days. I am currently babying an injury, but when I'm able, I also do alternate days of weight-lifting at the gym. If you're going to be doing 4-5 days at the gym, be sure to let your muscles rest for a day between weight workouts.

I agree that it sounds as though you need a fill. But I also think it's time to examine what you're eating. Just because you can eat as much as your partner doesn't mean you should. Yes, it's difficult to lose before appropriate restriction is achieved. But it is possible. Why not make good use of the time? Research how others who've had success eat--and make some changes.

I don't think the health care bill will affect this sort of thing, but I could be mistaken. Can she take it up with HR at her place of employment? When they renew the policies, they can opt to make changes to the policy. Some employers are willing to do this if there is demand from employees.

I'm a straight-and-narrow bandster. Doing things my way placed me in the position of requiring bariatric surgery. I have no reason to believe it would serve me any better now that the band is in place. I eat the way my doctor recommends. I exercise each and every day---at least once. Whether I want to or not. Motivation and enthusiasm don't even play in. Like any other job I have to do, if I have an off day, I just put one foot in front of the other until I get done what needs to be done. The rewards are FAR greater than most jobs I do--which tends to feed enthusiasm. But really, I generally don't feel in the least bit deprived. I feel incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity to become healthier and happier in my own skin.

Denise--etouffee! My favorite! I'm glad you had a good time. Did Butters join you for camping? I am pages and pages behind in responding to everyone...barring unforeseen catastrophes, I will get caught up today! I saw under 200 for ....oh, three seconds this morning. I ran to get a camera to take a picture of 199.6---and when I hopped back on the scale it was 200.4. Oh, well--it will show up again soon. More later when I can appropriately respond to everyone--have a great day!

I find it to be incredibly user-unfriendly---so much so that I still use fitday.com (even though my surgeon does access the Realize site).

I make the Dutch chocolate with almond milk--but the rest with Water. Except Pom Razz, which is best made with Crystal Light lemonade, IMO. (It totally changes the flavor, and is now one of my favorites.) ETA: I forgot to add that the cinnamon capp flavor is great mixed with coffee--either cold or hot. If you do it with hot coffee, be sure to temper the Protein first so that it doesn't turn in to a clumpy mess. To temper it, mix it with a little tepid water to make a paste. Let it sit a couple of minutes while you heat up your liquid. When your liquid is "halfway hot," add an ounce or so to the protein paste--stirring vigorously and constantly as you pour. When your liquid is all the way warmed, add it to the protein--again stirring really vigorously as you pour.

I know it seems nuts, but even a quarter cc can be as much fill as you can tolerate at one time. If he's using fluoro, he's gauging how things move through the band, and accounting for probable/possible swelling that may occur later today/tomorrow. Better to take it slowly and avoid the necessity of unfills than push too hard and wind up going backwards for a while. Congrats on being almost there!

My metabolism is totally whacked out, too. And the band has been a godsend. Truly.