Lap_dancer

Teanne, expect to fight with the billing office...I'm just sayin is all. You need to call your insurance company and find out specifically what they will cover. Get a copy of that, maybe they will have something WRITTEN online. Then call the doctor's office and ask them what will be covered by your insurance, the office manager usually knows this. Give them plenty of time to get this to you, a couple of days should do it. I suggest using the jump thread option on LapBandTalk to the Insurance thread. You will find loads of answers there.

Journal entry: December 20, 2006 We do love our appetizers. Vidalia onions, sliced medium, dredged in cracker meal and fried right. Here came this plate heaped high and hot. Out of the six people at our table, the other server placed the dish directly in front of me and not blinking he looked me square in the eye and asked if I would like a refill on my tea. "Sure", I said. I looked at the rest of my family and they didn't see what I saw. The server automatically thought the food went to the fattest person at the table! Being my usual sarcastic yet jovial self, I hunched over that plate like a dog on a meat wagon and grunted to the waiter " I'm good " while I grabbed a hot ring. My husband immediately picked up on my agitation (after 25 years he's getting good) no one else at the table did. It's that assumption. Like it never goes away or it goes so far away assumption has crossed the space-time continuum and will meet me sometime next year. Like the booths at (Belly Deli) the restaurants. Who believes that the average human has the body circumference of a Water glass? So I got to the point of looking directly at the hostess asking for a "Belly Booth". Who wants a gastric reduction just by sitting down at the table? Acid reflux with your dessert? (No thanks, I'm good) Astrology today reads: Daily extended (by Astrology.com) There's a threatening gray cloud of pessimism just over the horizon. Its power over your life will increase exponentially with each negative person you encounter today, so try to stick with people who always see the bright side of life and who are good at cheering you up. Stay away from naysayers who tell you that the things you want to do can't be done. Because the truth is, anything that you can think of can happen -- if you persevere. Damn straight I persevere. It's 2008 and I'm one year post operative with my Lap-Band. I am a new person in ways I never anticipated. I feel the words from the last scene of The Shawshank Redemption: "I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it is the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope." ... More to Come...

I LOVE COLORADO! It's official, move over Hoonah, Alaska, my new place to spray my ashes is Morrison, Colorado. Scatter me to the winds in the valley of Red Rocks Music Ampitheatre. This way I can walk the ethreal realm to the sound of music in the presence of awesome views of nature.

HOKEY POKEY

Pics: Potomac Office

First Stop-- One of the blissful places I found taking advantage of the beauty in Colorado. This place is on the way up to Buffalo Bill Cody's grave on the road designed by William Williams. It's called the Thinking Spot but I call it.................... Patty's Place

Wow, you sure know how to make an entrance!

Notes on Eating: After one year, the changes that are measured are less on pounds and more on lifestyle. The most difficult thing for me has been to relearn my life. Things in need of change: - Not drinking my dinner. Normally drank four large glasses of liquid along with my meal. - Less of the scale, more of the day to day successes in terms of change. - Life does not happen from the four walls of my bedroom. Less time on my bed and more time OUT in the world. - Chew and then swallow. - What really makes you happy? Since thinking it use to be food and actually was, food is no longer an option. ............................ The first notice of concern was the times of my meals. It was recommended that I develop a pattern of eating consistent with regular intervals of eating. Three meals a day with smaller supplementing “snacks” that are planned and at 100 calories or some determined caloric intake not more than what is consumed at a meal. v Snacks should not be more in caloric intake than a meal. There should be no confusion between food intake as identified as a “meal” and one that is a “snack” that is planned as part of my food program. Snacks are recommended at or around 100 calories and preferably in containers that are easily carried with me. Recommendations were; Yogurt, 100 calorie snacks packaged as such, pudding, mozzarella string cheese and other items lower in fat content. v Pick a day of the week devoted to preparation for my week of food plan so I don’t run out of food or don’t have something on hand in the event I have an emotional situation that is a trigger for a binge. v When I arrive home from work, the time when I am most tempted to eat something I shouldn’t, have foods prepared to intake or elect to do a non-food activity I find enjoyable. An example of this is a movie. Tell myself that I will not eat my snack until after I have watched my favorite movie. Get a favorite book and elect not to eat until after I have read so far into the book. The idea being to create a new pattern of habits. Creating new patterns is important so when I deviate from that pattern I will immediately recognize it. After reviewing my diet it was found I was taking in more fat than I realized. Items that had hidden fats in them were skin on chicken, nuts, even thin breading on seafood can hold additional fat. The objective now is to shave away fat as much as possible. When eating out, opt for an all vegetarian meal rather than always a meat meal. Suggestions are pasta with marinara, not cream sauces. Salads, not large ones, but smaller dark green vegetable salads and soups are good. Alternate meals: Example; 3-4 nights a week opt for a healthy option for dinner and save the higher caloric/fat meal for another day but plan for it. This could be the ‘special’ item you enjoy as well. Plan for ice cream, plan for wings but again, create the pattern. Create alternatives. I enjoy sweet tea, carry the small tubes of peach tea by Crystal Light and keep them in my purse. Order water at the restaurant so the temptation to drink sweet tea is lessoned. Summary: Develop a pattern of eating consistent with regular intervals of eating Snacks should not be more in caloric intake than a meal Selections should be simple. The less complicated the better Pick a day of the week devoted to preparation for my week Creating new patterns of habit so when you deviate from that pattern you will immediately recognize it 3-4 nights a week opt for a healthy option such as an all vegetable dinner Create alternatives – I enjoy sweet tea, I can bring Peach tea packets in my purse and add to my water at dinner. Be creative.

Greetings Banditos- I am dedicating the next hour to this site, this thread for thoughts and PICTURES of my trip and one year after the band. LA- I just read that you are having a bit of trouble with your band. Sending you encouragement and thoughts to lift you up during this time. To all of you who make a special distance trip from parts outside of Denver, this one's for you. ... When pricing the band, I chose Dr. K because he was the lowest price. THE GIFT I received in that choice is a doctor who has a special expertise in laporoscopic surgeries and now, one year later, a practice that has expanded to include an all encompassing service to surround us with help when we need it. See, it isn't just about the band. The band is a tool. Many of us have some 'head work' to do to understand and control the why of how we got to such a desolate place on the obesity scale. There is more to measure than just pounds. They have picked up on that long before we did. Traveling to Denver to see Dr. K and Natalie and Paula is something I think worthy the purchase of as an investment in myself. Realizing that money doesn't grow on trees, I also take the frugal approach. On the advice of a flight attendant I "join them all"...flight clubs, price deals, hotel deals. Best Western Gateway in Aurora has a $69 room rate for us as medical patients. The rooms have microwaves and mini fridges. They also have a pool. I use Priceline.com and bid on my car rental. Where there is flexibility with company...like cars, hotel, flight, the lowest one gets my money. The goal is...getting to Dr. Kirsenbaum's office. Whatever it takes, no matter what. I tried skimping on aftercare and it cost me in time, health and motivation. Staying local for my fills felt like an oddity. Not that the facility was dirty or the nurse was not caring but there IS a difference when you have someone follow-up their own work, monitoring it vs. someone doing so second hand information and more on training rather than instinct. My local fill, whatever went wrong who is to know but I had pain, I had nausea and did not feel comfortable opening up. At Dr. K's office, they know me. They KNOW me. Patient trust takes time to gain and they have my trust. I put a dollar value on that.

Greetings friends from snowly and blowing Colorado! Hubby and I had an okay flight to Colorado and a lovely rental from Alamo. The drive into Golden, our first stop, was smooth and easy. My last loggin I couldn't find the date anywhere so I left it to the fates and went with my husband and his cousins. We ended up going to a place near Red Rocks Ampitheatre. They live about two miles from there. LOVELY and quiant town. I am still here in Colorado for another two days. My visit today was fabulous. Simply wonderful. After one year I am so very glad I had this done. More on that later. I have a huge post for you all to share. It's in WORD and on my email as an attachment that I will post for you all to glean what you can from it. I have been intaking larger amounts of fat than I should. Sneakly little bugger it is. I am refining my diet accordingly. I highly recommend all have a "tune-up" visit with Paula on occasion to tweak as we lose. We have different needs as time goes on. Otherwise. I'm loving the snow. Took LOADS of pictures. I saw Dr. Hottie. Oh he is EYE CANDY girls. Sweet boy. I'll share my pics when I get to my home computer in Florida. Sorry to have missed this round. We were on the western side of the city and are staying there. Went shopping while in Aurora and then went to these adorable shops near Lakewood. Having a fabulous vacation. Will write more when I get home. Hugs, Patty

Hey Friends: Flying in on Wednesday as you know. Hubby would like to take his cousin out to dinner at Buckhorn Exchange and we booked reservations on Wednesday night, Thursday they ski. What day are we gathering? Got the location. Arapahoe Red Robin. and 7 PM. Is it Thursday or Friday? Someone let me know. Michelle I will miss you muchly. Everyone...looking forward to meeting you. Mal, I hope your schedule works out and we can hug. Bringing my camera!

I do have a goal. It's to hit my first 100 by the end of the summer. I think I can do it once I add the exercise. I am sporadic with that but need to become dedicated to it. THAT is my goal. My goals are more habit in form. I figure one will take care of the other. :-)

I'm coming to Colorado I'm coming with much bravado I'll get my fill With Doc K skill I'm coming to Colorado! We'll laugh at old Red Robin Without too much a gobblin' Michelle will 'sigh' at her new guy I'm coming to Colorado We'll toast to absent friends and smile into the lense I'll post PICS here We all will cheer I'm coming to Colorado!! YEE HA! :biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2: ? DATE ?

Skiing... Dynamo, my Chris says in response to the question of where are you going skiing to tell you, "Colorado!" hee hee. Mal, big hugs back to you!!!!! Girls what night are we going out? Chris wants to take his cousin out to dinner for hosting us, we are going to the Buckhorn Exchange. I don't eat gator in Florida so I know I won't eat it there but they have great Soup, yeah? Date. Let me know. We are making reservations around my bonding with you all. (((SMILES))))

MORE TOOLS: References for Head Work: >> great sites: We Wear Lavender Bracelets | to symbolize our unity and to remind us we are not alone www.angelashelton.com Overeaters Anonymous Overeaters Anonymous: 12-step recovery program from compulsive overeating Yahoo Groups: dir.groups.yahoo.com/dir/ Search: compulsive overeating, addiction, ... you will find a fit. BLOGGERS Eating Disorders | Anorexia | Bulimia | Binge Eating Disorder | Compulsive Overeating | News | The Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders

Hello Friends! This will be a long one. My post is going to be in lavender today and by the end of this read you will understand why. Flight to Denver is April 9th. I will land in that fair city by 10 a.m. This time we are staying in…LAKE(something) where my husband’s cousin lives. He and my husband have gotten together the last two trips to Denver and now the boyz are going skiing. Tickets are already bought and paid for and my hubby is bouncing like a kid with a new pogo stick. I have a 9 o’clock with Paula to go over my food plan (what plan?)..yeah. My date with the ‘BIG F-U-N’ (that’s Fill-U-Needle) is at 10 with our good doctor. I am excited to go and moreso to see everyone in the office. I always check out Dr. K’s walls for new photography (my bliss). Given-A-Holla to: Mal- Girl it is sooo good to see you post. Hugs your way babe. Kudos on the exercise. Mileage on your feet isn’t chump change. Marcy- Every time I want to whine about the whether I think of you. It’s a balmy 80 degrees outside and I’m in my capris. 28 degrees? I can’t imagine and you’ve got all that you do outside. ((applause)) I went to your newspaper but there were so many people I couldn’t find you in the purple coat. I did read this item thought…wow… “Alcohol Abuse Begets Homelessness…Police Chief Burke is a conclusion of what he and his officers see every day. Sometimes, people as far as Texas can see it, too. 'We had a lady from Texas call our dispatcher, saying there was a person lying on Front Street who needed assistance," said Burke. The Texan had logged on to the city's webcam and saw a drunk man passed out on the sidewalk. "Now, that's not right," said Burke. 'Is that what we want people on the Internet to see of Nome? Is that what we want to see?" Burke said that while the fact should not be hidden, the roots of the problem need to be addressed, and the whole community needs to be part of the solution.” Dynamo Mini- I am so sorry I didn’t actually post what I was thinking which was…how did that date go? New love interest I see. Do tell. Yes and yes on the school year. Yes, loads of folks out. Spring fever, FCAT testing is over, spring break is next week, 3rd nine weeks is over and after break we are in for the final countdown! Woo hoo! Dee- You are so sweet. I read about your dentist visit home and cringed at the bittersweet memory of living there. Know that it’s from that pain that you are so tender and know exactly how to express kindness to those who need it. Shelbie- “Passed “ you bet. Thank you for being the other ‘belle’ on here. You make me smile. Keep up the good work. Mare5569- You hang tough. Acid reflux can be a pisser. I took Propulsid (the purple pill) when it was by RX only. Kicked it in the butt. Sort your foods by reactions to each other. I know it sounds crazy but if I drink milk with potatoes cabbage I can bet I’ll see ‘Johnny’ for awhile. Friends, I have been doing major headwork. You know when you plug the stuffer valve what do you do with all that angst?? I am literally fighting demons of hunger and journaling. *If any of you have not been to therapy what happens is the counselor tells you when you are feeling (whatever..depressd/anxious/panicking) you are to start writing. What is suppose to happen is eventually you get through superficial writing and you hit what I call ‘the artery’. I hit my artery about a week ago. It’s usually crap from your past or issues that you thought were minor and is mostly unresolved things. What I recalled in the middle of my journal were several accounts of sexual abuse when I was about 7 years old. Two neighbor boys possible three. It’s odd because my mind has the recall of an age appropriate seven year old but my adult mind reasons the wrong and response of it. Talk about PISSING VINEGAR. I was flaming. Then I cried. I got so sick at that moment I was nauseated. So opening the valve I let myself feel. I have continued to let myself feel. I joined an emotional/addiction group online and posted a reference to my find. The response I got was mind numbing. One person told me that in her addiction group, seven out of ten of the women there who had eating issues (bulimia, COE, Anorexia..) had been abused. From there I was tapped into Angela Shelton. If you don’t know the story of Angela Shelton, she has a website that explains her journey. She was doing a film documentary on her name and went across the U.S. looking for women with her name. What she found was that in many instances, these women had been abused. When I say abuse I mean physically, rape/molestation, which led her to tapping into her own stuff. Today is the day that Angela’s book comes out. Across the U.S. the “lavender sisters” (survivors) are involved in various activities. So now you see why I chose the closest thing to lavender for my post. Needless to say, I’m in the throws of grief and angst and my LIVEJOURNAL is belching with entries. It was safer for me to write in third person so what is coming out is a story…and actual story but it’s real. When I ‘get there’ I will share with you all but for now just coming out today is my way of sharing support to you all. Today is Angela’s big day and this is the day I picked to do it. LOVE YOUR WAY. Peace, energy, healing and continued success. Until next time~~~ Patty:tongue:

Victories: Looking at my before picture and realizing how much progress I have made from then to now. Measuring it not by just numbers but by a sense of awareness in myself. Doing better today friends. I have an appt. with Paula and I'm looking forward to discussing my food plan with her. Denver here I come, April 9th

Oh boy did this hit me where I live. Turning over my problems to a higher power for me is like tug-of-war. Let go, take back. I have had such a struggle the past 2 days, probably the worse I can remember in a while. Needing a fill very much. My appetite is back (not as it was but not where I use to be) and I find myself able to take in more volume. This is worrysome. On one hand I am able to eat not so perfect foods and on the other hand they don't taste good like I thought they did. My dog is getting fat. I'm trying to stay focused on things that are healthy choices. I dare not bring in anything chocolate right now. I recognize this emotional rollercoaster only too well. It would melt and go down way too easy and I fear I'd head towards a binge. 2 weeks til Denver.

I would encourage you to do the same thing.

Happy Easter to All Hope that you all did well today. Not to much temptation. wishing you strength to keep it going. Congratulations on all the victories. Reward to myself: Friday met a friend at her favorite salon and did a makeover. Hair cut and colored. Feelin' fine!

Two posts for you all today: To Mal who enjoys my Overeaters Anon. items. Today's thoughts: It is my esh (experience, strength, & hope) that I can take one look at any given step & lose sight of the process. .. "We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human aid, we had but two alternatives: One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept spiritual help." (Alcoholics Anonymous, p.25) ... when I made a decision to accept spiritual help, I was beyond clueless about what that meant. ... I was furious with the god of my childhood who I treated like a Santa Claus or vending machine. ... I had no clue that there was a difference between religion & spirituality. ... I was clueless that my spirituality was manifested by constant bowing to the food god as well as many other false gods. ... I am so very grateful that this program never demanded that I abandoned my crutch for anything other than a power greater than me. ... This is when I came to understand the word process. ... When I first began to awaken to honesty; the program became my power. ... Soon my god morphed into Good Orderly Directions. ... Those 2 changes alone took many many odats however it was one day at time. ... so how do you eat an elephant? ... one meal at a time. ... Many coes experience a pink cloud of abstinence when they first awaken to the nightmare of coe. ... This is a pitfall waiting for my ego to jump into. ... There is a sense of completeness. ... There is a feeling that I'll never coe (compulsive overeat again) again. ... Sometimes thoughts of "Aha, now I can do it" will pervade. ... I would imagine coes who return from rehab must experience this. ... What I know from "coming to" is this is only the beginning. ... Now is when I get down to actually working the program one day at a time in our daily lives. ... Now is when I have more time than I ever did to focus on recovery. ... Now is just the beginning, Please don't quit 5 minutes b4 your next miracle. ...