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I have been talking to the insurance co everyday to just get things clear for myself and I think, but don't quote me on this that is just has to be 6 mo. The lady at BC told me I could go to my own dr once a mo and have them document the nutrition, exercise etc and that would suffice. HTH, Beth

My hiccups are violent...theyre awful. If I take too big a bite or if I eat bread and it hurts to go down then the hiccups come...I hate the hiccups worse than throwing up bc these hiccups wont go away....never in my life have I hiccuped so much!

Check your potassium. I was in the ER yesterday with all the same things, plus high bp, high bs and a fever. I'm severely low and was barely having any energy for 4 days. I think the diarrhea caused all my problems. Good luck feeling better!

The following is a condensation of a series from the Investor's Business Daily explaining 'What Caused the Loan Crisis': 1977: Pres. Jimmy Carter signs the Community Reinvestment Act into Law. The law pressured financial institutions to extend home loans to those who would otherwise not qualify. The Premise: Home ownership would improve poor and crime-ridden communities and neighborhoods in terms of crime, investment, jobs, etc. Results: Statistics bear out that it did not help. How did the government get so deeply involved in the housing market? Answer: Bill Clinton wanted it that way. 1992: Republican representative Jim Leach (IO) warned of the danger that Fannie and Freddie were changing from being agencies of the public at large to money machines for the principals and the stockholding few. 1993: Clinton extensively rewrote Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's rules turning the quasi-private mortgage-funding firms into semi-nationalized monopoies dispensing cash and loans to large Democratic voting blocks and handing favors, jobs and contributions to political allies. This potent mix led inevitably to corruption and now the collapse of Freddie and Fannie. 1994: Despite warnings, Clinton unveiled his National Home-Ownership Strategy which broadened the CRA in ways congress never intended. 1995: Congress, about to change from a Democrat majority to Republican, Clinton orders Robert Rubin's Treasury Dept to rewrite the rules. Robt. Rubin's Treasury reworked rules, forcing banks to satisfy quotas for sub-prime and minority loans to get a satisfactory CRA rating. The rating was key to expansion or mergers for banks. Loans began to be made on the basis of race and little else. 1997 - 1999: Clinton , bypassing Republicans, enlisted Andrew Cuomo, then Secretary of Housing and Urban Developement, allowing Freddie and Fannie to get into the sub-prime market in a BIG way. Led by Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd, congress doubled down on the risk by easing capital limits and allowing them to hold just 2.5% of capital to back their investments vs. 10% for banks. Since they could borrow at lower rates than banks their enterprises boomed. With incentives in place, banks poured billions in loans into poor communities, often 'no doc', 'no income', requiring no money down and no verification of income. Worse still was the cronyism: Fannie and Freddie became home to out-of work-politicians, mostly Clinton Democrats. 384 politicians got big campaign donations from Fannie and Freddie. Over $200 million had been spent on lobbying and political activities. During the 1990's Fannie and Freddie enjoyed a subsidy of as musch as $182 Billion,most of it going to principals and shareholders, not poor borrowers as claimed. Did it work? Minorities made up 49% of the 12.5 million new homeowners but many of those loans have gone bad and the minority homeownership rates are shrinking fast. 1999: New Treasury Secretary, Lawrence Summers, became alarmed at Fannie and Freddie's excesses. Congress held hearings the ensuing year but nothing was done because Fannie and Freddie had donated millions to key congressmen and radical groups, ensuring no meaningful changes would take place. 'We manage our political risk with the same intensity that we manage our credit and interest rate risks,' Fannie CEO Franklin Raines, a former Clinton official and current Barack Obama advisor, bragged to investors in 1999. 2000: Secretary Summers sent Undersecretary Gary Gensler to Congress seeking an end to the 'special status'. Democrats raised a ruckus as did Fannie and Freddie, headed by politically connected CEO's who knew how to reward and punish. 'We think that the statements evidence a contempt for the nation's housing and mortgage markets' Freddie spokesperson Sharon McHale said. It was the last chance during the Clinton era for reform. 2001: Republicans try repeatedly to bring fiscal sanity to Fannie and Freddie but Democrats blocked any attempt at reform; especially Rep. Barney Frank and Sen.Chris Dodd who now run key banking committees and were huge beneficiaries of campaign contributions from the mortgage giants. 2003: Bush proposes what the NY Times called 'the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago'. Even after discovering a scheme by Fannie and Freddie to overstate earnings by $10.6 billion to boost their bonuses, the Democrats killed reform. 2005: Then Fed chairman Alan Greenspan warns Congress: 'We are placing the total financial system at substantial risk'. Sen. McCain, with two others, sponsored a Fannie/Freddie reform bill and said, 'If congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system and the economy as a whole'. Sen. Harry Reid accused the GOP ;of trying to 'cripple the ability of Fannie and Freddie to carry out their mission of expanding homeownership' The bill went nowhere. 2007: By now Fannie and Freddie own or guarantee over HALF of the $12 trillion US mortgage market. The mortgage giants, whose executive suites were top-heavy with former Democratic officials, had been working with Wall St. to repackage the bad loans and sell them to investors. As the housing market fell in '07, subprime mortgage portfolios suffered major losses. The crisis was on, though it was 15 years in the making. 2008: McCain has repeatedly called for reforming the behemoths, Bush urged reform 17 times. Still the media have repeated Democrats' talking points about this being a 'Republican' disaster. A few Republicans are complicit but Fannie and Freddie were created by Democrats, regulated by Democrats, largely run by Democrats and protected by Democrats. That's why taxpayers are now being asked for $700 billion!! If you doubt any of this, just click the links below and listen to your lawmakers own words. They are condeming! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68D9XrqyrWo&feature=related]YouTube - Fannie & Freddie: The Real Story Behind The Economic Crisis[/ame]# http://www.youtube...com/watch?v=pIgqfM5C8lY# [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9juJr8CSY4&feature=related]YouTube - How democrats lied to America, while using community reinvestment act and acorn to destroy the American financial system.[/ame]# Postscript: ACORN is one of the principle beneficiaries of Fannie/ Freddie's slush funds. They are currently under indictment or investigation in many states. Barack Obama served as their legal counsel, defending their activities for several years. Please share this with everyone you know. Send it. Print it. Talk about it. America needs to know!!!

I love a good reason to sleep more, but as a south Georgia resident, I'm not turning off the air conditioning. NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - "Super-sized" fast food meals and TV time shouldn't take all the blame for the U.S. obesity problem, according to a research review published Tuesday. <SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a == null) document.write("<scr" + "ipt type=text/javascript src=""http://us.js2.yimg.com/us.js.yimg.com/lib/bc/bc_1.7.3.js></scr" + "ipt>");</SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window.yzq_a){yzq_a('p', 'P=uwQlus6.I3oMK09aRKFaWRAYRNwytkSjvdYAB5Ny&T=17b35a3bh%2fX%3d1151581654%2fE%3d7666449%2fR%3dnews%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d1.1%2fW%3d8%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d4293078391%2fH%3dY2FjaGVoaW50PSJuZXdzIiBjb250ZW50PSJkaWV0O0hlYWx0aDtJdDtjaGlsZHJlbjt3ZWF0aGVyO2l0OyIgcmVmdXJsPSIiIHRvcGljcz0iIg--%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3d4723BECE');yzq_a('a', '&U=139fb8112%2fN%3dMt0BB86.Isc-%2fC%3d378029.7424007.9670348.1442997%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d3800058');}</SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT> In fact, a group of researchers contend, a number of aspects of modern living -- from lack of sleep to exposure to environmental chemicals to living with air conditioning -- may be feeding Americans' weight woes. Writing in the International Journal of Obesity, they argue that obesity research and prevention efforts need to look beyond the "Big Two" -- food industry practices, like beefed-up portion sizes and added sugar; and reduced physical activity from factors such as cuts in school gym classes. That's not to say that diet and exercise aren't important, said report co-author Dr. David B. Allison of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. However, he told Reuters Health, the evidence linking obesity to food industry marketing and lack of gym class is circumstantial. It's equally plausible that a range of other factors are also involved, Allison and his colleagues point out. Lack of sleep is one, they say. Research in animals and humans suggests that chronic sleep deprivation boosts appetite and eating, and studies also show that U.S. adults and children are sleeping less than they used to. In recent decades, adults have gone from sleeping for an average of 9 hours to about 7 hours, the researchers point out. There is also evidence that industrial chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors may increase body fat. These chemicals, which are used in products such as pesticides and plastics, alter hormonal activity when they get into the body. Studies suggest that people have been increasingly exposed to these chemicals through the food chain in recent decades. Another factor potentially weighing Americans down is air conditioning. The body burns calories when forced to regulate its own temperature and, Allison noted, people tend to eat less in hot, humid weather. He and his colleagues cite 10 potential obesity risk factors in all, including: increased rates of older mothers, whose children may be more prone to excess weight gain; a range of medications, such as antidepressants, which can promote weight gain; and a decrease in smoking rates, because people often gain weight when they quit and the absence of nicotine, an appetite suppressant. No one is suggesting that people should stop taking their prescriptions, keep smoking or swelter in the July sun, according to Allison. When it comes to any one person's weight, he said, "what ultimately matters is calorie intake and calorie expenditure." That means diet and exercise is still key. But, Allison argued, researchers and policymakers should be "open-minded" about the potential contributors to the obesity problem and not assume that the answer lies in simple fixes like ridding schools of vending machines or installing sidewalks in the suburbs to encourage walking. SOURCE: International Journal of Obesity, June 27, 2006 online.

Not CG, but when you are eating so little you don't get as full. I was nervous in the beginning bc I was thinking I could eat alot but as you add thicker and more filling foods you should notice the restriction. I get chest pain if I eat more than about a cup. I am almost 5 weeks out.

My pre-op nurse said that my cycle would be off for a while. Luckily I just finished my TOM so I should be ok for a couple of weeks. Good luck ladies, make sure you're using BC.

Hello there I am from BC and I am having my surgery tomorrow! I am a self-pay as well. There are two surgeons in Vancouver who currently preform the lapband surgery. It took four months from start to finish to get this far. I was tempted to travel south and get the surgery done in Washington state, as it would have gotten done sooner. However, I know that if something went seriously wrong and I needed medical help ASAP it would most likely be covered by our medical care in Canada. Downside- the band may not be recoverable if you needed serious surgery. When I was choosing between Canada and the US I called the clinic and talked to them about this very issue and they informed me that if there were problems that there would be out of pocket expenses, because I had no medical insurance. I did not want to go bankrupt, so I made my choice based solely on that fact alone. After the payment everything is covered because in Canada once the surgeon operates on you he must continue care without payment. That is why that insist on payment upfront. I would stayed in Canada because it is safer in the long run. Also if something goes wrong my doctor is closer.

I'm learning more about this than I wanted to learn. Apparently, the local HMO plans that are associated with FEHB use the medical policies of their local BC/BS affiliates. All of those that I've looked at in fact do cover lap band. However, the national BCBS PPO FEP plan uses national policies. The national policy, however, states that there is not enough US research to support approval of the band. This is in direct contradiction to the policies of the affiliates. So now I'm in the uncomfortable position of BCBS having stated that I meet the medical criteria, but they simply won't cover the band. They will, however, cover the gastric bypass. Advice?

I'm in Illinois, and we have the national standard option BC/BS FEP plan, PPO. The policy has a specific statement that it covers "gastric bypass and gastric stapling procedures", and they tell me that it doesn't cover lap band. However, I learned today that my other insurance, Unicare, has approved me for lap band. HURRAH! Otherwise, I was all set to get my husband to change at the next open season. :confused: :clap2:

I was nervous as well I just had my gastric bypass done May 1st. The pre op diet was rough Bc u know u can eat it without issues but u have to not eat it Bc of the surgery. What made it even harder for me was my husband ate whatever he wanted and I couldn't. But also once my surgery was done once I came home and started feeling better as surprised as I was I still was hungry just yet my body didn't want or need food it was all in my head! But as the time goes on u will feel better and it becomes a little easier each day. You can do this stay strong. Keep coming on here a reading ppl stories that helps a lot also. Hope I helped some. Good luck

I know you posted a while back, but I just wanted to jump in and say "breastfeeding is not the best thing you can do for your baby" :biggrin:. The best thing you can do for your baby is be a good mom. If you're losing nutrition by breastfeeding (and in turn this is harmful to you), then just don't. It sounds like the milk mafia (lol) has convinced you breastfeeding is the only way. Breastfeeding advocates made me feel like a horrible mom when I couldn't teach my daughter to latch on. As long as your baby is being fed and is healthy, that's what matters. Formula isn't poison. It is often a child's only way to survive if their moms died during childbirth, or if they can't latch on, or if their mom's milk supply is low. People are formula raised all the time and are decent people. lol.

The broth makes me want to throw up as well. I'm 17 days post and I don't even eat bc of the smell. And I feel as if I'm going to regurgitate.

After 4 quick months surgery is scheduled for 2/8/18 at NYU. I’m still uncertain if I’m approved bc all my surgical coordinator said was “you’re good to go” [emoji848][emoji31] lol But anywho! On day 3 of the liquid diet. Any other February peeps?

I'm doing good but I'm having great difficulty with the Protein. Every time I try to mix it with anything it causes instant nausea and stomach cramps. I'm praying that when I enter the next stage of puréed foods I'll be better able to disguise the taste of the protein. I discussed this with my doc and he's not too worried about me not getting the protein while it's crucial to my successful weight loss, he wants me to focus on getting in my supplements and staying hydrated. I tried the muscle milk for the first time today. It made me feel a little nauseous but as I'm sipping on it slowly it's better than anything else I've tried thus far. All the best to you!!! Hi April21Sister! Just hang in there, I too was getting fed up with liquids and purée, I just started putting in more flavor in my food, I even had mushy Cereal yesterday. I'm feeling ok except today and yesterday I was so tired and feeling chills, I slept extra hours, also having a little pain on my left side near the stitches don know what that could be. I'm seeing my doc and nutritionist on 21st, hope he can answer. Very confused on how much to eat, I guess we are afraid of eating to much and worried about any complications, we should relax I guess and learn to understand our bodies more...lots of learning ahead. I'm going to try the Premier Protein from costco. Stay strong and keep up the progress...!

I call BS on the part that says research has shown artificial sweeteners do not cause increases in blood sugar. As I've been trying to use low carb dieting over the last several years for weight loss I experimented with various art. sweeteners and I have found many many people on different forums who have problems with their blood sugar on them, as I do. Now, since WLS puts diabetes in remission very quickly and you are no longer insulin resistant, that may change afterward. I am still pre-op, and splenda and equal both increase my blood sugar and then it drops rapidly just like after regular sugar. I am not diabetic, "only" prediabetic. I have not checked it with stevia, as I've never been able to find a stevia product that tasted right to me. In addition, when I cut out all art. sweeteners for 3 weeks, my sugar cravings disappeared much quicker than when I did Atkins and used SF products daily. YMMV I think it's great to have options for occasional use but I don't think they should be an everyday part of one's diet.

My docs office submitted almost 2 weeks ago and today Cigna said they didn't have all the info they needed and was going to deny when everything they said was missing WAS submitted. The nurse is resubmitting today what was missing and hoping for approval. Just BS that they say stuff is missing when it's their in front of them to hold up the process. Very frustrated. Wanted to hear accepted this week since I did all I was suppose to and all was submitted. UGGGH! No guarantees I understand even if you meet all the qualifications. Just have to pray and be patient something I am not very good at. Sue

I have never had surgery before this so I didn't really know what to expect. It is natural to have some anxiety, but I really surprised myself by being ok until I woke up with this dreaded pain all over my body. My understanding is that there is 1.5% chance of it happening so perhaps I shouldn't have played the lottery before my surgery. I am sure you will be fine. Maybe I've hogged the 1% chance this time and your safe to go have a complication free surgery. The medication that caused the reaction is the paralytic they use for intubation called "succinocholine". You can look up "postoperative myalgia" online and there is some general info. Basically, all of my muscles contracted so much during surgery that they are pretty much useles for a few days until they have time to repair and heal themselves. Kind of like I worked out every muscle in my body nonstop and they are just fatigued to the point of not working at all. I'll keep everyone posted as to how long this lasts. Hopefully not much longer bc I can't stand being in pain or confined to this bed. :/ When is your surgery?

:confused:Wow blah days sux don't they. I think the problem is before I could of changed a blah day with a lovely pig out of toast and butter or bacon sandwiches and now my old friends have the building so to speak I am on my own. What to replace these friends of food with??? Don't think I haven't got real friends, I have its just sometimes the food friend was the better one and I s'pose the friendships are changing now as we are not getting together to have a binge. The house is clean and tidy the dogs are walked and the chooks are fed..... so what to do now.....???? I can bake now because I don't live with the cake calling me and saying eat me, eat me until its all gone. But geez this blah thing is yuk..:thumbup: Right I am going to go and jump up and down for a minute and turn the music up and run around and shake this mood:w00t: If that doesn't work I'll make some pies for the lunch box'es and do the damm ironing. This blog has just been a whinge but I feel better for it:redface: Cheers Chooky

The "you are guaranteed to lose your hunger" bs surrounding the sleeve is exactly that, bs. No surgery is guaranteed to make someone lose their hunger sensation. All the Ghrelin "research" isn't solid fact, we still don't understand hunger, how it happens, what *actually* triggers it, etc. Currently the information around Ghrelin is "we believe" not "we know". The sad truth is, the majority of WLS patients, no matter the surgery, will retain some level of hunger sensation or will regain that sensation within a year of surgery. It's rare that someone loses the sensation permanently. And some, never lose it at all. So if someone promised you that the sleeve would kill your hunger because it "removes" ghrelin production... well, they didn't tell you all the facts.

Diet coke has a lot of calories? Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App sorry apparently it doesn't I haven't had soda in a very long time bc I follow guidelines still U get the point if ur told by ur dr not to drink it why ask for permission to from strangers on a public site. The drs give prescription diets for a reason. Thanks and have a wonderful day. Gastric bypass 11/22/16 starting weight 289 current weight 248.

Hello everyone. I had my request for surgery sent into bcbs last Tuesday after all of my pre op testing was complete. Today I received this message from my case manager. I tried to call to make sense of it all and basically am reading it as I have to wait another year for surgery. (WTF). How do I go about this message, I called up there and my case manager was busy. Now it's after 5 and I'm unsure how to somehow get my insurance to accept my request. SIDE NOTE: I actually do have a year worth of weight loss attempt consecutively since February of last year as written down for them to know. I just don't know how I can get my physician to document it... or idk if I have to do this for another year simply Bc I was not aware that I had to have 12 months of that documented with a physician or else I would have been seeing one. If anyone can tell me their story or help me understand how to go about this, that will be much appreciated. Xoxo

I would not recommend Implanon because I experienced alot of the side effects. I would definately do your research before you decide. I think I experienced most all of the side effects at some point, even some of the lesser known ones, and I have not had a good experience with it. I'm going to be checking into some non hormonal bc pills or some alternate bc methods.

Hello, I am desperately in need of some help. My husband had the sleeve gastrectomy in October. He's lost 115 pounds and looks amazing! In the beginning he was very strict and followed his diet. Now in the past month I've noticed him cheating more. He will take 1 bite of everything he's not supposed to eat, and sometimes more. I mentioned it to the nutritionist and she said it's okay as long as it's only 1 bite to satisfy his craving. It's starting to be more than one bite, and if I say something or give him a look it starts a huge fight! The other night I came home and saw a dirty ice cream bowl in the sink. I told him how worried I am bc my old boss regained ALL her weight from alcohol and ice cream. He fixed his body but not his brain. I'm 100% sure he's going to regain the weight if he's already cheating 5 months out. We have a baby now and I want him to be alive to see it grow up! He refuses to go to counseling. Please give me some advice on how to be supportive!

Hello! I had LB and was very successful with it for years. Although, I had to get it opened in the spring and fall for a couple months each due to allergies/serious post nasal drip causing issues. I was very sick last year (unrelated) and ended up with a hernia etc. Long story short, LB was removed (not sure it should have been). Due to all my issues, I am not sure I want the LB again bc I am frankly sick of being used and a pin cushion (again was not related to LB but was bad 8 months) and just hyper sensitive. Thus, I looked into as cleared to have GS. I am so confused and frustrated. One side says LB is better bc can always be adjusted and that GS will lead to reflux and a whole slew of issues. Also argues that GS use in US has not been that long and it shows a high percentage that pouch will be stretched and then not effective. The other side says LB not as effective and shows high percentage of eventual slippage/failure (plus constant fills/reduction issues as noted above). Further says that reflux can be addressed, likely not long term and not lead to other issues (Barrett's disease). I do not know what to do. Any thoughts? Anyone out there who went from LB to LB or LB to GS? Thanks. Any feedback greatly appreciated.