Alexandra

Hi Lisa, I'm sorry for your loss, too. Reading threads like this reminds me why I don't want pets. :scalesno: (P.S.: Good to see you!)

:pound: :pound:

Wheetsin is a wise, wise woman. The only other thing I'd add is that if someone reads something on the board that seems childish and catty, the fact of the matter is that it reflects poorly on the POSTER, not the one on the receiving end. We should all take everything with a ton of salt, consider the source, and walk away. Attempts to "defend" oneself only lead toward the abyss. Wheets, if you're an old man in Paraguay, can I be a shepherd in Tuscany?

Dody, you are absolutely out of line. Stop attacking. Now.

Hi Bright! Nice to hear from you. :scalesno: The good news is that your test showed barium flowing through the band, rather than pooling in a distended pouch or otherwise going where it's not supposed to go. Sounds like you don't have much restriction, but that's better than too much! Good luck with your surgeon, and I hope he gets back to you soon. Frustrating, I know, but you're healthy!! :hug:

How about Life In Maintenance?

Clam chowder. Ice cream. I'm alone tonight, can ya tell?

Pnut, does your screen really say that? I've been getting some very weird things through the site, but that would top my issues.

Nancy, attendance at our meetings is very irregular, too. I don't think it's anything to worry about; when people need support they'll be there. 8 is a good number, it seems to me--everyone has time to talk and the participants can get to know one another. When our meetings started sometimes there were only two or three people in attendance! Now we typically get between 6 and 20 or so, never more than that even though our doctors' office has done hundreds of bands. One thing you might try is having the doctors you work with tell preops about your meetings. We often have people come who are thinking about being banded and want to meet bandsters face to face. And while scheduling topics or visitors (such as personal trainers, therapists, nutritionists, etc.) always sounds great, it seems like at our meetings there never enough time to just chat.

One of the options you have is to download them as text and save them to your own computer. Once you've done that, you can delete them. Just moving them to another folder here on LBT doesn't free up any space, I'm afraid.

I can feel the green-eyed monster coming... Congratulations!

Time to lock this puppy.

So the problem is with your own computer's settings. Are you at work?

Except for the typo :cool: , I agree with this 100%. It's best not to dissect other posters at all, whether they're here or not. Thanks.

Hee hee! That little boy of mine is named Catie! :cool: Guess we have to let her hair grow a bit longer and break out the pink clothes. :biggrin1:

Thank you so much for sharing your photos, Aussie Chick! You will definitely have inspired some people here. You look wonderful and I know you will be SO happy you had this surgery. Good luck with the drain removal! I must say that does look awful. How does anyone go about their daily business with those things in? Or did you have to stay home during this recovery phase?

Wow, no access to a doctor until 2008?? That would sure give me pause about getting a fill. In fact, if you feel any restriction at all I'd say it's good to leave it alone. You're a brave woman. Seriously, I am so impressed.

Many people have remarked on the phenomenon of increased restriction just after they schedule a fill. Then they wonder if they should go for the fill anyway. It's very curious, and no one can explain it, but it's NOT your imagination, people!! I've been completely unfilled since March, and for about two months now I've felt almost NO restriction whatsoever. I've been able to eat things I couldn't eat for the last two years, such as fresh citrus fruits and rice and Cereal. I've been putting off scheduling a fill for insurance reasons. Well, my insurance is changing August 1 so the other day I made the call to schedule a fill in late August. I haven't even been THINKING about this but wouldn't you know it, bang, my restriction is back. I know it's just this pre-fill phenomenon; nothing has changed and I feel perfectly well. But suddenly I'm reminded all over again how FICKLE this band can be! So, should I get the fill?

Thanks so much y'all!! The last three years doesn't really feel like it's gone by quickly, exactly, since so much else has happened during that time (two young children, ya know). But I can remember pre-band days VERY well, especially when I look at those pictures. It's absolutely amazing to me that this little band of silicone could give me what nothing else I've ever tried could deliver--a chance at a normal life. I want to cry when I look at the 11-year-old me. And now I have some inkling how my parents must have felt.

I pasted together a few pix of where I came from and now where I am. The shot of me in the upper left corner here is at age 11, which will give you some idea of my lifelong battle. The rest of the top row were taken between 2000 and 2003. All the shots in the bottom row were taken in the last couple of months.

I don't think there's any general distinction that can be made in this regard. Every doctor has his or her own feelings about WLS, and whether the degree is D.O. or M.D. makes no difference.

Penni, that's very exciting news! So good to hear you have more options open to you. And it's wonderful that you have an avenue that will cover Dr. Billy!! You are in the best possible hands, and that must be a huge relief for you. How/when you can change your insurance depends on your employer and the laws in your state. In NJ you can only switch during open enrollment, which is the annual anniversary of the plan. So you might have a wait in front of you, but whenever open enrollment comes around switching shouldn't be an issue. Good luck with whatever you decide. I'm rooting for you!!!

I agree, Leatha. Lucky has very clearly summarized what seems to happen in long-term bandsters. The take-bottom line is that we get different signals that we're overdoing it--reflux, etc.--but they can be just as reliable a message to eat less. They're just less immediate messages.

Kittylover, there isn't any one "form" to use for an appeal. If your carrier has specific procedures they want followed, you'll have to get that information from them. Generally an appeal is just a letter with any additional information that wasn't provided earlier, and it's VERY important that you know exactly why the initial request was denied. Your appeal should address the precise reasons that the carrier denied you in the first place.

Vera, you are absolutely beautiful, please know that. Congratulations on 3 years and getting to your goal!! You have so much to be proud of, and it looks like you're really enjoying your life and family. Well done!!!