GeezerSue

When she was about four, we told our daughter that there was a law that said that, once you turned 18, you had to be living in your own apartment, living in the college dorm or living in the Army barracks. One day, when she was about seven or eight, she came home really pissed at us when she discovered that her friend had a nineteen-year-old brother who lived at home. Well, it worked for a few years. And she's had her own apartment ever since she graduated from college.

There was someone on another board I frequent who WAS reimbursed...but that was a couple of years ago.

Religious concepts aside...because not everyone shares the same beliefs or values...I think that, for the time being, you have to make a choice. And, like some of the others, I think your doctors will feel the same. It's so hard when you think you're going in one direction and things change, but--as you discover by the time you're really old, like I am, and figure out that there never WAS any control over anything--that's life and more the norm than the exception. Sue

be really nice to her. I told her that there was a lot of wisdom on this board regarding port infections, etc. thank you, Sue

Phyllis, Aetna turned my daughter down...I wrote one GOOD letter and they reconsidered and paid for the whole thing. Let me know if I can help.. Sue

You people have WAY too much fun when left unsupervised. Here's a chart that has to do with the..oh, yeah, THAT...bra sizes. Volume and Cup Size This area causes quite a bit of confusion, both pre and post op. Band size is band size - you can't change that by going up or down in cup size. But cup volume does vary by band size. The volume of the cup of a 38C is not the same volume as that of a 36C. It's actually larger. Next time you go shopping, select one style of bra and compare a 38C and a 34C. You'll see they are not the same size in the cups. But if you compare a 38B and a 36C, you'll see the cups are the same size in volume. Below we have compiled a few comparisons that will help you to visualize how volumes work in different band sizes: This is based around a 38B cup: Though the band sizes all differ, the actual volume of all of these cups are the same. 40A 38B 36C 34D 32DD This is based around a 36B cup: Though the band sizes all differ, the actual volume of all of these cups are the same. 38A 36B 34C 32D This is based around a 34B cup: Though the band sizes all differ, the actual volume of all of these cups are the same. 36A 34B 32C This is based around a 44C cup: Though the band sizes all differ, the actual volume of all of these cups are the same. 46B 44C 42D 40DD 38DDD This is based around a 44B cup: Though the band sizes all differ, the actual volume of all of these cups are the same. 46A 44B 42C 40D 38DD 36DDD So, in the above example, if you are wearing a 44B cup right now, the actual cups of the other band sizes in the list would infact fit your breasts. The band size will not fit, but the point is that the volumes are the same in that grouping.

First, you've lost 30 pounds in two months?!? Amazing! Next, I'm going a paraphrase a friend who had bypass surgery, because it applies to us as well. The number and variety of foods I can eat post-op is infinitely larger than the number and variety of foods I can still scarf down. Learning which is which would be easier and faster if I could just stop trying to scarf anything down.

I've been "wired" since about 1960, give or take. (I'm looking forward to bralessness post BR.) Can you force yourself to go for a fitting? Here's what I DO know: the instructions on how to measure vary from store to store and make no sense. (I just took a survey.)

Leatha...me, too on one of these stories. Went to urgent care. Said, I can't breathe. They said something stupid...i don't even remember. Two nights later, I go again and they write that I'm "overutilizing" services. I say, "Gee, if I wrote something like that, I'd order a chest x-ray or something, just in case the patient had a hungry attorney in the family. You know, to cover my ass." They did an x-ray. It was pneumonia...but they still sent me home, with antibiotics. Two days later I cannot roll my daughter's hair in rollers. I can't sleep except sitting up. I go to my new PCP. She says, "You have pneumonia, but you also have antibiotics. You need to go home." My mother, a cranky old broad, was there. She said, "Let's go shoot your f'ing toe off." Then she looked at the doctor and said, "Do you suppose if we shoot her f'ing toe off, she can get into the hospital? Maybe THERE she could get medical care." Two more days. I have hubby take me to ER. Forty people ahead of me, I know I'm gonna die. Somebody notices that I'm grey. I spent a week in a private room. Seems I had mycoplasma pneumonia. I fired my doctor. spent 18 weeks on disability. took prednisone forever. Gained forty pounds. "Overutilized" my royal all-american back end. I HATE when they think MD means "knows everything."

Deal is...every time my band is tight enough, I get reflux. This time, i was reluctant to let him tighten it vey much at all. So, my weight loss stalled, reversed, went up and down for a while and is minimal. That said, I had the TT and I am about to have it "revised." I knew going in that such a huge amputation would need tweaking after the fact. So I'll probably have them done together. I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, I'm delighted that I had it done.

My insurance approved me for a breast reduction. No problem. First request. I'm still MO. Actually, I'm MO again. This is not about weight loss or goals or anything except bigger than necessary boobs. Hmmm.

I got my shiny new Bi-PAP (a CPAP for "special people") yesterday. I hate it again. (Settings are 18 and 14...so I DO need it.) Life was better when I was less fat. I have new excuses...but that doesn't help. Going to the gym tomorrow. Can't walk or use treadmill. So, it's the bicycle or eliptical thingy.

My best friend once had respiratory problems and went to a doctor who was not very communicative. He asked, "Smoke?" She said, "Yeah." He said, "Hmmpf." She said, "So?" He said, "Stop smoking." She said, "Did. Twenty years ago." He said, "Well you said..." As she got off the table and left said, "You didn't seem interested in working, so I thought I'd make things easy for you. It sure is easy when you can blame everything on smoking, isn't it? And don't you DARE bill me for this appointment." He didn't, and she went elsewhere. So, anyway, I really feel your pain. About four years ago, I started having dyspnea. I kept going to doctors and complaining of shortness of breath. They decided that, since I was fat and over fifity, I needed Zoloft. A month later, I went back and said I still had the problem. They changed my meds to Effexor. I went back and said, "Okay, I have not been to work now in a couple of months. I cannot breathe when I exert myself at all." They said, "OH!!!" And gave me Prozac. Two months later, I said, "Okay! I am no longer as depressed about the fact that I can't breathe. But I still can't breathe." They decided I was having panic attacks and sent me to a shrink. She kept watching. Because I did not have state disability insurance, I had my own policy. They didn't want to pay me, if I was just short of breath due to panic attacks...which is what they expected from a fat and over fifty female. The private insurance said, "Well, anyone can invent panic attacks. We're sending you to a private medical examiner." I went. He said I had COPD and could not do my job. I retired due to my disability. After I'd been retired about a year and a half, my NEW pulmonologist said I didn't have COPD and I should go back to work because nothing was wrong with me. And then prescribed inhalers and other drugs. That was about a year an a half ago. a week ago, a cardiologist said that, without examining me, but based on my history, I've probably never had COPD, but probably pulmonary hypertension. And ordered a sleep study for apnea. (It was previously diagnosed, just checking to see my status.) Yesterday, the next pulmonologist said that he didn't think it was COPD or pulmonary hypertension. It's something else...and I'm getting to the point where... I feel so bad for you. I got my new BiPAP machine yesterday. Are you on any airway pressure? Can you get outside your usual healthcare situation for another opinion?

LOL, Greg...look I'm MO. I was, then wasn't, then am again. I DO NOT look as good as this woman. And this woman looks WAY BETTER than she used to look. But she felt comfortable enough with this pose that is is her "after" pose on another site. I'm all about Rubenesque...but something about this makes me not want to pose this way. What do you think?

Deal is...there are some men who notice fat women and give them the time of day BECAUSE they are fat. And when that changes, the relationship changes. Speaking as someone who has been married for 31 years, however, relationships change with or without weight loss. Having kids changes everything. Continuing in school and changing careers can change everything. Being broke or being not broke can change everything. I think some of the saddest people I see are those (the ones Alexandra mentioned) who lose 150 pounds in eight months, and even though they are 38 or 43 and have three kids and the stretch marks to prove it, think they are beauty queens. And they start to dress like they would have dressed at 20 if they hadn't been obese at 20. So the entire planet is forced to view their now pendulous abdomens hanging over the jeans (and the hip-level belt) and their bellies (incluing the Lap RnY incisions) above the waist staring back like one-eyed marshmallows. Need I say, "Yuck?"

I was just about to give that girl a call...we need to touch bases. I f you find her first, tell her I said, "Hey!"

I know nothing of this doctor. What I DO know is that Inamed includes any doctor who has (I hope) taken their training...even if they have not yet placed their first band. That list is essentially a list of doctors who want Inamed referrals...and that's about it.

I think too many people worry about slipped and eroded bands, because many of those who DO have them had no symptoms. If you follow the cheddar broccoli Soup advice, skip the broccoli...meanwhile, do you have a Jamba juice nearby? Get a Peanut Butter Moo'd (or a chocolate Moo'd) with a Protein boost. It's protein, it's VERY high in calories (sorry) and it's good. Arlington Whole Foods/Parkway 801 E. Lamar Blvd. Tel. 817.461.9362**Fax 817.461.1688 Austin Whole Foods/Gateway 9607 Research Blvd. #300 Tel. 512.345.5003**Fax 512.345.5331 One American ** accepts jambacard ** 600 Congress Ave. #G280 Tel. 512.478.8696**Fax 512.478.8605 Arboretum ** accepts jambacard ** 10710 Research Suite 306 Tel. 512.342.9998**Fax 512.342.9940 Guadalupe/Austin ** accepts jambacard ** 2300 Guadalupe St. #100 Tel. 512.275.0290**Fax 512.275.0291 Carrollton Park at Tollway / Carrollton ** accepts jambacard ** 3432 E. Hebron Pkwy #116 Tel. 972.407.0875**Fax 972.735.0283 Corpus Christi Corpus Christi ** accepts jambacard ** 5425 S. Padre Island Dr. #114 Tel. 361.906.2474**Fax 361.994.7892 Dallas Highland Park Village ** accepts jambacard ** 70 Highland Park Village Tel. 214.219.3338**Fax 214.219.3382 Whole Foods / Lemmon Center, Dallas ** accepts jambacard ** 4100 Lomo Alto Drive Tel. 214.559.2038**Fax 214.526.0074 Frankford & Preston/Dallas ** accepts jambacard ** 18204 Preston Rd. #E2 Tel. 972.665.0425**Fax 972.665.0426 Greenville / Dallas ** accepts jambacard ** 5923 Greenville Ave. Tel. 214.363.6461**Fax 214.363.6448 Westchester & NW Hwy / Dallas ** accepts jambacard ** 8421 Westchester Dr. Tel. 214.363.6828**Fax 214.363.6811 Fort Worth Sundance Square ** accepts jambacard ** 400 Main Street Tel. 817.870.1001**Fax 817.870.1878 Houston Post Oak/Houston ** accepts jambacard ** 2515 Post Oak Blvd. #A Tel. 713.850.1089**Fax 713.850.1153 Village Arcade ** accepts jambacard ** 2506 University Blvd. Tel. 713.529.3225**Fax 713.529.3661 Whole Foods/Kirby/Houston 2955 Kirby Dr. Tel. 713.520.1937**Fax 713.526.3976 Whole Foods/Bellaire/Houston 4004 Bellaire Blvd. Tel. 713.667.6588**Fax 713.667.4013 Royal Oaks / Houston ** accepts jambacard ** 11805 Westheimer #340 Tel. 832.327.0306**Fax 832.327.0307 Champions Village / Houston ** accepts jambacard ** 5403 FM 1960 West #580 Tel. 281.444.3930**Fax 281.444.3094 River Oaks / Houston ** accepts jambacard ** 2032 - A West Grey Tel. 713.523.4548**Fax 713.523.4598 Jack Rabbit / Houston ** accepts jambacard ** 13325 FM 1960 Tel. 281.897.9923**Fax 281.897.9942 Copperfield ** accepts jambacard ** 7017 Highway 6 North Tel. 281.463.9956**Fax 281.463.9819 Plano The Shops @ Legacy / Plano ** accepts jambacard ** 5700 Legacy Dr. #A2 Tel. 972.398.6550**Fax 972.398.6601 Richardson Whole Foods/Richardson 60 Dal Rich Village Tel. 972.699.8075**Fax 972.699.9419 Southlake South Lake Town Square ** accepts jambacard ** 222 State St. Tel. 817.416.9971**Fax 817.416.6380 Sugar Land Sugar Land ** accepts jambacard ** 2148 Texas Drive Tel. 281.242.0030**Fax 281.242.0037 Webster Clearlake / Webster ** accepts jambacard ** 528 W. Bay Area Blvd. Ste. B1 Tel. 281.316.9965**Fax 281.316.9967

I was banded in Mexico, but in Monterrey, by Rumbaut. I have been to Rumbaut, Ortiz and Kuri (in Mexico) for fills. I would go back to Rumbaut and Kuri. Ortiz is technically competent, but not my kind of human being. If you live closer to Monterrey, that's where I'd go. Rumbaut (and Sanchez) practice in hospitals that are far more familiar to most US patients and are teaching hospitals. The Tijuana doctors use "alternative medicine" hospitals (I'm not a fan), or tiny little (almost primitive) places which have four people to a room and a bathroom down the hall and no air conditioning and are worth every dime of the $50/night they charge. There are a couple of doctors who use nicely decorated places, but they still are nothing like a US hospital...more like a first-aid clinic from 1960. NOW, a lot of people who are knowledgable about medicine use these doctors, no doubt about it. But, it's a no-brainer for me if I choose between a real, big-city teaching hospital with a doctor who has placed THOUSANDS of bands or a pretty or not-so-pretty Tijuana "hospital" (quotes because some of these places are three- or four-doctor places, no emergency staff kind of places) and a doctor who has done hundreds of bands. And if I did choose Tijuana, it would be Kuri for sure.

Depends. Which doctor? Which city? Driving or flying? Which hospital? The doctors who DO accept credit cards will likely surcharge you for using one. If you want to avoid all of this, you could, for example, make arrangements with Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey, to pay him and the hospital (if it takes credit cards, which I think it does) separately. (Actually, it costs a little less to do it this way, BUT if you pay Rumbaut, he covers any expenses in case of complications. But he's so good, there are almost never any complications and so he makes out like a bandit on this part.) Anyway, you could then enter the country with a cashier's check for Rumbaut and pay the hospital with the credit card. OR, you could pay a deposit to the doctor or the hospital prior to going. In Rumbaut's case (since he was my surgeon, his is the only procedure with which I'm familiar), that money goes to a bank in Texas and so you didn't move any money out of the country. Technically, the rules are the same everywhere, they are just more likely to be enforced in the Mexico City Airport or Monterrey airports than they are if you drive into Tijuana or Nogales. But the dollar amount under discussion is ten thousand. If you want to avoid breaking any rules, it might be best to pay the hospital separately via credit card or pay a deposit in advance. As far as meds were concerned, I made sure I hd a copy of myRx's and I took the pills out of the packages, so they wouldn't look "so new," and just carried them in as I would a package of Sinutab or something. Nobody asked, I didn't offer. Sue I always tell the truth about why I'm crossing the border...usually "doctor's visit," is all it takes.

I think...that you have irritated the stoma (the passageway where the band is causing the most pressure) and the more you try to eat, the worse it will get. I would stick with Clear liquids. Or full liquids with a Protein component. Next, find out at your nearest hospital (which treats cancer patients), which nurses have experience with subdermal ports. Most nurses who deal with chemo patients have a lot of experience with subdermal ports. THAT'S who you need if no experienced band doctor is available. IMHO you have a few choices, none of them great. But the most important thing you can do is to avoid being in a position where you might end up inhaling any of the acid coming up from your stomach. That stuff can cause a nasty pneumonia. And stay hydrated. Next, I would avoid ANY solids. The stoma can become so irritated that people have had to go on NOTHING by mouth and IV nourishment until it settles down. Then, the saliva thing...your brain has not read the LapBand owner's manual. When the stoma is swollen or irritated, EVERYTHING that hits it is interpreted by the brain as "blockage." The brain's first attempt at clearing the blockage is to send saliva...thick, gooey saliva, to "rinse" the blockage through. Eventually, that just makes more stuff that's plugged up AND the brain says, "Well, if it won't wash through, it's coming up." THAT'S when you feel the urge to heave, and why you are throwing up saliva. Anyway, right now, you need to maintain hydration. You can do that IF you can hold down clear liquids. Camomile tea with a little sugar or honey. chicken broth. That kind of thing. Forget food, it will just make things worse. If you cannot hold down Water, start the IV. If you cannot get to a band doctor, find that chemo nurse. And sleep sitting up! Good luck, Sue

To keep my hands busy, I'm working my way through a box of See's candy. I'm thinkin' it's not such a good thing.

Well, I demand a recount.

I wonder if Momster and Francie are/were related. Francie died a few years ago. I don't think she knew about Bondo. But there's a part of me which is partial to Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty (mix it with water and it makes...I dunno...rocks) , so there may be a genetic link. No, Francie's hobby was radio and early television. This scares me because I am working on getting a ham operator license. But she never had one, so I think it's okay. She had lots of tubes. You know, old radio tubes. She was never thrilled with miniaturized and transistorized stuff. She like BIG, overheating radio and television tubes. Well, those and the powdered cheese, I imagine. Why is Momster out loose? Should she not be incarcerated or somebody's thesis project?

Oh, yeah. And my husband's aunt by marriage bought herself a burial plot, right where she wanted to be for all eternity. And then refused to tell anyone where that was. BUT, that was probably okay, since if she had told her husband, he'd have forgotten. We know that because, when he got tired of the kids "borrowing" money from him, he put $30,000 into a coffee can and buried it somewhere out back. He never did recall exactly where. (But it WAS before he put the pond in...makes a body wonder.) When we gasped, he said "Don't make no difference to me where the hell that money is as long as them damned kids cain't get their hands on it." Gotta love family.