Sphinx

Hello, I have a few months to go still before completing the pre-surgical program and desperately need clothing. I've yoyo'd so much I have stuff in many sizes, but right now I'm in a 2x and last time I lost weight I had very wishful thinking and got rid of all but a few pieces, and now that fall is here find I have very little (I had plenty of warm weather things, plus they are cheap to buy). I like casual clothing, tops either 3/4 or long sleeves and prefer knit elastic waist pants (or the kind that fold over on top) (I cannot tolerate button up pants for relaxing). I never have need to dress up, so don't need anything dressy. I wear scrubs at work. I just want to get through the colder weather without breaking the bank. I keep checking clothing on ebay but can't find anything quite right. I am willing to pay you so if you have grown out of your clothing, here's a chance to make room in your closet for newer, smaller clothing!

Thank you! Feeling way more confident now.....

I don't remember actually being measured at 5'4" so it must have been a while back. I didn't think I'd shrink til I was older, lol! No complaints here.... Oh and I haven't gotten my 'official' approval from insurance yet.....but if I were to go below 40 I wouldn't even be able to complete the program. But insurance says over 4. I've also tried weight watchers, south beach, zone, phen fen and a million calorie restricted diets, as well as gym programs. Those are the things my insurance looks for, and completion of the 6 month program with the surgical center (nutritionist, etc). Congrats to you on your weight loss! That's so amazing!

So today I dropped off the form at my PCP for her to fill out before my seminar and initial appointment at the surgeon. I'd been worried about qualifying since I don't have any co-morbidities that my insurance recognizes. I've actually been trying to edge up a few pounds to get close to BMI of forty, which seems so counterproductive! I figured I'd wear my heaviest pair of shoes, since most doc appointments weigh me with my shoes on. Well she made me take them off to get an accurate height as well. I wanted to cry when I saw my weight, knowing it would not be close enough. Well, blow me over with a feather, turns out I'm an inch shorter than I thought! (no slouching either lol)! So my BMI is actually 40.6! Apparently, even though my insurance does have you do 3-6 month program with the surgeon, they don't require the 5% weight loss, so I won't have to worry about dropping below 40. It's good to be "fun sized" I guess!

Well, I'm LOLing at the name, but checked it out and may try it! Anything that may help!

Thanks, can't remember if I tried on any landau? I'll check it out!

I am curious about people who have RA who have been banded. First, if you are on a DMARD or biologic, did you have to go off it for a long period of time to prevent infection with the surgery? Also, has the surgery and subsequent weight loss helped the pain any? I have my seminar in 2 weeks and definitely want to get banded, as long as my insurance company cooperates, so I am just curious. Also, I have Fibromyalgia too. Anyone with find that the stress of surgery makes RA or Fibro flare up?

I realize now maybe I should have posted my uniform question in the nurses group, but the group doesn't seem to be getting much traffic still. Anyhoo, I have tried several on at stores. The Core Stretch is a bit tight in the thighs in a 2x but worse it rides too low in back. They didn't have any in 3x I could try. I like the Cherokee Luxe most so far, of course they are more expensive The 2x again, is a bit snug in the thigh. They had a 3x which was nice and roomy but too long. I could have the hemmed but it's cheaper and easier to just order the shorter cut online. I hate to spend the money since I am hoping to be banded in a few months (if all goes well with my insurance) but my black scrub pants I have now are worn in the thighs from rubbing. Sigh.....

I assume you are talking about a stick deodorant I have actually tried spray deodorant (while covering the lady bits heehee) with only mild success, but I'll try a stick. I honestly didn't think I was going to get any response since a few days had gone by, so thank you both! I was starting to feel a little weird for posting something so gross haha!

I'm ok with tops, it's pants that are an issue. Ugh. How do their pants fit? Thanks, I'll look them up! Are they comfy?

I know that when my turn comes, I'll definitely be taking a good amount of time! I'm sure the surgery will make my fibro flare (stress to the body always does) and will probably have to hold my RA med that month too so will be feeling a big painful mess! But I agree, nurses are the worst patients! In rehab I seem to get a lot of nurses both working and retired, and most are definitely NOT the best patients!

I'm glad things have worked out for you, Lena

Really hate that just because my BMI is just over 38 that I have to have a specific comorbidity for my insurance to pay. I have plenty of health problems but not directly linked to my weight. My insurance recognizes even a couple less than some insurances. Like 5 pounds or so and I will be a hair under 40 and will be ok per the insurance coordinator at the clinic. However my insurance apparently does not require the 5% loss while I go through the 6 month pre-surgical program. So basically I have decided to stop trying to lose for now and eat the way I had been. I figure if I can eat lots of salty crap before I weigh in I could squeak by, but for 6 months? I have no doubt that if I continue as I am without dieting I can reach 40 but it seems so stupid I have to gain to lose! I know if I tried I could lose a little weight on my own but doubt I could get below 35 and keep it off! I feel strongly that the band is the tool I need in my weight loss journey but I feel I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I am scheduled for an eval at a sleep clinic but not until the end of November! If I do get dx with OSA I can try and lose the few pounds before surgery. But who knows. I'm seriously considering doing the Mexico thing but not sure anyone here would do the fills. Plus if anything goes wrong I'm a wee bit screwed. I just wish I could keep weight off once I lose. But ever since the early 90's I keep gaining. I managed to lose a great deal of weight around 2001 or so but over the next several years gained most of it back. This is getting me down. I need clothes so badly and can't find what I want in a size that fits. :/ Am I nuts? Has anyone ever felt this way? Has anyone gained a few pounds just to qualify? I really need some support.

Fellow nurses.....I am looking for some scrubs in my size and having a hard time finding things that feel comfortable to me. The cute stylish scrubs are typically fit for "junior" plus sizes which are big, yes, but don't do as much to accommodate my baby-bithin' hips What I have now are draw string with side pockets (not the unisex kind) which are nice because you can loosen or tighten the string....but find that that ride high in the front and low in the back...esp when I am sitting. I am in a 2x and to get into something more comfortable in that particular style I am having to go up a size, and even then it's not great! Do you have specific brands that you feel fit plus size well? Where do you buy them?

Well, while the Voltaren is absorbed some into your system, it is still less than oral NSAIDS. Best bet is just to run it by your doctor to be sure. If he would like you to stop it, I use Arnica gel. I don't believe it has that same effect, of course it doesn't work quite as well either haha! Then there's also stuff like icy hot in a pinch. Or ask your doc about trying Lidoderm Patches if you haven't already tried those. Seems they work better on knees than other areas, so it may be helpful for you. Good luck!

TMI: I've struggled with this a while but it occurred to me I can ask for imput here. When I am active (at work, the gym) I sweat so bad in my groin, underwear gets wet and it smells (duh, it's sweat lol!) I've tried pads which helps a little but doesn't cover the whole areas I sweat! I use powder but it only freshens doesn't stop the sweating, and besides, I don't carry it around with me! So my question is, for anyone else who may deal with this, do you have any suggestions short of changing my underwear 5 times a day (haha)?!

I called my PCP today to see about getting eval for a sleep study (waiting for a call back, might end up being tomorrow). My labs all came back normal re: other comorbidities and I am not hypertensive.

GERD actually is considered a comorbidity but just not for my insurance company. DJD is a comorbidity for a lot of companies, but not mine. Of course they don't consider RA as obesity related since it's autoimmune, but all I know is that if I weighed less I would definitely feel less pain! I left a message with my PCP today to ask for a referral for a sleep study. That's the only other thing my insurance will cover that I haven't been tested for. It's unclear if I even have symptoms because my husband has severe sleep apnea and uses CPAP which is kind of noisy, plus my pug bunks with us and he definitely snores...loudly! LOL But I agree-----stupid insurance companies! Argh! I know it would help my pain so much which would allow me to decrease some of my *expensive* meds! Oh well..........apparently, while my insurance company *does* require going through the weight loss program they don't require the 5% weight loss. So it'll be a fine line!

Hi, I'm Heather. I work on a Rehab Unit in a nursing home, short term stay s/p joint surgeries, falls/fx, s/p CVA and general reconditioning. Its a 20 bed unit (soon to be 25 beds come next month). I'm an evening shift RN on the floor. I am just starting the process to get banded. I am at the border line for whether or not my insurance will cover and don't even have my seminar until next month. I'll be seeing Dr O'Malley here in Rochester NY, a leader in the area. If I fall into where my insurance won't pay, I am considering doing self pay in Mexico. Other stuff about me, well I am married and have a 17 yr old step son, and 2 boys age 20 and 23. My oldest and his wife live with us with my 6 month old grandson, and my 20 yr old lives here while he goes to comm college. I have rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, GERD and bipolar type 2 (unfortunately for all those dx none are considered co-morbidities for my insurance, naturally! It's nice to know there are other nurses here!

I don't see where the nursing forum is here?

I'm a nurse too I'm just at the beginning of my journey, though. I go to my seminar next month. I'm borderline at best for my BMI but thinking positively that my insurance will cover.....would be nice to have support from my fellow nurses:)

I signed up for the seminar today (it's not til 9/27) after a couple days of stress when I couldn't even get registered because I don't have the textbook co-morbidities. When I talked to their insurance coordinator I accidentally transposed a couple numbers in my weight (I do that with numbers all the time!) so was able to get through the door. Who knows what will happen once I get there, as it stand now my BMI is just a shade over 38. I'm getting tests for co-morbidities so who knows what that will bring......but being unsure about it all can be very frustrating! Good luck to you! Seems like you've had a long time of it too, hopefully things will work out this time!

LOL! Yeah, I am pretty polite......not the most assertive person! When I try to be more direct it is often because I'm so mad, but when I lose my temper I sometimes start to cry which never works haha! Anyhoo....... The insurance coordinator called me back today. I swear I didn't do it on purpose, but when she asked my height and weight she said "Well, you're BMI is 40 so you should be ok". I'm like, ummmmm, I thought it wasn't? She said it was 39.8 but that would count as being 40. I know it's just a hair over 38 and I realized I must have told her something wrong, but decided to let it slide. So after we talked I figured out what I must have told her to get a result of 38.8 and called to make an appointment, and told her that. I know that's bad, but I just wanted to get in the door. So I am registered for a class September 27th. It will probably be a waste of time but ya never know.

I don't think insurance will cover if your BMI is less than 35, even with comorbidities. Don't know about private pay though! BTW, try posting this as a separate new topic, you'd likely get more responses, since this is tacked on the end of my post it might not get seen

Oy. Called the surgeon's office. The woman who answers the phone strikes me as a gatekeeper who doesn't necessarily know the score. She didn't even know if they had an insurance coordinator. She did "go and check" and transfer me to someone, but that person didn't answer. I left a message but didn't hear back. Will have to try again tomorrow.