princess_n_thep

Awwwwwww geez, I think this is a post to do my famous BOOTY SHAKIN DANCE for Trish... ok, here goes... ((working up to it)) ((starting to get the beat)) ((feelin a lil shakin)) woooooo hoooooo, it's here! (( DOIN THE BOOTY SHAKIN DANCE FOR TRISH GETTING HER BAND!!!!!))

Pick a room in your house and PAINT! Not only is it a great update for a dull room but it is low cost and really gets your mind off of it.

What a nice thing to be able to do for your mom. My mom still pays for a lot of lunch dates and such but I know that when the time comes and I am able to I will do the same that you do. What a good girl you are!

I would sooo do this with you Penni but alas, I am broke from my recent insertion of the band. Maybe next year I will join you? I would love to do this.

www.wishcenter.org has a fill program for bandsters that were banded out of the country and have trouble finding fill doctors. Also, I would imagine that you can get fills in Mexico as well. What type of band do you have? keep up the good work and the good attitude!!

Oh Kathy, I hope things go well for you. I am so sorry you have to go through this. I know how excited you have been leading up to the band! Please take care and let us know how you are doing soon!

You have to contact each WISH center individually. The price can vary depending on location. They do have a band program for fills for those that are not banded by wish surgeons or in other countries and offer support groups, nutritionists and some follow up care. The site is: www.wishcenter.org and the places/contact #'s are: Arizona 866.597.9474 Illinois 800.646.4774 Ohio 888.854.9474 Texas 888.646.9474 Washington 877.291.9474 Locations are: Tempe, AZ Downers Grove, IL Springboro, OH San Antonio TX Renton, WA you must also meet their criteria for admission to the program (basically be band healthy and no problems/complications and be minimum of 6 weeks post op) Hope this helps!

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! We are only as strong as our past. You CAN do this, you WILL do this, you MUST do this!

What a great thread! And it offers such an insight to obesity in general and how people think. I find myself rethinking some ideas I had now knowing the severe obese individuals actually have a loathing toward other severe obese individuals. The nitty gritty feelings of this thread are awesome. Thank you for starting it so people can talk in real self actualization and reflect honestly about themselves! ME: I don't have any type of "hatred" towards anyone fat but what I do have is pity. I find myself saying "oh that poor poor woman (or man)" or "his/her life must be soooo hard". I have so much pity and sympathy for someone who is severely morbidly obese that I look at them and feel like crying FOR them! I would never in a million years ever make fun of someone for their obesity or ridicule them but I have the deepest sympathy and regret for them. I know that this is not fair for them and they do not necessarily want "pity" rather than understanding for their "condition". Sometimes I have to catch myself because I want to help help help. Like picking up an item they drop so they don't have to bend over. I know they must see it in my eyes and even for that I am sorry for. The pain, the embarrassment, the anguish, the sorrow, the depression, the self loathing..... is all I think about. I know I shouldn't but I do many times. Again, thanks for this thread.

Warning: Some tough love coming : I was a BMI of 33.7 and insurance carriers probably wouldn't have even come close to touching me and I didn't even TRY. I self paid. Why spin my wheels anyway? Trying to get insurance to pay for it didn't even really cross my mind. If it is something you want, just get a personal loan or take equity on your house and get it. Don't get frustrated with the insurance issues. The cost of the surgery is the same as a used car, but you get this car for the rest of your life! Plus, the more people use insurance through "creative recomendations" the more we (the public) pay for it in the long run in higher premiums and copays. Gaining 60 lbs on purpose is absurd! What if you cause more damage to your body that you think? What if you damage a knee and also need knee replacement after gaining all that weight? What if you slip a disc in your back from gaining all that weight? The what if's are too complicated to fathom someone purposely gaining weight just to get WLS insurance paid. I have known people that have sold their newer cars and are driving a 89 escort to pay for this. Or having big garage sales, creative savings accounts, selling on ebay. Whatever, to help pay for it. I know I had $200 each paycheck direct deposited into a special account just to help pay for this. It is definitely tight, but will only be tight for a year or two untill it is paid. I am/was a low BMI of 33.7 and I must admit that I think of it more as a cosmetic treatment (in my case) rather than a life saving surgery. Me losing 75 lbs is not going to save my life. I compare it more to getting a boob job or my nose done. I wouldn't try to get insurance to pay for that either. I will be totally honest in that (for me) I did this more for self esteem and the actual weight loss tool rather than to save myself from any comorbidities. Sure I could have done it myself with exercise and dieting but would bounce back and not be able to keep it off. Been there, done that several times. I applaud you for recognizing your overweight problem at a 33.9 rather than waiting until you are a 45 or above and suddenly realizing... shit, i need help. I think that in itself is commendable. Now I am definitely not saying that severe morbid obesity people should not get to use insurance. Everyone has different histories and pasts and stories. I am just saying that I am against any creative writing to get insurance carriers to pay for a surgery that is more cosmetic than it is life saving or altering. You may "feel" it is life saving or eventually would be, but it isn't. Aching bones, joints, swelling ankles, depression, shortness of breath with exertion are all things that you will not die from and will stop once you lose the little amount of weight. I have known those that probably would have died within a year had they not had the surgery because of serious comorbidities. I think insurance should be reserved for them. While I am ranting I also feel that any cosmetic surgery should be covered individually and not by insurance. Hanging skin or boobies, again, is not life threatening and is not going to kill you. If someone wants to feel better about themselves physically, they should be paying for it. Just my opinion of course. I may be taking a hard stance on this but as a lower BMI bandster I think I have the right to speak out for the other side of the view. Rather than thinking that it is unfair for them not to cover me, I understood why they didn't. Of course as a reminder/disclaimer: I may have posted strong opinions but in no way am I attacking anyone personally, just posting MY opinion only. Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. Take what I say with a grain of salt and just let it sit in the back of your mind as just one persons opinion.

I didn't poop for almost a week on the clear liquid phase, but I guess that is normal. Now that I am on solids, I poop normaly as I always did, about once every other day. I pee a lot more with all the Water I am pumping in though. I was also a very "windy" person and hubby calls me them "trucker farts". But I don't have any extra gas other than my normal ones I have always had. I don't have any rumbling tummy or gurgling noises either. Maybe this will change after my fill, I don't know yet. Another topic I think is important to not is a woman's period or "time of month". I was about 3 weeks late (and am never late) after I had the surgery. I kept waiting and waiting and nothing. I knew I wasn't pregnant (first you have to have sex for that and second I would of had to have my tubes untied). Other bandsters told me they had the same issues that they were expecting their periods right after surgery and it was WAY late. Also a note... it is veryyyyy heavy and scared the crap out of me to bleed so much! Sorry, but again, important to say in case others are wondering or concerned.

Try a sippy cup for toddlers too! maybe that may help with the amount you are taking at once. I loved my sippy cup for 2 weeks! I live in Arizona so Water is essential for me (because I am banded now it is even more important) For me, I know I am not getting enough water when... 1. I am not peeing often or at all 2. When I do pee it is VERY yellow and strong 3. I feel a cramp in my lower left hip (kidney I think but who knows, it is my sign lol) 4. I turn a bit "yellowish" in the skin if I am really bad and my skin seems to be dryer and needs more moisturizer. 5. Eyes seem dry or tears won't fall if I cry. (also get some dark circles and eyes seem to sink a bit if it is really bad) I found a really good site talking about dehydration http://heartspring.net/symptoms_of_dehydration.html or http://rehydrate.org/faq/what_are_the_symptoms_of_dehydration.htm

VAL, I am soooooo glad you are doing better. I was wondering how you were doing! Glad to see you got everything straighted out and are doing wonderfully! Now you can truly start your journey without fear or hesitations knowing the the best is yet to come!

lmao, she said just kidding. She knows what it is. (J/K = just kidding)

Just freaking great!!!!! Hubby wants to go to the Southwestern Beer and Picnic Festival in Scottsdale Arizona this week. Grrrrr, 3 weeks banded and he wants me to watch him taste test all kinds of beer and food... while I do what? ((sigh)) but he is darn good to me, so I guess I will just go for the exercise of walking around. (they also have a Absolut Vodka taste testing tent there, is that okay for bandsters?) Good news is that the food tasting are very small portions. Bad news is that if I get sick I won't really know what did it. Oh, who am I kidding? I am eating whatever right now with no issues at all. Man, that first fill can't come fast enough!

Don't blame her everyone... she is canadian. J/K hee hee hee!!!

Although I know I definitely need a fill I can tell you that if I fly all the way to Mexico next month for them to tell me to wait, I am going to be TICKED OFF!! But I don't think this will happen since I can eat like a horse right now.

Well if your sister got it approved through the same insurance I bet you will too! I guess we will just think positive happy thoughts till the official letter comes to tell you "GO AHEAD GIRL"!!

Wow, I am sorry you have such tough days Kathy. How much fluid are you getting in at all? Starting to sound like for a week you haven't gotten much in at all and may need some IV fluids? Wow, and I thought I had it rough because I was whining about when i could eat more filling meals. I hope you feel better soon!

So you haven't been approved yet and you are doing all the pre required tests? What if they don't approve you? Are you paying for all the tests yourself? Just being nosey, sorry.

Penni, why not bring them to Vegas???

Who is the surgeon paula?

Call the phone company and ask for a private call block. This does not allow private calls to your house unless they identify their phone # to you. Maybe it is just me but hell, if some guy wants naked pics of me right now I would actually feel flattered because I can barely stand to look at myself! This of course is being said in jest and in no way do I mean to diminish the violation that has occurred. Unfortunately, it is correct. Unless you had done an auto call back or had that caller ID privacy block there is not much they can do (I am a police officer too). My recommendation is to change your curtains to something that is not see through. Also to make sure your doors/windows are locked at night. Most peeping toms will not re offend where it is not easy or available to view. And I don't know if it makes you feel better, but generally voyeuristic style offenders are non violent. I am wondering... whose name is listed in the phone book? You or hubby? That might lend a clue if it was your name. Also, do some of your own detective work to find out who has a nephew home from the war around your neighborhood? If they don't call back, I would chalk it up as a prank and not dwell on it. But it is a terrible thing to imagine so I would just try and assume the best case scenario.

Roxanna has been MIA for a couple of weeks. I have tried to call but no answer. Has anyone talked to her? Is she doing okay?

Awww, Katie! Our thoughts are with you! I hope you have a speedy recovery from band #2! And kudos to the DH for posting!!! Geez, mine doesn't even know my password let alone the site I use! Should I trade him in for a new model? Nah, I think I will keep him as he gets good milage! GET WELL SOON KATIE!!!