piercedqt78

I went for my second opinion today. I am schedualed for a hystorectomy on July 30th. (pending insurance approval) I have tried everything else, and this is my last option so the surgeon says I should have no problem getting approval. I will keep everyone updated. He is going to try to save my right ovary, but there is no guarentee. The surgery has to be open, not lap but I am ok with that too. I just want the pain to stop. 24 more days, and I will be on my way to recovery. I'll check back later. ~Mandy

We have the book reserved and are going to a release party. I got the meet the weasley twins last year, they are soooo nice. My daughter is a total potter junkie and she's only 6. We have read all the books and we have all the movies. I don't think I am taking her to see OOTP in the theater, I think she might be scared, she also had to wait to see GOF at home. She's pretty brave but I would hate for her to start crying and ruin the movie for others. I too believe Dumbledore is really dead and JKR has said that people don't come back from the dead, not even in the magic world. I have me theory, but I'll keep it to myself. I can't wait for the book. ~Mandy

Kat, how is that baby??? I'm starting to really worry about her. Check in when you can. ~Mandy

Well today we disasembled the downstairs bathroom. I have scraped tile, we took apart the vanity, and the over the toilet shelf thingy. All of the carpet, tile and vanity pieces are out for garbage day. My hands hurt, my back hurts but my finished basement will look cool when it's all done. I have to run to the neighbors and feed his cat, and fish. When he gets back he is going to help with the tile and the bathroom remodel. He's a general contractor and great neighbor. They are the first real friends we have made in our little neighborhood. They are close to our age and have 3 small kids, 5,4, and 5 months. The kids play really well together and I get to hold the baby and being around her reminds me why I don't want to have another baby. The diaper bag, playpen, bottles, diapers.....nope not for me anymore. I love Abi to pieces but no more babies for me. I am off to grill some steaks, I earned a good meal today. Steaks on the grill and a nice baked potato. I also have ice cream for dessert....bad I know but I'm having it anyway. Happy and safe 4th everyone. ~Mandy

Serena, where are you? They were in Chicago last night at Ribfest. ~Mandy

Here is a picture of Ann Wilson at a concert in Chicago taken last night....It looks like she has gained all of her weight back. ~Mandy

Ok here is my last Galvani horror story then I'm off to bed. thechattrooper and I were discussing our issues with the office on here and we couldn't remember Galvani's name so we called him "blue eyed asshole". He has really dark skin and freakishly light blue eyes. thechattroopers last visit he informed her that his name was Dr. Galvani, they were READING this site, and following up/spying on their patients. I had to come somewhere for support, when I posted about post-op issues on the yahoo group that they have I was booted from the group for being too negative. I have a hematoma the size of a tennis ball and I was wondering how common that was. ~Mandy

Here is another Hogan/Galvani horror story: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/5-months-later-frustrated-need-new-chicago-doctor-suggestions-10373/

Search, Dr Galvani,and Dr Horgan on here I'm not the only one that had problems with them. I know of at least two other people that had issues there and have gone else where. ~Mandy

I had surgery there 2 years ago with Dr. Horgan, I never had the chance to talk to him prior to surgery as he was behind. Then I didn't see him after surgery. I had complications and had to spend the night. I was admited without being put on a liquid diet, so they brought me meatloaf and dinner rolls 8 hours after surgery. I wasn't given liquid pain meds, first they brought me pills, then I had to wait for the doctor to respond to his pager to prescribe liquids and liquid pain meds. I was finally discharged the next afternoon (by a med student, not my surgeon). A week later I went to the office for my post-op appointment and still no surgeon, now I am dealing with the "fellow" Dr Galvani, he is the new head surgeon at the bariactric dept there. He had an attitude problem with me when I asked what size my band was I was told that I didn't need to worry about it unless I was planning to do my own fills. I raised hell and a nurse looked at my surgical notes and told me what size/kind of band I had. Then Dr. Galvani told me that I should be working out already (7 days post-op). I left in tears. I called several days later to schedual a fill as I knew it would take a fews weeks to get an appointment. I was told I had to self pay for fills and submit myself for reimbursement with my insurance company. My ins paid 100% for my band. I was told fills were at 900 north michigan ave only. I ageed and asked if I could make an appointment with dr. horgan, the girl actually laughed at me. He didn't do fills. (he also taught dr. galvani, so I'm going to guess that he won't do fills either) I would have to see an associate for fills (nurse? PA? I'm not sure) I hung up and started calling around, I refused to pay for fills when I had insurance coverage. My insurance does cover my fills, I pay a $15 co-pay if they are done blind and nothing if done under fluro (the hospital bills as diagnostic). Overall, I was treated poorly by the previous surgeon, and Dr Galvani as well. I hate to think of how to treats people now that he is the boss. He was a total jackass/power trip/god-complex moron as the "fellow" being the boss I'm sure he is worse. ~Mandy

That is a nice one. I like it. Maybe a christmas gift? Or, hey I lost 50 pounds now I'm buying myself a gift type deal? ~Mandy

I had surgery at UIC and was very unhappy there, that's why I went somewhere else for aftercare. ~Mandy

When I was heavy I never felt like people thought I was stupid. I think people look at me differently now, I think they thought I was more self-consious then. They were more likely to say mean or rude things to me then. I guess now that I am "normal" they feel I deserve respect....don't know but that's how I feel. ~Mandy

I have both. I wear the "fancy" one when we go out. (rarely) I also have a plain silver one. I really wanted one with the medical symbol in a fun color, but they only came in red or silver. I chose the red one. ~Mandy

I forgot, here is the number 815-723-8571 ~Mandy

Did you try Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet? I see Dr. Lahmann there, the whole group is great, I'm not sure what insurance they accept or not but it's worth a call. ~Mandy

Sherry, being too tight stops weight loss. You resort to higher calorie safe foods and then weight loss stops. Also it's harder to get protein in when the band is too tight. GO for a small unfill, you will feel like a new person if you do. ~Mandy

They totally take care of us. I have a special needs child and they always make sure she is comfortable. I also have a mushroom allergy and they make sure I am safe eating whatever I order. The chef comes out and talks to me about my choices and how they are prepared. If you need something while there, ask they will usually make sure you are accomadated. I forgot my card and my mom faxed it to me, they even took a faxed copy. ~Mandy

Also remember that the skin that they remove will take off a few pounds. I was told to expect anywhere from 8-12 pounds of skin to be removed. ~Mandy

Here is a site will all the menus for Disney restaurants Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Vacation Information Guide - WDW Planning Guide - Walt Disney World it has prices, and copies of menus. I am there a few weeks a year, feel free to ask me any questions you may have. I also write a food column for a Disney page each week. Make sure you bring your band card with you, they will let you pay kids price at buffets and order off the kids menu too. Disney is better than most theme parks for healthy foods. You can get grilled chicken, at most quick service places, they also have wraps, and a healthy kids menu in place at each place. They offer carrots in place of fries, they have no sugar added apple sauce and most places have a sugar free dessert too. ~Mandy

Here is link all about the test that they did pre-band for me, it checks the esophagus function and also that little flappy thing. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Esophageal manometry It's not comfortable but it's doable. ~Mandy

Sherry, I wish I was getting tattooed today. I got some work done just over a week ago and it's almost healed. I need at least one more session to finish it and I really want it done for Disney. I am going to call my guy and see if I can get in again next week. (the work will not be on the same area) I also need to update my pictures, I feel smaller today LOL!! ~Mandy

Lee4love1, I have been following this case and have a question for you. I was under the impression that roid rage was a short term thing, an hour or so at most. Does the rage last 2 or 3 days at a time? Seems like Benoit planned this out very well. The wife was bound and stangled, with a bible near her head, and there were signs that she fought back. The son was also strangled, in his bed, they are guessing he was strangled with a choke hold as there were no marks on him. (did benoit tell him they were playing and then just not let go? the son had mental and physcial disablites, he had fragile x syndrome and was also dwarfed) Then Benoit was found hung from a weight bench. Both the wife and son had bibles with their bodies. That also seems strange for roid rage. What is your opinion, do you think it was a case of rage or a case of homicidal maniac? ~Mandy

Call the doctor or pharmacy and ask them. I believe those are time released. ~Mandy

My daughter took seroquel and gained some weight also (she is 6 and bipolar). She is on topamax and it works great for her, and she lost all the extra weight when we stopped the seroquel. She also takes abilify, it's great for her. No weird side effects. ~Mandy