circa

This went well. I got the answers I wanted except a surgery date haha. This could be not until August but here's the kicker - I got laid off from my job which means I'm down to one insurance ( not so bad) but I don't know if I can collect unemployment due to the fact that there's a restriction that you have to be in the state of michigan for the last 18 months or something. Anyway - I'm working this out - I've only been here like 15 months *grr* The layoff is temporary - but oh wouldn't it be nice to have that time to recover from the surgery and return to work rested and not having used any vacation time haha

This went well. I got the answers I wanted except a surgery date haha. This could be not until August but here's the kicker - I got laid off from my job which means I'm down to one insurance ( not so bad) but I don't know if I can collect unemployment due to the fact that there's a restriction that you have to be in the state of michigan for the last 18 months or something. Anyway - I'm working this out - I've only been here like 15 months *grr* The layoff is temporary - but oh wouldn't it be nice to have that time to recover from the surgery and return to work rested and not having used any vacation time haha

After speaking to a surgeon that does all 4 operations, he said he hasn't really had that many patients that have that much trouble with the band - he said his patients have had less problems with the realize vs. the lap band - He said BUT! He hasn't done all the band surgeries in the world, so he has no way of knowing how many problems that there are. He said its very important to go to support groups, check out forums like this and get people's experiences. They are the people that know the real issues you'll potentially face. He doesn't have a band or any other WLS so he can't tell you exactly what you're going to go through. He can only tell you his patients experiences. He was very open about talking to others that have had the surgery. I'm so very fortunate to have found the forum on sleeves - I wasn't even considering it as an option before finding it. I was pretty well set on the band. I'm so grateful for the information.

Check with your PCP. I had this done with mine a few years back Here's a good article too http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/534066

Meeting with Surgeon #2 tomorrow - and if things go well, I think he'll be my choice. Mainly because its a 3 hour trip each way to Surgeon #1 and I have 4 different days I have to go down there, potentially 5, BEFORE surgery. That's a lot of days off work before even having the surgery - doesn't leave me time off to actually HAVE the surgery. Considering Surgeon #2 actually trained Surgeon #1 - I think that bodes well for it going well. I'm excited to meet him - I've heard nothing but great things about him. They're combining 3 of my appointments into tomorrow, whereas the other place could only do one each visit - So I'll have this visit, one more quick one I can do on my lunch hour, then surgery if things go the way they should. Hopefully it'll move right along.

Meeting with Surgeon #2 tomorrow - and if things go well, I think he'll be my choice. Mainly because its a 3 hour trip each way to Surgeon #1 and I have 4 different days I have to go down there, potentially 5, BEFORE surgery. That's a lot of days off work before even having the surgery - doesn't leave me time off to actually HAVE the surgery. Considering Surgeon #2 actually trained Surgeon #1 - I think that bodes well for it going well. I'm excited to meet him - I've heard nothing but great things about him. They're combining 3 of my appointments into tomorrow, whereas the other place could only do one each visit - So I'll have this visit, one more quick one I can do on my lunch hour, then surgery if things go the way they should. Hopefully it'll move right along.

not just hand weights, but ankle weights as well - they're relatively inexpensive and adding those weights to your ankles as well as steeping the incline will help :rolleyes2:

There's no such thing as going to extreme when you're talking about knowing about your own personal health! I have found that out :rolleyes2:

So I met with prospective surgeon #1 - GREAT guy. Very upfront - loves questions and gives all the information he can. He didn't pull any punches and was very frank about what is and is not required and to be expected for each surgery. I do really like him. Oddly enough, he studied under prospective surgeon #2. Said he learned a lot from Dr. Kam (second prospective surgeon). So I'm in good shape, either way.

So I met with prospective surgeon #1 - GREAT guy. Very upfront - loves questions and gives all the information he can. He didn't pull any punches and was very frank about what is and is not required and to be expected for each surgery. I do really like him. Oddly enough, he studied under prospective surgeon #2. Said he learned a lot from Dr. Kam (second prospective surgeon). So I'm in good shape, either way.

I'm so very tired. I'm ill right now, so that doesn't help - but it makes the reality of actually having health again seem attainable. Just as I'll get over this cold/flu/infection, I'll recover from the health issues that my weight has caused me. Just like I'm on a daily basis recovering from the horrible poisoning that my body endured from the toxic metals. I know that I can do this. While I've been too sick to do much more than drag my butt out of bed and slump into the chair in my office all week (hey - I made it TO work, what more do they want from me? lol) I haven't gotten to that exercise I do really long for. I wanted to start slow - and I will - as soon as I can move without feeling dizzy and nauseous My doctor said it was just "the crud" - midwestern for "whatever's going around at the time". Codeine for the cough, ibuprofein for the irritation in the throat, OTC cold/sinus meds and sleep. lots of sleep. I like the codeine - makes the cough stop for the most part. I get some sleep. It makes me all fuzzy tho so hard to take during the day and be productive heh.

I'm so very tired. I'm ill right now, so that doesn't help - but it makes the reality of actually having health again seem attainable. Just as I'll get over this cold/flu/infection, I'll recover from the health issues that my weight has caused me. Just like I'm on a daily basis recovering from the horrible poisoning that my body endured from the toxic metals. I know that I can do this. While I've been too sick to do much more than drag my butt out of bed and slump into the chair in my office all week (hey - I made it TO work, what more do they want from me? lol) I haven't gotten to that exercise I do really long for. I wanted to start slow - and I will - as soon as I can move without feeling dizzy and nauseous :ohmy: My doctor said it was just "the crud" - midwestern for "whatever's going around at the time". Codeine for the cough, ibuprofein for the irritation in the throat, OTC cold/sinus meds and sleep. lots of sleep. I like the codeine - makes the cough stop for the most part. I get some sleep. It makes me all fuzzy tho so hard to take during the day and be productive heh.

good idea! insurance companies ARE telling us all to be more proactive about our health concerns to keep our premiums down! haha! I wish I coulda had it done as a precautionary measure before I got run through the ringer!

In just 5 days I'll be meeting with another surgical office regarding my surgery. I'm hoping the, what I not-so-affectionately-refer-to-as "the plague" is gone by then. I popped in to my PCP today and she said its definitely viral and had to run its course. She gave me some stuff to help manage the symptoms. I've already had this for about 5 days. If I don't start to turn the corner by Wednesday AM, I'll insist on an antibiotic, because it'll obviously not be viral if its taking that long. In just 10 days, I have my surgical consult here with Dr. Kam. Its movin' and shakin! I weighed in at the doctor's office today - had my shoes on this time so that's a couple pounds and I'm very very bloaty from TOM but the scale read up 8.5 lbs. But its nothing for me to even bloat that much. I'll check again soon tho. I shouldn't have actually gained anything that isn't TOM related.

In just 5 days I'll be meeting with another surgical office regarding my surgery. I'm hoping the, what I not-so-affectionately-refer-to-as "the plague" is gone by then. I popped in to my PCP today and she said its definitely viral and had to run its course. She gave me some stuff to help manage the symptoms. I've already had this for about 5 days. If I don't start to turn the corner by Wednesday AM, I'll insist on an antibiotic, because it'll obviously not be viral if its taking that long. In just 10 days, I have my surgical consult here with Dr. Kam. Its movin' and shakin! I weighed in at the doctor's office today - had my shoes on this time so that's a couple pounds and I'm very very bloaty from TOM but the scale read up 8.5 lbs. But its nothing for me to even bloat that much. I'll check again soon tho. I shouldn't have actually gained anything that isn't TOM related.