WLSResources/ClothingExch

There is no hospital requirement for an adult to be accompanied to the hospital. U.S. hospitals require an escort upon discharge, however. They also prefer wheeling you to the inside of the front door for your departure. This is not so much because they care about the patient who is leaving as it is about satisfying requirements of their insurance policies. They don't want someone who has been under anesthesia falling on the way out and possibly suing. I know nothing about hospitals in other countries.

@@Jazzzyjay, you're terrific and -- poof!, a son! Was he such an easy delivery the first time around?

Keep us up on your planning.

@@austrolatrishy wrote "Tell me it's worth it. I'm 5'5" and weigh 302 pounds. I have four babies, I want to live to watch them grow up. My fear is holding me back a little bit. Part of me is determined to do whatever it takes. I just need to convince the other part."

Uh-uh, no. It's up to you to determine whether it's worth it. I'll give you two pointers:

1. The answer is immediately above; and;

2. Get rid of the fractions. Commit either way. Which will it be?

It sounds to me as though you're not so much concerned with possible problems after surgery, but of making a commitment. Don't over think it.

You're such a good tatele.

I can't guess what size you might order, as there's no way to know what your rate of loss will be or how long stalls may last. Alas, there's no sleeve owners' manual, not to mention that there's no guarantee of how diligent you'll be. You're probably making faces at me just about now, but I believe in reality.

Check with the shop now on whether they'll be able to reorder in a significantly smaller size when you're ready to begin fittings. See what you can get them to agree on with regard to an even exchange if the size you order this month ends up beyond altering. Better yet, explain the situation, leaving a solution open, then see what they come up with. They know what's really real in terms of ordering these dresses.

Whew! What a relief to click in here and see that you're talking about clothes. The topic title had me worried that we were breaking up.

Big clothes, big fire. Hot times. In your yard, I mean.

@@Angelica Marti, yes, that's why the balloon is suspicious to people who have surgery. It's no different from all the times we've all lost weight with no appliances and then regained.

Congratulations, @@Alex Brecher. Not a shark in view and before long we'll be saying "I knew him when..."

I heard and met people who had the bypass and after lose all the weight and the time was up they gained again all the weight!

The people you've heard about and have met regained weight because they chose to eat poorly. They chose to eat the foods and the amounts of food that cause weight-gain. It is possible to gain weight after any of the surgery options. Maintaining weight loss requires changed eating habits forever. There is no magic about it.

I'm a tough cookie. But it's just so heartbreaking that I am absolutely alone in this world.

BTW...How do you even make friends at 40?

surgeon told me she won't do my surgery unless I have someone to look after me... I'm feeling so sad that I don't have a soul that will help me. I'll lie to her if I have to. Please don't judge... But it's just so heartbreaking that I am absolutely alone in this world.

BTW...How do you even make friends at 40?

It sounds as though you're living some distance from family, yes? At the very least, you'll need someone to spring you from the hospital because of its insurance policy. You've been given some good suggestions for getting help for a day or so. You won't really need someone around 24 hours a day and it may be easier to arrange to have someone stop by a few times in case you do need help with something. (It's when it hurts to bend because of fresh incisions that we realize how many times a day we drop things, for one.)

As to the rest, there is nothing to judge. Life happens and sometimes we're not aware of exactly what's happening. By choosing to have surgery, you should be learning that you're capable of making significant changes. Try not to put energy toward feeling sad for yourself. Use the energy toward the changes. Keep the "tough cookie" part in mind.

Making friends at 40 is pretty much the same as at five and after 60. It just takes a little more effort and openness. I think a great start is to put yourself in settings that matter to you -- volunteer work, classes in subjects that truly interest you, a job... Most important, there are people there. Just as important, you have something in common. Casual conversation can lead to coffee and beyond. A couple of close friendships may evolve along with some good connections that will be less intimate.

Much as I hate to speak for others, good, bad or neutral, you have us. We're on paper, but we count and we mean it.

I've never heard of it, but all things are possible. If the band in fact came undone and is floating, you probably should be glad that you haven't been in pain. All you can do is wait for the next step. Best wishes to you for not such bad news.

P.S. Are you sure your son didn't appear with an odd-looking object clutched in his tiny hand?

@@Bufflehead is on to something and I'd like to suggest a variation. Certainly participate for your own benefit and the fun and possibly for the benefit of the larger world. Propose up front that, if you win, the $1000 be donated to charity, perhaps one that works in the area of children's health or medical research of some sort. Let the company make the donation directly to the charity of your choice so that you don't appear to be angling for the tax deduction.

It's a shame that you're feeling it so much. Only your doctor can tell you whether she/he will give you a new scrip. If all goes well, you'll feel better by the time of your appt. Or you can call now and have the service relay your request.

I'm not sure whether it's an individual surgeon's or the facility's insurance affiliations that matter, but I'd think the surgeon was/is still affiliated with your plan. If, however, it turns out that your follow-up care won't be covered by our plan, talk to the surgeon about setting an affordable fee for you. It's his/her fee, therefore, he/she can change it any time. From what I've seen, lots of articles recommend that patients speak to their doctors about this regardless of the field of medicine.

I was put under for my egd and had all of my piercings in as is.

I repeat: Call your surgery practice to get the answer to your question. There's no point in going back and forth with people here, as none of us is involved in deciding your surgeon's requirements and limits. You asked a question and don't like the answers you're getting.

@@SharBear617 is correct. I'd completely forgotten about anesthesia. The gauge won't be permitted. Anything that can move or be popped out of position or anything else is a potential danger. If your tongue piercing does begin to close or closes all the way, you'd have to get repierced later on. I expect that, if you refuse to go into surgery with nothing in your tongue, you won't have surgery.

Call your surgeon's office and find out for sure.

I knew someone would come along with a better idea. It looks like @@O-Town Body Rock is one of them.

Not even my ears are pierced, but I'd think that the tongue ring has to come out as a precaution against fate. I'd also think you can put it back once you're out of the recovery room. That should be a total of three hours max, right, folks?

You can ask someone at your surgery practice in advance so that you have time to decide a substitute of necessary. I remember that decades ago, it was common to see girls whose ears had just been pierced with thread in the hole and tied to keep it from being pulled through. Maybe dental floss or thread for you? Whatever you'd use would have to be soft/unbiteable/unbreakable..

@@Monigirl76

Now that you've gotten your serious answers, I'm starting over with my serious answer to your title question: I hope so.

I love this whole thread!

Hayley, dahlink, this is kismet -- we both like string cheese!

@@theantichick @@rlinda72 -- I will be calling the facility after the weekend to speak with an official. If the response assures me, in words and attitude, that steps will be taken, I'll drop it. If it seems indifferent (which I'm not expecting), then I'll contact HIPAA. What I'd like to hear goes beyond "We'll certainly tell staff to be more careful." "We'll have the hands-on staff double-check of each other before packages are sealed for mailing." I'll make the suggestion if necessary.

@@bayougirlmrsc -- This isn't a matter of vengeance and retribution. It began with human error, not acceptable, but certainly not malicious. There 's no call for threats or blackmail. It's about my wish to see that the privacy of all is protected as is proper and provided by law. It's about a cooperative effort. Never for a moment have I doubted that I will receive my records in the time I was told at first.

My scale tells me everything except the numerical value under penalty of debatterization. Been having a rough time this past week, but hope and determination live.

@@jtraub12 -- The woman I spoke to about the error is on the front line -- taking calls and processing requests, et al. She was the one I made the request to. I'm not going to destroy anything until after I speak with a company official. Asking me to shred was the right thing for the privacy of the person whose records I received; I have no interest in reading or viewing them.

Come to think of it, during the second call I wasn't asked whose records I did get. This certainly needs to be reported because that person is waiting for them.

Thanks, all.

@ -- If nothing else, you have an honest face and for that reason alone, I believe the story of your mind.

@ -- I've been going back and forth, when I've thought of it, since opening this topic. I will at the least call top mgmt of the radiology facility. It was never my intention to shred the other person's written report or CD before deciding my action and its resolution. I realize that my materials haven't been sent anywhere, but I am concerned that the stranger's were. It turns out that the program needed to view the CD is a free download available to anyone. Since I'm confident the CD can't be mine (the timing makes it so), I have no interest in it; I wouldn't be sure of what I"d be looking at anyway.

@@john925 -- You funny, but I'd have expected something from The Wizard of Oz, given how your beautiful wickedness is melting.

@@Nicetomeetyou 82 -- I don't know what you mean by filing with HIPAA getting messy and nasty, but such things don't phase me. It's too bad that you had a bad experience. You're smart about picking up in person. I would if the place were in the city rather than a rough part of another borough. They had a temp location nearby or I wouldn't have gone to them.