LynneB

I am also totally addicted to horses! Since I cant ride right now, my 14 yr old son (the one who picked our name) and I volunteer at a ranch called S.M.A.R.T. Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy. We do all the work involved in caring for the 17 horses and we lead the horses for disabled/special needs children and adults for therapy lessons. It is so rewarding, we just love it out there! I cant wait to be able to ride again!!!

Do banders need to take Biotin? The GNC guy was an ex RN who specialized in post op recovery mainly for RNY patients. Yesterday I bought the chromium picolinate and isopure RTD & some vanilla cake flavored protein mix which is the most delish protein I have EVER tried & he said I should be taking niotin to prevent hair loss after surgery. I thought plenty of protein would prevent hair loss...do I really need biotin too? Lord knows I have the thinnest hair in the world (ok maybe not in the world..but compared to when I was younger.....)& I shed like a dog from hypothyroid & I cant afford to lose anymore! The chromium picolinate definately helps curb the hunger, I love it! Was there something else in addition to it that I thought I remembered seeing somewhere on here? Since losing 4 lbs over the weekend from the flu, I started a "modified" pre op diet early since my appetite was diminished from vomiting, I wanted to keep it that way, not start eating again just to start starving myself in 2 weeks when I start my real pre op 10 day. So far so good, I am not hungry at all... yesterday I had carnation instant breakfast, a vanilla cake protein shake, and a ceasar side salad from wendys that I only ate 1/2 of & tons of fruit 2o water. today so far, carnation instant brkfst, another shake for snack, bought a chef salad from publix at lunch but havent been hungry enough to touch it yet. & water of course! Hopefully it will stay this easy till April 11th!! I have lost 5 lbs since I got sick on Saturday night!

my Dr's 10 pre op diet plan Breakfast: Protein shake and 8oz yogurt snack: coffe or tea w/ SF sweetener, 1 cup of milk per day as one of 3 dairy servings, diet snapple, diet soda or crystal light lunch: 1 cup V-8 juice (regular not splash or chunky), 1/2 cup cottage cheese, chicken broth, SF popsicle & SF beverage snack: Protein Shake dinner: 1 can low sodium broth based Soup, not chunky or mega noodle just normal veggie or campbells chicken noodle, SF Jello, SF fudgesicle bedtime snack: tea or decaf coffee w/ SF sweetener Thats my 10 day pre op I have to follow, supposedly he says most patients lose 10-15lbs. Good luck!! So sorry about your grandma!

Way to go Tom!!! I knew you could do it!! Remember, we are all in this together (sorry High School Musicalish) but its true. Even though I sm not banded yet, this forum has helped me thru some really tough stuff in the process! Bunch of awesome ppl on here!!

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/post-op-checklists-things-have-before-surgery-14814/ benadryl cream for itching around incisions wet wipes (for toilet tissue) better than bouillion (publix) liquid tylenol chewable Vitamins pill crusher SF hot cocoa cough/throat drops egg white powder carnation instant Breakfast SF jello/popsicles gauze pads/tape yogurt applesauce crystal light colace stool softener food scale sports bottle small disposable med cups (for liquid pain meds) blender/food processor large pillow for holding tummy for coughing/sneezing smaller plates/spoons to trick your brain Of course you wont need all of that but you can decide what will make life more convenient for you personally. Hope it helps!

I took phendimetrizine and phentermine on a Dr supervised diet. The Dr switched me between the 2 meds along w/ B12 injections & I lost my first 60 of the 64lbs on my ticker from those meds. They didnt really give me more energy (I could still nap midday on them if and when I wanted to) but they sure did curb my appetite! If I could have afforded the $175 a week on that Dr's program, I would have stuck it out forever! High protein, low carb & meds worked for me, just the cost wasnt practical.

Dont do it, its not worth it! I still have 18 days till I have to start my pre op 10 day diet & after the last 3 days of the worst stomach flu ever, I am right this moment drinking a carnation instant breakfast because the 4lbs lost from the flu got me motivated. I am challenging myself to see if I can be the "biggest pre op loser" for my Dr & I want an easy recovery after surgery. Challenge yourself, dont let that steak KICK YOUR ASS! Whos stronger here?? The steak or you? Is that steak worth your Dr opening you up & seeing your liver & closing you right back up w/out your band? Thats what my Dr would do & then its 6 months of waiting for another chance to have it done again. Its all in your head & you will not be defeated by a stupid steak! (trust me, steak is my weakness too, totally my fav & I pray after I can eat again that I will be able to have one occasionally) Be strong and conquer the craving, we all know you can do it & we are all here to do it with you!:grouphug:

Nope, not worried at all. I would rather be thin and healthy over pretty but fat and diabetic anyday!!

I have just gotten over the worst case of the stomach flu I have EVER had! 3 days straight of not being able to keep even a sip of gatorade down w/ a very high fever. I have been so miserable, my ribs and back are killing me! But they great part is 4 more lbs gone & I still have 18 more days b4 I start pre op 10 day diet. Since my tummy feels so lousy and I am not hungry, I am gonna start my diet now & just not go back to regular eating. I have never been so thankful for the flu but the scale made me so happy!! Now I just gotta figure out how to change my ticker!

try capitalonehealthcare finance, I got approved for $16000 when I was gonna be a self pay & it took 15 mins. They issue the check the same day you sign the contract. Good luck!

I was being serious, not rude or anything, I want good luck, if it wasnt for bad luck I'd have NO luck! (except for winning my ins battle to get my band done)

so what kind of moon will I have? April 11th @ 5am???? So confused!!!

In my case my contract stated it was an exclusion unless authorized by a physician for medical reasons. If your contract does not have that exception then there is no overturning the decision. To do an appeal you simply get together any other supporting medical records that you didnt originally send in and type up a personal appeal letter to go with the records.

Born in Canton Michigan, moved to Manatee County, Bradenton FL when I was 12. Love it here!! Was in the upper 70's today & a chilly 60's tonight. LOL Sorry couldnt resist! (ducking from cyber snow balls!!)

Aww thanks guys!! My 14 yr old son is very flattered! He was worried you would think it was "corny". He is such a sweetie & he & my 8 yr old daughter are so supportive. They see how motivated & excited I am & they want to share it all with me. Congrats Turler on your new date! Lucky!!!! If it wasnt for my one last hurrah at Disney I would have it done right now! But the kids spring break trip has to come first for them. 5 more weeks, 35 more days, 840 more hours.........AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

How about April Avengers? My son came up w/ that since we are avenging being fat. Makes us sound like superhero fat fighters I think...lol

I am scheduled for April 11th. I cant believe how slow the days are going since I got my date!! Usually time just flies & now it feels like its crawling at a snails pace!!! I cant wait!!

I just bought one today at a fitness expo. It seems to do everything a bodybugg does but for only $95.00. I know alot of hospitals and physical therapists use these, but what are your experiences w/ it? The website logging tool is also free unlike bodybugg.

I cant wait for pics!!! So happy everything went great!!

losingit08 did u get my pm w/ the pasted letter? my comp has been really screwey lately!!

...not being the "fat lady" in the room that every1 stares at. ...not sweating like a stuck pig even when its cool in the room. ...no more diabetes raw spots on my skin ...ppl not discriminating against me because of the way I look. ...no more meds ...my daughter not coming home from school crying from kids making "your mommas so fat" jokes. ...my son not feeling like he has to get into arguments trying to defend me from other kids. ...getting a good nights sleep without snoring ...exercise without pain ...not having to worry about going out on dates afraid that he is ashamed to be seen with me. ...shopping for womens or juniors sizes not plus sizes ...not being tired all the time ...running around at a park w/ my kids not sitting watching ...so many more things that could keep me typing all night long

I ran into this problem w/ my ins. I was on cobra when I started the process for surgery. However, in the middle of the process cobra switched to an individual conversion plan since I exhausted the 18 months. Had I not done my research I would have ended up on a cobra conversion plan that totally excluded banding. Make sure the cobra plan you switch to does not have an exclusion in the policy, if your ins knows you are running out of time and trying to get the surgery, they will deliberately try to switch your regular plan to a bariatric exclusion plan on cobra without even telling you. Make sure you read your cobra contract really well before you accept it, there are cobra plans that cover it but not as easily as a group plan will. Dont fall for the "Cobra is just an extended version of your group plan with all the same benefits" Cuz, I can assure you IT ISNT!!

DO NOT GIVE UP!! I can send you a copy of the 3rd appeal letter I sent to them that finally got me approved if you want. UHC is notorious for hoping you will go away and give up so they dont have to pay. It took almost 3 months of fighting to get them to overturn the denials. The final step after the 3rd appeal is to get your Dr to call the medical director at UHC for a "peer to peer review" in which your Dr has a conference call w/ their Dr to try to convince them to cover it for medical reasons. Surprisingly that call was scheduled but never had to happen since they approved it 2 days before the conference. Just send me a PM w/ your email if you want a copy of the letter that you can revise to fit you. Good luck & stay positive!

congrats!! I cant wait to hear how it goes for you! I have to wait till Aprill 11th! I am going CRAZYYYY waiting!!

Angie- The fact that you recognize that you have a weight issue and want to fix it while you are young enough to enjoy your life shows your are very mature. Find a new Dr that will be supportive of your life choices. Its so nice to see that your family is supportive, that really helps ALOT! Stay focused on your goal and never let anyone bring you down. Good luck sweetie! Keep us posted on your journey :biggrin: