Poodles

Not banded here, but can honestly say that a call to the doctor won't hurt. He/she may want you to come in but it is better to be safe than sorry. Did they give you any nausea meds after the surgery? If not suck on some peppermint. That has a natural anti-nausea effect.

Contractual adjustments. Most are at least 50%, most are more. I was a Medicare biller for a while and for an $80,000.00 open heart surgery they would pay about $850.00, most of the time putting $780.00 to the patients deductible. Please be aware this was quite some time ago, but the numbers are still outrageous. Also know that if you know you are going to need treatment you can ask the hospital to give you a discounted rate if you pay up front. They do that for deliveries a lot. I did ask once why the insurance companies rec'd such discounts, yet we would bill others for the whole price. The manager muttered something about volume makes up for it. So 100 sick bcbs members = 1 self pay. You would think that I pay over $6000.00 a year, they should cough up the $2000.00 for my surgery.

www.vitaminshoppe.com has a lot of liquid vitamins. Be sure to check out www.currentcodes.com first to see if you can find a discount code.

I always sing the praises of low carb. Even though I am still heavy, low carb regulates my periods. I have to keep my carbs under 80 a day. Cycles are normal. Mind you, I do not lose weight regardless, but no pain with cycles and they come regularly. No band yet but hoping that the band will help too. Do some research on PCOS and you will see more and more doctors are recommending a low carb lifestyle for their PCOS patients. Good luck.

Ok, I will move it....

Would like to know the following things from TX teachers stuck with the TRS Activecare from BC/BS: 1. How long did it take to get approval? If not approved how long have you been working to get approved? 2. Did they require a psyche eval? Nutritionist consult? sleep Study? 3. How many months supervised weight loss did you have before approval? 4. Did you have to call them constantly? 5. Were you denied the first time? Did you have to appeal? 6. Any recommendations for people trying to get approved? 7. What plan are you on (1, 2, or 3) and what was your total out of pocket? Thank you for your input! This will help greatly! Know there are a lot of teachers out there trying to get approved and a little hope will help! Here are my answers: 1. How long did it take to get approval? If not approved how long have you been working to get approved? Not approved. Working on it since Oct '05 2. Did they require a psyche eval? Yes Nutritionist consult? Yes Sleep Study? Yes 3. How many months supervised weight loss did you have before approval? They want 12, submitted with 6 but not approved yet. 4. Did you have to call them constantly? 5. Were you denied the first time? Did you have to appeal? 6. Any recommendations for people trying to get approved? 7. What plan are you on (1, 2, or 3) and what was your total out of pocket? Activecare 2, about $910.00 out of pocket so far.

Would like to know the following things from TX teachers stuck with the TRS Activecare from BC/BS: 1. How long did it take to get approval? If not approved how long have you been working to get approved? 2. Did they require a psyche eval? Nutritionist consult? sleep Study? 3. How many months supervised weight loss did you have before approval? 4. Did you have to call them constantly? 5. Were you denied the first time? Did you have to appeal? 6. Any recommendations for people trying to get approved? 7. What plan are you on (1, 2, or 3) and what was your total out of pocket? Thank you for your input! This will help greatly! Know there are a lot of teachers out there trying to get approved and a little hope will help! Here are my answers: 1. How long did it take to get approval? If not approved how long have you been working to get approved? Not approved. Working on it since Oct '05 2. Did they require a psyche eval? Yes Nutritionist consult? Yes Sleep Study? Yes 3. How many months supervised weight loss did you have before approval? They want 12, submitted with 6 but not approved yet. 4. Did you have to call them constantly? 5. Were you denied the first time? Did you have to appeal? 6. Any recommendations for people trying to get approved? 7. What plan are you on (1, 2, or 3) and what was your total out of pocket? Activecare 2, about $910.00 out of pocket so far.

Try www.lapbandsolutions.com I am working with them now, and they seem to know what they are doing.

***Deep breath*** Man, I have had a busy few days. Yesterday I went for my sixth month weigh in. This morning called and had my medical records faxed to LBS and to BC/BS. Also wrote a "please approve me" letter. That was faxed and received by BC/BS. This has been the longest ordeal ever, I just hope and pray that they approve me with 6 months. They usually require 12 months but I am hoping. Now that I am halfway done I will do the other 6 months if needed, but I really want to get this done soon. Low carb is fine, but I still get hungry and have not seen the scale move very much in the past 6 months. (All in all have lost 4 lbs total) Gain, lose, gain, lose... very depressing. Well now I am holding my breath again. Wish me luck...

Welcome to the board. I am sorry that I have no educated answers for you, as I am unbanded, but wanted to let you know that I am happy you are here. So sorry to hear about your loss, I have had two miscarriages and know they are very emotionally and physically painful. Have one perfect baby (7 yr old) now, so there is always another try. :eek: My guess about your issue is probably a little of both. Your previous port was probably a slow leaking one, and now that you have a good one your esophogus is trying to adjust. If you have had proper follow up care (which I assume you have) your tests should show if it is something serious. You may need another unfill to find out for sure. Everyones "sweet spot" is different, and with a properly working port it may have changed for you. So glad you are here. All of the "newbies" look to the "veterens" on this board for advice and experiences, so it is great to have your point of view. Good luck with your issue, and again welcome to LBT!

Yes it does. I work with teenagers all day, and have a hubby and 7 year old at home. Talk about getting on someones nerves. I totally recommend Effexor, but you need to talk to your doctor. He/she may not think it is right for you. With three little ones at home, you may want to go the Zoloft (zombie) route. :scared: All I know is it does not hurt to try some things out. Especially if you are going psycho without it. Call your doctor on Monday and ask.

Hello, my name is Poodles and I am a prebander... March 1st will be my 6 month supervised weight loss completion date. I have all other things done. My insurance wants 12 months, so I am going to hold my breath and send in a "please approve me" letter. My biggest fear is erosion... and that I will be the one that can't lose weight with the band. I really need this, so I hope my insurance company will help me. I need the help.

I have been on Prozac before, it helped a little bit. My doctor put me on Zoloft a few days before that time to see if it worked for me but Zoloft helps a little too well (can you say zombie?). And then you have no help the rest of the month either. Wellbutrin helps to see your issues. Meaning that I knew it was PMS, and knew it would go away, but it did not help with it. My sister is bi-polar and they put her on Effexor. I thought I needed to be tested for that, and so I was, but I am not (husband says jury is still out on that though...) I just have horrible "manic pms". The past two months have been the best. Like I said, I still get a little mad at stupid people but no crying. It helps with everyday issues as well. I would kill or die for my Effexor now. So get your own.... :scared:

Hey, the Effexor suggestion is real. I have been on Wellbutrin for a long time and it did not help, so I don't recommend that one. I have manic PMS about 5 days before I start, where I get mad, cry, etc. Literally I want(ed) to quit my job, leave my husband, and abandon my kid one day out of the month. My doctor put me on Effexor about two months ago, and it has been the best thing EVER. I still get a little angry. But, at least I don't cry uncontrollably. Most people do self medicate with food, sugar especially, but you can try an antidepressant and see if that helps. You can always get off of them if they don't, so you have nothing to lose... but mood swings. :confused:

Physical + Emotional = Psycho That is exactly how I feel when I am "on sugar". There are always emotional factors out there. Abused, neglected, forgotten, used. Yeah been through all that, but I am an addict too. I am addicted to sugar. When I am "on sugar" I am an obsessive compulsive eater. I plan my next "fix". I scrape up pennies to buy a candy bar. No money??? NO Problem, those sugar packets at the coffee station are perfect.... I am sick and I eat non stop. When I am "off sugar" I am sane. Don't crave it, don't really want it, don't need it. But one bite and I am attacking things again. I know I am a psycho sugar addicted person. So like crack/heroin addicts I have to stay away from it. One "hit" is all it takes to become a junkie. I do not like myself "on sugar"...... Splenda is my friend. My recommendations are: 1. Take a good Multivitamin 2. Get off sugar/white flour Give it a month or two and see how you feel about food. It more than likely won't have control over you anymore even if you do have other issues. And if all else fails- try effexor. :couch2:

Braums has a good low carb ice cream made with Splenda. It is called Carbwatch. You might try that...

If all we did was write about banded stuff this board would be very sad, short, and boring. Banded? Y or N, Problems? Y or N: explain, Hungry? Y or N. List type of band:, Surgeon:, Weight lost:, *** Emotional problems, questions, and fun stuff not allowed. Honestly, I would not want to come here if there were not PEOPLE

I have been applying for life insurance. Wanting to get $250,000, just in case...you know. I am 33 years old and right at 300 lbs. Everywhere I go they turn me down for height/weight ratio. Was even turned down from my EMPLOYERS insurance agency... I thought I had heard it all right... Well, here is a new one. The most recent denial says that I have been denied because of a possible lap band surgery in the near future. Says that they denied me because I had mentioned it in the phone interview and they found it in my medical charts that I have been considering lap band. Totally messed up hugh???? Don't even believe they can deny me for something I have not even done. But they said that they would reconsider after I have the surgery...if I can ever get approved for that. Totally messed up. This just sucks...

Oh, I could just see it now... stylish bands made by the top designers. I want a hot pink leather one with diamond studs...

Ok Ladies, just to let you know I am still raking in the smaller sizes from my ecycle friends. Some good stuff too, too bad some of the small sizes won't even go on my right leg. :bananajump: Let me know when we are going to party again, I will hide the bags from my hubby until then...

Ok, I see boobs everywhere on this thread. Unfortunately, they are the members of this forum! :target: Reminds me of a song:" Do your boobs hang low, do they wobble too and fro, can you tie them in a knot? Can you tie them in a bow? Can you throw them over your shoulder like a continental soldier? Do your boobs hang low?"

Just had to share this one... thought it was funny. You know the commercial for weight watchers that has all the women on there dancing around and the Cher song in the background??? It came on and my husband said, "so is that what happened at your get together Saturday???" ROFL )

I went to the doctor today, and on the wall was a poster about stomach disorders. Erosion was on there. I looked at the picture... no band on there. Came home and looked it up. There are several types of erosion, most often they are called "peptic ulcers". The band is a foreign element that can cause an erosion, but you can get one with or without the band.... and if you get it the other way you have to figure out how to get rid of it. At least this way you can remove the band. If you had the band, or are able to get the band, then you were meant to have the band. Treasure the gift and learn from it. And thank you... for being here, sharing your experiences good and bad, and having such a wonderful attitude. We are all blessed to have you here.

Thank you so much Ms. Keri for having us over. I had a wonderful time meeting everyone. Can't wait for our next "party"!

Wonderful news: I have three bags full of clothes ranging from 12-20. Have Dresses, pantsuits, shirts, dockers (size 18) and some bras. Hope they fit someone! I am looking for 26's. This is going to be so fun!