Tricia K.

I'm on myspace but I'm not aware of any WLS groups there. www.myspace.com/triciakutz

I'd be cool with another weekend weight challenge. :grouphug:

C 198 (- 76 total, - 3 this week) :omg: :grouphug: :high5: :whoo: CONGRATULATIONS, HEATHER & FUNNYDUDDIES!!! :whoo: :high5: :huggie: :omg: Congratulations to everyone else that had a loss this past week (*hugs* Susan). And, sorry to those that didn't. :confused: Best of luck for next week!! :confused:

To answer the recent questions regarding Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, yes, they (or at least, Dr. Thomas Lavin) are the surgeons that teach the technique to other surgeons. Dr. Lavin is one of the first 4 proctors for Inamed and is highly skilled in bariatric laparoscopic surgery. Please visit his surgeon profile on obesityhelp.com - http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+Thomas+Lavin+fnp.html - for more information regarding his experience. Please note that the information listed on this site is sorely out of date because he's done far more surgeries than what is listed there. He also has more years' of experience. They have offices in Covington and Metairie (suburb of New Orleans) and perform surgeries at several hospitals in the area, including Slidell. Dr. Lavin did my surgery on September 16, 2005 and I couldn't be happier. He has WONDERFUL bedside manner and will answer any and all questions you may have. Not only is he wonderful, everyone in his office is as well. I highly recommend Surgical Specialists of Louisiana to anyone!!

That's a good thing! These jeans have been worn so little, I couldn't stand just bringing them to Goodwill like I did with all of my pre-surgery clothes.

mini_me is getting the jeans. Thanks, everyone.

Valerie - welcome to LBT. You may wish to send your husband to this site so that he may better understand your plight. Best of luck!

GAP boot cut Polo Ralph Lauren boot cut - free to the first person who sends me a private message -

I live in southeastern Louisiana where it gets HOT, HOT, HOT and I've never experienced any difference in my band during extremely hot days.

Maybe not, but 50 lbs. in 7-8 WITHOUT a fill is nothing to scoff at. :clap2:

LOL @ cheerio & petrified french fry encrusted!! Yikes @ cost of gas!!

:clap2: Congratulations, Xann!! :clap2:

Thanks, bandayed. I'm very fortunate to have a very accommodating nurse practitioner. And, thankfully, my fills are covered for an entire year after surgery. Good luck to getting to onederland very soon!! You definitely deserve it. *hugs* P.S. The scale said 197 this morning, but I attribute that to not really eating much the past 3 days.

I was 6 weeks post-op when I got my first fill of 1cc.

Protein is definitely key. I think the protein shake you're referring to is called Body Fortress. I used to buy it at Wal-mart until I found a 5 lb. tub (90+ servings) of the same thing at Sam's Club for less than $20.

I'm sorry you're having difficulty obtaining health insurance that will cover WLS. My insurance company didn't cover it so I was a self-pay patient. It's tough, but I wasn't about to let the insurance company dictate my life. I took it in my own hands. Good luck to you. I feel your pain. In early 2004, I applied for individual coverage with Ocshner (now Humana) and was denied due to not fitting within their height/weight charts. I currently have COBRA coverage through BCBS of Louisiana but was recently denied individual coverage through them BECAUSE I had weight loss surgery. I was also denied for the same reason by Humana One and Coventry. BCBS of Louisiana did state the reason was "because you had weight loss surgery within the last one (1) year" and that I could apply again after my 1 year anniversary but they wouldn't guarantee coverage. I've been with them this long under a group plan, they know my medical history as well as my history of doctor visits/prescriptions/etc., yet they won't give me individual coverage right now. I even asked that they write in an exclusion for anything related to my surgery, but they wouldn't even do that. Ugh..I can't win for "losing." :faint:

I think the next car I get will be a convertible Volkswagon Beetle or Mini Cooper. :biggrin1:

P.S. Not to rub it in, but I haven't had a period for the past 5 1/2 years since I started taking Depo-provera. :biggrin1:

LOL...how cute!!

Also, make sure you're only copying the text " through " and pasting that into your signature.

LOL, you're welcome.

control c (copy) first then control v (paste) plus, copy the bbcode, not the url

Awww...it will get better, P'Nut. *hugs*

YAY!! Isn't it wonderful?

If you were banded only 6 weeks ago, you're still healing. If I were you, I would wait another 2 weeks before you continue the exercise regimen you mentioned. Walking is fine, but anything other than that may disrupt the healing process.