ronwifey

For my job I am constantly walking around, in and out of a truck and lifting very heavy bags and tubs of mail so I know I want at least 3 weeks off. Like someone said before.....it's all about what you do.

Productive Burp? Ok I know what a burp is of course but does "productive" mean that something comes up? Like a productive cough? I know this sounds gross but after you have a PB and something does come up do you have to spit it out? I'm learning so much here.

YEAH!!!!! Congrats and I'm so jealous, lol j/k.

chell~ That's why I love the internet. I can be honest and say things I wouldn't dare say to someone face to face.

DoSeNt ThAt TaKe A vEry LoNg TiiMe To WrIItE liikE tHiiS??????????? anywho..... Best of luck to you and yes this place is very inspirational. Keep us posted.

Hi, and welcome to the boards. You will love all the support and information you will get here. From what I have learned is that there are so many different types of BCBS policy's. I have BCBS Federal Basic and haven't seen another BCBS policy like mine. I have found that my BCBS is different then BCBS of CA and that one is different then BCBS of IL and that one is totally different then BCBS of KS, and so forth.....

Is cymbalta like Prozac? Better or worse for treatment of depression?

HI, I hope to be banded in Feb too. My psych eval, dietician appointment and appointment with the Dr. is 2/1 so hopefully it will go as smoothly as others with same type of insurance (BC/BS Federal Basic) and only have to wait about 2-3 weeks. About me: I'm from CA but have lived in TX for 5 years now and plan to stay. I have 2 kids and 2 dogs. Oh yeah....... a husband too, lol. He's been great, loved me at 150 and seems to love me more at 240, lol! He thinks I'm perfect the way I am which is great but makes dieting very hard. I am fat now because I love to eat. I eat for every occasion, feeling, mood I'm in, you name it I'll eat for it. I remember a while ago a co-worker told me it was "talk like a pirate day" and I immediately thought, well gotta go to Red Lobster tonight then. I find reasons to Celebrate and eat. The dogs birthday I make a cake, if I have a "good" day at work we go to a chinese buffet. Like I said you name it I eat for it. I'm so glad I found this message board. It has been so helpful in so many ways!

GraceUtah~ you are right. I'm not going to tell anyone else. I'm looking for support from people who are cluless! Thanks for your advice. Michelle~ I really dislike working with women because of things like this. Sometimes I feel like I'm in high school again. And I'm sure when you lose the weight you want to they are going to be so jealous! You have a great attitude.

Being overweight, I'm sure you have sleep apnea and that is a legitiment health problem associated with being overweight. I know my BCBS FED/Basic policy states you either have to have a BMI of 40 OR 35-39 BMI with at least 1 comorbidity. Sleep apnea is considered a comorbidity. You have to just see what your specific insurance policy says. If they do deny then you always have the right to appeal. Good luck to you and keep us posted.

I'm fat because I love food! I mean I really loooOOOoooove food and love to eat even more. The feeling of being full is like a high to me.

snowbird~ I love what your response was. I'm going to have to memorize that, lol. I'm not good with fast comebacks at all, I can tell you are (lucky) and dealing with certain people you have to be! Like I said I'm going to use your line if you don't mind.

Hi, I was just wondering what your experiences have been as far as when you told people about your upcoming surgery. I feel like if my BMI was in the 50's it would be easier for people to understand and or be supportive of wanting to get this done. My BMI is 39 as of today and I finally had the nerve to tell my best friend and she was totally not supportive and basically blew it off and said, "just join weight watchers, your not that big to have to go get a surgery". A friend at work told me basically the same thing too, "oh you aren't fat ha ha ha your so funny". But to me I am fat.......... obese......... whatever you want to call it. Just to name a few things, my knees and back hurt, I have no energy and this is so embarrassing to say but if I sit on the toilet to long my legs and feet fall asleep and I know that's from all this weight (242) I am carrying around. If weight watchers would work I would do it but obviously it dosen't nor does/did all the other 20 diets I have tried . I just feel like I have to really explain myself like when I was telling her I kept saying but I'm so unhealthy, if I wasn't unhealthy then I wouldn't do this, my Dr. thinks it's for the best, etc...... UGH, why can't people think this is great, be supportive, and be happy for me?

OMG, how scarey! I'm with you, I don't want to die to be thin but I'm afraid I'll die if I'm not. I really hope and I'm sure with the antibiotics it will be fine. Please keep us posted and thank you for sharing your story. It's very important to hear the good the bad and the ugly.

Oh.... ok thanks. I found my coverage online and at first it states bariatric is covered then another part said I have to cover costs. I'll just let the Dr's office handle this part of it. Thanks again.

My Dr. pretty much said the same thing. Gall Bladder removal can be "dirty" and you don't want to get anything on your band or in your incision if you are having bypass. He said he would never do those two at the same time. Please be careful. Let us know what you decide to do. I wonder if he is making the exception because he knows you are self pay and wants to save you money?

I finally found what my insurance policy says about surgery: "Gastric restrictive procedures, gastric malabsorptive procedures, and combination restrictive and malabsorptive procedures to treat morbid obesity – a condition in which an individual has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, or an individual with a BMI of 35 or more with co-morbidities who has failed conservative treatment; eligible members must be age 18 or over. Benefits are also available for diagnostic studies and a psychological examination performed prior to the procedure to determine if the patient is a candidate for the procedure." It also states this" Preferred: $100 copayment per performing surgeon Note: If you receive the services of a co-surgeon, you pay a second $100 copayment for those services. No additional copayment applies to the services of assistant surgeons. Participating/Non-participating: You pay all charges" This is the part that I don't understand......"Participating/Non-participating: You pay all charges." What the heck???? I searched for my Dr. on BCBS website under "find a Dr". And the Dr. said they accept BCBS. Is that what participating means? Thnaks in advance for any help.

Sorry this is kinda off original post...... I'm wondering why there is all these different types of BCBS with different coverages. It seems like if you have BCBS TX it should have same coverage as BCBS of CA. I have BCBS FED Basic and I have no idea what they cover and don't. I searched everywhere for my coverages. manykids~.....what happens if there is no center for expertise in my area?

HI, I have told my husband and this complete stranger at work, lol. It was just on my mind a lot lately and we were in the breakroom and I knew he was a nurse so I just spilled the beans. He made me feel a lot better and I'm really glad I told him (for some strange reason). I can't even tell my Best freind that I have known for over 20 years. She lives in CA now so I don't see her much, but after the surgery I am sure I will tell her. I guess I feel like I am betraying her because we have the same eating issues and we are the only ones we talk to about it too. We talk all the time about what we eat and how good it was, etc.....Maybe by doing this I will help her and motivate her to start eating right.

Hi, at the seminar this morning the Dr. told us it is VERY important NOT to eat in between meals. I know different Dr.s want different things but I wouldn't even thrown my 2 cents in to this thread if the Dr. this morning didn't say over and over again that the sucess of lap band is how you eat or don't eat afterwards. I could see how you are frustrated, hang in there and you are doing great so far.

did you guys have to do a supervised 6 month diet?

HI, congrats on your band! I just got back from my seminar and the Dr. said pain in the shoulders and neck is VERY normal and basically will alsways occur. I think he said it's from the air they pump you up with during the surgery (I think). Best of luck in your journey and your so lucky your surgery is over.

WOW that is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Conrats to you.

I have a million things running through my mind (as you can see with all me responses and threads). Now I am worried about work now though. I work for USPS and lift up to 70 pound bags of mail/parcels. Will the Dr. do the FMLA paperwork for 2-3 weeks? I don't want to hurt myself or ruin the surgery.

OMG life without Diet Coke. I'm dreading that!!!!!!!!!!!