Wheetsin

I have a phsyical & bloodwork scheduled for Friday. I just got off the phone with my insurance company - I was calling to determine their coverage. The lady I spoke with told me they will cover "surgical procedures for the treatment of severe or morbid obesity" and the requirements for pre-approval include: - Dr.'s diagnosis of morbid obesity (won't be a problem) - Obesity history dating back at leasy 5 years (not a problem) - Patient over the age of 21 (not a problem) No surprise there... I asked her what procedures, specifically, were covered and she told me I'd need a procedure code in order for her to look it up. I told her I didn't have a code, but the name of the procedure would probably be "Lapband, gastric banding, or something like that. Not gastric bypass." She looked and then told me that "your plan doesn't exclude any particular surgical procedures for the treatment of obesity." She looked a bit longer and then said, "The closest I can find is here, where it says that laproscopic surgical gastric restriction is covered. That sounds like what you're asking about, because I think gastric bypass specifically states "bypass" in the definition. But call back when you get the code and we'll check for sure." Then she added, "It is covered 100%." I'm going to contact my surgical center to see if I can get a specific code, and/or see what they make of that terminology. But it sounds positive. Sweetness!

I will definitely try that. I didn't even think to search here.

Some pictures from Laguna Beach:

Not worried about comments, I just like to see othes' pictures and didn't want people to stop posting.

DeLarla - I'm not too familiar with the people here yet, and/or their stories -- but do I remember correctly that you have no fill/port? That's an amazing difference!

Oh goodness, fond memories, and now I feel old! My last 2 years in highschool and start of college were in a small town. Really not much to do (our motto was "Do the park (local skateboard hangout), do the movies, or do each other") so we used to go to every concert we could get our hands on. Our "crew" was me, by best friend, and 5 guys... my friend and I were dating two of the guys, and the rest were their bandmates. Anyway... the guys would always go straight for the mosh, whether we had floor tickets or not. I was on the outskirts of the mosh once and not paying much attenion... next thing I know some guy grabbed my shoulders and pulled me in... and I'm not too far from 6' tall so that wouldn't have been an EASY task (though I was slender back then). About a minute & lots of bruises later I made my way back out. Not fun! GLad to hear you're ok, I've seen some pretty serious injuries moshing.

My boss is pretty hot for a Canadian chick. She is married... like that REALLY means anything...

Wow, do I have a way of killing a thread or what?

Prednisone indirectly killed my grandfather, but not before he gained 17# in excess fluid in 2 weeks.

Weight impacts menstruation GREATLY! Adipose tissue (fat). To make a long story short, there are very close relationships between fat and hormone levels (both estrogen and testosterone). This is why people who are overweight through puberty are more likely to have unwanted facial/chest hair growth. Anyway... changes in your body's fat composition can impact your menstrual cycles because the hormone levels in your body are also changing. Always better to be on the safe side but if it were me I wouldn't be too worried.

My bad, I should have been more specific. Of course PB isn't *good*, but I was under the impression that it was a lot more of something you can excpect to encounter at some point b/c of the band tha vomiting. I should have used "more natural consequence".

I'm not banded so maybe this is ignorant (which is ok because then by definition I don't know any better) but wouldn't it be better to wait for a PB to occur naturally when something is stuck, than to force a vomit? PB ok for band, vomit bad, right?

That does help - all these suggestions do, thanks! We ended up buying the firefighter one of the heat/massagers that you put in your chair. He's always talking about how it's hard for him to relax, so we figure'd that would help.

For the first gift, I need ideas. For the second gift, I need help w/ creative ways to give the gift. Info below: Gift #1: DH has a friend who is a volunteer firefighter. He is many other things as well, but this is the one that really ignites a spark in him. We thought something related to that venture would be a great gift, but aren't sure what to give. Any ideas? Gift #2: DH and I bought my parents a huge widescreen TV for xmas. They live 1.5 hrs away, and we will have the "gathering" at our house on the 24th, which is when my family does their gift exchange. Afterwards, we will have to drive the TV to their house in DH's truck b/c there's no way in hell it's fitting into their SUV. I like to give gifts in creative ways, but this TV is over 6 feet across so it's REALLY limiting what we can do. Here are some thoughts we've had or that others have suggested: 1. We could cut the front piece of cardboard from the box into puzzle pieces and wrap them up like gifts. As my parents open a "gift" and get another puzzle piece, the picture of what they're real gift is slowly forms. Problem with this is that since we're transporting the TV 1.5 hrs in a truck, we want to keep all oringal packaging intact. 2. We could set up a scavenger hunt that will lead my parents to the TV, which is in our basement. Problem = my mother is having surgery on her foot December 22 and will not be able to walk around much, let alone do the stairs needed to get to the basement (and there's no where else the TV would fit) 3. We could take a picture of the TV and wrap it in a box, in a box, in a box, etc. Problem = no real problem, just kind of dull, but a possibility. 4. We could remove the remote control and wrap it. Problem = that requires opening the box, which we don't want to do. 5. We could try and get them out of the house during the day of the 24th (would be hard w/ mom's surgery) and set the TV up, so that when they come home they're surprised by it. Problem = there are two possible locations for this TV. If I ask questions to find out where they want it, they'll know what's up - they're uncanny that way. If we guess wrong, it means having to disconnect everything and move a pretty heavy/bulky TV up or down 2 flights of stairs. No thanks! 6. We could cover the TV box with a larger box and wrap it, or find a huge gift bag, and just leave it by the tree. Problem = anything bigger and we absolutely won't have room for it. Leave it how it is and cover it = once they see the shape of the box, they'll know what it is. Like I said, they're uncanny that way. One look & they know what something is. I'm sure there are come creative geniuses out there -- any ideas?

Our puppy enjoying the first snow of the year. He was 1 y/o yesterday, we got him in Feb of this year so he was too small to go in the snow last time we had it.

A friend of mine on a diving trip this summer. Yes, one of the first questions I emailed to INAMED was, "Will I still be able to dive???" I'm on the right.

No problem. Now if you want the pic to show instead of the link to the pic, just click the "Insert Picture" button. A pop-up will show wanting you to enter a URL, so just type in what you pasted above. Then when you post the image will be displayed.

Me want man-beasts.

Not sure, I've never used Shutterfly. Try getting your picture to where you can see it, right-click on it, and go to Properties. Next to "Location" it should have a URL that starts with http:// Copy that whole line and paste it up here. Then I can test it and see whether or not they allow direct linking, or if you have to be a member to see others' pics.

Nevemind, I just saw how you can attach pictures here. I never even sawe this before. Click "Post Reply" and you'll see an "Additional Options" area below the message field. Click the "Manage Attachments" option to upload your pic. I'll add a screenshot to help you see what I mean. -------------------------------------------------

Ok, here's the skinny version. A webserver is a server computer that kind of sits on the internet. Your computer has internet access, but is not "on" the internet. In order for files to be viewable online, they have to be on a webserver -- everything yuo see on the web resides on a webserver. Just like you can look at pictures on your local PC, we can all look at pictures on a webserver. Run a search for "free image hosting" and you'll find places that have webservers, and that will put your pictures n their webserver for everyone to see.

I don't believe this sites supports picture hosting/uploading, which means the picture you want to share has to be on a webserver, not just your personal PC. There are a lot of free image hosting services out there. I don't use them but shutterfly is supposed to be pretty easy to use. If you want to email me your pic I can put it on my webserver and send you the URL you would need to put in your message for the pic to show.

I'm in NW Missouri, my car thermometer showed a whopping 12 degreed when I got to work this morning. Since then it has been snowing non-stop and the roads are already covered. Fortunately I can in the building or from home, and so can DH with his job, so I think I'll be packing up my laptop and heading out in about an hour. I was born and raised in southern California and I DON'T LIKE THIS CRAP!

*wants Speedo pics*

I just saw this thread! You ol' timers who know things like this are here have to keep bumping this stuff! First some older pics. I use these as my "inspiration" for the healthier & smaller me I want to meet again someday. Me and my dad (isn't he handsome?) Me and my husband (then fiance). We had this taken the day after he proposed, to go into our engagement announcements. One of our wedding pics. We were married in Las Vegas - Red Rock Canyon. We hiked to the edge of a drop-off and were married on the edge, overlooking the canyon just as the sun started to set (taken 5 months after our engagement pic). And some more recent pics... Me in Cancun during a Caribbean cruise DH and I took earlier this year. DH and I on the deck of the ship during the same cruise (VERY windy and sunny) Last year's xmas pic Our very loved & very spoiled baby, Mr. Hobbs.