Wheetsin

Ok, just because you brought this up. I don't normally watch COPS. I mean, how many whiskey tangos with one tooth, a wifebeater, and a can of Pabst do I need to see? But the other day hubby was watching it and it was one of the funniest things I've seen on TV. I wish he had TIVOed it because I'd keep it to show people who come over. They arrested this guy or detained him on the back of the car. As the cops would start to walk away, the guy would mutter some kind of insult, and when the cops would call him on it he would make up some stupid lie. It happened like 4 times, but the only one I remember was: Cop: Stay there and behave. Bad guy: *mutters* Fat head... Cop: Did you just call me a fat head? Bad guy: Uh no, no sir officer, I said, "I don't think you have all the facts." I'm sure it loses humor in translation, but it was SOO funny...

Sounds normal before restriction. If you're on "mushy" stage some other options include hummus (I lived on this), refried beans (this too, throw in some pepper sauce, chili verde, sour cream, cheddar... mmm), mashed cauliflower/potatoes/preference, wet meat salads (chicken salad, tuna... try tuna salad with red onion, vinegar, a tad of rosemary and white beans). Cottage cheese, blended soups (clam chowder and pumpkin are two of my favs), etc. Of course, these are all suggestions dependent on your surgeon's diet and what you tolerate.

Just saw this thread and maybe it's on to a completely different topic now, but I eat junkfood and I would NEVER call it "cheating" because -- what am I cheating on? I'm not on a prescribed food plan, I eat what I want in moderation (band-enforced, of course!). That's why I love my band. I can eat what I want, and have a controlled amount of it. I loved every bite of the strawberry ice cream I had yesterday and I didn't have a bit of guilt about it. It's all about balance and moderation. So, thanks to my band, a "singles" was more than enough and I didn't eat the damn-near half gallon I would have pre-op.

I didn't have it but then again, I PBed 3 days post-op. Whoopsie. For me bandster hell has to be something like -- I have to yak, and the only stall open is the one someone smeared poo on.

Hi Cindy, first - just because your plan (insurance) covers bariatric surgery does not necessarily mean it's available to you. You will need to check your SPD (should be an "Exclusions" section), and may also want to check with your employer directly on employer-enforced exclusions. You will also want to call your carrier and ask them about specific requirements: e.g. weight history, medically supervised diet, etc. With an HMO you will need to find a primary care physician. Considering your age and that you've not been seeing a doctor regularly, you'll most definitely need a very comprehensive physical, gyn, immunizations, etc. Medically necessary, by insurance standards, usually means a BMI of 40+ or a BMI of 35+ with 2+ co-morbidities. Often the 40+ requires documentation of co-morbidities as well, more and more it seems. Co-morbidities will have to be found/documented during your physical.

Moved to board questions as thread is not an introduction.

Yeah, "abbreviations and what they mean" in FAQ. Your question has been answered many times over, there. :crying:

100% over 137 is 274, not 200%, no? Here's how I'm figuring it. For every 100% you add the original weight once, so if someone weights 100 lbs, then they're 100% overweight when they weigh 200, 300% overweight when they weigh 300, etc. So to be 200% overweight, with an ideal weight of 137, you'd have to be 411 lbs. Maybe check the numbers with your carrier. That way you know for sure. :crying:

That gives you a BMI very near 70 (68.3). Many surgeons will not perform band (or laparoscopic, or sometimes "period") surgeries on patients with BMIs over 60 (super super morbidly obese) and may require diet or some other intervention to bring the BMI down to 60 before being willing to operate. This is because of the extra risks -- both with the general and actual procedures. So since you're at the insurance stage, it may not hurt to start contacting some of the surgeons you're considering and asking them what their cut-off for BMI is. That will help you build a stronger big picture as to what you're looking at. For you, a BMI of 60 is going to be around 305 lbs (again, estimate based on standard charts). Per the standard BMI charts, you "should" weight about 125 lbs (based only on your height). 250 is 100% overweight, and 375 is 200% overweight, so it sounds like you're between the two categories. Unless my math is wrong.

Long term averages are between 1-3 lbs per week. That's usually evened out by an initial rapid weightloss, and a slower sustained loss.

What fill method did the nurse use? E.g. blind, fluoro, etc. I'm far from a band expert but it seems odd that a kink would prevent the fill from going back in, but not from being withdrawn. If you think of a kinked hose, it's blocked both ways. And if your sister wasn't kinked when the Fluid was removed, and just stayed in one position, there's no rationale for it spontaneously becoming kinked. Perhaps she can advocate for some further testing or methods before making the trip again. E.g. fluoro fill, xray to see if any kinks can be seen, etc.

I never had pain between my ribs. To answer your question, when you eat food it doesn't go into your ribs, so no - it's not something getting stuck there. No idea what the pain in your throat is. Burping after eating is very common. Not sure why you feel tight. Restriction is often described as "pressure" but I don't know that I would ever use "tight" to describe it. If you're feeling sensations that are concering you or making you uncomfortable, your best bet is to check with your surgeon. We can guess all day, but it's just that.

Let me clarify so I know how to answer. You're talking about people who were at their sweet spot, but then became too loose and required another fill --- and before they got that "another fill" how much could they eat...? So in other words, "If you've been at your sweet spot, and needed another fill, how much could you eat before that fill?" :confused2:

Public profiles also show a timestamp for the last logged activity, as well as a current activity indicator (e.g. where someone is browing).

Fat people rule the Internet. You know what single thing drives Internet technology more than anything else? ...... ...... Porn! And fat people love porn.

You might want to start a separate thread for subsequent questions -- you'll get more attention that way. Acid reflux is usually described as something like, "Woke up and caught myself throwing up." Being stuck is usually associated with pressure, or pain (referred and local), and sometimes the sensation of needing to burp but not being able to. Most people feel it slightly different from everyone else, though. You eat between your ribs? :cursing:

I'm a slow user. AND a slow loser, now. A "winded rabbit" as we used to call them.

Works fine for me. Since it's the entire page not loading, and not just an issue with the pictures, perhaps you caught a time when that portion of the board was inaccessible. Are you still having the issue?

It happens. Think of it as the body equaling out. I've lost entire sizes with no change on the scale. (Hence my part of my disdain for them). Eventually things will align once again.

Very few things that I know about insurance are "for sure". But I've contracted with the industry many, many times and have seen/read/written/etc. just enough of their materials to know a few things, and have some decent guesses on others. Esp. healthcare providers. Somehow it's an area that virtually no one seems to be familiar with (on this board) so I try to help... even though it's usually not good news. :cursing:

Probably isn't dumping. We don't have the anatomical changes necessary to cause dumping. And I'm guessing this isn't the first time post-op you've had sugar. Dumping happens, period. Not just sometimes. However, there are a few other things. Many people have issues with artifial sweetners, so if there were any in there you don't normally get, that could very well cause your symptoms (especially maltitol and sorbitol). Have you ever had issues with your gallbladder? What you had doesn't sound like it would be a catalyst, but often GB issues are more closely tied to a time of day more so than whatever you just ate (although it can work both ways, and attacks CAN be triggered by things other than the typical fatty foods (happened to me -- that's part of why it took so long to diagnose). Just a few thoughts...

Could be, except for the heavy pain. Is that where your port was paoced, or the site of another incision? In other words, any reason you could share with us as to what might be related to the pain? When you say "figure out which is which" -- which what is what? Do you just mean figure out what the feelings are? It's very common to gurgle post-op, which could be confused for hunger pains but feel nothing like them. If you feel hungry, you're probably feeling hungry (whether you really are or not). Try sipping some Water or if you're there yet, some Protein (fills you up longer) and see what happens.

If it's just water -- hmm. But if what you're choking on is acidy - burns your throat, leaves you with a taste of vomit in your mouth, etc. then you're not choking on water. Do you, in either your band or your stomach, feel particulary full/stuffed before you lay down when this happens? Or do you feel empty/hungry?

It depends. If your insurance paid for your band, complications are most likely covered. If you are self-pay, complications (direct results of the band) as a generalized rule are not.

Every medical insurance company I know of uses something like the BMI to determine eligibility, and if you're into a "morbidly obese" category or higher it's virtually impossible (from what I understand -- not saying that as a for-sure fact). The insurance companies need to think they're making a good investment, and taking on someone who is likely to immediately cost them money isn't a good investment (even if you're "healthy" the average MO person is not). heck, it may even be really hard/expensive at just "obese"... I'm not sure. Maybe call some other providers and ask.