Kryssa

My out-of-pocket maximum is $1800. I will end up paying closer to $5K by the time it's paid off. Rip-off artists!

It is a very real and kind of sad truth that in today's job economy most of us won't be with our current employers or insurance companies long enough for them to see a return on investment (savings) from us having WLS. Sigh, we might retire with the companies we are with now, but it is more likely we'll be working for someone else 2 years from now. So they don't want to pay for something that will end up helping another insurance co. But if they ALL paid for WLS they would ALL benefit in the long run. But they can't think of the broad long-term view when they are trying to improve their bottom line THIS year. Geez, I have a degree in Economics and here I am spouting "for the good of the whole group" socialist stuff. I guess I should know better.

First: do what your Dr. tells you to do. I was only on liquids for 48 hrs. too. I was only on soft foods for the next 5 or 6 days after that. I must have called my nutritionist 6 times in the first 3 weeks! You'll be fine. Stop eating if it hurts. Concentrate on how you feel!

When you get to the advanced area: There should be a link for [More] smilies in the bottom left corner of the smiley box: it will open a new window with ALOT of smilies. Did you find the font and color things on the Advanced page? On the quick reply page (and Advanced) the big A is in the toolbar right above where you are typing. It has a line under it that will turn the color you select. Or at least it is on my screen. Let me know if this works. If the smiles aren't where you want them once they are in the body of your message, just select them by clicking on them, then copy/paste them somewhere else. Best to use keyboard commands for this: Ctrl+<CTRL>C then Ctrl+<CTRL>V. Remember, smilies will go wherever your cuser is when you click on them.

Look at the message box at the bottom of the page (where you type quick replys). Hit that little button that says "Go Advanced". You can get smilies there (click more button if you don't see what you want, there are a bunch!). More fonts and colors are also available on the advanced page or if you just want another color you can click the dropdown icon beside the big "A" on the quick reply screen.

Congratulations! I hope it works wonders for you!

:bump: Alright, the current suggested categories are: Just Looking (into banding) Pre-band: Decided or Scheduled Losing & Happy Turtle: no/slow weight loss Head hunger More than 150 lbs to goal Less than 30 lbs to goal Erosion/Slippage Post-band/unbanded Pick one and post some info about yourself. You'll get your own "accountability" and support partner/weight loss sister (or brother) to help you on your journey; you CAN match yourselves up or I will do it tomorrow afternnon (3 PM? Depends on how work goes!)

You were banded about a month before me, I am going through the same thing. I know I don't have good restriction because most of the time I can eat alot of food. But occasionally, usually on lean hard (dry) protein, I golfball and slime, sometimes PB too. I'm sure you are going to get alot of advice about going back on liquids and all of that, but I think you should go ahead and get your fill. Eat when you can and don't when you can't. For me it's a total time of day thing. I can eat a little in the morning, alot at lunch, and not much after 7 unless I want to see it again. Try tracking when and what hurts and see if you can find a pattern. It kind of works for me...

I am very happy for you and I hope I get there soon too. I'm going for my 5th fill on Tuesday, maybe it will be the one!

My baby sis had a BMI of 32 when she decided enough was enough. She decided against the band even though she could only eat one small meal a day to maintain her weight at 175. She did Atkins, actually ate more food and healed her metabolism, and lost 50 lbs and now wears a size 6. I don't have the willpower for Atkin's and I haven't seen 175 since my freshman year of HS. It's all about willpower wether you do it with the band or w/o; the band just helps give you a little more willpower when you are struggling.

LOL. Photonut, you've got "baggage" not luggage. Don't we all?

Where do you live?

The list requires very little editing for my reasons. You go girl!

Extremely normal. But I, of course, can not be normal. I feel like that at night instead.

Ok, here is the plan. We will give an initial group until Friday to post their info, then we'll match everyone up (I can do it, if you like). After that, we will match people up as they come on board. How about this for categories: Just Looking (into banding), no/slow weight loss, head hunger, less than 30 lbs to goal, erosion/slippage, Losing & Happy, unbanded, etc. I am taking suggestions for more. Then we'll match by interests and perhaps age. Thoughts?

I am 16 weeks post-surgery. I am an official member of the turtle tribe: I've only lost 9 lbs. in that time. I'm 30 years old; full-time Mom of 2, part-time Mom of 2 more. I also work 2 jobs to support the aforementioned children. I live in SE Georgia. My humor tends toward crude as well, but it's usually dry and wry as well. I've been chunky since I was 6, so I've no idea what normal will be like, but I can't wait to get there!

Me and my DH John in St. Thomas Me and my little sister, Cheryl My whole family: Me, DH, my kids (blondes), his kids (brunettes) Pic I used for my avatar I wear alot of red, don't I? Kristi & Cheryl Edited.bmp

Heather, you are very sweet. I'd actually changed my avatar today in support of my turtle tribe partners, but perhaps I'll just add it to my signature. I think we should pair up based on likeness, but I'm not in charge...what do you guys think?

I love the idea. Right now I check in daily with with my little sister, literally. She lost 50 lbs. just over a year ago so she does understand part of my struggle. I think we should partner with people who are going through the same kinds of things we are: no weight loss, head hunger, lots of pbing, less than 30 lbs to goal, etc. Who wants to be my accountability partner? I should warn you, LBT is a Mon-Fri thing for me. Lil'Angel? We got similar surgery dates and problems... Pic of me and my little sister (no prizes for guessing what I will look like if I do manage to get the weight off, hmm?) Kristi & Cheryl Edited.bmp

OK, I found a ninja turtle avatar. Yes, I have to be silly, it makes the day go faster. I have another one if someone wants it. I also have a group pic that I'm dubbing the "turtle tribe", is there any way to make it the thread icon? Edit: 02/01 Due to almost immediate protest I changed my avatar back to a pic of me, but you guys are still welcome to them!

I was starving the day after surgery. And I've been very hungry nearly every day since then. Until I get good restriction, hunger is "the norm".

I have the kanji symbol for elder sister (sis has younger sister) low on the back of my neck. It's about an inch and a half tall. I just got it at Christmas. I'm going to add the symbols for lover (above) and mother (below) the one I have now. They won't show with a collared shirt, but when I put my hair up they'll be gorgeous. I am saving my big tattoo project for my weight loss reward. I want a butterfly framed by tribal kanji on the small of my back below my waist. I already have it picked out! I want to be able to show them if I want, and not show them if I don't want. I work in a conservative atmosphere, and I must adapt.

I think I'm going to find a ninja turtle for my avatar. Crystal, you are my hero. Actually I have been doing exactly as you described for about the last 2 weeks. My PCP didn't refer me to a therapist but she did put me on an anti-depressant. Any wonder I'm depressed? But she also ordered thyroid tests; we will see how those come out, but afer your experience I don't know if I'll believe them if they come back normal. I have also been at my surgeon; I don't ever seem to get decent restriction, just first bite blues. He has promised me a fill every 2 weeks until I can't eat more than 1/2 to 3/4 cup at a time. The bad news is if that doesn't work - he suggests I convert to bypass. UGH! If I wanted a bypass I could have had one and I wouldn't have had to fight my insurance company so hard. I know I'm still kind of a newbie, 4 months does not an expert make, but I'm kicking, crying, and fighting with the rest of you guys!

Since I started the diet and exercise program last March? One dress size. Since being banded? Nope, clothes fit the same.

Oh no, I'm not in Kansas City. I thought you were asking if I worked for one of the franchises. I'm the night-time office leader at a store in GA.