RestlessMonkey

You really can book your own; if you need to pay an agent a fee, save it and invest it there! :thumbup:

Disney has GREAT deals and packages. (I worked for a travel agency for 20+ years and have been to Disneyland 3 times and Disney world about 8)

If you like to do things yourself, wouldn't mind reading a book about it, etc, then that is totally the way to go. Please PM me if you'd like me to share whatever with you. After the first time we always stayed on property and we've stayed at 4 different hotels on property, plus I've seen (at least from the outside) several others. I love the mouse and would be glad to share "good times to go" etc with you if you'd like! :smile2:

AND if you aren't a person who likes to nose around, get the deal, research, "know what you're in for" (in other words, not much of a control freak) then a good travel agent can book it for you.

The all inclusive packages that include meals may not be the best deal for you, depending on your family's eating patterns etc. :eek:

We're going Oct 2010 ourselves! :eek:

I'm amazed at the surgeons that prescribe post-surgery pain meds in pill form... just amazed.

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I am "just amazed" that so many people can't take their pills. I have great restriction and take mine fine. I wonder what is missing from their post op recovery?

Or maybe...MAYBE some can take them and some can't?

Alabama state law prohibits how much insurance companies can charge employers who purchase the coverage. So in a way, you already have socialized medicine down there. There's no competition, so you're stuck. Sorry; call your congressman.

It has to be Water. Most people literally can't eat enought "extra" to gain 6 pounds of FAT in under 7 days. If you are drinking enough Water check with your doc. Salty foods may be the culprit, you may need a diuretic.

And it seems counter-intuitive but for mild water retention, unless you have a kidney issue, drink more water to get rid of what you're retaining. It works.

I think that people who are just getting it almost on a whim won't usually do it unless insurance pays for it. Usually.

Otherwise I don't think it correlates. I wanted the lap band since 2003, for example, but couldn't make myself pay out of pocket. Furthermore, there are many strongly committed people who would love to have the band and would most likely work wonders with it who don't have the wherewithal to scrape together 10-20K (plus the possibility of post op complications) to get it.

Whether I pay or my insurance pays, what matters is ME. That's true for each person. It's not fair or right to say "well if a person has to PAY for it he'll work it harder and better". You don't know that. Plus you don't know what some of us might have to tolerate etc to GET that insurance. It isn't "free". What matters is what's within, the dream, the gumption. How we realize that dream is almost secondary, for those of us who have insurance or the means to pay out of our own pockets.

RNY patients don't SEEM to lose faster, they DO lose faster. They have restriction from the start (most of us Lap Banders don't) AND they have malabsorption. Lap Banders don't. Many RNY'ers have dumping syndrome and so avoid sweets. Lap Banders don't. RNY'ers lose most of their weight the 1st year. Lap banders can, but we can also continue to lose, well, as long as it takes.

I have no idea if RNy'ers have to avoid bread etc but not all lap banders do. Further, the Protein first thing is a guideline, not a requirement. You can sit and eat Cookies and chase them with milkshakes all day with lap band, if you want to.

A seminar run by a good surgeon will help you sort it all out.

Wow changed your pic! Too cool! (I liked the other too though you looked so happy!)

I just remember the hunky daddy and laura and dear dear nellie good grief she was just too obnoxious for words! There was another daughter and the mom...

I think he's hawking Mercedes Benzes. Benzi? Benz? (can you tell I don't own one and probably will NEVER be able to afford one so I don't even need to know what you call two or more of them?)

Ok but I get to be Laura.

I've missed you chickie!

Good idea about the crusts. I still hate those darn things.

Mary Ellen, is that you?

I wish they'd bring back Seinfeld. Or The Waltons.

I am a strong STRONG proponent for following the pre and post op diets scrupulously. Having said that, the post fill diet? It's to allow your stomach to go back to normal if you're one of those who swells when filled, etc. And as you get closer to "tight", or the "green zone" or the "sweet spot", that swelling becomes more likely.

In order to prevent vomiting that can exacerbate the swelling (a vicious cycle) and/or cause a slip, most docs have patients do a mini-liquid/mushie/reg food diet.

In the early times before you're well restricted, if you aren't one who has a sensitive or reactive stomach, it's not so dire. And apparently, since you didn't feel any pain, you're one of those.

Just realize that as you get closer to your green zone it will be more important that you "baby" your stomach a little after a fill. I'd chalk this up to experience, count it a lesson learned, and don't "cheat" next time.

Vicodin can cause some people to vomit. Anesthesia and recovery, having the stomach agitated, many things can cause a person to be nauseated and vomit post op. It's not something one generally wants to let go on post banding because the band is sewn into place and violent vomiting can cause a slip. Be sure your doc checks you out once you get it under control. You must feel miserable! Good luck!

Please explain the diet you mentioned. How long must one be on liquid diet before surgery? and why? Thank you.

Different surgeons require different preop diets (or none) depending on the patient etc. If you decide to have surgery and your surgeon wants you to do a preop diet, s/he can explain the rationale behind the one you are given.

I am new to this whole thing. Does the surgery require that you not use tobacco before? after? and why?

Many surgeons require you do not smoke because of the multiple deleterious effects on the body (lungs don't recover from anesthesia, wounds don't heal as quickly due to restricted blood flow, etc)

Careful Paracelsus..in some circles "BOB" is an acronym for an adult toy Although that might be kind of fun?....

OH and could you switch from allegra to zyrtec? It's LOTS smaller?

I just take mine...13 months post op, no problems. And some of my pills are huge.

You can use it for aspirin and bandaids, I would think you can use it for fills. Actually fillcenters may know; if they don't, the administrator of your FSA will know.

Good luck! Don't let him give you attitude, just help! :tt1:

Good luck! Stupid psych psycho guy!

i don't blame you. I'd be crying too. Crying and breaking things. and then crying cuz I broke things.

If your doc is still open can you call and have them resend it? AND tell them you want them to pressure the psych to get it DONE?

My answer to that surgeon is "pfffffft". You can quote me if you wish.

Find another surgeon!

And, lapband surgery IS bariatric surgery. Any surgery with the goal of providing weight loss (except maybe Lipo, and it's more sculpting than loss) is bariatric surgery. Good grief.

Do you have to have a referral? My BMI was way higher than yours and I'm not even DOWN to yours yet but I love my band and wouldn't have ever had bypass no matter how much some doc told me to.