barbara465

In your case what shows on the scales is NOT important. You look absolutely fabulous. I can only hope for the same success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone is different. If you are not healing as fast as others, or remain tired or can't concetrate, there is reason to be off on short term. Once it happens you can tell your doctor you don't feel "up" to returning to work. They should then be able to sign your paperwork. I wouldn't say because temptation is too high at work to be the reason.

I think a new law should be that two people, whether they are sisters, brothers, roommates, lovers, etc. should be able to form a union, partnership, etc. for the purposes of income tax, medical insurance, medical decisions, inheritance, etc. Take religion out of this discussion and some of the arguments against same sex marriages would go away because they wouldn't need to get "married". Why do married people get preferential treatment on income taxes? If IRS recognizes "marriages" it should also recognize other types of unions, with little or no effort on the part of the participants. Probably not what you were looking for, but this has really been getting to me lately. Barbara is getting off her soap box now.

I went to Yahoo and did a search. There is something called FlipFold that aids in folding clothes. I used something very similar for the first time on a recent trip. I had given them to everyone for Christmas. It made packing really easy. I never thought of using it for towels, sheets, etc. I can't wait to go home and try it to see if it works. Still not sure about sheets, but I'll give it a try.

THe only way I got rid of the email notifications was to stop subscribing to threats, either intentionally or by accident.

Oh this thread is funny. I must ask if anyone has heard of the cleaners? They do tablecloths as well as regular laundry. I have a folding board for packing T-shirts and blouses. Is there one for folding sheets? I have two irons and an ironing board. However, I NEVER use them. I send clothes to the cleaners to get them pressed. I have a friend that says I iron more wrinkles in then I take out and with that its the cleaners for me!

If my primary wrote a letter I don't know anything about it. I called her on my own and she said my plans were fine. I don't think my insurance required it, just getting the info from the lapband doctor.

Barbara, Are you me? Your handle is close to mine. I will be 60 in September and one excited Grandma! I am scheduled for Tuesday, but insurance may hold me up for a week. I was scheduled with Spiegel, but he dropped UHC as primary so I had to find another doctor. Glad you got yours scheduled and your ready to go.

Glad you guys are doing well after surgery. Keep moving around and let that gas escape. For those of you questioning the food, go to that thread. There are plenty of suggestions out there for the liquid stage. From all I've read it looks like liquids for 2-3 weeks after surgery is the norm. Then another 2-3 weeks of mushies. Try to get the Protein in first. As the swelling goes down you will get more hungry. Don't eat regular food until your doctor tells you to. That seems to cause damage, much like the process of feeding an infant - if you encounter problems go back to liquids and work back up. I'm still waiting to see if I'm on for the 13th. I'm so ready and envious that some of you have started the process.

Sounds like everyone is doing well. Some of us are anxiously awaiting our turns. Still waiting for doctor's office to confirm my date of the 13th. Insurance has approved, but needed more info. I might get pushed to the 20th, but hopefully not. My doctor is not requiring a pre diet so I can go anytime. Enjoyed the cruise, but must say, I wasn't that interested in the food. I knew it was my last hooray, but mentally I was already banded. Hope all that are scheduled this week do well and report in.

I also suffer with this and have for many years. I've learned what foods will most likely trigger an attack and avoid them. I'm hoping the band helps with this. My doctor's wouldn't let me do gastric bypass several years ago because of IBS, but they like the band. Only time will tell.

Congrats. This is really good and it makes you wonder how those kids get along with their pants down around their knees. I've watched them hold them up while walking. Sooooooooooo, maybe you were just in style with the students!!!!

UHC had a good reputation in general for support of WLS. Some companies have exclusions, but UHC has been very supportive. In fact, Dr. Spiegel and his staff told all of us at one of the seminars that UHC was one of the best to have. I think the problem was that some of the doctors are not willing to pay what UHC wants to contract to pay. They want more. When they can't get an agreement then they sever their relationship. Dr. Spivak was first, followed now by Dr. Spiegel. Paying cash is an option for some, but for those of us that have insurance that will pay, it just seems silly not to find a doctor that covers it. Of course, I also want a good doctor. Maybe I should have hurried up and had the surgery and cancelled our cruise, but I didn't think that was fair to DH or to me. OH well, hopefully it will all work out. I found a great doctor, but still waiting for UHC to reapprove me.

You will be ahead of me Steve. I'll be thinking of you as you start the journey. There are quite a few of us in June. Check out that thread to meet the other ones in June. My doctor is not putting me on a preband diet, but I think I will put myself on one. Hubby and I are off for a cruise on Saturday so when we get back its liquids for me. Good luck to you and welcome.

I've heard good things about both of them. I think you will do well with either one. Go with the one you feel the most comfortable with and has the aftercare program you can live with. Good luck

You will never know what a positive influence you have been on my research. Keep up the good work, both personally and on this board. We need you!!!

I was more interested in why the obesity center was closed. So much going on with some of the doctors in Houston that have offices in that area as well. I was just wondering if they were related. I don't know where some of the Houston doctors operate or if they make them come to Houston and only hold seminars there. The two events are probably unrelated - her death and the closing of the obesity center.

Haven't heard anything about this. Who staffed that center? Were the doctors from Houston or from that area?

I met my husband of just less than 2 years on Match.com after being divorced for over 25 years. I decided in 2001 that it was time to meet someone. Having a career in technology I turned to technology to help me. I definitely wasn't meeting them at work or through business affiliations. My first real dating experience (more than 3 times out together) was with an undertaker. I knew he wasn't a keeper, but he was good for my confidence. I realized that I definitely had a lot to offer and that I could and did want affection. I met my hubby New Year's eve of 2002 after talking to him online and on the phone. The sparks flew, but it still was a while before either of us would admit we cared for each other. We were married in August 2004. He was definitely worth the wait. I was about 30 lbs lighter than I am now. He is very supportive of me and my weight challenges. He has never said anything about my weight or eating habits. He wants what's best for me that will make me healthy.

I really enjoyed the show last night. I was wondering how they were going to pull off 2 hours. At the start of the second hour we saw the first 8 minutes of hour 1 here in Texas. I thought NOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I won't be able to see who won. About 8 minutes into the repeat the picture snaped and Taylor was singing. I think the American Idol tour is probably entertaining. Some of the numbers they did last night I bet they do in that performance. They all looked good. However, Clay Aiken looked a little weird with that hair. I loved the number with that other guy, but what was with that hair? Anyway, glad Taylor won. What to do on Tuesday night? Let's get out and walk, walk, walk. Great time to get our exercise. See you on the walking path!

Thanks Mary. Maybe Pam can do that and eliminate the wait.

It appears that Dr. Speigel is very busy these days. Some of us that planned on using him have had to scramble for new doctors. UHC and he have parted ways so I was going to be out lots of money to continue with him. There are several threads about him that indicate others are having issues. You might want to find another fill doctor, or be prepared to spend most of the day there. I don't think the situation will get better. You will have to decide how important it is to you and whether you can deal with the long wait to get someone you are now familiar with. You might not need that many more fills so an occasional 1/2 day visit is not a big deal. Good luck.

Melissa, Good luck to you. UHC didn't give me any trouble or required prereqs to get approved. However, I changed from Dr. Spiegel to Dr. Matthew St. Laurent and have to go through the process again. UHC said this was no big deal and would only take a few days once I selected a doctor. My follow-up call says now that they can have up to 15 days to respond. I don't think I'll have a problem, but wanted to get all of this resolved before vacation. I am pysched for my surgery date and really don't want it to slip. UHC gave me in network doctors names, but none of them I had heard of before. My new doc is not in network, but his charges were as if he was in network for me. My primary gave me Garth Davis and I confirmed that he was in network with UHC. I just didn't have any information on him. Best to look at is the after care. What is your doctor's plan and does it seem reasonable to you? Some make you come back monthly and also visit a dietician. I like my new doc and feel much more comfortable with the whole process. Good luck to you and hope you get approved soon.

For some, being a full time mommy is not enough. Or being a full time mommy is exhausting and the results of our nuturing are sometimes years away. Not everyone is made to be a stay at home Mom. Don't beat yourself up if you are one of those. Do what is best for you, and as a result, you end up doing what's best for the family. I stayed home with my son when he was little, until he started kindergarten. I thought that would give him a good start in life. I found out years later that he doesn't remember that time, only my working years. Go figure!

I think a beautiful trifle will fit the night and be compact for a boat. You can make it low fat, bandster friendly, and elegant. I saw one above that looked good. Mine is: 1 sponge cake or pound cake lemon curd (in a jar is great) - could sub. low fat lemon pudding blueberries non fat whipped topping put a layer of cake in bite size pieces. Top with lemon curd, blueberries, and whipped topping. Repeat each layer until you reach the top of your triffle dish. Top with whipped topping and a few blueberries for garnish. This is very fresh tasting and light as Desserts go. Have fun!