barbara465

Taylor surely out sang Kat, but stranger things have happened. I do think he will win because he is so different from other Idol winners or wanna be's. It has been a good season, but as others have stated, it would have been nice to see Chris standing at one of the last two.

Thank you for that wisdom shackdog. I think the ones of us affected have done that. It is difficult to redo the paperwork and wait again for approval after we had already done that. I still don't know if my surgery date will hold because UHC hasn't responded to the new doctor. I got the call on a Friday evening and I was on the phone on Monday. I had a new appointment on Friday and UHC was in the loop the whole time. It is very frustrating to have come so far, but this is just a setback. All of us will get through it and move on. It's the waiting that is driving us crazy and the reason we are put in this position that makes it frustrating.

Check with all of the services, doctor, hospital or facility, anesthesiologist, and any other resource the doctor requires (nutrionist, psych exam, etc.). I have been told that some will offer discounts because they don't have to file insurance. Also, self pays sometimes get up to a 1 year fills as part of the deal.

Welcome from another Barbara. I should be getting my band on June 13th if UHC gets the paperwork to my new doctor. Best of luck to you.

That looks about the average from what I've read on this site. Some give cash discounts, which to them is self-pay. Many go to Mexico where the price seems to be around $8,000. Keep reading this site and you will probably get some very good information on costs, options, and locations. Good luck

I'll still be away on June 2nd when some of you have surgery. Good luck to you and let us know how you are doing. This is the greatest adventure of our lives. I just can't wait.

That's OK, worry about that small stuff, and keep your mind off the surgery! From what I've read on this board, you will meet others down there doing what you are doing. They seem to form instant bonds with each other and manage to even go shopping! You will do fine. Think of it as a great adventure, of which it is. Enjoy your time away and be optimistic for your future. Get as much rest as you can. And tell the nice nurse to take care of your glasses! You will do just fine!

Ron, Congradulations and good luck. Once you set it in motion it looks like it went pretty fast for you. I hope to join you in bandland on 6/13. I had to change doctors so waiting for insurance company to recertify. Sounds like you have a great support system in place. You will do fine.

This is great. My DH makes wonderful omelets, but they are a little on the greasy side. This will be a good way to get rid of the "fat" and the mess in the kitchen.

I really enjoyed this post. It made me smile. Have you ever thought of stand up? You tell a good story.

There is a lot of wisdom in these posts, and a lot of "heart". I come hear to get information, to better understand what lies ahead of me, and to try to get my head in the right place for the life-long journey ahead of me. I have finally come to understand that food is an addiction, not unlike alcohol or drugs. Its not illegal to eat, but it is a sin to do what we have done to our bodies. I don't gorge, make myself throw up, or eat 2-3 hamburgers at a time. Yet, somehow I have lived my adult life overweight. Through this board I have realized I'd better approach this as an alcoholic must do that wants to get sober. Alcohol, even a little bit, will send them back to the world of alcohol. Bad food, even a little bit, will lead me to failure. The agreement to overcome my food addiction has to last forever and I must make the right choices forever if I am to succeed. Susan, I have looked for your posts for the last few months I have been on this board. You are so willing to help newcomers with good sound information. You are succeding in your struggle with weight. Don't stop being there for those of us that need your help. My hope for me is that as time goes by food and food restriction won't be a daily thought. When I gave up smoking 20 years ago I did it cold turkey. It was rough, but over time it was just a way of life. I can't imagine smoking now. In fact, its something I can hardly tolerant in others. That isn't to say that sometimes something triggers a thought and I remember what it was like to enjoy a smoke. Hopefully, the band will help me with the food and that overtime I won't be thinking all the time what can I eat next. We all come into this journey from different places, different mindsets, and even different histories. The one thing that we have in common is an addiction to food and the inability to keep our weight at a healthy level. Through this board, the use of the lapband as a tool, and our conviction that we will overcome this addiction, we all will be successful. It is a struggle we will have forever, but hopefully it will become easier over time. Thank all of you for your wisdom, your willingness to share, and for your honesty. It helps to know that others have walked the road I'm about to take and have found the journey rewarding, even if painful at times.

What a relief!!! Its OK. I gave up doing self breast exams because everything I felt was a lump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck on your lapband surgery.

Buy a pie crust, I use the ones that come in the box. Mix at least 6-8 eggs with fat free half and half . You can use some egg beaters if you want and you can use some skim milk if you want. However do use some half and half to hold it together. Drain frozen spinach really well and add it with some mushrooms. You can also add green onion if you want. Bake it in a 350 oven for 1 hour or until set and golden. Grill the salmon and serve it on the side.

I think Taylor will win. He didn't fit the mold and the public likes to shake things up. They all will do well and Chris will survive. I would like to see Taylor win as I like it when the public does something unexpected!

Well I can be pissed because I started with Dr. Spiegel before the change. I was approved, surgery date set, and then the phone call. Not only did he want $4,500, but the surgicenter wanted $2,900. My out of network out of pocket maximum is $6,000. Dr. Spiegel's office offered me no alternatives. I called UHC, but they would not do an exception. UHC gave me names of doctors I had never heard of as In Network. Rather than take that chance I called Dr. Matthew St. Laurent as I heard good things about him. His office was so very helpful and before I set foot in the door we agreed on a total price, including the surgicenter. I am paying $3,000 to him and $300 deductible. They are writing off everything else and taking what UHC gives them. When I went in to their office it was such a world of difference from Spiegel's setup. I finally felt comfortable in what I was doing. I didn't feel like a fat cow in a mass of people. I felt like a human being. Now UHC told me it would be just a few days to switch doctors. WRONG. It goes back through the approval process and they are allowed 15 days to make the change. I hopefully can make my June 13th date, but I don't think you'll make Memorial day weekend. Just my experience and maybe you will have better luck than me. UHC says its a simple change, but then they hide behind the red tape. Sorry to vent here, but Dr. Spiegel's setup just gets me going. They are all trying to go after the money and make money at the expense of human misery. Climbing off my soap box now. :second:

My doctor was telling me that the pillows can sometimes cause problems during fills. In some cases, the saline gets trapped in one or more of the pillows so they don't know exactly how much is really there when they extract and then fill. His opinion was that they were a little more tempermental when doing fills. I have no earthly idea of that is correct. It's just what he told me.

I have seen on here that the first 4-6 weeks is the healing phase. Each day gets better, but everyone heals at different rates. I think we should expect to be swollen for at least 3 weeks. You are on liquids I am assuming and then will move to mushies. Just follow your doctor's orders. This is the time to heal, not necessarily lose weight. Good luck

Try Dr. Matthew St. Laurent. He is not In Network, but he is very reasonable and uses the same facilities as Spiegel. His office is located at Methodist Hospital at Willowbrook. His number is 281 921-1890. Explain your situation and they will probably work a deal with you. I switched my surgery from Spiegel to St. Laurent mostly because of UHC.

WOW what a show. I actually thought this was a very good show. I don't know who I would vote for. I think Elliott is the weakest from an overall performer. He is painful to watch as it seems he is always trying too hard to connect. I thought Kat sang well and Taylor was wonderful. Taylor is so different, but I love to watch what he is going to do. I think Elliott will leave and Taylor will win the whole thing.

If nothing changes I will be getting my surgery June 13th. DH and I are going on a cruise and coming back June 3rd. Although my doctor doesn't require it, I am going on a protein liquid diet to get ready. I want to jump start the process, and after all the food on the cruise, I will need it.

Try Match.com. I had great results there and for the older ones try seniorfriendfinder. I believe the technology can help us find those that we wouldn't necessarily have found using "traditional" methods. I believe my DH was sent to me. I waited a long time to find him, but knew almost instantly that he was special. It was our time in life. If we had met earlier we probably would not have been right for each other. When you are open and receptive and comfortable with yourself, good things happen. Live your life to the fullest, and if you are fortunate enough to find someone to share it with, all the better.

I can't believe she went with McDreamy and yet I can't believe he hasn't left his wife for her. Killing Denny was so sad. I think Izzie is gone. How could she survive the confession. Interns are lost at a rapid rate in real life, so why not fiction? I had my hands busy with my new cell phone so I couldn't eat. Good thing as I was getting frustrated with all that was going on. Can't wait for the new season!

Megan, Maybe Chinese food is one of your triggers? Stay away from it and see if you survive better with the hunger. I know when I eat carbs I eat everything. Just a thought. You have come so far and you are now allowing your cravings to take control. Its scary for us all to think that the bandster life doesn't become automatic over time. Hang in there.

My doctor told me the larger band has problems with fills. The band itself has pockets built into inside, like sections. Each section fills with saline, but sometimes it gets "trapped" in there. When doing a fill they remove what's in there. Sometimes all of it does not come out and the doctor has to "guess" if it leaked or if its trapped. He explained this to me and told me I wouldn't need the larger band. I would get another opinion. $600 is not the average cost here for fills, the most I've seen is $275 under floro. You might have to be rebanded with a smaller band, or more saline added to give you restriction. Good luck

When I divorced my first husband with a child age 6 I decided I needed to work on me. I got my education, advanced in my career, educated my son, and then woke up. I woke up to the fact that I was in my fifties and was alone. I was comfortable with who I was, proud of all that I had accomplished, but still found something missing. I went online and started dating. I can't say that I met any losers, but I did have some interesting dates. I screened them pretty well before meeting and knew lots about them. New Year's eve 2003 I agreed to meet a man I had been talking to for a while. It was an afternoon meeting, casual. I looked into his eyes and must admit I fell hard. I married that man in August 2004. He's not perfect, but we are perfect for each other. He had never dated a plus size woman, but he was accepting. He didn't understand all of the ramifications, but tried. Only after I accepted that I have nothing more to prove as a large woman did I decide to lose the weight. Like others have said, I want more years with this wonderful man. I want my health. Don't look for perfect, look for someone who is perfect for you. There is a difference. Good luck and don't give up. Don't put your life on hold until you are "thin". Life goes on, no matter what size we are.