nursekathy2u

Dr. David Kim is my doctor. He and North Hills Hospital are an ASBS Center of Excellence. He has had ZERO deaths from Lap Bands or Gastric Bypasses (has done around 500 surgeries total) and has had ZERO erosions and only one slip. He was WONDERFUL. I highly recommend him!!!

Gail, I think the problem is not a monetary one as far as reimbursement goes. When medicare changed the rules and said they would only pay for Surgery done at a Center of Excellence that is what caused the backlog of medicare patients. ALL medicare patients in the country can only have surgery at the 173 Centers of Excellence nationwide. If physicians didnt limit how many medicare patients they took per month they would have no room for the other patients that are either private pay or insurance. I know when Medicare changed the rule we had Medicare patients from all over the South calling us for appointments because there are only 10 COE's in Texas, 4 in Louisanna, 1 in Oklahoma and none in New Mexico or Arkansas. We had literally hundreds of patients trying to get surgery done. I'm not sure coming up with extra money would be the answer to getting you done sooner but it would be worth a shot if you have extra cash laying around.. but I am not sure it is legal for them to accept payment from you above and beyond what Medicare pays. Kathy

Kind of like why will some insurance carriers cover Viagra but not Birth Control pills????

I am posting an article that was in the paper today.. Someones poor judgement lead to this poor kids death... Dallas teen dies after running 'suicides' Associated Press NBC5 video report DALLAS - An overweight 13-year-old boy has died after running sprints and doing drills called a "suicide" for about 30 minutes in gym class. A fellow classmate at T.W. Browne Middle School in South Dallas said that while they were all struggling with the exercise Wednesday, it was especially hard on 240-pound Neri Hernandez. "He started running and the last suicide he did, that was when he hit the wall and fell," Stephanie Molina, a fellow classmate, told Dallas television station WFAA. "He started shaking. His eyes were white. He got brown foam coming out of his mouth." "All we saw was tears coming out from his eyes," Molina said. Classmate Jannette Soto told television station KXAS that a group of students including Hernandez were made to do the exercises as punishment for talking. After Hernandez had previously passed out during exercise, his family had noted that in a school form. The Dallas school district said the form the family filled out applies to sports and not the physical education class. "And we did notice that there were some indications that he would be short of breath on occasion and so forth," said district spokesman Celso Martinez. "This would have disqualified him from a team, but not necessarily from physical education classes." DISD officials said they are investigating the death.

Carlene.. I feel the same way you do.. my only difference is that I have never been pregnant. I dont know what it is like to have a life inside of me that depends on me for survival. Someone described it earlier as the mother being a "host" and the baby not surviving without its "host". How clinical.. My sister's S-I-L has had 5 abortions, is pregnant again and wants a 6th abortion. She has an 8 yr old daughter whom she loves in her own strange way, however, she has said before that she should have aborted her like the father suggested. Then she wouldn't have to "fight" with the childs father about custody, etc. She also has a 14 yr old son whom she treated terribly and she finally sent him to live at a "boys farm" in south Texas. He has been there 2 yrs and is as happy as he has ever been. This woman sickens me to say the least. But I support the right to choose. I DO NOT want someone to tell me what I can and can't do in relation to my body. Abortion is a tricky issue.. If my 14 yr old neice was raped I would want her (and her parents) to have the right to choose whether to carry the child or not. (I DO NOT like the fact that a minor can have an abortion without parental consent.) However, on the other hand.. someone like this woman I was talking about.. I wish they would force sterilization on her if she aborts this sixth child.. Hell, I will even hold her sorry ass down while they do it.

Yo TOM, don't be hatin' dude!!! The new thing at my neices High school is making the peace sign or victory sign or the number 2 sign but holding it sideways with your palm toward your body and saying "Dueces".... I am constantly asking her what is a "Dueces".. what does it mean?? Wouldn't it just be duece?? Why is it plural if it is just one hand??? I have no clue... She just says "Its Dueces man". Seem like she be flashin' some gang sign to me.......

Well the $3 million is dwindling everyday.. seems the good uncle had a bit of a tax bill.. and of course the lawyer will have his fees.. but all in all I am thrilled for my parents.. they have been poor all their lives but never failed to help out someone in need, give money to the church, give to charities and raise and support 6 kids. The first thing my Dad did was quit the janitorial job he got after he retired from the post office and couldn't live on his pension. So he is finally really retired!! We children have always worried about how we would care for them as they grow old. We didn't want to see them go to a nursing home. Now we will be able to keep them in one of our homes even if they need skilled nursing care. That is one bit of happiness that money CAN buy!!! By the way.. why BuSh and not Bush.. I have always wondered.

Here is a question.. Can you complain about the idiot you voted for and helped put into office??? By the way.. I voted AGAINST Bush but not necessarily FOR Kerry.. I think in the last election most people I know voted for the least offensive candidate instead of for the most qualified. Wasn't much of a choice.... In Texas everytime you renew your drivers license they ask you to register you to vote. I think they even do that when you renew on line. And you can look up your polling place in the paper or online.... no excuses.

My parents are here in Texas.. My uncle Stanley, in Los Angeles, died and left them $3,800,000.00. His lawyer in California told them the first 2 million is tax free and the rest will be taxed at 40%.

Thanks for the link... the article does NOT say GM is on the verge of bankruptcy.. and it says the money was offered to employees with >10yr experience to give up there retiree insurance..Im not reading it as saying they have to leave.. but maybe I am wrong... Quote from Article : "But a person familiar with terms of the offer said that UAW members with at least 10 years of service at the world's largest automaker will get $140,000 if they give up the retiree health care coverage that has become a crippling burden for GM. Those workers will keep their accrued pension benefits." GM has been struggling, I agree.. they have been in talks with Ford and with Toyota about forming partnerships. Nissan has also expressed interest in forming partnerships. I hope they go with Ford though...

My husband works for GM.. He has never heard of any of this nor does he know anyone offered $140,000 as a buyout.. what is your source of this information?? GM is the top seller of vehicles in the country..(with toyota about to pass them) As far as my husband knows they are not about to go into bankruptcy..

thats true about the poor.. But here in Texas, in the DFW area, people gamble anyway.. they just head 1 hour north or 3 hours east and spend their money in another state.. if their gonna gamble, might as well keep the money here.

I was doing some research last night on the candidates and I really have to say Kinky Friedman has some great ideas.. He is big on teachers. Says Texas teachers make $6000 less than the national average. Wants to put teachers in charge of education instead of "carreer desk jockeys". Wants to end the TAKS test. Also wants to legalize gambling in Texas and send the profit to the education system.. He calls it Slots for Tots though and even though i support the idea its his Brash attitude and idiotic slogans that will probably keep people from voting for him.. Everything I read about on him I agreed with except for supporting gay marriage. Too bad a "regular guy" like his isn't running who doesn't come across as a horses ass.

Oh.. and LA Weight Loss is NOT medically supervised. At least not locally here in Texas. There are no medical people in the clinics.

Most insurance companies want a diet and exercise program that is supervised by either a physician, nurse practioner or a physicians assistant. You can use LA weight loss only if you went to your physician and he documented your progress on diet, exercise, and behavior modifications (no junk food, smaller portions, etc.) Are you SURE your insurance requires a 2 year diet or a is it a diet within the last 2 years. Most ask for a physician supervised diet within the last 2 years. You may want to clarify that. Remember, however, that the physician MUST supervise whatever diet you do.. ww, jenny craig, LA Weight loss etc. I would recommend keeping diet and exercise logs to send in with your appeal and take them to the physician and have him sign and date them.. Also, most insurance companies want you to see the doctor on a MONTHLY basis and he MUST document at EACH visit: 1. What diet your on 2. What exercise you are doing and how often 3.And any behavior modifications you have made If you miss one month or if you go every month but the doctor doesnt document the 3 things above the insurance companies can deny you for that reason. That is why I recommend keeping your own diet and exercise logs and have him sign and date them each time you go in.. that way you have proof that you discussed it with the doctor! Good Luck!! Kathy

DVT or PE would have been found on autopsy and most likely not required the "inquest" they are asking for

You always make me smile!! Kathy

When I had my band placed I was required to be on liquids for 2 weeks, then pureed food for 2 weeks and then SLOWLY add soft foods a progress SLOWLY to soilid food. YOu are only a few weeks post op and in my opinion too early to be eating like that. Each doctor has their own rules for post op diet but Im sure your doctor would NOT want you eating that way. You could damage your pouch. Remember the pouch is only about the size of an egg.. yes you can force things into it, it is a muscle and it will stretch but over eating this early in the game is setting yourself up for the possibility of a complication. If I were you I would check with your surgeon and make sure you understood the post op diet and are doing it correctly. If so, you MUST try to practice self control. Just like you did with every other diet you have been on.. The risk isnt just not losing or gaining back weight but your risking ruining the pouch by overfilling it and risking a complication. Throughout the future your band will not be "the cure", your band is a TOOL for you to work WITH, not against to control your portions of food. That is ALL it does. YOU must be incharge of what you put into your body. If it is all unhealthy food you will lose very little if any weight with the band. To answer your orriginal question, yes it does get easier once you hit the "sweet spot" where you have good restriction but it may take many fills and many months to get there. Continuing to eat like you are will not only give you more weight to lose but make getting good restriction more difficult due to stretching your pouch. Whe I first got my band I was hungry ALL THE TIME. I drank water constantly between meals and only ate what i was told to eat.. Yes it was hard but I risked my life having surgery and I wasn't going to screw it up. This is a good place to get support while you are going thru this difficult stage. Sharing your problem was a good thing.. Now you need to get control of your eating and take care of yourself!! You deserve it!!! Good luck, Kathy

Sounds good until you get some wise guy mathmetician to present you with the truth!!!

Well I just dont understand how all those pennies would fit on a checkerboard..... I've heard a similar analogy applied to playing Blackjack. If you always double your bet, whether you win or lose, you will eventually come out ahead or something like that.. I have never been brave enough to try it.

I'm from Fort Worth. I chose Dr. David Kim at North Hills Hospital. He is WONDERFUL!!! Dr. Carter did a Mastectomy on my little sister when she was just 31yrs old. As far as I am concerned he saved her life!!! I think the world of him. He sat by her stretcher in the preop area and held her hand and comforted her before surgery. She was so scared and his kindness really helped calm her fears. He is a very nice man and a great surgeon!! You can't go wrong with him. Kathy

Oh Patti... how can you do that?? have you no shame??? Turning your backs on the Cowboys when you were raised on them... you are a very bad girl:(

And, were off !!!!!!!! Wooooo Hooooo football season started last night!!! The Steelers Defense looked pretty darn good!!! I was snuggled up on the couch with my hubby blissfully watching the game when all the sudden I heard something so horrible... so overwhelming... I couldn't concentrate on the game!! This horrible, repetitative, grating sound was really wearing me down.. I thought I knew what it was but I wasn't prepared for the SHOCK I received when I realized it was actually true!!!! MADDEN HAS INFECTED SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL ON NBC!!!!!!!!!!:think :think RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!:help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: OH MY GOD THE HORROR OF IT ALL!!!!!!!:omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg: Kathy

Blah, Blah, Blah..... Actually I am looking forward to the game.. I AM a Longhorns fan but Im a football fan first and foremost and it should be a GREAT football game!!

I have seen sales clerks tell thin people in Lane Bryant and the Avenue that they only carry size 14 and up. The people were shopping for their mothers or sisters etc. So it goes both ways. There is always a nice way to say things.. Here at work I was offended by one nurse who would announce to the patient in front of the entire outpatient department.. "Oh I better get you a big gown" or "Hold on I need to go get a gown that will fit you". I was sick of it and always embarrased for the patient beyond words.. I finally pulled the girl aside and told her how she came across to me and probably to the patients.. She had no clue.. she was not saying anything bad really.. just factual.. but it is frequently PERCEIVED as rude by the obese folks. She asked me what do I say? I told her I always tell the patient "If you will bear with me a minute I am going to go get a gown for you that you will feel more comfortable in" I am saying the same thing but emphasizing the patients comfort over their size.. She was just overcome with how many people she had probably ofended and has used "my line" ever since.. She is a thin, petite girl who has never battled her weight or been sensitive about it and she really never had a clue she sounded that way...