ShiraSimcha

Ahhh! I got a reminder notice yesterday and realized it was for my son! LOL How is the 6 month march to surgery going????

You look SO different!!!! Good for you girl!

I cannot believe they haven't noticed!!! That's an incredible amount of weight and I am sure you can see it in your face especially!!! I am so glad its working for you.

I already had my gallbladder out and I am not sure who knows this! So...I am going with ovarian cyst. Isn't this wild - a checklist of what to tell people when we're Secret Banders :cool:

I can't wait to hear where you are in your process!

Awesome!!!! I am really impressed at how good you feel!!!

I just got that questionaire too! I wasn't sure if I should answer it or not.

Hmm...I don't know about that but I wish I did. I am not banded yet - actually just starting on the 6 month diet tonight - but physical discomfort from hunger is a big fear of mine! I hope you find out what's doing that! How do you feel though? Are you restricted? Hungry? Gnawing off your arm hungry or normal hungry? Back to work yet??? :cool:

Yeah BG - go to the Highmark page and the Medical policy part and put in "panniculectomy" - oh yeah baby!!!

Thanks Jodi!

Tonight is my first LifeStyle class at Magee. $24 total with parking to start my next phase. I haven't told a soul for various reasons. Most of them involve the fact that most folks I know are down on any kind of WLS. They either know someone who failed on the band or they heard about someone. My dad was stapled way back when...his isn't working but it isn't because of the surgery it's him and he knows it. But anyway...whatever...I haven't told anyone except a close friend, my dad and my husband and I won't. At the rate I am going I expect my surgery will roll around sometime in May which will be good after I have my nervous breakdown from school! I am a grad student and work full time. No wonder I am sick a lot :cool: As I look at my picture above I know that that particular shirt is always a staple simply because it covers my belly. I just ordered some clothes from womanwithin.com - skirts and a dress since we have to dress for synagogue and I needed clothes but I am REALLY hoping the next time, I'll be able to get my stuff off the rack at WalMart. I also have to mention that I checked to see if this "apron" that hangs down will be eligible for plastic surgery under my insurance or am I doomed to have it forever? And the answer is???? Yes!!! It will be eligible so I am psyched. Maybe a boob job too if they don't go anywhere. I am a 40DD now and that's just NOT conducive to walking, running or pretty much anything. That "apron" makes the recumbent bike a real joy since it gets in the way of my peddling. Oh boy...buckle up...here we go peeps!!!!

Tonight is my first LifeStyle class at Magee. $24 total with parking to start my next phase. I haven't told a soul for various reasons. Most of them involve the fact that most folks I know are down on any kind of WLS. They either know someone who failed on the band or they heard about someone. My dad was stapled way back when...his isn't working but it isn't because of the surgery it's him and he knows it. But anyway...whatever...I haven't told anyone except a close friend, my dad and my husband and I won't. At the rate I am going I expect my surgery will roll around sometime in May which will be good after I have my nervous breakdown from school! I am a grad student and work full time. No wonder I am sick a lot :willy_nilly: As I look at my picture above I know that that particular shirt is always a staple simply because it covers my belly. I just ordered some clothes from womanwithin.com - skirts and a dress since we have to dress for synagogue and I needed clothes but I am REALLY hoping the next time, I'll be able to get my stuff off the rack at WalMart. I also have to mention that I checked to see if this "apron" that hangs down will be eligible for plastic surgery under my insurance or am I doomed to have it forever? And the answer is???? Yes!!! It will be eligible so I am psyched. Maybe a boob job too if they don't go anywhere. I am a 40DD now and that's just NOT conducive to walking, running or pretty much anything. That "apron" makes the recumbent bike a real joy since it gets in the way of my peddling. Oh boy...buckle up...here we go peeps!!!!

Oh I bet those ornaments rock! I used to do the handmade stuff but didn't feel the love you know? Then I became Jewish and didn't care anymore. This year everyone is getting something from Heifer International :cool: I also don't have many photos of the fat me but like you I also still see myself as the skinny 16 year old who got off the plane for my exchange year in NZ weighing 110 lbs. This will be such a wonderful experience for me to finally recapture the me of my minds eye. I just hope it works you know??

Thanks for all of your great comments! My friend is just not a fan. She knows someone who had the lap and had issues. Well, seemingly so does everyone else right? I'll just keep this little secret to myself. And eat soup. Lots of soup :cool:

I am wondering what I will feel like afterward? Not so much the ouchie part because I have had my gallbladder out laproscopically and I get that part but how will I really feel? Will I feel hungry? Will I be so hungry it's painful or will the band be what relieves that? How will I feel before my fill? Will THAT be hungry? I guess I am really worried about ravenous hunger working against me. I am just starting this whole process and these seem to be my biggest questions. What will I feel like???

Thanks :cool: Yep, and she had been banded - the chickie I spoke with. So she said as long as they were medically necessary, fills and unfills for as long as you have the band. Isn't that awesome? The classes are NOT covered but the $20 for each one is a bargain I think. I had to get my PCP changed since he left his partner and that's when she told me no PCP when you have PPO. So I can get everything done at Magee. She said to follow the medical policy on their front page and you're golden!!!!

I got that same information from Magee BG. I start my classes tomorrow night so I'll find out the scoop for you! SS

Mary - good luck to you! I bet those size 10's are waiting for you too!!!!!

Bimbabe that is just so awesome and I am so happy for you!!! I start my official journey tomorrow and I can't wait to be where you are. You just sound so happy!!!

BG, what insurance do you have? I just called Highmark about the fills. She said that the fills are covered completely for as long as they are medically necessary. She also said I don't need my PCP to be involved at all!!!!! In fact, because we have a PPO plan (and I didn't know this) we don't even HAVE a PPO - huh, who knew???

I called Magee this morning and guess what!!! I am a candidate for surgery! Even better, I start their lifestyle classes tomorrow right after work (while I am slamming a burger down on the way no doubt)! The classes are only $20 which I figured was a good deal. I can see my PCP on Nov. 25 and let him know I have made this decision and that Magee will handle everything. I am not sure my PCP was equipped to do anything more than weigh me so the extra $10 copay I think is worth it. Plus Magee does it all. Has anyone else done this route at Magee? How does this work with your PCP? Anyway, yay!!! BG you were right!!! I am on my way!!!!! :cool:

I called Magee this morning and guess what!!! I am a candidate for surgery! Even better, I start their lifestyle classes tomorrow right after work (while I am slamming a burger down on the way no doubt)! The classes are only $20 which I figured was a good deal. I can see my PCP on Nov. 25 and let him know I have made this decision and that Magee will handle everything. I am not sure my PCP was equipped to do anything more than weigh me so the extra $10 copay I think is worth it. Plus Magee does it all. Has anyone else done this route at Magee? How does this work with your PCP? Anyway, yay!!! BG you were right!!! I am on my way!!!!! :willy_nilly:

Well, it's now been a week and a half and still no word from Magee. I imagine that by overestimating my height (even though I called back and corrected it), I am too low to be considered. I am really kind of bummed to be honest because apart from that, I qualify. At least initially. At my true height I am 37.5 bmi. Sigh. I will call again tomorrow and see what's up.

Well, it's now been a week and a half and still no word from Magee. I imagine that by overestimating my height (even though I called back and corrected it), I am too low to be considered. I am really kind of bummed to be honest because apart from that, I qualify. At least initially. At my true height I am 37.5 bmi. Sigh. I will call again tomorrow and see what's up.

There is no way you gained 4# from what you ate...foodwise. Saltwise? Yeah, it's all water but you know that. I completely sympathise with you. It has to be extremely frustrating!!!!