maestrita

On the flip side, I would wait a year if I could get my insurance to pay. They won't though. I have to come up with the 10,000.00 plus travel and after care. I know it's hard on my family financially, and I will be working off paying for my surgery for years to come. I just can't go on like this. I just can't. It's strange that they think apnea will be a problem. Maybe the resp doc is trying to document your need for the surgery. I only say that because many people who have apnea are approved because of the apnea (as a co-morbidity), rather than excluded. My apnea is pretty significant (OK, let me be honest. I can be heard snoring outside of the house if I don't sleep with my machine. I'm not exaggerating), though my BMI is not terribly high. I am paying for the surgery to find some relief from the debilitating fatigue I feel from the sleep disorder and the pain from injury related spinal arthritis which is worsened by my weight problem. I hope this reads with the pleasant tone I am hoping to impart, and I only mention these things to maybe help you to hang in there, and look at it in a way that brings you comfort. It won't be too long before you are living a much better life. Best wishes!

:sneaky: Oooh, I hope you're right, Alliemorris, 'cause I do love tortillas. My desire to be thin does trump tortillas and chipotle, but just barely!

Oh my goodness. I didn't know it was so inexpensive in Europe. I thought it'd be closer to what we pay in the US. It is less than half! Depending on where we go, maybe a third of the cost for the average procedure here, and many of our insurance companies still don't cover it. If they do, some only cover 80%, and the copay is about what you've quoted (4000 Euros, right?) as the price for the procedure, the hotel, and travel. That's great that it is so accessible. I'm happy for you guys, sad for us :eek:.

OK. I talked to my friend who is banded, and she said that I can probably eat them with sauce, but just a tiny bit. In any case, it might be best if I leave the breads behind. It's strange. I am having trouble envisioning my life after this procedure. It sounds so much more difficult, but it sounds like people are happier....

I don't know about in Latin, but wives is the Spanish word for handcuffs. I'm not joking. :biggrin:

I had very bad experiences with Phentermine and with Meridia. I am not going to post those here, but just offer a word of caution. If you think it is not working for you, get back in to see your doctor. For me, no amount of weight loss is worth taking amphetamines. I don't think that is true for everyone out there, so by all means, if it works, keep keepin' on.

:smile:There is a doctor and facility forum if you keep scrolling down the page. I found a lot of good info there, too. Good luck!

So after having an extremely hard time locating my port and being stuck 5 to 6 times(with the fill needle) they found my port.The Doc pull's out 3 cc's? I was told my band was placed empty! And why the other Doc didn't find the other cc's when he gave me the .5cc?? So she gave me back the 3cc's and added 1 cc.So now I have 4 cc's total when I thought I had .5cc!:cursing:Very confusing!! I have just finished reading the Lap Band Solution, and it mentioned that they have to bleed the air from the band when they put it in, so some Fluid is placed in the band in order for that to happen. Could that be where your 3 ccs came from? I am just guessing because that sounds weird. I wonder what the standard/clinical amount of fluid for this process would be. 3ccs sounds like a lot when talking about fills, but the volume is pretty small. I don't know if it would take all of that to push the air out or not. Glad you're OK now, though.

I've never been really big on pop, but I do enjoy Crystal Lite sometimes. There is a pretty good mix-in from Special K that is a protein water. It's the strawberry-kiwi flavor. There are also some hot-teas that I like. One is a strawberry and one is a vanilla. I can't remember the brands, but you might browse the hot teas if it is a part of the store that you haven't been to lately. Do be careful to avoid black teas and stick to the herbal if you have trouble with heartburn, though. Oh, and avoid any of the diet teas that contain Senna unless you know what it is and how your body will respond. Just trust me on that one. I found that I like filtered water (Britta) better than I like tap water, but do remember that you filter out important minerals and fluoride if you don't drink tap water. You can do it. So can I!

:biggrin: OMG...what if I can't eat tortillas? Please tell me you eat the soft corn ones! Jeez, I guess we've identified one of my trigger foods. I will just have to wait and see if I can or can't. It does seem to be very individual, but I am noticing a pattern of starches being difficult for people. Makes sense. As I am typing this, out of the corner of my eye, I see an add for dr. Ponce de leon. That is cracking me up. It makes me think of a Spanish explorer bringing lap bands to the new world.

His own statements are what damned him as far as communicating with me goes. I don't hate him or love to hate him or anything of the sort. He had offended me and some others, I gathered, by being very aggressive on another post. He expressed that he doesn't get along with women. I find that type of statement to be discriminatory and just as unacceptable if a person were to say that he doesn't get along with African-Americans or Asians. It really struck me as "you people" sort of thing to say. I am glad that I learned how to block his posts because that's not what I came here for. I don't enjoy having to defend myself. I came here for support, and I had just hoped to get ready for my surgery consult without having to deal with any nonsense.

Thanks, Coach and welcome. It's true about some of the border cities. They can be VERY rough. I don't think that is true of all of Mexico, though. Having lived in Guadalajara and traveled extensively by myself throughout the southern states, I think the border cities give us an uncharacteristic view of the Mexican people and their culture, don't you? For example, I won't go to Tj, but I never felt cause to be overly concerned about my safety in Jalisco or Michoacan. A person can receive excellent medical care in Mexico, sometimes better than we provide here, but it is not guaranteed, and you have NO legal recourse like you have here. I think, though, our original poster is Canadian, am I right? As a Canadian, you would still have legal recourse under our system to hold a doc accountable if you choose to have surgery in the US...but it's costly....

Thank you, Kiz. That's what I was hoping to hear about. I wouldn't have anticipated that the port would ever be near the bra line, but now I will know to ask.

Yes, you don't care so much that you wrote a book to respond. I don't care if you think I am a snob. You have the manners of a camel. Just leave me alone. I suggest that everyone who objects to be talked to with the tone you use, immediately and permanently stop communications with you.

Dan, This is not the response I am looking for. I know I am paying for this, even if I were going to go through my insurance, I pay for that, too. In fact, I pay in excess of 15,000.00 a year in insurance premiums, and I remind providers of that when necessary. My disposition is appropriately respectful toward these professionals, and I would expect the same of the clients I serve, as well. I've asked you not to correspond with me. I don't want your less than humble opinion. You are downright rude, and you would not be one of my clients....ever. If I talked to people the way you do, I'd be afraid to ask that same person to operate on me. I have done my "research," (it would appear that we've developed a rather lose use of this term) and as such don't have a lot of questions to which I don't have the answers already. It is interesting that there is an assumption by someone who is not even banded that perhaps I haven't done my homework. I am a school teacher. That's what Maestra means, BTW. Thanks, Forggin. I am interested in finding out if there are things that people wish they'd asked that they hadn't. I had written down that I'd like to ask why he chose to go into this area of specialization in order to get a better sense of his personality. That is important for me, too. I realize, too, that once I am under, it more the responsibility of the anesthesia doc than it is the primary surgeon as to whether or not I come back. I wish I could chat with her, too before the surgery day.

Likely there is a list on this massive site somewhere. I have my consult with the surgeon on Monday, and I want to ask the right questions. I know they are busy, so I want to use my time well. What do I need to know that I don't know now?

Bummer about the liquid part....I don't have to do that. I have to go low carb to shrink my liver, but no liquid requirement. I will have to do it for 10 days, and the part that sucks the most is that I have an out of town trip just three days into the diet. I am going to a conference, and I will be there with everyone else from work who will want a glass of wine and good food:sneaky:. I know I have to do this, though. I have to. I can't manage these illnesses any longer, and I don't want to. I am ready to treat food just like what it is and nothing more. I can't wait til March 10....!

You're right. You can decide who you are going to be. All the same, I would appreciate it if you would avoid any communication with me in the years, yes years, to come. I don't find your lack of compassion for others refreshingly honest. I find it boorish and damaging. If you'll recall, you started this thread. You weren't asked to coddle anyone. You are just trying to be hurtful, and nobody asked you. Besides, you seem to have stated that you have a sexist disposition toward women, and I find that just as deplorable as racism. We've all been judged considerably in our lives by people who don't understand the difficulties of obesity. I don't need any more of that from you. Please don't respond to my posts, and I will avoid yours, as well. Good day.

Dan2001xj, You say that your intent is not to offend, but your posts read as very confrontational. It sounds as if you are attempting to discredit everyone who might not agree with you. I am not banded yet, and you can look at my stats, but it won't tell you that I attended my seminar almost two years ago. I learned my insurance would not cover the costs, and I've worked very hard to be able to finance my surgery. Likely, you would have lumped me into the short term group, though. Being on this site does not represent the total "research" one might do. It behooves all of us to read the medical journal literature about the band, either before or after you are banded. Chatting/posting is helpful, but it is not research. Moreover, do I think I've learned a ton more because my journey was a total pain in the A? No. I don't. I learned most of what I know within two weeks of the first seminar I went to. The weight was just harder than it needed to be, especially since I've had to struggle with two weight related illnesses the whole two years, and there was no benefit to waiting like that. None. I will likely have times where I feel like I don't want the band, and times of discouragement. I'd like to think that during those moments I could come to this forum without worrying about being judged. Hint, hint.

I am going with Doctor Kirshenbaum in Denver for just under 10,000.00 (US). His fills are just 15.00 after the first three months, too. I've lived in Mexico, and I think the medical care is good in most places. However, once you cross borders, you have a whole other set of liability and accountability issues that you have to deal with. Mexico does not have the same rigorous monitoring of their medical practices as we have in the US, and from what I remember of having lived in Canada as a teen. Don't get me wrong...there are some places that are very well monitored. It's just that it's not that way everywhere. Also, I am not sure what the rate of exchange is. I think the dollar is close to the loonie now, am I right? I hope you find a resource that will work for you. Good luck.

Yeah, really, compared to Twist Ties, the Twisties can't be nearly as bad! Glad I made you chuckle, that was my hope. Sorry if it hurt your port, though....:thumbup:

They are soybeans. Good for you, too. They're high in protein, antioxidants, and natural estrogens.

Like the others said, it probably depends on the person as far as the physical limitations of the band go. Emotionally, I feel like I don't want to eat just anything. I will be banded next month, and I feel like I don't want to put bad things in my body. I don't think that the healthier choices taste as good as the fattening foods, but this is just something I have to accept. I really had a hard time coming to that realization, but a friend of mine put it this way. "You won't do drugs, no matter how good they might feel because you know they will hurt you. Eating like this is also hurting you." I hated her for about two weeks, but she's right. She's right. Eating to please myself is what got me in trouble in the first place. I had lied to myself about the portion sizes because I felt like, and still feel like, the actual types of food I eat are healthy. No fried foods, no super sized anything, no real mayo, etc. It's just that, for me, I can eat several pieces of whole wheat bread, drink 30 oz of low-fat milk....I am hoping that the band will help me reign it in some as far as that goes.

OMG, I thought you meant Twist Ties like those little plastic things that you use to tie up the bread bag. I thought, oh hell no, I am not getting this band if it makes you do crazy things like eating plastic pieces! Glad to know that it was just some chips. Sounds like you'll be fine.

It worries me because I've had similar experiences with other diets before, and I am not yet banded. What worked for me, in those instances, was to rotate my calorie intake. I can cut down to 1000 calories a day, and my body will just readjust to burn only that many calories. I have to trick my body into burning by doing one week at a higher calorie intake and one week much lower. I, too, have a sleep disorder, and I know the fatigue you are talking about. It's hard. I wish I could offer you encouragement...I hope I am. I heard someone else mention the 5 day pouch test... I don't know if any of that would help, but you did go through a lot so far. Perhaps feeling sweet is just around the corner, and all you need is some minor changes in the process. I certainly hope so. Good luck to you. Please keep us posted!