HappyHomeCC

I ask because I have a mother who lives here in CA ... loads of medical problems and is poorly cared for medically. Yet she bashes , Canadas system and the "socialized medicine" prospect for this country... yet she has to choose whether to buy meds or food each month. (on SSI and Medical) All the years of my childhood my parents often chose NOT to take us to the dr because of lack of insurance. (my brother was injured pretty bad when he was 9 and he should have gone in, now he has some bad problems as a result) One of my teachers in HS took me to the Dr and paid when I had an ear infection! I have family in Canada, Spain, France , Germany, Algeria, and my best friend from HS resides in Holland. They can't believe what we experience here in the US with the healthcare system. None of them would trade their "socialized healthcare" for our system. Even what I pay out of pocket for my copays troubles them. And I have really good coverage. People like my mom bash other nations systems and have NEVER experienced anything other than our system andhave only "heard" how horrid it is other places. With this they speak with authority. I have even taken my 9 month old child to the Dr in Algeria... no one asked to see insurance or how I would pay...She was also in the hospital there when she was 3, no bill , no questions... they took care of her... wonderful care. My husband has lived illegally in England and Spain and been to the hospital in both countries, never turned away or treated poorly. I think this nation has a lot to learn from other systems and if we could incorporate the best of them we would be better off. It is clear our current system doesn't work. We need to make change... It will not be perfect it may take a couple of rounds with some mistakes, but no action is wrong. A wealthy , advanced nation like ours has no excuses to treat it's people as we do. I just find it all frustrating. Partly because I have been around the world and experienced.

I am curious as to how many of you all posting here have relatives that live in a what the majority refer to as "socialized medicine" ??? Or a relative that is a citizen of another country and is retired?

LOL Oprah has called them "Bat Wings" So where does the incision go for the bat wing removal? I think my thighs are going to sag around my knee caps!!!!

I am looking forward to wanting to be in a picture with my kids! No more excuses for not doing certian activities with my 8 and 11 yr old when I am really too fat or out of shape but won't say it. to be able to buy cute in style clothing and a dress that I can feel confident to wear... so I won't advoid dress up situations. to wear a pair of Levis with cowboy boots! and take a line dancing class! Gosh I could go on and on!

I bought the isopure natural, there are some carbs but the chocolate and Vanilla are really good. (I don't like the fake sugar taste of the zero carb) but it mixes well with water and is fabulous in the blender with milk and some frozen fruit. I also bought the plain one that can go into anything else I am eating or drinking when I need more.

I would find a new Dr. I don't need a refferal but I did discuss it with my Dr and she is THRILLED that I have made this choice on my own and I am following through on my own even above in that I am getting regular counseling preop and postop to make this the best success that it can be. I was given Zoloft almost a month ago for anxiety... I am also hypothyroid too... Once the thyroid meds were evened out I have not lost anything but I am stable, now with the Zoloft I have lost 8 lb... it really kills the appetite it is true. HOWEVER I do not plan on being on meds for a long time and what happens the second I stop taking them... most likely blow back up, and beyond just like any other diet approach I have taken! Keep plugging on don't take no for an answer. You have young kids and they deserve you to have you capable to live life to the fullest with them. My kids are 8 and 11 and I feel like I have cheated them out of activities. Just today my son asked to go to the beach I told him ask dad that is his department! I am taking them to Disneyland on Wed. But Dang it can be hard getting on and off rides! And walking all day. As a teen I loved to camp, raft, hike , climb, ski, ice skate.... etc. I WILL DO THOSE THINGS AGAIN... AND WITH MY KIDS! Hell I plan on going to the beach next summer! Back on the boogie board after 20 yrs!

Julia, where I live the Olive Oil Mayo by Kraft is priced the same as the reduced fat or fat free version. look around :thumbdown:

I agree with you aubrie. I bought the Isopure natural vs Zero Carb version with splenda etc. I am not hip on the chemical sugars etc. I use butter too. I try to use more chicken broth to cook with for the moisture that butter provides. Or I use olive oil. To me the fat free stuff is not palatable... did you see the butter mixed with olive oil to make it spreadable? I haven't tried it yet. I want to get in the land of Moderation and I would like to cut out the majority of the red meat... heck meat in general if I could but the family will not go for it ;o) I will use the sugar free products during my post op diet thought until I heal and can eat. Have you tried Stevia? I bought a liquid with Valencia orange flavor. 8 Drops in a Water bottle gives it a nice flavor. I have been having that so that I do not feel the need to convert to crystal light. there are a lot of flavors to choose from and you can add them to coffee or tea, or just use a plain one as a sweetner.

Kraft Mayo with Olive oil.... It has a green lid. Has half the fat of regular mayo so it has 4 grams. I love it, I don't abuse it. but it really gives a nice flavor beats the low fat variety, and I believe it has the same amount of fat as the lowfat version. I made deviled eggs for 4th of july bbq yesterday and everyone was raving about the great flavor, they didn't know what I did that made it so special.

Aside from the preop diet weightloss( I have not done it yet) I am in the last month of the nutritional requirement and recently starting taking Zoloft for Anxiety issues.... I have lost 8lb! Now I think I may be Under the 40 BMI or just on the edge! The medication is not a long term solution for me. I know once I am back on track I will be hungry again and I will gain it all back most likely more since that has been my track record. Did anyone have to do a weigh in again before surgery and get denied because they lost a significant amount of weight? I have 2-3 months from now before I will be approved. I am afraid I will lose this opportunity.

I am curious about the GasX strips.... anyone out there use them ???

I have not been banded yet but I am concerned about stuff I am taking, I am taking capsules of prilosec and they kill me when they open up inside my stomach... caplets are easier on me. It says on my pharmacy paper I can open them up onto a soft food but not chew, so I am thinking, yogurt may be the best choice. I am also taking zoloft as of 10 days ago. 50mg I didn't like how I was feeling 6 or 7 days in so I have been breaking them in half vs taking a whole one...... Dr thinks my anxiety issues are creating the acid situation. This is all new to me. Only about 5 weeks ago. My preop endoscopy did not show any thing unusual and the h-pylori was neg.

Yeah that is great news... you will sleep well now! Great you are moving forward! So sweet!

one of the drs I called had a $2500 program fee not billed to insurance, setting up chart, blah blah, after I heard the not billed to insurance I turned off my brain... then I would have to pay 10% of the billable part. I couldn't afford that at all.

I don't think just because you haven't found someone in the same situation that it is bad.... this is a huge forum most likely only a small % of people have see the post. I still haven't heard back about my tests.... grrrrrrrrrrrrr

AJW where did you go for your testing? I went Fri and like you they took a biopsy.... I have had wicked burning in my stomach for 3 weeks.. I have been under immense stress lately so I chock it up to that. so I have been taking my husbands reflux meds to help.... which happen to be what you were prescribed! Protonix. I am being tested for the H. Pylori bacteria which I understand can go hand in had with Gastritis 2 things that are very common things according to the nutritionalist. They told me no ulcers or hernias... they did not mention the tumor word but after I came home I was freaking. Apparently Aleve and Advil can really mess up your stomach and I have taken a lot of that for aches, and pains. How many days til you received your results? It is Wed and I am still waiting. hang in there..... My mom has had cancer 3 times in 5 years... lung, ovarian and colon. she is 61 and still kicking ;o) Maybe it is good we are having these tests done while we are younger to catch any potential problems before they are big! {{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}} Lor

how much heavier do you need to be ????

The majority of what we have here for dinner during Ramadan is Soup, (shorba) I was thinking that would just fall right through??? most of it is puree'd. Anyone else? What do you eat during Ramadan?

Jean, Hello, I just got the order of Isopure, I bought the Natural chocolate and vanilla and the isolate (clear) I cracked open the chocolate it was really good even in water! I have been collecting my "supplies to get ready for for my surgery date.. TBA When is Ramadan this year? I think it is going to be close... and recovery etc... so I don't know. I will have to check the date. My husband brought home the Protein shots, by body choice, with 25 gr protein... those are nasty taste like a really strong sweet tart. BLAH! I have never lost weight during Ramadan EVER

CGail, any info, if there are meetings are they open to non-patients of his?

Cgail A friend of mine once told me that Dr Krahns group holds meetings ... but other than that I am not sure of anything local aside from local chapters of OA. If you find something let me know... I will do the same. Have you asked your dr office, I would think they would know.

I agree Joan it is nice to know we are not alone {{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}} I love this forum in general, Thanks to everyone. Lor

I love this thread too ... it resonates with me all the things you'all have said, I see my posts. I use my weight as buffer as well as other things... including excuses for under acheiving in my life. I went for my first counseling session.... I told her I was planning on doing the lapband this summer and I need to work my head out so that I can be successful at losing the weight. She has counseled a number of people that have had wls. She told me that I seem to know myself really well, so why am I here.... LOL cuz I can't fix it with strategies within my comfort zone to take the steps so I don't freak out and so that I am able to attain real, lasting change. So I thought I would begin with addressing my marital / sexual issues more ... It entailed a history of me and my MOTHER... there are some serious issues there !!!! I know them... but was ready to deal with the obvious, my husband .... LOL Ahhhh She is Good she nailed the Jello me! At the end I told her... Ok, now you made me cry and I need to go pee so I am going home now! She has a good sense of humor, that is good... Houston, I think we have a match here! My husband thinks that the counselor thing is a lapband insurance requirement, I didn't tell him I had my psych eval and this was on my own, of my own choosing .... I guess he would be happy to hear I wasn't in there roasting him! But I am not going to tell him that, not now. Something has got to give here and I am great at psycho analyzing myself.... but I can't "fix-it", I am however great at helping and supporting other people.... I also admitted that I thought that people of my age who suddenly remember things from their childhood were nuts and I didn't believe it... over the last few years a lot of that has happened to me!!!! I will be 42 in a month!!! So onward and upward! I am glad I went, and I am a person that has afew friends that I am really open with, but I am glad I made this step for myself. I am glad that we clicked and she gets my humor!

Oh yeah pica I forgot about that ... Nope I don't think so. that was the worst thing she has taken... she chooses to hoard sweets like candies and chocolates I believe to keep her blood sugar up so she doesn't pass out... I think when she feels weak she pops one or 2 ...

I have not been banded yet. I have pre op test next friday. I did call Dr Krahn hard to get anyone to return calls, Dr Coon I called too and they wanted like $2500 up front in set up fees etc plus I would have to pay 10% of surgery etc. I have heard great things about Dr Krahn, but his staff is not on the ball.