DownInSocal

Wow. Many people here need to learn the difference between a tax rate and an EFFECTIVE tax rate. I PROMISE you that big corps pay a MUCH lower effective tax rate than the average middle class citizen. Corps like to throw out their rate before taking deductions. That would be like you stating you have tax rate of 25% but then taking your mortgage interest deduction which drops you to 7% but pretending 25% is still your tax rate. That is EXACTLY what corporations do. Do you really think Exxon or Walmart pay any where near what you and I pay percentage wise? HAHA.

Ugh. I was baptized catholic. Your type is the reason I abandoned religion long ago. But you know what? Keep spreading your hate. You make people see what organized religion and the Christian movement is REALLY about! Freedom for all (unless you are gay or not Christian), Life for all (unless you are on death row), Family values (unless your family has an unwed teenage daughter), don't worry about how you live your life day to day because it will all be forgiven on Sunday!

My surgery is at Balboa Naval Hospital so I can't get a sugery date until I lose the required 10% of extra weight which is about 10lbs for me. I can do all my pre-op stuff though. I stopped taking NSAIDS just in case I can lose the weight real quick like and have all my stuff done. My paperwork says I can't take NSAIDS or asprin for one month before surgery. I am excited for you! June 29th is not *that* far away when you think about it!

What is 5DPT? I have just been looking at what I am eating and if it has carbs I cut the portion in half. Bread? Half a slice. Potato? Half. Yeah it sucks.

What? Your previous doctor did not even know what kind of band he put in you? This is unacceptable! Did you pay a copay to him or worse self pay?

I am not sleeved yet so I can't talk about Mexico as I am having surgery in the U.S. but I know one thing: you are an adult and have the right to make your own healthcare decisions. Tell your family you love them and don't talk about it anymore. Lean on your wonderful husband for support. That is what a good marriage is all about!

What does god have to do with a state service? Seperation of church and state anyone? Discrimination hiding behind religion. Humm. At one time those who wantd to stop segregation where the "minority" also. Does anyone have an arguement against gay marriage that does not involve abridging the seperation of church and state or freedom of religion for ALL, not just imposing the christian view on our entire nation? I am waiting, seriously.

Rosey, I am not sure about alt Protein sources as I am new to this and not sleeved yet but I wanted you you to know you are not alone in carb addiction. People assume if you are overweight you must eat an entire pie or 12 donuts. I have never done that in my entire life. I can pass on any sweets. Now sit me in front of a baked potato with all the fixings and I can eat 3. Ranch with fries? Bring it on! Any Pasta with a nice cream sauce was heaven. I have started to wean myself off carbs already. I have to lose 10lbs before surgery so it is now or never for me. Good Luck. I have been following your threads.

Just checking in for notifications. I have been following this thread. Good luck to all!

I guess it is from a western diet, being overweight (sometimes) and drinking. I think the ultrasound doctor did not believe me that I only have a drink once or twice a year. I have been reading on it and I don't like the looks of how it progresses to serious liver problems sometimes. I would like to have it reverse like you have!

I know I might not be here in 20 years if I don't lose weight so I have not given 20 years out much thought. I will cross that road when I get there. I am 5'3 and 213 lbs. My doctor told me I was well within the guidelines for surgery. I do have hypertension though and have been overweight for 10 years.

Thanks again for your input guys. I am going to do the sleeve. I found out I had a fatty liver during my ultrasound today. This is common so not a big deal but I had dreams of not needing to do the pre-surgery liquid diet because my liver was perfect. So much for that dream. :thumbup:

Here, here. I loved how the prop 8 folks scared the bejesus out of everyone. Made it seem like a school issue. One person I work with thought it was about school funding because every single sign had a big picture of a school on it.

My 2 cents: You need a new surgeon and a new nutritionist. I don't see where you "failed". You lost a TON of weight yet you failed?? B.S. Ask that nutritionist how much you were supposed to lose exactly to be considered a non failure in her little book.

My first stop would be the insurance agent. Remind them you were told this was not an exclusion and see what they say. After this I would appeal. I know there are some great threads about what people have put in their appeals packet. Don't cry. I have a strict policy that no one cries alone. Good Luck.

Umm, wow. Best to be rid of that office I think. I feel sorry for the doctor. His staff is going to ruin his practice.

At one time segregation was considered the "popular norm" also. That didn't make it right.

I am 99% sure that the sleeve is going to be right for me. At first I was considering the band but after talking with my surgeon yesterday I *think* have changed my mind. To be honest I was already starting to have second thoughts about the band because of all the problems I see on the boards. For those who went from the band to the sleeve, what would you consider is a postitive about the band that you don't get with the sleeve? Thanks so much for all your responses!

I don't believe in god, seriously. Why should I be held to your religious standards?

It is interesting to me that some people choose to allow a state service to discriminate. Why not stop issuing marriage licenses be issued to Blacks, Mexicans, and Jews while we are at it? The state should not be in the marriage business unless it is for all citizens. I guess to some it is ok to discriminate though if you don't like them or their fully legal lifestyle. I just got married last July. No one voted to allow me to marry. I have not right to take away someone else’s right to marry the life partner of their choosing. As a resident of California I was disgusted at the downright bigotry shown by my fellow Californian's.

I guess I have to decide if I want to be fat and drink a soda or not........ wait I don't need to even think about that one.

I have been following this thread and was hoping Susan would fill us in on the snafu with her usual surgeon. I hate it when you have to change dr's. You just get one trained and then have to start all over again.

I was hoping a sleevster could help me. I know on the band you shouldn't/can't drink soda. I like to indulge in a diet soda once and awhile. I know it seems silly but I don't know if I could go the rest of my life with no soda. Can you drink soda with your sleeved tummy? Also I know skins (like from apples) are a no no / not tolerated by most. I love apples. In fact I eat one a day and have for years, granny smiths only. Can you eat skins with your sleeved tummy? My paperwork says you can't take NSAIDS (no problem) with the sleeve but it also says no B.C pills. I don't have to worry about getting preg (hubby has that taken care of) but I like to take them to regulate my periods and cut down on cramps. Have you heard of this before? I am supposed to shop for Protein suppliments now. I can't find anything on the web that does not have a truckload of soy in it. I am slightly allergic to soy (confirmed with blood test) and prefer not to eat it. I am also have a gastric allergy to peanuts (confirmed with blood test) and really shouldn't eat any (bad things happen) so this does limit my protein options a little. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Well I am a canidate. I have to: Lose 10lbs Make 2 appts with the nutrition center Take two classes Take a written test Have blood and urine tests Have an Upper GI (some reflux now) Have a chest x-ray Have an EKG Have a gallbladder ultrasound Have a cardio colsult (took phen phen in the early 90's) Have a pulmonary function test (was a smoker) Have a physc evaluation (take Effexor now) I need to decide between the sleeve and the lap-band. I will be posting more in the sleeve section later. I am leaning to the sleeve now (no offense to the bandsters!)

Hi All, I have lurked for a month and asked one question a little while ago. I changed my name because it was way too long. My consultation is tomorrow morning. It was supposed to be last week but was moved. My Dr. called me yesterday and seems very nice and asked many questions. I meet the NIH guidelines for surgery which was my biggest worry. My BMI is 37.5 with hypertension. I have been big most of my life. I would like to be healthy and shop in the normal section of the store. There is so much cute stuff and I get stuck with moo-moo shirts. I am lucky and don't think I have to worry about insurance. I am under Navy care with secondary coverage also. After reading the boards I understand how lucky I am to have this part not be a worry. I am nervous. I will report back after my consultation tomorrow. :thumbup: