Katgirl

Hi, Kareyn. I sent in all of my receipts: from Leung's office, the hospital stay, etc. and I rec'd. a couple thousand back. Just send in all of your receipts serparately cuz they won't cover the band itself. Have Evelyn break everything down for you.

Also, Kareyn. If you don't stay in the hospital (I personally needed the overnight stay, but some don't) you can claim approx. $1500 back from the hospital.

I was reading your note and noticed below your name that you can claim the surgery on income tax??? How does that work? I'm just going in for my consultation with Dr. Leung. Can't wait to get the surgery done.

Karey

what have you got against fish? ......*grin*

In Canada $13,000 - bottom dollar. Not a long wait time either; about 3 months between first visit and surgery.

Hi, could some of you respond by telling me what your srugery cost if you have to pay personally for it and where you had it done?

At this time my insurance does not include the coverage so I may have to pay. Just want to get some idea of the cost. I would not go to Mexico. Most likely just the Northeast US area.

I would love this thread.

If there are any Christians out there who are looking for special support during this time I thought we could start a thread related to this. It might help with those thoughts and doubts as to if this is the right thing we are doing or any other 'shares' that might come to mind. I could use some at this time in my walk.

Sister in Christ,

Valerie

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I think this is a dangerous post. Surely this will upset someone enough that they will be too afraid to post with their questions. Some people (for whatever reasons) have bad grammar. Pass on a post if it bothers you that much.

I'm semi-new to LBT but not new to forums in general.

What is really irritating is trying to read through one long run-on sentence, poor capitalization, poor spelling, and no paragraphs! :biggrin:

The no paragraphs are the worst as they are difficult to read.

We have spell check, use it for goodness sake.

Punctuation is good.

I've come across quite a few posts that are long with poor spelling, punctuation and no paragraphs. They've been very hard to read. I hope I'm not alone in my thinking here. I'd just like to know when a thought ends and another one begins!

Thank you for letting me rant, I'm done now.

Hi, there. You are definately in my prayers. You really need to remove yourself permanently from that situation (pray and ask for guidance) and focus on yourself and your new lapband. This should be a time for you to be excited about a brand new start. Don't be discouraged.

Kat

Hey Bandsters

It has been a while since I last posted. I was banded on 11/09/07 and lost 30lbs within two months. Since then I have not budged on the scale... I have been so stressed out by my job I have not had the mental fortitude to work out, probably a bit depressed, and eating to feed the stress. The good news is, I have not gained weight, but I have not lost any either.

A year ago I started working for the US Government. I was told I was being hired for one position, but literally the day I showed up, they changed my job to a supervisor in a skill area that is not my strength. It has been a tough year. I have had to learn my job, teach others their job while learning my own, and whats worse, working for a Colonel who is passive aggressive and has a track record for writing employment actions against people at the drop of a hat. At first I was on his good side, but a month before my surgery, things really got bad. So much so, I took 3 weeks after my surgery. True, I did not bounce back like I thought I should have, but truly the third week was trying to mentally prepare to go back to that hell hole.

Since being back, I have gone from being the Colonel's star pupil to being public enemy number one. Six weeks ago the Chief of Staff (woman) requested to be removed from the office due to a hostile work environment. Today, after suffering this mans verbal abuse, I requested to be removed due to a hostile work environment. Although I feel peace for once in a very long time, I know next week will be hell, with all of the mediation sessions and interviews I will have to participate in.

Bottom line, I like to think I have not used this hostile working situation as an excuse to not be successful with the band, but unfortunately that is the way it is turning out. Somehow I need to shake off this grey cloud, pray that I will be released from this organization to find a new job within the Government, and take control of this band, take control of my life...

I really need some prayers from this network. Not just prayers that this asshole will get what is coming to him for treating women so badly, but prayers that I make it through this process without defeating the good I have done so far with the band, and prayers that I will pull it back together to make the band work for me again.

I have Anthem insurance now.:biggrin: I did have UHC, but my husbands work switched. UHC said it was not coverd.:biggrin: Has anyone had any luck with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Alliance PPO insurance?

Blue Cross covered portion of everything except lapband itself.

I also claimed everything on my income tax and rec'd. a portion back. Oops, I just realized, I am in Canada

I don't think it's fair to judge. People may feel it is safer having a baby in a carrier rather than holding in your arms, especially when distracted doing other things, ie. grocery shopping. I'm sure there is lots of cuddling going on at home, etc.

Also, it is near impossible to be a stay at home parent now with the cost of living and mortgages, etc. How did you manage to stay home with your children 24/7 that allows you to judge others that need to go to work? The only way I know someone can stay home is if they are "rich" or on some kind of government subsidy that is paid for by people that "go to work".

My 2 cents

Fairy, I understand what you are saying. However, I did those things, usually with a baby in my arms; it can be done. As I stated, I carried my babies while grocery shopping. I did that alone (don't get me started on thier deadbeat dad). Also, my boys were 14 months apart, so there were times when I held the baby and with the free arm, would pick up the toddler to put into the shopping cart.

One of the things i've also noticed is: the baby is in a seat in the grocery cart, mom cant hold the baby, however, she has an extra hand to hold a cell phone. She can sign her name with one hand while talking on the phone.

Dear West Coast, i feel so sorry for you. I adored my time as a mother of young children (and still now of course). I loved my babies, I was with them almost constantly until they began school (another thing i believe is that a mother should be with her children until they start school). Its so sad to know there are people who consider their children a burden, and here you are desiring to be what those children deserve.

Snuffy, that is awful. And kinda helps prove my point that people rely on those things too much-like its considered a portable babysitter.

I never had to take meds before but now have to take prevacid and eat tums all day long.

I thought we were not supposed to eat tums after banding?

:biggrin:

Just don't eat after 6 pm and nothing to drink after 6:30 or so and voila. That's a good thing too, I think. I like being cut off at a certain time. If you do eat later (ie. going for dinner or on the weekend) then simply go to bed a little later (have about 4 hours no food before bed) or sleep with your head propped up.

Good luck.

kat:rolleyes2:

i cant eat or sleep i keep coughing up large amounts of foam and saliva its driving me crazy.

What a little angel

I have good skin! I have lost over 100 pounds and I don't really think I'll need a Tummy Tuck.< /p>

So, you are right, everyone is different.

Kat

These people are not your friends, Meghan; plain and simple.

Hi, I'm new here!. I'm really considering having the procedure done, and was talking to my friends about it and I was really surprised by their reactions. Most, but not all, told me that I was crazy and ALL i needed to do was eat less and exercise more... have willpower. They told me that I was cheating and taking the easy way out. I was really hurt by these comments, because obviously if it were that easy for me I would have done it already. Did anyone else experience reaction like this from people? How did you handle it?

Meghan

Have you had your thyroid checked, Ginger? If you have an underactive thyroid it can make for a difficult time losing weight.

Kat.

Thank you - I am eating about 1000 calories a day, and exercising 3 times a week. I think I am more depressed now with notloosing than I was before I had surgery. I have not measured, but I haven't noticed any change in my clothes.

This is what I ate yesterday

1/2

Don't feel too down on yourself about the preop! I know that I would not have been successful with the preop diet either. Luckily, I did NOT have to do the preop diet; not all docs make this a requirement.

Obviously, you did not have enough fill - of course you can continue to eat if you don't have enough fill. Not being successful with the band is a minority as far as I am concerned. This band has saved my life and I was like you: craving the burgers, etc. I have enought fill that it is IMPOSSIBLE to eat as you have mentioned you were, in your post.

Good luck,

Kat.

I think it is okay to wait a wee bit before going in for an un-fill; my doc told me that we are swollen and tight after a fill - it's normal. I was really, super tight my last fill (could do liquids only), but after a week or so, I started to gradually loosen up. Now, I feel pretty perfect (took about a month). I only eat about 1/2 teacup of food at each meal and I'm full, but that's what the doc said would be my life - just enough to sustain. I can eat anything (thus far) in very small amounts.

In answer to your question, I ate alot of healthy Soups during this "liquid" time; cream of broccoli, etc. Any kind of Soup with veggies and even meat in it can be put in the blender and eaten. You could also try a Protein shake in the morning with Vitamins blended in - I did!

Cheers!

Kat.

Okay,

I know it's not the best thing in the world but I complained about slowed up weight loss got .3 fill last week and God, about all I can do is drink but I can get my liquids down. Late in the evening I can sometimes get a little bit of food down. I'm not going to rush and get an unfill as it's took 7 fills to get here 11 hour drive for fills and thousands and thousands of dollars. Anyone have any good ideas of foods that will go down when your very tight.

I am able to eat bread, rice and Pasta in very, very small amounts ie. a sandwich for me would be a little less than a quarter (no crust); Pasta would be about 1/4 cup. Rice I don't really bother with cuz I can only eat about 1/8 cup and nothing else - so not worth it (I rarely eat potatoe for the same reason). If I do have these things, I make sure I have some veggies mixed in, even in the pasta.

This is exactly what I was looking for in the band - being able to eat anything, but in really small amounts (aren't we all).

Good luck!

Can you ever eat bread, pasta, or rice, with the lapband? Just curious.

As long as you haven't just eaten a meal, liquids go through easy, Sasha. That's why they say to be careful of high calorie drinks like juice and wine.

Kat.

cool. i thought drinking a lot of Water would be hard because of the new littler space in the stomach.

I drink tons of Water (and other things)! I always stop drinking about 1/2 hour before a meal though.

Kat.

going through different threads in the forum, i see alot of posts suggesting that you have keep comsumption of liquids to a minimal. if this is true or is the case, do any of you bandsters find summertime to be difficult for the fact that you are more likely to get dehydrated? i am a big water drinker myself and now that the twmp is rising, i'll probably be drinking a lot more. is dis something to be worried about? could you hurt yourslef over-drinking?

I went and got Prenatal Vitamins; the Pharmacist thought this was a really good idea!

Thanks again!

Kat

also might add prenatal Vitamins too. Ive read folic acid has something to do with it. i could be fulla poo but its worth a shot.

A handful of years ago when i was on phenphen (ooo) i lost about seventy lbs and a bunch of hair too. I started the prenatals and it came back. also started using infusium Shampoo conditioners, it helps bring moisture back. If that doesnt work, try sebastians potion number 9. just a dab of goo will do after you get out of the shower.

Help! I have lost probably 4:cry 0% of my hair since my surgery in October; it's really dry too. I talked to a pharmasist to see what I could take - she said nothing, really. Will my hair come back? What are your experiences? I truly have alot of balding Patches now.

Thanks in advance.

On another note, I am thrilled with my weightloss - 92 lbs. so far.

Kat.

Hi, Tami. We also are leaving on the 18th for cancun. We are staying at the Royal Solaris.

Have fun....arrriba!

Kat.

Oh, in answer to Bubble's questions: my Dr. is Leung in Surrey, BC....

Should I be aware of anything re: band? I have a 5 1/2 hour flight from Canada.

Thanks in advance.

Kat.

I also had blurred vision for a few days - I'm fine now.

Kat.

Thanks, Jack. What does IMHO mean please?

:-)

"IMHO" I doubt the difficulty eating/swallowing are directly from poking and prodding...although I can't imaging enduring that kind of trauma voluntarily.

Depending on your degree of fill, and amount injected 2nd time, the band diameter constriction can go from 'almost not enough' to 'too much' with just a little additional fill...

If this doesn't improve certainly contact your surgeon.

Why he was having trouble is something best addressed to him.

My own surgeon said he made a point of securely placing the port so it is accessible and out of the way for daily activities. He seems to have achieved his goal; he has never missed and does it all via palpation.

Good luck in your journey...