missgypsy

Wow everything sounds so yummy!!!!!

and how long has it been since they started the review? that is absurd!!! hope there isn't a real great BIG EMERGENCY!! shouldn't all tricares be the same? just split up so one west, south, north isn't all bombarded at once? my advocate here wasn't much help either and thats why i went over her head. we just happened to go to a conference and they had venders there and humana tricare was there so i thought hey what can i loose lol. just so happened it was the director. my prob is that they wouldn't give me a second opinion and denied me after i met ALL requirements and they woudn't let me talk to the dr in charge of my case, they also lost all my paperwork and toldme i had to start all over. they HAVE to give you a second opinion and it has to be done off post. i just found out a few wks ago that they stoppped all lap-band surgeries here at ft sill, oklahoma because they have had so many complaints and too many ppl coming back with probs. so now everyone is being seen off post. automatic off post referrals. i wish you luck. and me personally i'd start bugging the crap out of them. and i'd go down to the referral office. talk to someone and explain to them that you need the referral because you are starting to have probs. yes lie a touch if you need to- how are they going to know??? lol hey it can't hurt.

just a suggestion since you can't get anything done on the phone or with your dr and the paperwork, how abou going down to the tricare office in the hosp and talking to them. they can tell you what to do and also i would go over to the referral office and talk to them. if you still can't get anything done go talk to the patient advocate. yes just to get the band i had to do all of that. and i ended up speaking to the director of tricare south in person. i didn't care at that point but heads were going to roll. something i just noticed you had tricare and now you have triwest? and this is because you moved correct?

we are going to my moms. will just be my family- 4 of us, my parents and neice. so only 7 of us. sweet and simple. something we all need :-)

I haven't had to deal with anything like this but I did have this question since you said they tried taking some fluid out of the band. did you have some in it? and is it empty now? if there is some in it they may need to remove all of it and let your tummy settle down and the swelling go down. hope you get to go home soon!!

I wear one and personally I feel nekkie if i don't have it on. i make the pretty bracelet part and they look very similar to that. you can get all the stuff at a craft store or walmart. i'd rather wear one and be safe then sorry. and if i had a boob job then i'd prob put that info in it too. if you don't want anyone to know then you don't have to let them read it because it's on your arm. but if your able to talk then thats a different story all together. thanks for the link- they are pretty!! :thumbup:

oh also forgot to say i found a recipe i posted in the other forum for dressing. thinking about trying it a few day before and if i like it then i will take some to share with everyone. :smile2:

thanks for all the advice. i just really wish holidays and food was simple. when i am here at home with hubs and the kiddos i don't go out of my way to make anything extra. we all usually eat the same things and my oldest some has severe food allergies. just makes more sense to me to do it that way so no one feels left out. now every so often i will make something special for someone if they don't like what the rest of us are eating. i'm not going to force them to eat it lol. i just had a fill last mon so i eat less then what i did before then. i'm bound and determined to loose weight during the holidays :smile2:.

I can do eggs and eat them often. Now I can't do pork chops, steak, mushrooms or cole slaw. If it's any kind of ground meat I can do it. Haven't attempted rice, pasta or bread. Don't plan on it either.

I read a post on this board (i think) but yes I did order one and I wear it daily. I also make different bracelets to go with mine. I think I need to color coodinate at times lol and it's really super easy to make. How to Make a Beaded Medic Alert | eHow.com

protein is supposed to help the hair from falling out but you must also realize that hormones and thyroid play a big part in it also. some ppl actually loose some hair after they have a major surgery. i make sure i have all my protein and my hair is falling out but my hormones are also out of kilter too. i've lost 44-45 lbs since may so 55 lbs is ALOT.

they've done that to me also and i make the excuse that i got stopped at the gate because they are doing 100% ID ck. what are they going to do call and see lol? i hate sitting there waiting for them and then if you go to the desk and remind them they act like it's an inconvience for them to go and ck...

the only thing i had to pay for was 20.00 for the physic dr and for my opti-fast 145.00. everything else was covered.

my dr does the fills without. he does have the machine and does it occasionally on ppl but so far not on me.

i just found this out yesterday afternoon. I was hoping to not have to attend any till i lost all my weight lol. I enjoy going but it's the shopping for a dress, previously i hated shopping. I would like something that is comfortable, yet stylish, and doesn't make me look like the broad side of a barn. I always end up settling for something i don't like because it's all i can find. Well not this year ladies lol. I plan on finding something super cute and shows off some of my body. hubby thinks i should wear purple- ok hope i don't look like a grape when he's in his dress blues (i was thinking hot pink or leopard lol) :biggrin:. I know black is slimming but i've worn so much black that i'm trying to stay away from that color. And to top it all off is it's nov 6!!! less then a month away...i've already hit ross, goodwill, 1/2 of 1/2 off name brand clothing and a consigment store. i will go ck out the other goodwill and salvation army store later today. sometime will go to the mall. i'm really trying to go with a good outlook but it's hard to get yourself in that frame of mine when you keep thinking of the past experiences. wish me luck that i find something lol. :thumbup:

that will be 10 days after surgery. yes i think you will be ok. i was cooking 10 days out and no problem at all. does anyone normally help you or do you cook all alone? i'd ask someone to help me out so i didn't feel so stressed out.

mmmmm i love soups!! i always keep some in the cabinet so when i dont know what to have for lunch or dinner. also for the days when i just dont feel like eating it's in there. i've been craving my homemade chicken and noodles...gotta revise my noodle recipe since i'm not doing the past thing. you can always have bean soup or split pea soup. they have more consistancy then just a broth based soup.

i did the optifast for a week. on the vanilla it will help if you put it in the blender or magic bullet with ice added and also crystal lite (any flavor but i liked the cherry limeade) single packets to taste and blend away. taste so much better!!

i'd say anything that tickles your fancy . how about oatmeal, cream of wheat, scrambled eggs, mini frittitas, omelet, bowl of cereal, yogurt with granola and fruit, Protein drink or bar, cottage cheese and fruit, boiled eggs, anything that sounds good to you and you don't have a problem eating. most people can't eat in the morning so they have the Protein Drink and have a snack about mid morning. go take a look over at the food and nutrition forum- lots of good recipes. also do a search on google or yahoo. here is one i found on here: Per Serving: 96 Calories; 3g Fat; 14g Protein; 2g Carbohydrate; 0g Dietary Fiber; 18mg Cholesterol; 588mg Sodium. Exchanges: 2 Lean meat. Egg Muffins (makes 12) 3 3/4 cup Egg Beaters if using silicone muffin pans. If using regular muffin tins with paper liners use 3 cups egg beaters. 1-2 tsp. Spike Seasoning (or salt can be used) 1 cup grated low fat cheese (I like sharp cheddar or a blend of cheddar/Jack cheese) 1 cup diced Canadian bacon, lean ham, or crumbled cooked turkey sausage Optional, but highly recommended, 3 green onions diced small. Optional: chopped veggies such as blanched broccoli, red pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, etc. Preheat oven to 375 F. Use regular or silicone muffin pan, 12 muffin size. If using silicone pan, spray with nonstick spray. If using regular muffin pan, put two paper liners into each slot, then spray liner with nonstick spray. In the bottom of the muffin cups layer diced meat, if using, vegetables, if using, cheese and green onions. You want the muffin cups to be about 2/3 full at this point, with just enough room to pour a little Egg Beaters around the other ingredients. Pour Egg Beaters into large measuring bowl with pour spout, add Spike (or salt), and beat well. Pour egg into each muffin cup until it is 3/4 full. Stir each muffin slightly with a fork. Bake 25-35 minutes until muffins have risen and are slightly browned and set. Muffins will keep at least a week in the refrigerator without freezing. Egg muffins can be frozen and reheated. For best results, thaw in refrigerator before reheating. Microwave on high about 2 minutes to reheat. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/breakfast-ideas-117409/#post1493260 Lap Band Recipes

here is the copycat recipe for wendy's chili. Wendy’s Chili Please note: While Wendy’s may use grilled hamburger patties, I suggest that home cooks used ground meat for convenience. 2 lbs. fresh ground beef 1 qt. tomato juice 1 (29 oz.) can tomato puree 1 (15 oz.) can red Beans, drained 1 medium onion (1 1/2 c.), chopped 1/2 C. celery, diced 1/4 C. green pepper, diced 1/4 C. chili powder (you may want to use less, some people find this is too much) 1 tsp. cumin (if you like real flavor, add more) 1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. each: black pepper, oregano, sugar 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper In a frying pan, brown the ground beef; drain. Put the drained beef and the remaining ingredients into a 6-quart pot. Cover the pot; let it simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes.

i've only had one fill of 4 cc's and that was at my 6 wk check up. i got back monday so maybe a fill then. lol who knows. i felt restriction almost immediatly. i know everyone is different tho. sometimes it takes longer. good luck.

You could call and ask and see what he dr requires or your insurance requires you to have before surgery. When I went for my drs appt they gave me the name of the pych dr they used. Some drs/ins don't even require you to have that. Do you know if your ins does?

i dont think people understand that sometimes it's life or death. might not be death at this moment but if you keep going the way you are then yes eventually you can and will die from being over weight. i'm a mom of two and my boys understand what i did and whats going on. i was out of commission for about a week but thats where hubby comes into play. it's a two way street. some people have every excuse in the book of why not to lose weight. lol i think i need to take my own advice on the friend thing. thanks for making me see that. :thumbup:

I see your in Altus and you had your surgery at United regional. Who is your dr? I had mine there and Dr Finnell did mine. I love my Sooners!! lol :thumbup:

i didn't have to do anything like that at all. thank goodness!!! :thumbup: