Lap_dancer

WOOHOO!!! JB. I'm so happy for you!!!

Best of luck to you Dahlia. I can only wish you a happy journey. You have no idea where many of us have been and are currently walking. I choose not to share it because I feel like it may only bring down the countenance of others. So carrying mine onward, may you find your bliss.

I'm not banded yet but as I understand it, this is a tool to help me with my insatiable appetite. If I can get that bad boy under control, the weight will come off. If I get 60 or so pounds off, I know I can walk. If I can walk, I know I can cycle/treadmill/and otherwise excercise. If I do that and diet, the weight will come off.

It was part of the requirement that a sleep study be done. The theory is that obese individuals tend to have sleep apnea. Who knew? My first night was a bust. I can't sleep well in strange places. Of course she needed me out for five hours ( ha ha ha ha ha... laughing still ) Me? Five hours straight without moving all night? (kidding right?) The second study with CPAP showed she got so much wind down me with that CPAP that she got my breathing to a normal range. Of course I woke up after three hours and thought I was in a tornado. (how little we realize that what we live with is not "normal" ). In essence, sleep apnea is when you stop breathing. Pre-OP diet's purpose is to flush your liver of toxins (fatty stuff) and reduce it's size. Also your tummy. When they go in for the surgery, there isn't so much of that chicken fat to sift through. Less scoping and searching around makes it easier on us. ( less recovery time and I would imagine pain afterwards) Pass the Water please.

I use to be like a rabbit until I gained so much weight. I feel so very unsexy right now and like someone shot my crotch with novacane. When I lose weight (in the past) my sex drive skyrockets. I anticipate the weekend when me and my husband don't come up for air for three days.

Yes. But since I had done so much research already, I knew that the Lap Band was the best choice for me, it had less risks with it, and in the end, people must choose what they feel most comfortable with. Having said that, the same place had a nutritionist who bragged how she "invented" a diet to reduce liver size called "detox". (anyone mildly informed knows this diet of detoxing is common in gastric surgery and the chances of her "inventing" this diet (that can be found with any Google search) are between slim and none. Soap box moment: I'm so sick of people telling the fat people what WILL WORK FOR YOU that I could barf if I hear it one more time. (note to self: turn television off at 3 AM. Reason: Infomercials)

Take pictures of yourself now. A year from now you won't look the same.

I say a visit to the surgeon's office is in order. She is one year post op and I think a checkup is in order with her regular physician as well. (should have annual checkups anyway, why not add a blood chemistry to that?)

:clap2: :clap2: Sending love your way. Congrats on that journey, and for having the power to make a change for YOU. That is courageous.

My BMI is 61. I've had two surgeons tell me I need to get that bad boy number down for my own health's sake and to shrink my liver for the surgery. you will read about detoxing on here. Detox diet to purge your system of the nasty junk in your liver (fatty stuff). I have to do this anyway and I'm self paying and getting my sugery. Appeal that decision but the criteria they may have you under the thumb on. I wouldn't give up because I think the person who told you there was no proof LB was beneficial at your size was full of it and showed what little they did know when they made that comment. (people can be so self serving to their company..anyway) What idiot would say a weight loss surgery would not be beneficial to a very severely obese person????? HELLO! That's like saying the patch won't work for a really super heavy smoker. Check out the BCBS thread on here. I have mega posts from my appeals process. I have a specific exclusion in my contract that does not cover weight loss surgery "no matter what" but I still appealed. Feel free to tap my info posted there.

HIPPA. Thank you for the donation to able this person to become healthy again.

I'm currently financing my own surgery. I've given at the alter of information (see Blue Cross Blue Shield thread). I have my own thoughts about doing things for free. There was a time in my life when I had two babies and we were oh so very broke. My thoughts are that if one is financially strapped and disadvantaged, they have Medicaid and for them, Medicaid covers the procedure.

University Community Hospital Tampa Florida Surgical Weightloss Center 813-615-7077 Surgeon and Hospital fee: $16,625.00

LAP-BAND as well as Laparoscopic Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass. At these weight loss seminars presented by John Dietrick, MD, Board Certified Surgeon and member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, you’ll learn what weight loss surgery is, who is a likelycandidate and what it takes to achieve significant loss of excess weight. UCH Surgical Weight Loss Center 3115 East 138th Avenue Tampa, Fl. 33613 University Community Hospital

I am in your area. Here is who I know of so far: Dr. Michael Murr, Tampa General Hospital/University of South Florida Town and Country Weight Loss bariatric., Tampa, 33601 - (813) 329-6098 Palms of Pasadena, 1501 Pasadena Ave St. Petersburg, FL 33707 Surgical Weight Loss Institute 3659 S. Miami Ave. Suite 5002 Miami, FL 33133

ProActive is the best treatment for acne I've ever had the experience of using. It resolved the small outbreak I had, the large outbreaks on the back and face of my son, and my daughter's small outbreak. Steady use of this product by my son for six months resulted in not another spot on his face. This product is the best!

Thanks everyone. I have a question about Tiajuana. I'm an east coast girl all my life. I've heard stories about Tiajuana in fact my sister the flight attendant told me that in her trips to California, the airline she works for simply tells them "don't go to Tiajuana". The "rough" areas of Tiajuana are "worse than they were years ago". I have to say this is a concern for me. Anyone also experience a less than stellar surgery environment in Mexico?? I know the Mexican price is good but does it come at a cost?

This is great Tracy. I feel her pain too. i've lost the same 40 pounds three times. It is depressing. But so is being fat which I find is the source of much depression. I think a fill is in order. Work your tools! I would first check on getting that fill because if you are not losing weight, eating whatever you want, something isn't right. Secondly, support group. This is good and a wonderful option in addition to local area support where you can sit face to face and share. Recipes. High protein, liquids...just search on this board. Also if you doctor has a nutritionist, check in with them on your intake and look for gaps. Best of luck to you!

Candle this is great. I will call them tomorrow. I'm hoping to cut my cost down some without all the tests because...I have had them. They are less than six months and all the required information needed. 1.9 with Cap One. Very good. Got a link? Thanks again! &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tracy you're my pal. Maybe one day we can meet!

I am near Tampa. I have seen Tampa General/USF with Dr. M. Calling them tomorrow. I called Palms of Pasadena in St. Pete. They are $15,800 all inclusive. **Dr. Ortiz has sites in the states that he is linking with for fills. There is a center near my home that does the surgery and I would go there for support although they focus on bypass. I still love the people there but they are out of my price range. My husband and I agree that we should proceed with caution when going out of the country. But so many folks here have done so with success, moreso than those who experienced problems. We are going to finance. Anyone know a good surgery finance company? All answers appreciated. Thanks for sharing your experiences. This helps. I don't believe my insurance experience was a bust. I think it acutally opened the eyes up of our insurance committee at my employer's office. They tried, they went to bat for me but even they were denied. So now they know, they understand.

Hi Tracy! I am not faint of heart because nothing will stop me from having this surgery. It would have been NICE but I'm still learning and still enjoying the journey. I know soon I'll be walking without huffing, sitting comfortably and taking long, long, walks with my husband. Still going Eveready style!

I heard from my company insurance and now I don't feel so bad. My company was denied by BCBC of Florida for adding Gastric surgery to our plan. So I'm now shopping for surgery. ((Transportation/flight is not an issue)) My sister is a flight attendent so I fly for free. I'm looking for experience, travel (meaning I get off the plane and they have a shuttle there), the kind of medical facility we are use to in the U.S., can speak English fluently or has a translator available, and hotel stay. I'd like to be in and out for no more than $10,000 U.S. Fills and post op support are important. I'd love to hear from everyone. Thanks.

:clap2: :clap2: I knew it! And I suspected the other would potentially happen. I can forsee when there will be a six month waiting list. When I had my meeting, the rep from BCBS said that he felt in the near future BCBS would have a change of policy. (so many successes, it's inevitable). Tracy, a big cyber hug to you my friend. Way to go. April is just around the corner.

Go. Go now if you haven't already.

First...WOO HOO:clap2: Second...I have a feeling in the next 12 months BCBS is going to be doing flip flops changing their policies. Trust me.