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Its only a hot topic for about 40 or so vocal people. Just looking at r and r, the same people tend to post. Looking at the forum as a whole.. there are HUNDREDS who dont. And the more contraversial a thread is, the more that 40 people post to it and push it to the top. And 40 is an estimate.. lets not go crazy and ask for sql queries.

It also can potentially over step states rights. If a state prosecutor looks at a case and does not see a hate crime case, the feds can step in and make it a hate crime case. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:2:./temp/~c110T8xVCD:: If the state prosecutor is a bigot, well, the feds stepping in would be warrented. If the state porsecutor is doing his job and someone wants to make headline news, they can step in too. Invidual states already have laws on the books that they are enforcing

See, I thought there was a legislature that REQUIRED restaurants to make their nutritional info available. And from their website McAlister's is a nation-wide chain, so I am confused why they don't have it listed. You'd think if it wasn't by law, many fast food places wouldn't be listing it.. but this is the first place I've come across that did not publish their info on their website. It's in NY I believe they have banned trans fat, so McAlister's in NY I would think HAS to publish what is in it, since trans fat is illegal there. Hrm.. good query. About office food.. I'm there with you. Luckily, since they're all size 0's I never felt comfortable eating it anyway, so nothing's changed.. but the girls bring in a couple cakes, or boxes of donuts/danishes/etc.. in the break area by the coffee pot. I have asked the boss to put better stuff in the vending machines (The 'real' food vendor, has only burgers, burritos, 'grilled' sandwhiches that when you heat them up are a big ball of grease) not for health reasons, but because normally at work I don't want anything rich, I don't like getting out in traffic to go find food, I'm not a big fan of chips/candies for a meal, and as I said, the 'real' food machine has crap. He said he's been asked before, but they can't swing it right now. As for me learning to cook.. I don't have the time. It's not an 'excuse', it's just the way it is. Back in Atkins days, I tried the 'cook big, freeze, reheat', and I botch that too. It's never good the first time around, when I reheat it, it's junk and I end up buying food out. I don't have extravagent tastes. I hate rosemary.. I don't like chicken.. I don't like pork.. I'm not a lemon-pepper xxx eater, I don't eat fish.. All the recipes I ever find are for something I wouldn't like, and involve way too many ingredients. My granny (yes-granny!) is an old-school southern housewife. She is long retired, but is a 'maid' of sorts for all my family. They pay her to clean her house and cook them dinners (we're all workers with long hours). I hope to make enough $$ to hire her for myself one day.. She cooks a lot of good ol' southern style food.. very bad for you. But in the past couple of years her diabetes really hit her, so she became healthy in her home. She LOVES LOVES to cook, and new recipes, etc. I've told her recently I need her to find some recipes that I could easily make (crock pot is good for me), and are healthy. She apparently recently got some ultimate soup recipe book, and has been trying them out for me. She knows my tastes, and when she finds something she knows I would make and eat she's going to let me know. But I'm really a pain in the butt when it comes to food. If it's not fried and served with mashed potatos and butter, I get cranky LOL. I don't like anything they would list on TV. I like mac-n-cheese, meatloaf, pasta-roni, soups, sandwhiches.. things like that. If it's 'au' something, or like i said 'lemon-pepper xxx' or 'rosemary & thyme xxx' I'm not eating it!

Sorry - I should have added that I have an appointment for a fill under xray on 8th May. My query is really that I can't imagine eating much less after I have my fill as I don't eat vast amounts now. So how does having a fill make you lose more weight. Sorry maybe I am not explaining myself very well but I suppose what I really mean is - as I am not overeating at the moment or since surgery but I have stuck at the same weight for about 3 weeks so how does a fill change this.

No need to feel silly at all! That's why we're all here, to help one another out. I just included the instructions in my earlier post on how to do a search in case you didn't know yet. Again, welcome and feel free to ask questions and share your story with us! Sometimes something may have been asked before, but that doesn't mean it isn't good to get a fresh group of responses to the query. It looks like you have gotten a few good responses here, too. :nervous :nervous

Dear OH Juli-------------match. (Your closing query)

Java...your best avenue would be to post your query in the "General" thread of the site. You will reach a bigger audience there rather than in this specific thread on the canuck site. In fact I'm sure there are already several threads with regards to this issue ....use the search key and something will likely come up!

Yup...ditto....all of the above. Also, if you do a search (tab at top) you will find dozens of threads on this very question; thereby obtaining a wealth of answers to this query!

Complications from surgery and the band are very low. There are several medical publications that can give you numbers on lap-band complication rates. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed is one example. Query "lapband complication rates" or similar terms.

Hello Everyone... not a great day for me today. Ive had this dull ache in the middle of my chest and at the port site all day..... Although this ache is bearable, i want it to go away. Also... everytime i have fluids i burp, will it always be like this?? Im seeing the surgeon next friday for my initial post-op visit and query my first fill. Im interested to see how he finds exactly where the port is.... my abdo is still swollen and i can feel much. Does a fill hurt? :help: mmmmmmmm... constipation.... well i dont feel uncomfortable as i havernt eaten for over a week but i also havernt done number 2 for that long.... what do you all recommend?

I LOVE MAIN COONS!!! THEY ARE MY ABSOLUTE FAV BREED OF CAT. I've never had the honor of actually owning one but will one day. I love all animals but cats are my #1. I have two from the past that I still miss to this day. One calico persian we got from the humane society when she was about 4 months old, we had to put down when she was around 12 or 13. HORRID. I'm the one that had to take her in, thinking she had FIP only to find out she had a tummy tumor and hadn't been eating or anything else. My 1st actual furchild was my beautiful baby Peaches. My mom used to breed himalayan persian (sorry had to google to spell right) and I had peach from the v. beginning. He was a cream point and the love of my life. I had to put him down last year... he was 15 and it was absolutely THE hardest f'in thing I have EVER had to do. Even though he was really sick i still doubted myself as to whether or not I did the right thing. WHICH.. brings me to my next topic that I will ask opinions... ok, at the time Peach died, I wanted to have him creamated, but couldn't afford it so, some close friends of mine owned 5 acres 4 of which were wooded and we would have outdoor circle and stuff for holidays.. very special place, so, since I rented, and couldn't think where to place him, called them and they said bring him out. I gathered herbs from my balcony garden, bought yards of special fleece material to wrap him in, bought some cedar planks, found two huge slabs of rock and away we went. I put a faery statue on the top (should have glued it but didn't). To make a long story short... it was a beautiful spot. 2 months later.. the land owners went through a NASTY divorce. He ended up with the land and has now decided to sell. OH MY GOD> Well, here is my query. My DH has family land in Scottsville KY..32 acres to be exact, that will be ours.. wooded, hilly has a creek. His mom found out about peach the day after and said.. bring him here. Well we had already buried him so it was no big. Well now SWEET DH has offered to move him. I want to.. BADLY... however, si that crazy? would y'all? I can't visit the site (I don't have kids.. I have FURchildren, so to me, this was like losing my child). I don't want him to be dug up by developers in a couple of years. The area is booming and they are buying up land like crazy. Even though DH has offered, I'd feel guilty to say YES YES>> PLEASE go dig up my baby and move him to a safe place, but feel kind of guilty if I have him do it. It will be 2 yrs in June so It won't be 'gross' for him.. plus I had him wrapped up pretty good and covered in herbs and stuff. What do y'all think? Am I crazy to want to move him? I do realize that no everyone is pet crazy. All my life, our animals have always been more than pets... they were family members, and even though I have two BEAUTIFUL girl cats now, they aren't my Peach. sorry this was so long. Thanks Tracy

I love how the the leaders of Christian Right Political Movement forget their Christian values when they smell blood; the blood of victory that is. In the 2000 presidential campaign, I saw Ralph Reed, Director of the “Christian Coalition”, on a Sunday Morning political TV talk show. Mr. Reed told the shows moderator that he could guarantee that George W. BuSh would win the 2000 election. When asked how, he explained that his people were telling their congregations that no matter what BuSh said to attract voters from the middle of the political spectrum (Independents, moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats), he would do the things that the Conservative Christians wanted him to do when elected. When queried on the lying (by BuSh) that would be required to do that, Mr. Reed had no problem with the lying because it was necessary for victory. I guess Christian Politicians are Politicians first. Maybe Politicians only. The (Un)Christian (Never)Right Political Movement (as I refer to it) faces that same problem again in the 2008 election. Do they stick to their Christian principles or do they stick to their "need to win at any cost" principles. Need I tell you where my money goes?

Hi, I just read this article today. You said you had a 10cm band and it talks about that. Thought I would let you read it for yourself. Not sure it has anything to do with the problem you had but wanted to share it with you. I am so sorry you had to go through this. Praying for your complete recovery. Hugs, Deb <DT class=head id=head17303945><INPUT type=checkbox value=17303945 name=uid>1: Med Princ Pract. 2007;16(2):110-3. <SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2><!--var PopUpMenu2_LocalConfig_jsmenu3Config = [ ["ShowCloseIcon","yes"], ["Help","window.open('/entrez/query/static/popup.html','Links_Help','resizable=no,scrollbars=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,copyhistory=no,alwaysRaised=no,depend=no,width=400,height=500');"], ["FrameTarget","_top"], ["TitleText"," Links "]]var jsmenu3Config = [ ["UseLocalConfig","jsmenu3Config","",""]]//--></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2><!--var Menu17303945 = [ ["UseLocalConfig","jsmenu3Config","",""], ["LinkOut","http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=pubmed_AbstractPlus&cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=17303945&dopt=ExternalLink","",""]]//--></SCRIPT> Links </DT><DD class=abstract id=abstract17303945>Slippage after Adjustable Gastric Banding according to the Pars Flaccida and the Perigastric Approach. Khoursheed M, Al-Bader I, Mohammad AI, Soliman MO, Dashti H. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait. Objective: To evaluate laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and the 'pars flaccida' techniques for treating morbidly obese patients. Subjects and Methods: Between May 1999 and July 2002, 64 patients underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. The 'perigastric' technique was performed in the first 31 patients. From September 2000 the band was positioned according to the 'pars flaccida' technique in the remaining 33 patients. The patients were divided into three groups: group 1 - 'perigastric' technique using Lap-Band size 9.75 and 10 cm (31 patients); group 2 - 'pars flaccida' technique using Lap-Band size 10 cm (12 patients), and group 3 - 'pars flaccida' technique using the Swedish band (21 patients). There were 58 females and 6 males with a mean age of 36.6 years (range 17-56). The preoperative mean body mass index was 46.2 kg/m(2). Results: Band slippage occurred in 10/31 patients (32.2%) of group 1, 3/12 patients (25%) of group 2 and none in group 3 patients (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The 'pars flaccida' technique significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative slippage after gastric banding. This complication is further reduced in the Swedish band group. Furthermore, we do not recommend using the 10-cm Lap-Band in the 'pars flaccida' technique. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel. PMID: 17303945 [PubMed - in process] </DD>

http://www.oism.org/news/s49p1354.htm http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=global+warming+false&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3Db37f9520690e8521%26clickedItemRank%3D3%26userQuery%3Dglobal%2Bwarming%2Bfalse%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.canadafreepress.com%252F2006%252Favery121606.htm%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DNSCPToolbarNS%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.canadafreepress.com%2F2006%2Favery121606.htm http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=global+warming+false&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3Db37f9520690e8521%26clickedItemRank%3D6%26userQuery%3Dglobal%2Bwarming%2Bfalse%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.spectator.org%252Fdsp_article.asp%253Fart_id%253D8177%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DNSCPToolbarNS%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spectator.org%2Fdsp_article.asp%253Fart_id%253D8177

Hi Susannah That really sux. There is nothing worse than being made to feel like you're a "dead beat" non-paying patient just because you're querying an account. When I was in another surgeon's office for an intital consultation, a patient of his that had been banded in March 06 came in the query an account he had received in Feb 07! The account was for $160, he wanted some info about the account - and the receptionist got really snarky and said it was for unpaid fees - and he keept asking her for what/when etc, and she basically couldn't tell him. Then he says to her that he claimed all the 05/06 medical bills on his tax, and because this account is only $160 he won't be able to claim this in this tax year (because it's got to be over $1500 to start claiming it). So - get this!!! she starts saying to him, well if you're going to claim it at 30c in the dollar off your tax, then it's really only $40 and she can't even understand why he's carrying on about $40. He was speechless. At this time I was called in to see the Dr and didn't get to find out what happened. The little scenario was part of the reason why I chose not to go with that surgeon!

Dionnem heres my response to your queries from my experience- Shoulder tip pain - walking, walking, walking. As much as you can handle, which won't be much for a while. I cheered when I could make it to the end of the drive way with out feeling totally exhausted haha. As I said in a previous post, I also took painstop medicine. Also I had a wheat pack I could heat up which helped (you can get them from the chemist). Some lucky people don't get shoulder tip pain, cross your finger that you are one of them!! Discomfort - I'll be honest here, I don't have much of a pain threshold, so I would have rated my pain in the 3 or 4 days after surgery as a 6 or 7. But really in hindsight, it wasn't that bad. It was exactly as you put it - discomfort. I was very bloated and my incisions were quite sore for about 2 weeks. Again, every one has different pain levels. Just ask your surgeon to prescribe you some pain killers and you will be FINE!! If you have any pain that you are worried about don't hesitate to contact your surgeon immediately. You may need help with the kids for the first couple of days to a week I would think. You will feel tired, lethagic and not very much like doing Mum stuff, I predict, so if you can get some help for maybe the first couple of days it would probably be best. But maybe Jacqui can provide more advice on this one As for food, I found that the suggestions on this board for the food stages were great. A week is a long time when you are only having liquids or mushies lol (I was on non solids for 3 weeks). It all becomes really boring very quickly. One thing I loved in the thicker liquids stage was cream cheese or cottage cheese with BBQ sauce flavouring it. Doesn't sound so appetising now, but there is only so much yogurt I could have!! Also snak packs and custard were winners. But one mistake I made was buying HEAPS of food thinking I would eat a full yogurt or snak pack in one sitting. I rarely finished one and I wasted A LOT of food because it went out of date before I ate it. Also, I have been using mederma gel on my scars from when they looked healed on the outside, I really think they are fading a lot quicker than they would have with out it. Hope that helps! If you have any more questions, ask away!!!

Hello All: At this point I consider myself the guru to the guru of BCBS's policy for gastric surgery. I will share everything I know. (background, I have been at this since September) an exclusion in the policy reads like this: Blue Care for Large Groups Member Handbook: Section 15: Covered Services Introduction "Covered Services Expenses for the health care services listed below will be covered under the Group Plan only if the services are: 4. not specifically limited or exluded..." Section 22: Exclusions and Limitations "Exclusions 49. Weight control services including any service to lose, gain, or maintain weight, including without limitation: any weight control/loss program; appetite suppressants; dietary regimens; food or food supplements; excercise programs, equipment or memberships; or surgical procedures." ..........................................SNIP That is what my policy reads like. I'm going to my employer to the medical insurance committee and appealing for a purchase of a rider to specifically include gastric surgery ( Lap Band ). That meeting for me is January 31st. My position is I pay for insurance, I have a condition my physician has deemed medically necessary, the insurance I pay for does not cover it because my company purchased that exclusion in the contract. Now on to the other questions and comments. About that "investigational" argument and that it is NOT covered because it is still investigational. That is incorrect. You want to call them back and speak to a supervisor and tell them you were told it was excluded because it is investigation and referr them to this memo from BCBS Corporate which changes it out of investigative to approved. This is the Press Release regarding the procedure from BCBS in November of 2006, it reads: http://www.bcbs.com/betterknowledge/tec/press/ The following Assessments and Special Reports were acted on at the November 2, 2006, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Medical Advisory Panel (MAP) meeting: Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding for Morbid Obesity The MAP concluded that laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for morbid obesity meets the TEC criteria, when performed in appropriately selected patients, by surgeons who are adequately trained and experienced in the specific techniques used, and in institutions that support a comprehensive bariatric surgery program, including long-term monitoring and follow-up post-surgery. Articles from BCBS about gastric surgery: http://www.bluecares.com/about/search.jsp?query=gastric Find your BCBS company for your state where you can go to the search engine and look up GASTRIC for hits on information for their policy. http://www.bcbs.com/coverage/find/plan/ Hey Airwayman.....might want to PRINT this and fax it to your insurance company. It's BCBS of NC's policy for medical code 43770 Adjustable Gastric Banding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( you do have to meet the criteria which is there to read) https://www.bcbsnc.com/services/medical-policy/pdf/surgery_for_morbid_obesity.pdf

Hey guys, I was just wondering how many people on here are from the UK. I use a very busy UK site as well as this one and find them invaluable. It seems like regardless of where we live in the world all our worries, queries and joys are pretty much the same. I live in Colchester in Essex, where are all you guys from? Take care Laura x

Hi april160 and welcome. I too have not been banded yet but hope to be late february/ early march. You could have a point r/e the gallbladder but it should have been the first thing any GP would have queried and hopefully sent Simmah for an ultrasound. Hopefully we will here shortly from Simmah to see what the problem was....

Oh and umm... I can't repost the information, but it's not hard to find out who owns a domain. And from there it's not hard to find that person's contact information. And from there, you can send them your opinions. But of course, domain queries are to be used only for assistance with registering a domain, never to contact someone, so I would never condone using the information in such bad way.

Two whales, Bill and Monica, were swimming off the coast of California. A whaling trawler suddenly appeared. Bill said to Monica, "Let's capsize that whaler". Monica protested, but bill explained how his parents had been killed by that very same whaler. Monica reluctantly agreed. "But how?" she queried. We'll dive below the ship and we will both give a strong blast of air from our blow-holes. So Bill and Monica, each took deep breaths and went below the whaler. They both blew as hard as they could and the ship capsized. The sailors all tried to swim to shore. Bill said, "Let's eat the sailors before they get to shore". Monica said, "No way, I didn't mind the Blow-Job, but I am not going to swallow the Seamen".:faint:

First of all Gaffer...KUDOS to you for thinking of buying such a wonderful gift for Mrs Gaffer!!! Yowzers!!! I was told to wait about a week or so before having a bath (showers were fine.....just no soaking until the incisions were healed). But to be on the safe side, I recommend you pose your query directly to Dr. C's office. Again....nice one!!!!

Blownaway, YODA has some very good points. Niserine will guide you thru it but you do have to ask - you can e-mail or call her - I found I often received a reply within hours of e-mailing her. I too was on the 2 week pre-op diet and the first week was chicken and yogurt (I can't even stand the smell of cottage cheese) and the second week was yogurt and TONS of Water. It sure works after the first few "headache" days. This board is a great meeting place and so is the reception area of the TLBC so use it to your advantage. If others aren't talking strike up a conversation - chances are they have been thru it before or have the same questions you do and someone there will be sure to answer all your queries. I love "visiting" when I go down for a fill - and that's another story! Have a great Christmas and let us know how you're doing.

just a query here how the heck do you find a bike where the tyres don't look like they are flat the minute you sit on them i use to love bike riding but hav't done it for a long time if someone can give me the name of a good strong bike i think i might treat myself for chrissy

First, has anyone had gallbladder surgery and then this surgery later? If so, is the pain similar? I have had my gall bladder removed, spleen removed, and a hysterectomy, and now the lap band surgery. The lap band surgery was a cake walk. I had my surgery on a Thursday and was back to work on Monday. I was a little tired, but it was fine. The only reason I took any of my pain meds is because they were a pain/anti-inflamatory combo and he wanted me to finish them completely. (pst... I didn't). Yea, I was probably swollen for a longer period than I should have been, but I was fine. Hopefully coffee counts as part of a liquid diet.. I don't drink coffee, so I can't answer this one. Second, if I have the surgery it will be in Tijuana (I live in San Diego so it's close and since my insurance won't cover it...) and Dr. Ortiz's office claims I can get the surgery on a Friday and be back to work on Monday?? see above When I got my gb out, I felt great the first few days and then the meds wore off...:paranoid I have a desk job and don't plan on telling my boss what kind of surgery I am getting (or where). The doctor's office claims this surgery is less invasive than gb removal- anyone know if that's true? Yep, see above again I got laposcopic surgery for that; got there at 6:30 am and was home by 11:30 am-so if this is less invasive, why do I have to stay the night before and 2 days after surgery? I will only be at work for 4 days and then I am on vacation for a week. The reason for the night before is probably because the pre-op tests and stuff will be done the afternoon before. The two days after are just a precautionary (sp) because they know you are travelling to get to them and you don't live within the same city like if you had it done in the U.S. You will probably be fine working 4 days then being off the next week. You will probably be tired those 4 days, but let your friends and family know so they can take up the slack and let you rest every chance you get. Third, I've read great things about Dr. Ortiz; does anyone have any bad experiences with him to relate? I haven't heard any negative things about him at all. I would query the old posts and see what you come up with. Fourth, can you feel the port under your skin? Can the outline of it be seen under your skin? I can feel the port, but it isn't visible. Fifth, how do they fill it? Does it hurt? I would think they would have to pierce your skin each time, right? I haven't had a fill yet, but yes they pierce the skin with a special syringe. From what all I have read, it doesn't hurt at all. For some reason this surgery is scaring me alot more than my gb one did and I'm not sure why. The gb surgery is much more invasive. They actually cut and take something out. The cutting on this one is through the skin and they stitch a little flap over the band to hold it in. Any and all comments would be MOST appreciated. If I get the surgery it will be on Dec 15. If I missed anything, let me know. I will be more than happy to try and help. I have recieved so much great advice and help on this chatboard that I like to return it when possible.