Greetings: Mimin, Ghost, BJean and I (Kareyquilts) are all September 2006 bandsters. We are all around 20 pounds to goal and we want to get there as close to our 2nd band anniversary as possible! Thus, the new thread. We are putting out to the universerve and you that we want to lose that last little bit that has been tripping all of us up for a while now! We would love your support, suggestions and help. I believe that all of us (not sure about BJean) have had some plastic surgery to get rid of excess skin, etc. We are of various ages and stages, but through it all we have supported one another. In fact, of all the September bandsters that started with us, in our thread, we are the last ones to keep up the chatter. I guess we will all state how we're going to try and lose the last 20 pounds. The challenge starts on July 1st. Hope you'll join us for the ride!

I have an amazingly good whey protein mix that I use with skim milk for breakfast about 2 or 3 days a week. I get it from the doctor although I think I could probably buy it online for a lot less. It's very convenient to get it from him and I don't pay shipping. Without the milk it's 24 gms of protein and of course there's some protein in the milk. It's like drinking chocolate milk but not quite as chocolaty - but just as good. I could get creative and pump it up, but it is such a quick way to have breakfast, I don't bother. It's called: Peak Nutrition. Bioengineered Ion-Exchange whey protein. Located at Syracuse, NE. Absolutely the best tasting supplement I've ever had and I've had lots and lots.

I wish I had some of your OCD, although not all. I am going to keep you in mind and use you for inspiration for keeping up with my food and drink journal! Is your notebook small so that you can carry it with you?

Jacquie: Good to hear from you. I'm going to start recording what I'm eating again. You're right, it is a good technique!

Mimin: How are the wedding plans coming?

Okay, I was doing pretty good until yesterday when I started getting the bills for my recent slippage. So far it looks like it's going to cost about $40,000! I'm in shock! My insurance won't cover anything related to it. It just doesn't seem right to charge so much. My original band cost $13,000. I was thinking that the surgery would be a little more than that but not 3 times as much. The doc said that he would fight for me to get the bill down, but he hasn't been in since I got my bill. I'm not sure what recourse I have, but I just think that since my insurance company didn't contract with them for any set prices that they can charge what they want. They charged me $9,000 for sterile supplies. How many sterile supplies could I have used? They charged me $6,000 for the ER, and I never even went to the ER. I went straight to short stay surgery. I just feel sick about this and very guilty that my family will have to pay for this. Does anyone out there have any experience with this kind of thing?

Bjean: Congratulations on the weight loss! I'm glad you're feeling better. My doc said no swimming pools for 6 weeks. I'm going to add pilates next week and then go back to weight training in 2 weeks. My doc said I can't lift more than 40 pounds when I go back for a while. I'm not sure why, it seems kind of random to me. Oh well.

OMG Karey - I can't believe they can charge that much :biggrin:. Is there any way to appeal any of the costs or the insurance (or lack of), since it was an emergeny and not at all elective? I mean you chose the lap band, but you didn't chose the complications or the slip - couldn't your insurance maybe cover at least the emergency part?

I am a Canadian, so my health care is supposedly "universal" (although health care almost never covers lap band surgery - I am one of maybe 75 in my community in the last 3 years who has had this surgery covered), they would have to cover any complications or emergency stuff. I would be vibrating about this - I am so sorry.

On the flip side, your health is more important than money - if you can't do anything about it, at least be thankful that you are safe and healing. Your family would much rather you be with them, than $40 thousand richer.

BJ - yes I have little notebooks (200 sheets, coil bound, 5 1/2" x 3 1/2") that I buy at the $ store. Ironically, my new one has the name "fat lil notebook" on the back cover.

Since my BMI now says I am "only" overweight now (no longer obese or morbidly obese or where I started at super obese), I am thinking I should write my objections to the company :biggrin:

Jacquie

Bjean: awww thanks you made me blush :cursing: I'm glad to see you are back in action! I need to check out the protien you are using since you say it is good. I have been using Isopure (only powder I can stand) for a really long time and recently it started upsetting my stomach and I can't deal with it anymore.

Karey: I am soooo sorry you have been hit with those bills, it is not fair! I like jjsmiles am from Canada and although I have lived in the US for almost 10 years I can't get use to the health system. Everything is overcharged here from cotton swabs to OR time - it's sad that they capitolize on those in need. $6000 for ER when you never used the ER is unbelievable. *hugs* On the bright side, you are ok! We can't forget that!

Wedding plans are slow, just when I think I'm getting somewhere someone comes along and takes the air out of my sails. I really want to do a destination wedding in Aruba and then when everyone whined about how expensive and far it was I decided Arizona and that was too expensive so I said FINE VEGAS and well that is too cheesy apparently.... I am trying to make everyone else happy and forgetting about us - I need to get over that.

Just quit trying to please everyone and go back to your plans for Aruba if that is what you and your soon to be DH really want. Remember, to everyone else this is just a date in their calendar book but for you this is going to be your life long memory, it should be what you want.

Ofcourse if you are determined to please at least one other person besides yourself and your fiance I say have it in Kansas City then you'll have pleased one person on LBT, me. :cursing:

Mimin: If your parents can go to Aruba and some of your important friends, then go to Aruba and send everyone else announcements!

You ladies are right and we should do what we want but I still want everyone to be happy with our decision. I don't want a traditional wedding with 200 guests, I just want something small with my closest friends and family but as people find out we picked a date (4-3-10) they have a lot of input to share... We may just run away and elope and tell everyone after - it's easier!

On a different note I am down to 167lbs as of this morning. I still have 'pockets' of swelling but for the most part it is gone and I am finally back to feeling normal. I have not yet had the guts to try spinning but I am back to riding my bike, walking and working back upto running.

Mimin: So glad you're feeling better and your weight is down again. What a relief for you! As far as your wedding, I think your right that you need to at least consider your parents. Marriage not just about you guys, but about blending families and celebrating your new family. Someday you will have children and of course you'll want to be part of their big day and honor their union. That being said, you're not going to please everyone and everyone won't be able to come. What advise do your parents give you? Are they helpful? I just wish you the best and having the date is a good start!

I've tried to send ya'll a note 3 times and for some reason it keeps dumping my posts.

Please know I appreciate your comments to me. And I'll try again tomorrow!

I lost 1 lb. last week. I'm feeling like I probably need to go ahead and get some restriction put back in!

bj

How is everyone doing? I just got back from San Francisco where I watched my daughter in an aerial dance performance. It was great except I still don't feel to good. I have gained back 4 pounds! I'm also starting to get my appetite back, so I will probably start getting fills when I gain, hopefully next week. I guess that I will try to make use of this band, that cost me soooo much money! Went to a pilates class today for the first time since my surgery. Boy, was it tiring and my abs did not really like it, but I guess it was survivalable, just discouraging that is all I can say. I'm sounding like an Eyeore today, cause that's how I feel. Maybe I need to get out and get some sunshine! Hope you all are doing better than me! Would love to hear how it's going. Bjean, congratuations on the weight los!

My first re-fill is scheduled for tomorrow and I'm SO ready for it! I believe I've only gained 1 or 2 pounds over the last 6 weeks but I'm still nervous to get back on that scale. Even more so as the nurse practicioner (sp?) will be the one administering the fill.

She has always been nice to me in the past but has a reputation for occasionally coming across as if she is scolding some of the patients for their behaviour. She has only been working with the band for less than a year so I'm not too sure how I'd take it if she started in on me considering I've lived it for 3 years. Then again I probably would deserve her comments as long as they didn't sound like she thought she was telling me something I didn't already know.

UPDATE - Well, according to the doc's office I've gained 3 pounds in the last 3 weeks without my fill. But mind you I didn't take off my shoes, or take the time to select "light" clothes yesterday. Plus I went right after having lunch with my son. I know I gained some weight but don't think it was the full 3 pounds.

Happily, the nurse practicioner actually complemented me on not having gained more considering how much Fluid had been taken out of my band. She was very nice. She gently reminded me that it's not the best idea for me to be eating as much cottage cheese as I have been lately. Only because it is such a soft food and won't keep me feeling full as long as more solid protiens would.

Diane: Well that's not too bad, I bet you only gained a pound or so. So, hopefully the fill will help! YEAH!

Well, yesterday, I got more bad news. Now, I have to have knee surgery. O, bother! There will be a 3 to 4 month recovery time, so I've decided that I'm going to get my back side and my arms done, so I don't have 2 recoveries. So tired of going backwards! The ortho guy has me scheduled for Sept. 3rd, but I'm going to put it back, after I meet with the ps on Tues. and get a real game plan. Just never know what life is going to throw at you!

Karey, I'm so sorry about the run of bad luck you are having. More than your fair share for sure. I hope you are turning the corner now. Getting your next round of PS before the knee surgery sounds like a great idea to me. If you can get it all over with in one block of time, maybe you won't feel like you've spent a whole year in recovery mode.

What kind of knee surgery are you having? I've had surgery on both of my knees before and they went really well. I hope you'll have the same positive experience.