Intro

[Guest guest]

Dear Regina:

I am still pre-op and so my experience thus far is limited. However, I have

had a consultation with Dr Keshishian and I am very satisfied with his

background, his track record, and his manner. All three of the surgeons in

California are, by reputation, excellent. They have different amounts of

experience etc. If you look at the post from Chis Hull posted yesterday I

think, you will find a break down of their strengths and weaknesses. And, if

you look in the archives you will find lively discussion regarding the

Doctors. Good luck on your journey.

Sheryle

pre-op

Dr Keshishian

10-10-01

[Guest guest]

Dear Regina:

I am still pre-op and so my experience thus far is limited. However, I have

had a consultation with Dr Keshishian and I am very satisfied with his

background, his track record, and his manner. All three of the surgeons in

California are, by reputation, excellent. They have different amounts of

experience etc. If you look at the post from Chis Hull posted yesterday I

think, you will find a break down of their strengths and weaknesses. And, if

you look in the archives you will find lively discussion regarding the

Doctors. Good luck on your journey.

Sheryle

pre-op

Dr Keshishian

10-10-01

[Guest guest]

Regina,

I can't blame Dr.Rabkin for wanting cash up front. The 5 largest

insurance companies in NY are being sued for their refusal to pay

doctors and surgeons fee even after they admitted that it was

medically neccessary. I had an upper GI done in January and the doctor

was just paid a week ago.

That said I personally could not have had the surgery if I had

to pay 12,000 up front. I know there are a lot of self pays out there

though. To cover your own derrier if you pay up front make sure that

your paperwork is submitted to the insurance company anyways. Most

insurers have clauses that state that you must call them before

certain procedures or that you must call within 48 hours of admittance

to cover a hospital stay. If you can get in writing that they agree

that it is medically neccessary you will be half way there and have

some legal recourse.

Yes it is perfectly legal for Rabkin to require payment up front.

There is an out for BC/BS people though. If Rabkin is a preferred

provider of services with BC/BS then he can't ask for cash up front

from BC/BS. Now to be honest not many wls surgeons are bc/bs preferred

providers.

My surgeon Dr.Gagner requires cash up front for the consult. I

think it is about $200. He also requires $100 up front for all post-op

visits starting at 6 months. Add to the this the nutritionist $200 but

covers all post-op appointments and the Psychiatrist $200 as well as

travel and lodging expenses and this whole process can add up quickly.

That said would have chosen another surgeon? The answer is

unequivocably no. If if it finacially possible for one to pay the

associated fees to get a surgeon that you trust and who is experienced

in DS it is worth the money. If it is not feasibly financial then you

have to check out California surgeons on the Obesity Support web page.

From there you should be able to locate another surgeon who will do

it without the upfront fees.

> Greetings to all,

>

> My name is Regina and I am considering DS surgery. I have

researched

> on the web and have spoken with people that have had the surgery.

In

> fact, one of the Paramedics that comes into the ER that I work in is

> extremely happy with her choice. I am astounded at her results.

Her

> surgery was done by Dr. Rabkin. I have a few questions, I am sure

> they have been asked before but please humor the new gal! I have

> emailed and spoken with the staff from 3 separate doctors (Rabkin,

> Anthone, and Keshinian) and I was wondering if any of you have

> experience with these doctors and what have those experiences been?

> I am open to positive and negative feedback. I just found out that

> Dr. Rabkin likes $12,000.00 up front for fees and the insurance

> reimbursement is given back to the patient. Did any of you have to

> do this? Is it ethical? I have HealthNet and Delta Health Systems

> for insurance, have any of you had any problems with these

providers?

> One of the nurses I spoke with said that I " qualify but barely " (my

> BMI is 41.6) but I have no co-morbidities and it may make it

> difficult to get approved. I understand that many people have to

> appeal the process of get approval. I don't have any

> documented " medical diets " but have tried dieting on my own. Any

> advice? I have a ton of questions but I guess I will start with the

> above ones first. Thank you all in advance.

>

> Regina

[Guest guest]

Regina,

I can't blame Dr.Rabkin for wanting cash up front. The 5 largest

insurance companies in NY are being sued for their refusal to pay

doctors and surgeons fee even after they admitted that it was

medically neccessary. I had an upper GI done in January and the doctor

was just paid a week ago.

That said I personally could not have had the surgery if I had

to pay 12,000 up front. I know there are a lot of self pays out there

though. To cover your own derrier if you pay up front make sure that

your paperwork is submitted to the insurance company anyways. Most

insurers have clauses that state that you must call them before

certain procedures or that you must call within 48 hours of admittance

to cover a hospital stay. If you can get in writing that they agree

that it is medically neccessary you will be half way there and have

some legal recourse.

Yes it is perfectly legal for Rabkin to require payment up front.

There is an out for BC/BS people though. If Rabkin is a preferred

provider of services with BC/BS then he can't ask for cash up front

from BC/BS. Now to be honest not many wls surgeons are bc/bs preferred

providers.

My surgeon Dr.Gagner requires cash up front for the consult. I

think it is about $200. He also requires $100 up front for all post-op

visits starting at 6 months. Add to the this the nutritionist $200 but

covers all post-op appointments and the Psychiatrist $200 as well as

travel and lodging expenses and this whole process can add up quickly.

That said would have chosen another surgeon? The answer is

unequivocably no. If if it finacially possible for one to pay the

associated fees to get a surgeon that you trust and who is experienced

in DS it is worth the money. If it is not feasibly financial then you

have to check out California surgeons on the Obesity Support web page.

From there you should be able to locate another surgeon who will do

it without the upfront fees.

> Greetings to all,

>

> My name is Regina and I am considering DS surgery. I have

researched

> on the web and have spoken with people that have had the surgery.

In

> fact, one of the Paramedics that comes into the ER that I work in is

> extremely happy with her choice. I am astounded at her results.

Her

> surgery was done by Dr. Rabkin. I have a few questions, I am sure

> they have been asked before but please humor the new gal! I have

> emailed and spoken with the staff from 3 separate doctors (Rabkin,

> Anthone, and Keshinian) and I was wondering if any of you have

> experience with these doctors and what have those experiences been?

> I am open to positive and negative feedback. I just found out that

> Dr. Rabkin likes $12,000.00 up front for fees and the insurance

> reimbursement is given back to the patient. Did any of you have to

> do this? Is it ethical? I have HealthNet and Delta Health Systems

> for insurance, have any of you had any problems with these

providers?

> One of the nurses I spoke with said that I " qualify but barely " (my

> BMI is 41.6) but I have no co-morbidities and it may make it

> difficult to get approved. I understand that many people have to

> appeal the process of get approval. I don't have any

> documented " medical diets " but have tried dieting on my own. Any

> advice? I have a ton of questions but I guess I will start with the

> above ones first. Thank you all in advance.

>

> Regina

[Guest guest]

Re: Intro

> There is an out for BC/BS people though. If Rabkin is a preferred

> provider of services with BC/BS then he can't ask for cash up front

> from BC/BS. Now to be honest not many wls surgeons are bc/bs preferred

> providers.

If he's a preferred provider (or " in network " ) with *any* insurance company,

then he wouldn't be able to charge up front for anything other than services

that are not contracted. Unfortunately, he's not taking BC/BS...or

Cigna...or Aetna...or anything other than the two already discussed.

> in DS it is worth the money. If it is not feasibly financial then you

> have to check out California surgeons on the Obesity Support web page.

> From there you should be able to locate another surgeon who will do

> it without the upfront fees.

Unfortunately, there are only 3 surgeons in California who do the DS:

Rabkin, Anthone, and Keshishian. As far as I know, neither of the other two

require surgeons' fees up front. They may require other fees up front,

though.

alyssa

(Rabkin or Keshishian? I'm not sure...ask me today, and I might say

either.)

[Guest guest]

Re: Intro

> There is an out for BC/BS people though. If Rabkin is a preferred

> provider of services with BC/BS then he can't ask for cash up front

> from BC/BS. Now to be honest not many wls surgeons are bc/bs preferred

> providers.

If he's a preferred provider (or " in network " ) with *any* insurance company,

then he wouldn't be able to charge up front for anything other than services

that are not contracted. Unfortunately, he's not taking BC/BS...or

Cigna...or Aetna...or anything other than the two already discussed.

> in DS it is worth the money. If it is not feasibly financial then you

> have to check out California surgeons on the Obesity Support web page.

> From there you should be able to locate another surgeon who will do

> it without the upfront fees.

Unfortunately, there are only 3 surgeons in California who do the DS:

Rabkin, Anthone, and Keshishian. As far as I know, neither of the other two

require surgeons' fees up front. They may require other fees up front,

though.

alyssa

(Rabkin or Keshishian? I'm not sure...ask me today, and I might say

either.)

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the response!

Now don't laugh, but, what does BC/BS mean? I had written previously

that I didn't have any co-morbidities. Well, I went searching

through the lists files and found a document with ICD9 codes and lo

and behold, I have some! They are documented with my doctors, for

example, I have fibromyalgia and sudden cardiac death syndrome(I do

have an implanted defibrillator because of this). I will keep

researching and watching this list! I can't believe how warm, caring

and willing to share info all of you are! I am so glad to be here.

Peace,

Regina

> > Greetings to all,

> >

> > My name is Regina and I am considering DS surgery. I have

> researched

> > on the web and have spoken with people that have had the

surgery.

> In

> > fact, one of the Paramedics that comes into the ER that I work in

is

> > extremely happy with her choice. I am astounded at her results.

> Her

> > surgery was done by Dr. Rabkin. I have a few questions, I am

sure

> > they have been asked before but please humor the new gal! I have

> > emailed and spoken with the staff from 3 separate doctors

(Rabkin,

> > Anthone, and Keshinian) and I was wondering if any of you have

> > experience with these doctors and what have those experiences

been?

>

> > I am open to positive and negative feedback. I just found out

that

> > Dr. Rabkin likes $12,000.00 up front for fees and the insurance

> > reimbursement is given back to the patient. Did any of you have

to

> > do this? Is it ethical? I have HealthNet and Delta Health

Systems

> > for insurance, have any of you had any problems with these

> providers?

> > One of the nurses I spoke with said that I " qualify but

barely " (my

> > BMI is 41.6) but I have no co-morbidities and it may make it

> > difficult to get approved. I understand that many people have to

> > appeal the process of get approval. I don't have any

> > documented " medical diets " but have tried dieting on my own. Any

> > advice? I have a ton of questions but I guess I will start with

the

> > above ones first. Thank you all in advance.

> >

> > Regina

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the response!

Now don't laugh, but, what does BC/BS mean? I had written previously

that I didn't have any co-morbidities. Well, I went searching

through the lists files and found a document with ICD9 codes and lo

and behold, I have some! They are documented with my doctors, for

example, I have fibromyalgia and sudden cardiac death syndrome(I do

have an implanted defibrillator because of this). I will keep

researching and watching this list! I can't believe how warm, caring

and willing to share info all of you are! I am so glad to be here.

Peace,

Regina

> > Greetings to all,

> >

> > My name is Regina and I am considering DS surgery. I have

> researched

> > on the web and have spoken with people that have had the

surgery.

> In

> > fact, one of the Paramedics that comes into the ER that I work in

is

> > extremely happy with her choice. I am astounded at her results.

> Her

> > surgery was done by Dr. Rabkin. I have a few questions, I am

sure

> > they have been asked before but please humor the new gal! I have

> > emailed and spoken with the staff from 3 separate doctors

(Rabkin,

> > Anthone, and Keshinian) and I was wondering if any of you have

> > experience with these doctors and what have those experiences

been?

>

> > I am open to positive and negative feedback. I just found out

that

> > Dr. Rabkin likes $12,000.00 up front for fees and the insurance

> > reimbursement is given back to the patient. Did any of you have

to

> > do this? Is it ethical? I have HealthNet and Delta Health

Systems

> > for insurance, have any of you had any problems with these

> providers?

> > One of the nurses I spoke with said that I " qualify but

barely " (my

> > BMI is 41.6) but I have no co-morbidities and it may make it

> > difficult to get approved. I understand that many people have to

> > appeal the process of get approval. I don't have any

> > documented " medical diets " but have tried dieting on my own. Any

> > advice? I have a ton of questions but I guess I will start with

the

> > above ones first. Thank you all in advance.

> >

> > Regina

[Guest guest]

Welcome, and good luck on finding a surgeon. I am having my surgery

by Dr. Rabkin on OCtober 22. I had to pay a 3K " program fee " . I

have HN under the Brown and Toland Medical group. But other people

do not have to pay the 3K. Other's still have to pay 12K up front

and then will get back whatever the insurance co witll cover. I here

Dr. K has a 2k program fee, and I don't think Alvarado does.

SF@...

BMI 53, diabetic, high blood pressure.

> Greetings to all,

>

> My name is Regina and I am considering DS surgery. I have

researched

> on the web and have spoken with people that have had the surgery.

In

> fact, one of the Paramedics that comes into the ER that I work in

is

> extremely happy with her choice. I am astounded at her results.

Her

> surgery was done by Dr. Rabkin. I have a few questions, I am sure

> they have been asked before but please humor the new gal! I have

> emailed and spoken with the staff from 3 separate doctors (Rabkin,

> Anthone, and Keshinian) and I was wondering if any of you have

> experience with these doctors and what have those experiences

been?

> I am open to positive and negative feedback. I just found out that

> Dr. Rabkin likes $12,000.00 up front for fees and the insurance

> reimbursement is given back to the patient. Did any of you have to

> do this? Is it ethical? I have HealthNet and Delta Health Systems

> for insurance, have any of you had any problems with these

providers?

> One of the nurses I spoke with said that I " qualify but barely " (my

> BMI is 41.6) but I have no co-morbidities and it may make it

> difficult to get approved. I understand that many people have to

> appeal the process of get approval. I don't have any

> documented " medical diets " but have tried dieting on my own. Any

> advice? I have a ton of questions but I guess I will start with

the

> above ones first. Thank you all in advance.

>

> Regina

[Guest guest]

Welcome, and good luck on finding a surgeon. I am having my surgery

by Dr. Rabkin on OCtober 22. I had to pay a 3K " program fee " . I

have HN under the Brown and Toland Medical group. But other people

do not have to pay the 3K. Other's still have to pay 12K up front

and then will get back whatever the insurance co witll cover. I here

Dr. K has a 2k program fee, and I don't think Alvarado does.

SF@...

BMI 53, diabetic, high blood pressure.

> Greetings to all,

>

> My name is Regina and I am considering DS surgery. I have

researched

> on the web and have spoken with people that have had the surgery.

In

> fact, one of the Paramedics that comes into the ER that I work in

is

> extremely happy with her choice. I am astounded at her results.

Her

> surgery was done by Dr. Rabkin. I have a few questions, I am sure

> they have been asked before but please humor the new gal! I have

> emailed and spoken with the staff from 3 separate doctors (Rabkin,

> Anthone, and Keshinian) and I was wondering if any of you have

> experience with these doctors and what have those experiences

been?

> I am open to positive and negative feedback. I just found out that

> Dr. Rabkin likes $12,000.00 up front for fees and the insurance

> reimbursement is given back to the patient. Did any of you have to

> do this? Is it ethical? I have HealthNet and Delta Health Systems

> for insurance, have any of you had any problems with these

providers?

> One of the nurses I spoke with said that I " qualify but barely " (my

> BMI is 41.6) but I have no co-morbidities and it may make it

> difficult to get approved. I understand that many people have to

> appeal the process of get approval. I don't have any

> documented " medical diets " but have tried dieting on my own. Any

> advice? I have a ton of questions but I guess I will start with

the

> above ones first. Thank you all in advance.

>

> Regina

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/21/2001 5:46:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

er_goddess@... writes:

<< I have

emailed and spoken with the staff from 3 separate doctors (Rabkin,

Anthone, and Keshinian) and I was wondering if any of you have

experience with these doctors and what have those experiences been? >>

Regina,

I had surgery with Dr. Anthone in April of this year and am very happy with

my results. All of my experiences have been extremely positive. I also

started out with Dr. Rabkin because he is only 1 1/2 hour away from me. (I

live in Sacto) I had alot of trouble getting answers, and they were very

wishy washy about what insurance they accepted. They would have made me pay

cash for my consultation and wait to be reimbursed from my insurance company.

After a little research I found out that he was not even in my network. If

you can afford it, and it's more convenient for you, I would say go for it.

He is an excellent surgeon and I would trust him 100%..... After more

research on surgeons that perform DS I came across the wonderful Dr. Anthone,

and I'm glad. He is a world renound surgeon with alot of experience. He

doesn't to lap DS, however. I would recommend him to anyone. Where do you

live? Are you looking to have open or lap? If you have any specific questions

feel free to ask.... Good luck with your decision and your approval.

Kim

Dr. Anthone USC

4/18/01 DGB/DS open

-91 lbs in 4 months.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/21/2001 5:46:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

er_goddess@... writes:

<< I have

emailed and spoken with the staff from 3 separate doctors (Rabkin,

Anthone, and Keshinian) and I was wondering if any of you have

experience with these doctors and what have those experiences been? >>

Regina,

I had surgery with Dr. Anthone in April of this year and am very happy with

my results. All of my experiences have been extremely positive. I also

started out with Dr. Rabkin because he is only 1 1/2 hour away from me. (I

live in Sacto) I had alot of trouble getting answers, and they were very

wishy washy about what insurance they accepted. They would have made me pay

cash for my consultation and wait to be reimbursed from my insurance company.

After a little research I found out that he was not even in my network. If

you can afford it, and it's more convenient for you, I would say go for it.

He is an excellent surgeon and I would trust him 100%..... After more

research on surgeons that perform DS I came across the wonderful Dr. Anthone,

and I'm glad. He is a world renound surgeon with alot of experience. He

doesn't to lap DS, however. I would recommend him to anyone. Where do you

live? Are you looking to have open or lap? If you have any specific questions

feel free to ask.... Good luck with your decision and your approval.

Kim

Dr. Anthone USC

4/18/01 DGB/DS open

-91 lbs in 4 months.

[Guest guest]

Alyssa-

I don't know what BC/BS stands for but I have Pacific

Care HMO and they are paying 100%.

Tami

--- Alyssa wrote:

>

> Re: Intro

>

>

> > There is an out for BC/BS people though. If Rabkin

> is a preferred

> > provider of services with BC/BS then he can't ask

> for cash up front

> > from BC/BS. Now to be honest not many wls surgeons

> are bc/bs preferred

> > providers.

>

> If he's a preferred provider (or " in network " ) with

> *any* insurance company,

> then he wouldn't be able to charge up front for

> anything other than services

> that are not contracted. Unfortunately, he's not

> taking BC/BS...or

> Cigna...or Aetna...or anything other than the two

> already discussed.

>

> > in DS it is worth the money. If it is not feasibly

> financial then you

> > have to check out California surgeons on the

> Obesity Support web page.

> > From there you should be able to locate another

> surgeon who will do

> > it without the upfront fees.

>

> Unfortunately, there are only 3 surgeons in

> California who do the DS:

> Rabkin, Anthone, and Keshishian. As far as I know,

> neither of the other two

> require surgeons' fees up front. They may require

> other fees up front,

> though.

>

> alyssa

> (Rabkin or Keshishian? I'm not sure...ask me today,

> and I might say

> either.)

>

>

>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Alyssa-

I don't know what BC/BS stands for but I have Pacific

Care HMO and they are paying 100%.

Tami

--- Alyssa wrote:

>

> Re: Intro

>

>

> > There is an out for BC/BS people though. If Rabkin

> is a preferred

> > provider of services with BC/BS then he can't ask

> for cash up front

> > from BC/BS. Now to be honest not many wls surgeons

> are bc/bs preferred

> > providers.

>

> If he's a preferred provider (or " in network " ) with

> *any* insurance company,

> then he wouldn't be able to charge up front for

> anything other than services

> that are not contracted. Unfortunately, he's not

> taking BC/BS...or

> Cigna...or Aetna...or anything other than the two

> already discussed.

>

> > in DS it is worth the money. If it is not feasibly

> financial then you

> > have to check out California surgeons on the

> Obesity Support web page.

> > From there you should be able to locate another

> surgeon who will do

> > it without the upfront fees.

>

> Unfortunately, there are only 3 surgeons in

> California who do the DS:

> Rabkin, Anthone, and Keshishian. As far as I know,

> neither of the other two

> require surgeons' fees up front. They may require

> other fees up front,

> though.

>

> alyssa

> (Rabkin or Keshishian? I'm not sure...ask me today,

> and I might say

> either.)

>

>

>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

--- Tami Kopp wrote:

I don't know what BC/BS stands for but I have Pacific

Care HMO and they are paying 100%.

************

Tami, are you with Sutter Gould or B & T?

Thanks!

dee

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

--- Tami Kopp wrote:

I don't know what BC/BS stands for but I have Pacific

Care HMO and they are paying 100%.

************

Tami, are you with Sutter Gould or B & T?

Thanks!

dee

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee-

I'm in the Sonoma County and My medical group is St.

phs Medical Group. Sorry I don't know anything

about Brown and Tolen or Sutter Gould.

Tami

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee-

I'm in the Sonoma County and My medical group is St.

phs Medical Group. Sorry I don't know anything

about Brown and Tolen or Sutter Gould.

Tami

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I am 5'1 " AND A QUARTER. I've seen charts that say at 5'0 " , 100 is correct.

5# for every inch, which would give me about 107 or so. So, at 112-115, I

am now chunky by that std. It doesn't take into consideration age or bone

structure. I have to keep shaking off that chunky thinking. I don't FEEL

chunky. OK, some days, but mostly not.

My low was 104. I bounced back as high as 118 during the stabilizing process

and parked about 112. The only change was 5 yrs postie when my staple line

disrupted and I hit 124.

Your goal wt is where you feel good. I thought 104 was fabulous, was hoping

I'd get double digits. But you know, if I'm not chunky at 112, does that

mean 99 was too skinny? TOOO SKINNY? Give me a break. But it was all n/a

as that did not happen & I am not willing to " diet " to make it happen. I'm

willing to stay within my " formula " to remain in this neighborhood, however.

Also, you're still in the honeymoon stage, so likely you are not " done " yet

and may drop lower. Or not. My own goal was 125. The actual chart I saw

showed 122-129 being right for 5'1 " .

Like you, I was taught that anything up to 120 was OK, anything beyond was

bigger than a barn. I KNOW it's not right, but it's awfully hard to shake

that programming.

Thanks,

Vitalady, Inc. T

www.vitalady.com

If you are interested in PayPal, please click here:

https://secure.paypal.com/affil/pal=vitalady%40bigfoot.com

Intro

> Hi...I understand that you are supposed to do an intro before

> starting to post here, so this will be mine. I have been lurking on

> and off for months, but haven't gotten around to doing an intro since

> I passed my first anniversary.

>

> My surgery (open rny at BTC in Belvidere, IL) was on Dec. 26, 2001.

> By the time I was a year out, I had lost 121 lbs., which was about

> half of my pre-op weight. I feel very good about that, but I don't

> know if I can say I'm " at goal " or not, because I was never given a

> weight loss goal and never set one for myself. I had kind of a

> general idea of what I was hoping for, but it was a pretty modest

> one, because I was afraid of setting my sights too high for fear that

> I'd probably be disappointed. I never even dared hope I'd get all the

> way to a " normal " weight, much less my " ideal " weight. I read so many

> stories about people stalling out at higher weights that I guess I

> just assumed that's what would happen to me. But instead, my weight

> loss surpassed all my pre-op expectations and kept on going. This is,

> OF COURSE, great--the only problem is that I don't know how to figure

> out what I should weigh or whether I am there yet. I am also not sure

> whether I should be trying to get to a point that is a little lower

> than where I'd ideally like to be, so that I have a little bit of

> a " cushion " against regain. I just read a post on this group saying

> that it's common to regain about 10 pounds after reaching goal. Is

> that true? This has me a bit scared. I feel like what I weigh as of

> this moment is the max that I would really want to weigh, and that

> makes me afraid to stop losing now.

>

> To get down to specifics, I will tell you that I weigh 120 right now,

> and have been holding fairly steady here for about the last month and

> a half. I realize that probably sounds tiny to some people, but since

> I'm only 5'1 " with a very small frame, it's not a ridiculously low

> weight for me at all. I have a BMI of 22.7 at this weight, which is a

> little above the middle of the " normal " range, so I am definitely NOT

> underweight right now.

>

> My current weight feels pretty good to me, which tells me that maybe

> this IS where I want to be. But I really don't want to weigh any more

> than this, so the idea that I might end up 10 lbs. than this if I

> don't get down even lower has me worried.

>

> Another thing that is making this situation even more confusing for

> me is that I spent my teens and 20s absolutely convinced that I was

> too heavy at 120 and needed to weigh around 105. I actually got down

> to that weight ONCE, about 30 years ago (I was 21 at the time), and

> that is the only time in my adult life (before now) that I can ever

> remember not thinking of myself as weighing more than I should.

> Believe me, I KNOW that my ideas about my weight and body image were

> messed up when I was younger--I've been aware of that for years--but

> I am still confused about the whole thing. 105 is definitely thinner

> than I want to be now, and I really don't have any desire to get down

> that low--but I don't know what I SHOULD be shooting for. And in the

> meantime, finding myself at a weight that is right in the range that

> I once considered " overweight " after all these years is doing a major

> number on my head.

>

> Is any of this making any sense whatsoever, lol? I feel like I

> probably sound like a complete nutcase. This whole thing has taken me

> by surprise, to tell you the truth. Over the years, as my weight

> climbed higher and higher and I gave up any hopes of ever at

> a " normal " weight again, much less a truly " slender " one, I gradually

> began to think of myself as a fat woman. I didn't feel like I was

> ever going to be able to lose the weight, and I convinced myself that

> I was comfortable with who I was. The truth was that I really was NOT

> happy with my weight, but since I felt like I had NO hope of changing

> things, I decided to accept the status quo rather than agonize over

> things. That really didn't change till I got to the point of being MO

> and gradually began to feel worse and worse physically--and boy, did

> it change then! It was like one day I suddenly woke up and

> said, " Man, you know what--I really HATE this!!! " *look of surprise*

>

> Things came to a head in 2001. The year efore, I managed to lose 20

> lbs. on Atkins, and was feeling pretty decent...but by the middle of

> 2001, I had gained back 40 and was feeling worse than ever and

> frantic to do something about. Around that time, all the publicity

> about Carnie was hitting the fan, and I got curious and

> started to investigate. I was flabbergasted to learn that obesity

> could actually be treated effectively with surgery and that I was

> heavy enough to qualify for it and that my insurance would cover it.

> The rest, as they say, is history.

>

> By the time I decided to have wls, I had long since given up hope of

> ever being anything other than obese, so I figured that I would be

> ecstatic if I could just get myself to the point of being " merely "

> overweight (which for me is somewhere in the upper 150s). I did

> that...and then some...and that's when the confusion really started

> to kick in.

>

> To further complicate things, I also have a ton of extra skin hanging

> all over me, with no hopes of being able to get rid of it in the

> foreseeable future. That is confusing things for me even more,

> because I feel like all the rolls and folds are making me looking

> heavier than I actually am. If there's a skinny person in here

> somewhere, I'm having a hard time seeing her right now, lol. (PS is

> just not in the picture right now--my insurance guidelines are VERY

> strict and there's no way I could qualify based on the way they are

> written--and I have no other way to pay for any PS. So for the time

> being, at least, I will just have to find a way to deal.)

>

> So...that is where I am at the moment. Sorry my first post here is so

> darned long. I was going to just do a brief intro this time, but once

> I got started, it was hard to stop, lol. I have been wanting to talk

> about all this, but afraid of being lectured to just count my

> blessings and just being glad I lost the weight. Well, duh, I AM glad

> I lost the weight--how dumb would it be if I wasn't, lol? But I seem

> to feel a need to quantify things in some way. And when people make

> comments about " getting to goal " or being X no. of lbs. away from

> that, I feel lost. Plus there is that fear of not being able to count

> on staying where I am right now...darn it, I really need to shut up

> now, because I'm starting to repeat myself!

>

> Sorry if I put anyone to sleep with this long post...and I'm sorry if

> I sound like a total nutjob. Thanks so much for listening!

>

> Sharon <--are there any other Sharons here? If so, I will start using

> an initial

>

>

>

> Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

>

> Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am 5'1 " AND A QUARTER. I've seen charts that say at 5'0 " , 100 is correct.

5# for every inch, which would give me about 107 or so. So, at 112-115, I

am now chunky by that std. It doesn't take into consideration age or bone

structure. I have to keep shaking off that chunky thinking. I don't FEEL

chunky. OK, some days, but mostly not.

My low was 104. I bounced back as high as 118 during the stabilizing process

and parked about 112. The only change was 5 yrs postie when my staple line

disrupted and I hit 124.

Your goal wt is where you feel good. I thought 104 was fabulous, was hoping

I'd get double digits. But you know, if I'm not chunky at 112, does that

mean 99 was too skinny? TOOO SKINNY? Give me a break. But it was all n/a

as that did not happen & I am not willing to " diet " to make it happen. I'm

willing to stay within my " formula " to remain in this neighborhood, however.

Also, you're still in the honeymoon stage, so likely you are not " done " yet

and may drop lower. Or not. My own goal was 125. The actual chart I saw

showed 122-129 being right for 5'1 " .

Like you, I was taught that anything up to 120 was OK, anything beyond was

bigger than a barn. I KNOW it's not right, but it's awfully hard to shake

that programming.

Thanks,

Vitalady, Inc. T

www.vitalady.com

If you are interested in PayPal, please click here:

https://secure.paypal.com/affil/pal=vitalady%40bigfoot.com

Intro

> Hi...I understand that you are supposed to do an intro before

> starting to post here, so this will be mine. I have been lurking on

> and off for months, but haven't gotten around to doing an intro since

> I passed my first anniversary.

>

> My surgery (open rny at BTC in Belvidere, IL) was on Dec. 26, 2001.

> By the time I was a year out, I had lost 121 lbs., which was about

> half of my pre-op weight. I feel very good about that, but I don't

> know if I can say I'm " at goal " or not, because I was never given a

> weight loss goal and never set one for myself. I had kind of a

> general idea of what I was hoping for, but it was a pretty modest

> one, because I was afraid of setting my sights too high for fear that

> I'd probably be disappointed. I never even dared hope I'd get all the

> way to a " normal " weight, much less my " ideal " weight. I read so many

> stories about people stalling out at higher weights that I guess I

> just assumed that's what would happen to me. But instead, my weight

> loss surpassed all my pre-op expectations and kept on going. This is,

> OF COURSE, great--the only problem is that I don't know how to figure

> out what I should weigh or whether I am there yet. I am also not sure

> whether I should be trying to get to a point that is a little lower

> than where I'd ideally like to be, so that I have a little bit of

> a " cushion " against regain. I just read a post on this group saying

> that it's common to regain about 10 pounds after reaching goal. Is

> that true? This has me a bit scared. I feel like what I weigh as of

> this moment is the max that I would really want to weigh, and that

> makes me afraid to stop losing now.

>

> To get down to specifics, I will tell you that I weigh 120 right now,

> and have been holding fairly steady here for about the last month and

> a half. I realize that probably sounds tiny to some people, but since

> I'm only 5'1 " with a very small frame, it's not a ridiculously low

> weight for me at all. I have a BMI of 22.7 at this weight, which is a

> little above the middle of the " normal " range, so I am definitely NOT

> underweight right now.

>

> My current weight feels pretty good to me, which tells me that maybe

> this IS where I want to be. But I really don't want to weigh any more

> than this, so the idea that I might end up 10 lbs. than this if I

> don't get down even lower has me worried.

>

> Another thing that is making this situation even more confusing for

> me is that I spent my teens and 20s absolutely convinced that I was

> too heavy at 120 and needed to weigh around 105. I actually got down

> to that weight ONCE, about 30 years ago (I was 21 at the time), and

> that is the only time in my adult life (before now) that I can ever

> remember not thinking of myself as weighing more than I should.

> Believe me, I KNOW that my ideas about my weight and body image were

> messed up when I was younger--I've been aware of that for years--but

> I am still confused about the whole thing. 105 is definitely thinner

> than I want to be now, and I really don't have any desire to get down

> that low--but I don't know what I SHOULD be shooting for. And in the

> meantime, finding myself at a weight that is right in the range that

> I once considered " overweight " after all these years is doing a major

> number on my head.

>

> Is any of this making any sense whatsoever, lol? I feel like I

> probably sound like a complete nutcase. This whole thing has taken me

> by surprise, to tell you the truth. Over the years, as my weight

> climbed higher and higher and I gave up any hopes of ever at

> a " normal " weight again, much less a truly " slender " one, I gradually

> began to think of myself as a fat woman. I didn't feel like I was

> ever going to be able to lose the weight, and I convinced myself that

> I was comfortable with who I was. The truth was that I really was NOT

> happy with my weight, but since I felt like I had NO hope of changing

> things, I decided to accept the status quo rather than agonize over

> things. That really didn't change till I got to the point of being MO

> and gradually began to feel worse and worse physically--and boy, did

> it change then! It was like one day I suddenly woke up and

> said, " Man, you know what--I really HATE this!!! " *look of surprise*

>

> Things came to a head in 2001. The year efore, I managed to lose 20

> lbs. on Atkins, and was feeling pretty decent...but by the middle of

> 2001, I had gained back 40 and was feeling worse than ever and

> frantic to do something about. Around that time, all the publicity

> about Carnie was hitting the fan, and I got curious and

> started to investigate. I was flabbergasted to learn that obesity

> could actually be treated effectively with surgery and that I was

> heavy enough to qualify for it and that my insurance would cover it.

> The rest, as they say, is history.

>

> By the time I decided to have wls, I had long since given up hope of

> ever being anything other than obese, so I figured that I would be

> ecstatic if I could just get myself to the point of being " merely "

> overweight (which for me is somewhere in the upper 150s). I did

> that...and then some...and that's when the confusion really started

> to kick in.

>

> To further complicate things, I also have a ton of extra skin hanging

> all over me, with no hopes of being able to get rid of it in the

> foreseeable future. That is confusing things for me even more,

> because I feel like all the rolls and folds are making me looking

> heavier than I actually am. If there's a skinny person in here

> somewhere, I'm having a hard time seeing her right now, lol. (PS is

> just not in the picture right now--my insurance guidelines are VERY

> strict and there's no way I could qualify based on the way they are

> written--and I have no other way to pay for any PS. So for the time

> being, at least, I will just have to find a way to deal.)

>

> So...that is where I am at the moment. Sorry my first post here is so

> darned long. I was going to just do a brief intro this time, but once

> I got started, it was hard to stop, lol. I have been wanting to talk

> about all this, but afraid of being lectured to just count my

> blessings and just being glad I lost the weight. Well, duh, I AM glad

> I lost the weight--how dumb would it be if I wasn't, lol? But I seem

> to feel a need to quantify things in some way. And when people make

> comments about " getting to goal " or being X no. of lbs. away from

> that, I feel lost. Plus there is that fear of not being able to count

> on staying where I am right now...darn it, I really need to shut up

> now, because I'm starting to repeat myself!

>

> Sorry if I put anyone to sleep with this long post...and I'm sorry if

> I sound like a total nutjob. Thanks so much for listening!

>

> Sharon <--are there any other Sharons here? If so, I will start using

> an initial

>

>

>

> Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

>

> Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

First of all welcome to the group. Secondly, I promise not to

give you any lectures. I know that I had a very distorted body image all

of my life. At my skinniest I weighed 108 lbs. The charts say I should

way about 135. However, I honestly believed that I was HUGE because I

didn't weigh the 95 lbs my mom did when she married my dad. At my

heaviest I was 479 lbs and didn't believe that I was really that big. I

swore I would never let myself go like that. Somewhere along this

journey I had a friend ask me if I was healthier then I was a year ago.

I can honestly say that although I am not as skinny as I would like to

be, I am also not as obese as I use to be. I can also honestly say that

I am healthier then I was a year ago. And for that I am eternally

grateful.

So, I have a question. It really is one that does not need to be

shared unless you want to. Are you healthier then you were a year ago?

Can you live with that?

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

CHF 4/14/01 479 lbs.

SRVG 7/16/01 401 lbs.

Current Weight 339.5 lbs. and loosing again

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

On Mon, 10 Feb 2003 23:50:36 -0000 " Sharon "

writes:

> Hi...I understand that you are supposed to do an intro before

> starting to post here, so this will be mine. I have been lurking on

>

> and off for months, but haven't gotten around to doing an intro

> since

> I passed my first anniversary.

>

> My surgery (open rny at BTC in Belvidere, IL) was on Dec. 26, 2001.

>

> By the time I was a year out, I had lost 121 lbs., which was about

> half of my pre-op weight. I feel very good about that, but I don't

> know if I can say I'm " at goal " or not, because I was never given a

>

> weight loss goal and never set one for myself. I had kind of a

> general idea of what I was hoping for, but it was a pretty modest

> one, because I was afraid of setting my sights too high for fear

> that

> I'd probably be disappointed. I never even dared hope I'd get all

> the

> way to a " normal " weight, much less my " ideal " weight.

> Sharon <--are there any other Sharons here? If so, I will start

> using

> an initial

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

First of all welcome to the group. Secondly, I promise not to

give you any lectures. I know that I had a very distorted body image all

of my life. At my skinniest I weighed 108 lbs. The charts say I should

way about 135. However, I honestly believed that I was HUGE because I

didn't weigh the 95 lbs my mom did when she married my dad. At my

heaviest I was 479 lbs and didn't believe that I was really that big. I

swore I would never let myself go like that. Somewhere along this

journey I had a friend ask me if I was healthier then I was a year ago.

I can honestly say that although I am not as skinny as I would like to

be, I am also not as obese as I use to be. I can also honestly say that

I am healthier then I was a year ago. And for that I am eternally

grateful.

So, I have a question. It really is one that does not need to be

shared unless you want to. Are you healthier then you were a year ago?

Can you live with that?

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

CHF 4/14/01 479 lbs.

SRVG 7/16/01 401 lbs.

Current Weight 339.5 lbs. and loosing again

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

On Mon, 10 Feb 2003 23:50:36 -0000 " Sharon "

writes:

> Hi...I understand that you are supposed to do an intro before

> starting to post here, so this will be mine. I have been lurking on

>

> and off for months, but haven't gotten around to doing an intro

> since

> I passed my first anniversary.

>

> My surgery (open rny at BTC in Belvidere, IL) was on Dec. 26, 2001.

>

> By the time I was a year out, I had lost 121 lbs., which was about

> half of my pre-op weight. I feel very good about that, but I don't

> know if I can say I'm " at goal " or not, because I was never given a

>

> weight loss goal and never set one for myself. I had kind of a

> general idea of what I was hoping for, but it was a pretty modest

> one, because I was afraid of setting my sights too high for fear

> that

> I'd probably be disappointed. I never even dared hope I'd get all

> the

> way to a " normal " weight, much less my " ideal " weight.

> Sharon <--are there any other Sharons here? If so, I will start

> using

> an initial

[Guest guest]

Sharon, it sounds like you are doing great. Let your body decide your set

point, and use your tool so you don't go back up. I'm nearly 21 years post

op, and still at goal, and still feel " too fat " at 5'10 " , 145. But I know

I'm not. Let your body be your guide, and let the wonderful folks here

support you. There are some terrific people here (don't make me start

mentioning names. I'll embarrass you.)

Jac

mailto:jholdaway@...

http://www.pictureitdigitaldesigns.com/

http://members.cox.net/xxxfarmpaints

[Guest guest]

Sharon, it sounds like you are doing great. Let your body decide your set

point, and use your tool so you don't go back up. I'm nearly 21 years post

op, and still at goal, and still feel " too fat " at 5'10 " , 145. But I know

I'm not. Let your body be your guide, and let the wonderful folks here

support you. There are some terrific people here (don't make me start

mentioning names. I'll embarrass you.)

Jac

mailto:jholdaway@...

http://www.pictureitdigitaldesigns.com/

http://members.cox.net/xxxfarmpaints

[Guest guest]

Well, after almost 3 years on this list, it's about time I posted a little

intro. I feel I know all of you intimately and you all have helped me so

much, but you haven't got a clue who I am. My name is Judi and in April it

will be 3 years since my RNY. I can't believe it's been that long! I know

many of you from other lists and I've corresponded with several of you from

time to time, but I feel I know all of you and would like to thank you all

for the info and support you've given me when you didn't even know it.

That being said, 's comment about feeling " chunky " sometimes finally

brought me out of lurkdom. I am 4'11 AND 3/4.....I call myself 5' because

if I stretch and poof my hair up, I'm there! I quit weighing myself at 250

and I know it went up from there, lost about 25 just prior to surgery

(doctors orders), and ended up losing 150 pounds. I am up a couple more at

the moment, but because I am so short, I can really identify with that

" chunky " feeling. I KNOW I'm not, but on us shrimps.......5 pounds can

" feel " like 25. I could also have written Sharon's post! What is " goal " ???

Who knows!!! I want to have a cushion for a little bounce back but I also

know myself.....5 pounds will be 50 in a heartbeat! I try to go by how I

feel but my own body image or perception of myself is so screwed up that if

the scale is up 6 pounds, which it is right now, I start feeling real

nervous, only because I don't like how it " feels " . My mind has such messed

up programming after over 40 years of dieting that the number on an

inanimate machine can make me crazy. All these mind things going on just so

I wouldn't always have to hear myself described as " the chunky one " which

eventually turned into " the fat one " . My goodness, but the mind games we

play on ourselves.

Ok, enough said for one post, I'm back to my corner.

Judi

4/24/00 Lap RNY

Dr. Wetter, Burlingame, CA

-150

Re: Intro

I am 5'1 " AND A QUARTER. I've seen charts that say at 5'0 " , 100 is correct.

5# for every inch, which would give me about 107 or so. So, at 112-115, I

am now chunky by that std. It doesn't take into consideration age or bone

structure. I have to keep shaking off that chunky thinking. I don't FEEL

chunky. OK, some days, but mostly not.

My low was 104. I bounced back as high as 118 during the stabilizing process

and parked about 112. The only change was 5 yrs postie when my staple line

disrupted and I hit 124.

Your goal wt is where you feel good. I thought 104 was fabulous, was hoping

I'd get double digits. But you know, if I'm not chunky at 112, does that

mean 99 was too skinny? TOOO SKINNY? Give me a break. But it was all n/a

as that did not happen & I am not willing to " diet " to make it happen. I'm

willing to stay within my " formula " to remain in this neighborhood, however.

Also, you're still in the honeymoon stage, so likely you are not " done " yet

and may drop lower. Or not. My own goal was 125. The actual chart I saw

showed 122-129 being right for 5'1 " .

Like you, I was taught that anything up to 120 was OK, anything beyond was

bigger than a barn. I KNOW it's not right, but it's awfully hard to shake

that programming.

Thanks,

Vitalady, Inc. T

www.vitalady.com