which is your primary insurance?  BC/BS or your husbands through the carpentry union?  This makes a big difference if they have difference.  You have to go through which ever is your primary insurance as far as I know but you might want to post on here asking someone who knows more about double insurance carriers - I used to work with insurance when I worked in retail but that didnt involve other policy holders with separate insurance.  Now I have Medicare and I know how that works with supplemental plans and Medicaid but not sure in your situation exactly.  There are many on these boards that work in Human resources that would know your question much better.  Your surgeons office should know also.

What ever happens, I wish you the best.

Just remember - for protein shakes - you want either whey protein or whey isolate - they are the best.

Wow that's so awesome!!  Congratulations you are doing so great!!  I am so looking forward to having this done, it will surely help my medical problems, especially my lower back.  I had surgery 15 years ago, now I have scar tissue in that area which they say I have stenosis there.  When I do alot of walking it hurts so badly and I am getting numbness down my leg.  So worried because after surgery, we are to start out walking alot.  I am praying I will be able to do this, I have no choice I have to to avoid blood clots.  I try walking the malls now and stores, but I get that numbness.  Anyway, I want to thank you for responding to me, it's so nice to have the support.  Please keep in touch

I just came across your post now.  I was wondering what happened when you went to the hematologist?  Did you start IV iron infusions?  Did they help?  How are your iron and ferritin levels now?  If not, what type of iron are you taking and how much?  Are you taking it with vitamin C?

You said you were taking it with orange juice but that is not enough to absorb the iron.  You need to be taking doses of carbonyl iron with vitamin C - 200mg of vitamin C per 30mg of iron, so if your levels are really low - a large dosage of iron would be recommended like 4 or 5 of the 60mg carbonyl iron capsules from vitalady.com called tender irons.  they are easily absorbed, easy on the stomach and non constipating.  They are worth a try if you haven't already tried anything.  The other thing to try is called proferrin which is much stronger than the carbonyl iron but is much more expensive - carbonyl is cheap.  Proferrin is heme iron and is the last resort before IV iron - you break them in half and take without calcium and without vitamin C - also 2-4 hours away from thyroid.  Some try a combination of the carbonyl iron and proferrin but in separate doses.    You can take up to 5 of the carbonyl and 3 of the proferrin.  If that maximum dosing does nothing after 3 months, you can definitely say you don't absorb iron but you need to give it atleast 3 months and if some increase, then give it another 3 months.  Then you can continue to maintain.

i very much can identify with your questions...
i had lap band surgery in october 2011 and every time i hit a new weight that ends in 0 (like, most recently 240--i'm down from 300), my emotions get panicky and i think "i need to go eat".  but i'm learning to stop, take a deep breath and acknowlege those feelings.

yes, saggy skin happens...but you're young, it may NOT for you!  i'm 47...and i don't like some of it .

I am LOVING how much healthier I feel.  This translates to me being a much happier mom, wife and person.  who knew? :) 

as far as addiction transfer.  i'm not a drinker or pot smoker, so i havent had that.  but, (and this sounds silly), i do sew and quilt.  i had not done much of this in the last few years, blaming work, and life...but now i see that it was obese betsey being tired and grouchy.  so, i'm rediscovering my love of this.  addiction transfer?  likely!  but in a healthy way . 

only YOU can decide what is best for YOU.  I'm taking it one day at  a time. 

betsey

I think the fact that you're not going into this blindly, waving rainbows and unicorns, and blowing strawberry scented bubbles out of your ass, is QUITE WONDERFUL!!!    You are aware of the difficulties others have had, and that is a first step against them occurring to you.  If you know about transfer addictions, body dysmorphia, etc....  you can be prepared to rail against them if you feel it starting!  You've obviously done your research, so I hope your first consult goes well...and the WLS you choose assists you in reaching your goal....  Good Luck....  and I'm SURE someone else will be reading the boards and commenting too!  Mary