Recent Posts
Topic: RE: Hello from Austin, Texas
Hi Gail.
Good luck. It's frustrating when you know there is a treatment that will help many of your other problems and insurance won't cover it. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Let me know if you have any breakthroughs.
Caryl
Topic: RE: Hello from Austin, Texas
Hi Caryl,
I am in Houston but my husband's company is out of Austin and they also exclude the surgery. We are compiling info to try to get them to change their policy in the future since often there is medical necessity.
I have quite a few comorbid conditions and want to get this done also. I hope we can change things.
Gail
Topic: RE: Roll Call
OK, let's see how to start this. I have been an RN for 24 years. Just writing that makes me want to retire . I have been an ICU/ER/Critical Care/OPS nurse for most of the time. I have also have done Nursing Education. But here in CA, most of the hospital education is now outsourced. But, I do love nursing!! Just wish that I could get more rest. Ah the life of a nurse. 
Topic: RE: Roll Call
Hi there-
Great topic, Sandra! I'm in Public Health, a director of a children's medical program in California. I worked for many years in labour and delivery then pediatrics but eventually found I really loved the concepts of epidemiology and community health. This all said knowing I am retiring from nursing in a few months! After many years of single mom-ness, I'm marrying a wonderful fellow and relocating from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Coast.
I fully expect to miss Public Health but dang it... we all know nursing is a challenging and very demanding field. I'm definitely going to enjoy this new stage of life.
Suz
Topic: RE: Roll Call
Hello everyone,
I am new to the board but I did want to reply. I have been an ER RN since 1999. I had surgery on 1-19-05 and have lost 52 pounds as of today. I feel great and I no longer have to take my Bextra or Nexium. This is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I certainly didnt want to be like all of the patients I have to take care of so I figured I would do something about it and enjoy life!!
Mary
Topic: RE: Hello from Austin, Texas
Thanks! That's encouraging to hear. I kind of thought change would happen as we cared for more WLS patients. I also had high hopes with the latest studies showing the resolution of comorbidities and reduction of medications following WLS.
I'm becoming impatient as my comorbidities make it harder to exercise and lose weight and as my list of specialists becomes ever longer. I have considered researching what other employers' insurance plans look like. I think I will try to get approval from my employer first as I really like where I work. Who knows? I may help bring about the needed change, benefiting many other people. My doctor has a couple of other patients seeking WLS who work for my employer. Hopefully we will all succeed!
Caryl
Topic: RE: Roll Call
I have been a nurse for over 17 years. I graduated from LPN school in 1987. I did my associates degree thru Regents college in 1992 and I received my Bachelors from the University of Washinfton in 2002. I worked on a surgical floor for the first five years as an LPN. After I received my associates I worked pediatrics for two years, then went into critical care for adults. I currently work in a 9 bed cardiovascular intensive care unit, I have a Baylor position ( 12 hours every Sat and Sun for 1.5x pay). I also work on call as a telephone triage nurse, on call as a hospital supervisor and I teach BLS for the hospital to employees.
Topic: RE: Survived Surgery ;-)
I did know ahead of time that I'd be on a vent. I had pulmonary function tests and they were a bit low.
I made everyone promise that I'd be drugged enough that I wouldn't remember a thing, and they kept the promise. I don't remember a thing.
Hubby said the worst thing I did was throw used Kleenex on the floor and giggle. Apparently I thought the current president was Reagan and the name of the month was Blue. 
Topic: RE: Roll Call
I'll start........
I work on an ortho/medical floor. Which means ortho and most anything else but mostly pneumonia, COPD, UTI's and such. A lot of the time I feel like I'm working in LTC, if I have a pt or 2 under 80 I'm thrilled. Don't get me wrong, I love old folks, BUT I didn't sign up to work an Alzheimers unit, LOL Of course it seems as if most of our younger pts are 30-40 y/o female with pacreatitis and getting pain meds and/or phenergan q 2 hours. Again, I don't have a problem giving pain meds, just in these times of short staffing having a couple patients that get something every hour or two can get a little 
Just graduated in 2003 after 25 years in the dental field including the last 13 at an Oral Surgery practice working in the OR and in the office. So when DH job moved us, I took the plunge and went back to school.
NEXT 
I'll start........
I work on an ortho/medical floor. Which means ortho and most anything else but mostly pneumonia, COPD, UTI's and such. A lot of the time I feel like I'm working in LTC, if I have a pt or 2 under 80 I'm thrilled. Don't get me wrong, I love old folks, BUT I didn't sign up to work an Alzheimers unit, LOL Of course it seems as if most of our younger pts are 30-40 y/o female with pacreatitis and getting pain meds and/or phenergan q 2 hours. Again, I don't have a problem giving pain meds, just in these times of short staffing having a couple patients that get something every hour or two can get a little
Just graduated in 2003 after 25 years in the dental field including the last 13 at an Oral Surgery practice working in the OR and in the office. So when DH job moved us, I took the plunge and went back to school.
NEXT Most Active
Recent Topics
