brown bear

I went through True Results and they had a doctor that was in my network so assigned me to him. His name is Dr. Hollis. I had surgery in June and have had no complications and really like the attitude of the staff regarding aftercare. They are great! This website is my support group. I was in the surgery center for a few hours for the 1 hour surgery. They keep you overnight only if it is a requirement of your insurance. I think you should find out who is in network for your insurance, then research those doctors and see if you like any of them.

Cathy - you are a bundle of energy! Good for you. That is what this is all about. Dino - Congrats! Apples - Speedy recovery. Enjoy the time off as best you can. I am well. I need a fill but I am putting it off for a while and will just do the best I can until I can get in to the doctor's office. That is OK.

Much better. I did not realize how worried I was about my mother. She also was without power and at 83 and living alone - that was not an option so we flew her to Pittsburgh to stay with my brother. She was nervous about changing planes alone in Chicago (Midway) and I was so worried about that too. She gets overwhelmed these days in unfamiliar places but we arranged for a wheelchair to meet her and take her to the proper gate. Anyway, once I knew she was OK I could feel the difference. Our power came back on last Thursday night and now I am at work where we had water damage from a roof leak. They have huge blowers going and are ripping out sheetrock and carpet around us. We are having to find out which states are granting an extension on filing tax returns that were due 9/15, 9/20 and 10/15. That will give us time to catch up. I gained a couple of pounds eating junk food when the power was out. They are coming off fast though now that I am back in a routine. I, too, have more energy and I love it.

I could only tell I was banded when I tried to eat bread until my 2nd fill. Now I do have to slow down and I do not eat as much but still more than a cup per meal. I will want another fill sometime in the future but have too much going on right now to deal with that. I bet you will notice more of a difference with future fills.

I think you are fine if you are not having problems like pb-ing in the days after.

I also use Body Fortress from Wal-Mart. My doc recommended mixing with sugar-free instant pudding powder and water. Pudding makes it much better. For clear liquid, you could use the liquid protein bullets. It looks like a large test tube and comes in fruit flavors. I hear that some Wal-Marts carry a 20g protein version (mine doesn't). A 42g protein version is sold at GNC and Vitamin World and is expensive but if it is only for 2 days it is nice that you can buy small quantities instead of a tub. People usually mix these in Crystal Light because they are very strong straight.

Stay on liquids until the weekend, then try drinking something hot then eating something soft. I have been very tight lately and the hot liquid does help. I also don't even attempt really solid or dry food right now. Maybe your stomach has just gotten irritated somehow and needs some time. You are in my prayers.

I just need to whine a little. I am having so much trouble eating these days. I don't think it is that I am permanently too tight but something temporary is causing me to be tight. It could be stress, living w/o A/C, or eating too much salt - I don't know. I just tried tuna salad and that gave me trouble! I will have to stick to liquids and oatmeal for a while. Without power, choice of liquids is limited. My scale needs a new battery so I am not sure what my weight is doing. Glad to hear you guys are doing so well.

Still no power...

We are without power here and it is hot but no damage from Hurricane Ike. I am on the NW side of Houston so flooding was not a big concern here - just high wind. We have a small portable 400w generator that we use when camping that is allowing me to get on the net briefly and keep my cell phone charged.

How is everyone? We have no power but sustained no damage. We have a portable 400w generator that allows a little time on the net and cell phone charging. We are trying to eat what we have in the freezer as much as we can.

I agree with Jodi. I tried to eat as a bandster pre-band also and also gave up. It was hard. Now, it is almost effortless. Once you have felt that pain, you do not want to feel it again. I just have to remind myself to eat slowly and carefully the first few bites then I just eat and am fine. Don't worry, you will be fine.

Kizzie - I am the same with solid food but I just take small bites and take a break from eating when I get that feeling. I try to stick with solid food because I eat less of it and hopefully will lose more weight this way.

MiniPearl - add your stats, I put you in the list. If anyone has been inadvertantly dropped, don't take it personally just add yourself back in. Name...............Starting................ Current.......Goal..............To Go agreatknead............237......................205...........180..... ..............25 areellady................189.......................189...........159…. ..............30 BIGB......................342.......................342...........300 …...............42 BellaPerdente..........287.......................251...........200.... .. ............51 Boos02...................258.......................226...........200…. ..............26 Brandy....................221.......................219...........191. . ................28 BrownBear..............240.......................235...........200.... . ..............35 Cadets71................223.4.....................223.4........189.... ................34.4 Claudine.................250.......................250.......... .225. ...................25 Bunkey1965...........194.......................189...........170...... . .............19 Cutiew/booty...........251.......................251............220.......... . ........31 Dionna113..............199.......................198...........160... ….............38 Ekat........................527.......................172...........152....................19 feefee57..................262.......................212...........180. ...................32 FeliciaLevy75 .........240.......................234...........190.................. .44 GillieBean..............304.......................304............264. ..................40 Hollie ....................l54.......................154............125..... . ....... .....29 Jeni 85..................182.......................182............160.... .. ....... .....22 Jillbeme...........235..................212........185..............27 Josie74..................260.......................260.............21 5. ......... ......45 klmsilva.................216......................216.............19 0. .......... .....26 legster..................183......................183..............1 60 .......... .....23 linksmom..............251......................251..............200 ... ......... ...51 Liquidbluegal............225......................225..............199 ... ............26 Liz_hager..................161.....................158..............13 0... ............28 lotzasunshine............292.....................292..............250. . .............42 Luu2008...................230.....................199.5............153 ... ...........46.5 Mamanmidwife..........295.....................295..............260.... .... .......35 MELISSA AGUIRRE..266....................233..............160................73 Melody2006..............223.....................223..............173.. ... ..........50 MiniPearl#2.............. neefam.................... 238.................... 189............. 158................. 31 odizzzydori...............242.....................242..............199 ... ............43 paige65.....................252....................252..............2 08.. .............44 rainer........................236....................233........... ..199. .............34 reif78........................294....................195............ ...40.................40 RichardCranium........338.....................276..............200...............76 soontobehottie...........201....................201..............165. . ............36 srknepler...................285....................285..............25 5.. ............30 squale.......................353....................353............. 325...............28 Sunshine2................177.....................176..............160 ...............16 stevegoad..................370....................341.............. 267...............74 Terilynn112................240....................239..............199 ................41 Truediva.....................299....................285............... 235..............50 thininside28...............255....................255...............21 5.............. 40 youcandoit!...............196....................196................16 2..............34

Thanks Misty! We appreciate all your work on this.

The way things are looking now, we may need to reschedule due to Ike. I know my workplace is recommending we leave at 1pm today and not come in tomorrow.

I cannot eat soft sandwich bread and have difficulty with pasta. At restaurants, I either share, order something really small, or pack a lot of food away for later.

Apples - I was expecting your basic NSV story but WOW you surprised me, glad I was not drinking Water when I read that:biggrin: Cathy - Congrats! My daughter and 1 YO GD live with me and it is wonderful though I also could have handled wedding bells before booties:blush: Long - You are still losing, just keep it up you are doing great!:biggrin: Strike - We are thinking about you and have high hopes for your move and your next fill:thumbup: I have more restriction since my 2nd fill and have started losing again so I feel as though I am one of the lucky ones that finds that restriction early. I am sure I will want another fill in a month or so but I am happy for now.

Yay! I will be there. I had something else come up for that afternoon and thought I would miss this but the threat of Ike has cancelled the other event. See you there!

30 pounds is good weight loss. Are you saying you want to be able to eat more? If so, you could try drinking while you eat to wash the food down.

4 pm works for me as does a restaurant. It is hard to think of another kind of place to meet.

Sounds like a money making scheme to me and I'd be mad, too. They should have been honest up front. If your insurance does not require it then they do not require it. Lots of good doctors require only a few tests to determine surgery suitability and those tests can be done quickly. Thank goodness you are working with an honest doctor now as you will have a long relationship. Good for you.

Misty, judging from my email in box, I would say you received a good response. You name the place and we will show up.

strikeuptheband - I'm sorry about the tough time you are having. I wish I had some comforting words for you but I don't. All I can say is finish those last 2 classes as soon as you are able and hang in there. A few months down the road, you may find that something really good has come out of all of this. I hope so.