jdub81

I took 6 days off work, luckily had no complications post op and was able to keep up with my work load including lots of driving and carrying my files.

My husband sprays a little cooking spray (like Pam) on top of his air popped popcorn and it tastes like movie theater popcorn and is low calorie. I'm just 11 days post op and skipped the movies this past weekend because I knew the smell of the popcorn would be overwhelming for me....I am craving some crunch in this purée stage!

Cute haircut. You look great!

I'm just a week post op so I sent my mom and husband to a restaurant. i had to hear about every morsel they ate upon their return. Surprisingly, that didn't bother me as much as expected.

I am only a week post op, but after I achieve significant weight loss, i can't wait to see my FIL and step MIL. (My husband and I haven't seen them since our wedding day in October 2011, but I think we'll make an exception for me to gloat!) My husband and I went on a camping trip in San Simeon, CA after dating for about a month. When my husband showed his dad pics from our trip, his dad said, "You should encourage her to loose weight!" He hadn't even met me yet and this was the first girlfriend my husband was introducing to the family (given their critical nature). Ever since then, I never trusted my in laws. And what is crazy is that my husband and his dad were obese too! After we got engaged a couple of years later, my FIL would send my husband emails of tiny CZ rings on eBay, and about divorce statistics... telling my husband to not marry me. He refused to come to our engagement party and I had to beg them (for my husband's sake) to come to our wedding. They gave use a broken and used vase for our wedding present. Maybe after they see me all skinny, they'll want me to be part of the family, but I don't need their acceptance.

*burney* not burned!

I look forward to seeing your photos next summer! (Burned falls is soon pretty!) I have the same goal but with hiking half done in Yosemite. I tried to hike it with my mom when she was 50 and I was 28 and I couldn't keep up.

That's amazing! I just had my surgery last week and have the goal of eventually running a half marathon, but I didn't think that could be accomplished a year out...so thanks for the inspiration!

I'm having mine done with Dr. Feiz...was supposed to be in thousand oaks but got moved to Huntington Beach. My surgery date is November 21. I start my liquid pre op diet this Thursday....it's starting to feel real now! Excited and a little nervous! Sent from my iPad using VST

Hi everyone! My surgery is scheduled for November 21. I Had to schedule it near a holiday to avoid missing too much time from work. I work 60 to 70 hour weeks. I also have to travel a lot. Does anyone have any tips on how you fit in post op nutrition and exercise in with your busy schedule? Sent from my iPad using VST

My surgeon doesn't have support groups. I am not telling anyone about my surgery except my husband and mom so I was thinking a support group may help especially through the pre op diet and following the surgery. Did anyone find support groups helpful? Any good ones in the LA/SFV area? Alternatively, anyone see a therapist, and I'm not talking about just the one required for insurance? Was individual therapy helpful for anyone? Thanks!!!

I'm November 21 in So Cal...a week before Thanksgiving and 2 weeks before my birthday! But have only been at my "new" job for 4 months so I had to schedule it near holiday since I don't have much accrued vacation time.

I live in Ventura County too! I live near Channel Islands Harbor and work in Camarillo.

I live in Ventura County too! I live near Channel Islands Harbor and work in Camarillo.

I don't know what state you are in but you could file a stress claim under workers comp..I'm a work comp defense attorney in California and get psyche cases all the time, but our state may have different rules. See an attorney; most give free consultations.

This has been a long, arduous road for me. I initially went to Beverly Hills Physicians for an informational meeting on the lap band in June 2012. I met with the doctor after the info session and he recommended the vertical sleeve for me. The staff then submitted my info to my insurance for pre-approval (Aetna). About a week later, I received a call that the surgery was pre-approved and they scheduled the upper GI EGD test which I had done in July 2012. I had to do 6 month nutrition, a sleep study, and of course the psych eval. I completed all of my requirements in November 2012. I contacted Beverly Hills Physicians in December to see if they submitted my file for final approval and was told that they were missing something from the sleep study doctor, then it was that they were missing something from the surgery doctor. I finally made an appointment in January and they still did not have everything they needed. I kept calling every couple of weeks in February, March, April, and May...no progress. While my husband and I were in Savannah for vacation in June 2013, I sent a text to the coordinator I had been in contact with asking for an update. To my complete surprise, she told me that the insurance company had approved the doctor to perform the surgery, but not their facility as it was out of network. I asked her some questions to ultimately discover that she knew in June 2012 that they were not in network or approved to do my surgery, but was jerking me along to try to eventually get approval for their surgery center! Seven months totally wasted! I was infuriated! She never told me that they were out of network or I would have gone elsewhere! Long story short, I ended up going through the surgery doctor's office directly (dr. Feiz) and as of last week, I have been approved for surgery! Oh, what a relief. It was turning into a nightmare. I started feeling hopeless and depressed. Now I feel excited and hopeful again. However, I do have to do the EGD test again!! because it was done too long ago! That will be done September 25. My surgery is scheduled for November 21. I recently changed jobs so I have no vacation time accrued so I had to have the surgery near a holiday! My birthday is 2 weeks later, but I've heard there is a tasty birthday cake flavored Protein Shake. I haven't told anyone, other than my husband and mom, that I am having the surgery....anyone want to exchange emails or meet up for support? I'm 31 yrs old, live in Ventura County, CA, lawyer, female.