JDru

I really like the Perri O'Shaughnessy books too. I was really into those 2 summers ago. I need to catch up on the newest ones. Highly recommended.

Thanks for the support everyone!! I guess I just needed some reassurance that I'm doing the right thing. Sometimes I second guess myself. I'm actually starting therapy on Thursday so I think that will help me deal with my eating issues as well as all of my other issues. Ha ha! Today has been better...sometimes I get myself in a funk. My fill appt is on Monday...so I have something to look forward to. I hope I can get one!!

Hi Matt! Welcome to the board. There's lots of good info on here...just be sure to read lots!

I LOVE to read! I have read Summer Sisters and I really like it. I'm in a book club here are home. Here are some of my favorite recent reads: The Secret Lives of Bees, The Other Bolelyn Sister, Kite Runner, Goodnight Nobody, Middlesex, The Secret History, My Sister's Keeper. Good non-fiction reads: Guns, Germs and Steel and Freakanomics. On my list to read now: Thirteen Tales, The Memory Keeper's Daughter

I am in need of some support today. I had a really, really bad night last night. i was all alone in my apartment feeling sorry for myself and fed my feelings...again. I ate about 3/4 a bag of pita chips to drown my sorrows. It's so frustrating for me bc I really do want to change my lifestyle, but it's SO hard to break bad habits. Obviously I don't have any restriction yet, but somewhere in the back of my brain I wonder if the band is really going to work for me. I've been doing really well, except for last night. So I guess all I can do is get back on the wagon. Thanks for listening...I needed to tell people who would understand.

Congratulations! Now you just have to wait, which can be the hardest part. I'm sending "fast approval" vibes your way!

Hi Jess! I'm here too...

Welcome! This site is a great resource. Be sure to ask lots of questions and read, read, read. Good luck with your surgery!

I am so excited to hear about everyone's fill experiences. I think I am ready for mine! Confession: I ate a danish yesterday. Ugh! Good thing today is a new day...

I started the process in mid-August. Getting the tests and evaluations done took some planning, but I had it all done in about 1 1/2 weeks. The hardest part for me was getting all of my records together from different doctors. The approval rom my insurance took about 2-3 weeks. It wasn't too bad. I hope you have a cooperative insurance company! I was originally scheduled for surgery on Oct 5, but due to some anemia issues I didn't have surgery until Oct 26. Still, I was surprised at how quick it was. Good luck!

Yeah Melissa! You're finally able to eat real food. You did so well on the liquids...I don't know how you lasted so long.

Sandranoelle I've found fat free/sugar free jello at Smiths, Albertsons and at Target. It's Jello brand in a blue box. I've found chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch, banana cream and cheesecake. I'm still looking for the chocolate mint, dulce de leche and cappucino.

Sandy don't feel bad, my appetite seems to have returned with a vengeance this week. And it's only Tuesday. I think I've been eating SO much but when I actually add it up (I keep track of everything on sparkpeople.com) it's not as bad as I thought. Don't beat yourself up over it...tomorrow is another day!

I haven't had a fill yet...I go in on Dec 4. I hope that I will be able to get one! I think I'm able to eat bread bc I don't have any restriction right now. I was able to eat 2 rolls (white bread) on Thanksgiving. And I had a piece of toast on Sunday. We'll see how all of that changes after the fill. I've read that some people can do toast, crackers or whole wheat bread, just not doughy white bread.

When I was on liquids I really liked butternut squash soup, chilli blended up, bean with bacon soup blended up and fruit smoothies with unflavored protein powder or non-fat powdered milk added. It will get better! The first three days were hardest for me. Good luck!

I have Aetna too (managed choice, not HMO) and the approval process was pretty fast once I had all of the required info together. Make sure you get everything they request and then some! I've heard that Aetna HMO is more difficult to work with. It is totally worth it...good luck on your journey!

Yay Chrispygal! I've found myself making and KEEPING eye contact more with men too. Next time I just have to get the courage to talk to them.

No change for me this week...still at 203.6. But feeling great!!

I hope everyone had a great holiday. I think I may have eaten too much! But I don't feel sick or anything, just that I ate more than I though I should have. But nothing compared to last year! I ate bread and turkey no problem. Well...tomorrow is another day.

I ate quite a bit today too, but I think I did ok considering what I ate last year. I got some bread down and turkey with no problem. I definitely think I will need a fill when I go in on Dec 4. I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday!!

I've been burping a lot the last few days. Is this normal or does it mean I'm eating too much??

I have Iron deficiency anmeia caused by blood loss in my GI tract. My family doc found this out during my pre-op test for the band. I had to get a colonoscopy/endoscopy to try to find the location of the bleeding, but they didn't find anything. Then I had to do a barium x-ray series, still nothing. So finally I had to swallow a pill that had a camera in it that took pictures of my stomach and intestines and they found an ulcer. Now I have to take iron pills and Prevacid everyday. I know it can be scary not knowing. I even had to postpone my lapband surgery for 3 weeks while I was waiting for results. I kept thinking of all the horrible things it could be. Has your doctor run blood tests to see if your anemia is caused from iron deficiency (blood loss) or B12 deficiency? These are the most common causes of anemia. If it's caused by blood loss they need to determine where it's coming from. If it's B12, they usually just have you get B12 shots once a month. I hope you feel better...let us know how you're doing!

I was banded on a Thursday, took the following week off and went back to work the next Monday. I had a lot of pain and nausea the first 3 days and didn't really feel better until one week out. After that, I felt a little better each day, but I didn't have a lot of energy. At about 2 1/2-3 weeks I felt 100%.

Carbonation is the one thing that my doc says is an absolute no-no. I guess the gas can get trapped in your lower stomach and you might risk a slip and drinking it over time might cause erosion. But all docs are different!

Hi marys! I'm in Utah too so I wanted to say hi. I've found quite a few locals on here. There is a Utah thread under USA local support if you want to meet some more people from Utah. I'm so glad you found a good fill doc!