I can't beleive it. It's really happening and now I'm scared to death. I couldn't sleep last night. Will be having the band put in on the 19th!!!:clap2::whoo: Of course this means I will be miserable and dining on Jello for Thanksgiving, :hungry: but it's worth it. I started this journey in December of last year. I thought my doctor could just order it. Ha!! Aetna required a 6 month diet and also several other "requirements". :faint:So we started the nightmare. I finished in June and was ready to schedule my surgery for July. Plenty of time to be healed and have a substancial weight loss before I went home for Christmas for the 1st time in 4 years. Not so. Aetna just had to rain on my parade. :rain: I was denied and devastated.:think I can't remember when I was so depressed. I ate myself silly and gained back my 6 month loss. Not much mind you, as this has been the reason for the band all along, but I still had lost about 12 pounds. After the depression and hopelessness passed, I got MAD. :angry It took 5 months, but I did it!!!!! :bounce:This time next week I'll be in bandland. WOO HOO!!!!:clap2: Now for my question.... When I go home for Christmas, I will still be in the mushy stage. NOT what I had planned. I told my family about the surgery last year and my Mom was hysterical. I finally told her I changed my mind, so they don't know, and I don't want to ruin a long awaited trip with their comments and criticism. Any suggestions on how to hide it? I'll be a week away from full diet. Sucks doesn't it? Am I kidding myself? Mashed potatos and egg nog are the only things I can think of that will be "legal". And even egg nog is not really legal. Lord, think of the fat and sugar!!!

:help::help::help::help:

I would tell them but not until after the surgery and give them time to adjust to the idea. It will be very difficult to hide and you might end up breaking the rules and that is not what you want to do. You won't enjoy yourself if your hiding this secret. I don't know how close you are to your family but I know I could never get away with hiding it. In the end whatever you decide I know it will work out. Just remember that this is your life and you have to do what is right for you.

Good luck!

Had my pre-op visit with the doc today. He told me if I was REALLY really good and showed some good progress, he may let me have a bite of turkey for Christmas. Woo Hoo!!!

Aubrie, why did Aetna not approve you? Did they finally approve you or did you switch insurances??

I would not try to hide it at that stage. It is very important that you stick to your docs diet plan at that time or you could mess up your band. If you do not tell them you might try to eat things you should not eat. You will still be healing at that point. Good luck and welcome to bandland! Donna