Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

I know what you mean, My daughter inlaw which I love dearly didn't have a second thought to asking me to make all the food for my granddaughters bithday party this past Sat. and also their halloween party later that night for the adults. I sure don't mind helping out but that's a lot of temptation. Later when I was cleaning she caught me licking icing off my fingers from where I wrapped the cake and she proceeded to remind me of how cake was off limits for me. Hummm! guess she didn't think about that when she wanted me to make everything.

I know what you mean, My daughter inlaw which I love dearly didn't have a second thought to asking me to make all the food for my granddaughters bithday party this past Sat. and also their halloween party later that night for the adults. I sure don't mind helping out but that's a lot of temptation. Later when I was cleaning she caught me licking icing off my fingers from where I wrapped the cake and she proceeded to remind me of how cake was off limits for me. Hummm! guess she didn't think about that when she wanted me to make everything.

Gosh I know some people try to mean well...but I hate that! I hardly told anyone about my band because I dont want people looking at me and shaking their finger when I eat something or do something.. as if they understand what its like. drives me crazy!

The almonds thing sounds like a good idea. Even though I do the SF thing I agree with what you stated it does make me crave more so what else do you do beside the Almond thing? I need some more ideas to get over these sugar cravings.

I find that when Im hungry or craving sweets I make myself a cup of coffee with almond milk (and a little sugar if its the unsweetened kind) I usually heat up the almond milk in the micro and then add strong coffee to make it like a latte.. the almond milk has less calories than regular milk. something about the warm sweetness helps. you can do the same with a tea bag and a mixture of hot almond milk and Water.

good earth has a red tea that also tastes sweet but has no sweetener or calories.

fruit is always a good go to sweet thing..

Ill have to think of some more things I do..

Later when I was cleaning she caught me licking icing off my fingers from where I wrapped the cake and she proceeded to remind me of how cake was off limits for me. Hummm! guess she didn't think about that when she wanted me to make everything.

So is they forget LOL Like who put them in charged

The almonds thing sounds like a good idea. Even though I do the SF thing I agree with what you stated it does make me crave more so what else do you do beside the Almond thing? I need some more ideas to get over these sugar cravings.

I find that when Im hungry or craving sweets I make myself a cup of coffee with almond milk (and a little sugar if its the unsweetened kind) I usually heat up the almond milk in the micro and then add strong coffee to make it like a latte.. the almond milk has less calories than regular milk. something about the warm sweetness helps. you can do the same with a tea bag and a mixture of hot almond milk and Water.

good earth has a red tea that also tastes sweet but has no sweetener or calories.

fruit is always a good go to sweet thing..

Ill have to think of some more things I do..

Thanks Shrink Me for the advice and yes pwople can be mean. My BFF who has never had the surgery has really been the only one to support me. Should thought about Bypass but it is not for her she supports me and has never had anything bad to say. It is nice because she of course has the same problems as me as far as eating for the wrong reasons and she will talk to me until I can work through my problem. She is the one I worked out with in the past with a trainer and is the one that I am going to start going to the pool next week with.

Kimaly, forget the pouch test.......I got the FM kicking when the cold front moved in and my stomach got so messed up. I am going for a fill tomorrow......kinda like you though.......I can eat more food now, but if I eat too fast I pb. I think when she puts the fill in if she has to push it .....I don't need one. I will check in tomorrow.

Hope all goes well, Let us know how much more if any you got. Do you get yours under fluro? My fill center doesn't have one so I just have to feel it out and sometimes it really confuses me.

Hope all goes well, Let us know how much more if any you got. Do you get yours under fluro? My fill center doesn't have one so I just have to feel it out and sometimes it really confuses me.

I didn't go. I ate a egg white pancake this morning....got halfway through it and started slimming. I think I will hold off till December. Not sure why? Maybe it was the change in weather....it is cool here now. My band is really fickle.

Yep, that's what happens it seems like. I do the samething, I think I need a fill and then I'll go and get stuck and it shys me off for awhile. Fickle is the right word. I haven't had a fill since Jan.

Fickle is the word to use I am the same way. Yesterday I PB on stuff I have ate before I guess I ate to fast. It is so cold here right now. We have sleet yesterday and snow in extreme north Ga

So I found out yesterday my health insurance is not a group plan say like Atena it is a reinbursment plan. Meaning I pay for everything up front then I can some money back. Well that won't work. So right now we pay $1300 a month in Cobra. Now I have to find another job even though it was getting better. Uggh my fault I should have asked more questions

Fickle is the word to use I am the same way. Yesterday I PB on stuff I have ate before I guess I ate to fast. It is so cold here right now. We have sleet yesterday and snow in extreme north Ga

So I found out yesterday my health insurance is not a group plan say like Atena it is a reinbursment plan. Meaning I pay for everything up front then I can some money back. Well that won't work. So right now we pay $1300 a month in Cobra. Now I have to find another job even though it was getting better. Uggh my fault I should have asked more questions

That sucks!

Well, I am calling to get a fill this week. I am struggling with this hunger thing. I hope I can get in Thursday.

How is everyone doing?

So I called my Dr office and unless it is an emergency I can not come in this week b/c my Dr is not there this week. I called because of the acid. They said make sure I wait 2 hrs after I eat before I lay down and that my head is elevated. I said I am not sure if 2 Hrs pass before I lay down and I would keep track of it. They said also to try Prilosec I normal take Zantec before I go to bed. I said I would keep a log and let them know friday what is going on. Basically because I can have liquids and solid with no real problems that it is not an emergency

I'm good, not gonna weigh until mother nature leaves Because I don't think I'll get an accurate reading. So I'll check in in a couple of days.

Well I'm getting back on the band wagon today, I've been really slacking and it shows. So send me some will power if you have any to spare LOL Oh, and a little energy would be nice also. How's everyone else doing?

I didn't get a fill. I told her I slime when I eat too fast......she said I have restriction. She wants me to journal my food, 10,000 steps a day, and water aerobics too. Then I go back Dec 11. Then she will decide . I know I need a fill. gotta prove it. They use flouroscope now. They had it already for me, and she changed her mind. I hope I ddn't get charged for it.

So, I just walked 4,000 steps......now gonna eat oatmeal and eggwhites.

I am here hanging in there trying to find a job but still working at the same place with that evil woman. I asked for a half day off friday and it was so nice.

Anyways this week my acid got real bad I woke up twice spitting it up. Not good. Called my Dr office my Dr was on vaca I was told to not eat 2 hrs before I go to sleep and that should help. I found some otc med that is strictly for acid you can take and it feels like it numbs as it goes down it is called Gaviscon in liquid form. It works so fast I have only have used it twice. Once on Friday when everything bothered me I really could not eat anything. I found it at the store on lunch and it made me feel better. Then to be on the safe side I took a dose right before bed and had no problems.

I looked it up on web md and I guess I have bad acid reflux and i am trying to not have anything that they listed that causes the acid except I have coffee I am just cutting it back to a small cup.

So I am trying.Love you all and wish us all good vibes and strong wills to get through this battle of ours.