JLB

Hi CanadaSunshine, congrats on your success, you've done great! Cute website. I don't have a pooch but it sure makes me want to. I live in Calgary and would love to meet you for coffee whenever you are in town. Just let me know what day and we can plan to meet. Looking forward to it.

Hey LeslieLee, it's great to hear from you! I'm so glad that everything went well. Welcome to bandland!!!! Dr. C seems to do alot of hernia repairs. He told me that he's very proactive at looking for them and they are very common, although most people aren't aware that they have one usually. Isn't the broth great. I remember thinking it was heavenly tasting and then I thought... wait a minute... it's just broth. But I must say I really enjoyed it after the Pre-op diet. Congrats again and we'll talk to ya soon. Take care of yourself and walk, walk, walk.

I'll be thinking of you Marcar. You'll soon be in bandland. Very exciting!!! :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Hi LeslieLee, I'm sure you're tucked into bed sleeping by now. Please let us know how everything went when you are able. For now, get lots of rest and take care of yourself.

Excellent news Mr. Yoda! That is a sweet victory!! :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Yep, sweats worked best for me plus two button front tops. If you don't have sweats then take a pair of elastic waist band pants. If you're like me you might be tempted to over pack. Whenever I go on a trip I always pack way to many clothes. But trsut me, this trip is different. You really don't need more... less is better. For the most part you're resting or going for the odd walk... that's it. Have a great trip! I'm so excited for you!!

LeslieLee, have a wonderful trip and don't worry... it's really not that bad, it will be over before you know it!!! You've done lots of the hard work already. Changing the mindset and getting thru the pre-op diet is the hardest part. Soon you will be enjoying the benefits of the band and I promise - you'll love it!!!! :drum::clap2::tea::biggrin1: Take care and please post as soon as you are up to it. I'll be thinking of you the day of surgery. :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Good luck to all those who are leaving this week for their surgeries. I'll be thinking of all of you. I know that you will all be successful in your journey to health and happiness. I can see by your posts that you are committed to changing your lifestyles and working the band as a tool to help you succeed. Please be sure to post as soon as you can after surgery to let us know how you are doing. :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Lila, I'm sorry to hear you had so much difficulty. I'm glad you're feeling better! What a great idea about the gravol suppositories (how the heck to you spell his word). Good thing to have on hand incase swallowing is out of the question. I also think the DVD idea is great. I was banded by Dr. Cobourn on May 9 and I've thought about possible emergency situations where I might end up in the ER in my city. It would sure be scary if the doctors didn't know what a lapband was or what to do. I'm going to call Dr. C's clinic and see if they have a DVD too. I always learn so much from reading posts. Thanks for sharing your experience and I hope you continue to feel better!

Shaklee also has a chewable multi vitamin called Vita-Lea. I live in Canada so I'm not sure if the same products are available through the States or not. Good luck!

JoJo, you only have to do three days of pre-op diet? How come? Usually it's much longer, like two weeks, at least that's what I thought???

JoJo, believe me it's NOT at all crazy to be thinking about losing your best friend - food. I can totally relate. This is part of the journey that I have experienced so far and I'm sure will continue to deal with. It's about changing your relationship with food and learning new habits. It's hard, it's frustrating, it's challenging and it's rewarding. Hang in there and come to this board for lots of support from great people. Only a few more days - WOOHOO!!!!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Jacqui, very interesting post and maybe you're not so different afterall. Yes, I am an emotional eater and have consumed huge portions at meals but also relate to what you are saying. I think you hit the nail right on the head. Part of the issue is overeating and choosing the wrong foods because of being in a perpetual diet cycle. The mindset of having to always start a diet and therefore wanting to eat the "last meal" all the time. Not sure I explained this right but after reading your post I had a lightbulb moment. I knew after I did my research on the lapband and after my consult with the surgeon that this procedure is EXACTLY what I needed. I didn't want food to control me anymore. I wanted to eat to live not live to eat. I'm only 10 days postop and still having lots of gas pains and discomfort but there's one thing I know for sure... I have never felt more in control of food since the day I was born! Freedom at last!!

Kacee, I could have written the exact same post. I am or should I say was a volume eater. I don't know where I got the idea from but I think it is related to being an emotional eater. My mom also thought I was from another planet and probably still does. hehehehe Lap Dancer, lol, I do the same thing. I don't like my food to touch, if there's anything saucy on the plate I get really irritated when it runs into other food and I think I eat clockwise but until you brought it up I hadn't really thought about it. Glad to know that I am not alone and hopefully not too weird!

Mr Yoda, your recipes look great! Can't wait to try them next week!! Thanks for sharing.

Princess Sophie, you will have all these questions answered during your consultation with the surgeon. Ask him specifically, if this or that happens, how does your clinic handle it? My surgeon was very specific in answering my questions and concerns which were similar to yours and I was very happy with his answers. Basically, I don't have to pay further expenses for future surgeries related to medical issues but if I was to decide that I just wanted the lapand removed becasue I didn't want it anymore then I would have to pay surgical suite fees. Good luck in your journey!

Actually, I was hungry all the way through the two weeks. I know some people aren't after 3 days or so but it wasn't the case for me. I spaced out the veg's. Usually had 6 asparagus tips with lemon juice mid morning. Had some celery at noon. Maybe some cabbage and mushrooms sauteed in Water at supper and then pickles at night. Mixed it up abit depending on what I felt like each day. The paperwork from Dr. C's clinic said one serving max 225 calories but with the types of veg's I could eat, they were a far cry from 225 calories. I called the nurse and clarified if I could in fact break up the servings into 4 or 5 times a day and she said it was fine as long as I didn't exceed 225 calories of veg's in a day. I felt better eating smaller Snacks of veg's in between the Optifast. Anyway... worked well for me. I think you're doing great so far Leslie Lee. Keep in mind, the pre-op is the hardest part. Post-op feels like gourmet eating, the Soup really hits the spot! You'll be there before you know it!

JoJo, congrats on your surgery date. It will be here and gone before you know it! The band needs to be stitched into place so that it can heal properly and anchor itself. It's not something to be concerned about, just part of the procedure. I had my surgery on May 9 and am very happy with my decision toward better health. Just so you know... you can't feel the stitches inside. Overall, most people are just sore from the surgery itself and some good self care post-op makes it all better very soon. Enjoy the journey!

Wheezy, yes, you'd think a rich province such as Alberta would have better health care but unfortunately this has not been my experience in the system. I think it's horrible but I guess it's all relative. I'm sure there are much worse health care systems in the world. At least we have one, such as it is!

Mmmmmmmmmmm... I think a chocolate shake just might hit the spot. I need... or should I say... want something that doesn't involve soup or protein powder. Thanks Andrew.

A hot fudge sundae qualifies as full liquid stage, right?

Definitely flavorings. I used the SF Da Vinci syrups. Khalua in the chocolate Optifast was excellent. Fresh strawberries in the vanilla also worked. As for vegetables. Choose your favorites. I loved asparagus topped with fresh lemon juice. Also, ice berg lettuce cut in big chucks hit the spot. I too ate pickles which seemed to help with cravings. If you make a salad out of fresh greens, balsamic vinegar is a good dressing. I'm so happy for you, you're getting closer! Your banding date will be here before you know it!!

I'm still on full liquids. It hasn't been to bad, I'm quite enjoying it! I usually have a protein drink for breakfast or at least half of one. Then I'll have some soup for lunch. Then maybe some chicken broth with added Unjury protein powder and another half protein smoothie. If I need a snack during the day I usually have abit of V8 juice, jello(with Unjury protein powder added) or a SF popsicle and lots and lots of water.

I hear ya Andrew but believe me just because you read it in the Calgary Herald and just because you were about to be admitted to the clinic does not mean you would have had your lapband surgery anytime soon in AB. You still would have had to have been assessed, go thru the 6 month "diet program" as if... and then you would have been placed on another waitlist for surgery. I wonder who they are going to have do these surgeries since the Health Region has problems with OR time and staff. Anyway... we are the lucky ones! Sure we paid $16K for excellent service (by the way I paid much more than that for my car) and sure, there are people who are having it covered by the gov't but you know what... life's too short to wait - your family and your well-being is much more important! Just a side note... I went with my mother yesterday to see a surgeon about a hip replacement and it was a scary series of errors. The staff are all running around like chickens with their heads cut off, complaining about too much work and not enough time, etc., etc. When the nurse finally came into the room an hour after the doctor had left, it was like starting from scratch, she didn't know which end was up. I finally said to my mother she better make sure she tells the surgeon and OR staff just before the operation which hip it is and that it's only a hip replacement or they might aputate something. Gawd, it was like night and day, between the experience I had and she's having. You could not pay me enough to go thru the regular helath region for surgery. Like I said we are the lucky ones - the fee payers! Just my opinion.

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I'm starting to fill kind of human again - finally! The gas pain is almost gone and the incisions are starting to feel better. I've noticed a weird pain in the throat/chest area especially first thing in the morning. It feels like a suppressed burp. It only lasts a couple of seconds. It's hard to explain but it's just a strange spasm or something. Anybody else felt this? All-in-all I feel pretty good since it's only been 6 days. The liquid diet has been no problem, I'm not really hungry. At first I had to try and recognize a stomach hunger growl over the gas growls because I truly have not been hungry since surgery. Very happy so far!