SaggiJ

Hi Mrs D, Nice to hear fm you. Is there any Support group around Basingstoke? MRSA in your port wound. OMG!!! R u feeling ok now? When did that happen? Was it in yr early days after u had an op, or while there were doing one of your fills? Pls tell us more. But that aside, u r doing fantastic having lose so much weight. Definately an inspiration to us all.

Hi girls, Yeah u r right suzanne. It does differs individually re what you can or cant eat. After meeting up with my mate last fri (another bandster who had the op same day as me, we share same room and same doc too), I am considering a de-fill. This is bcos I think having my band near max at 6.8ml on a 7ml band is giving me too tight a restriction and truly stopping me from any quality of life. My mate is filled at 5.5ml and has lose nearly 4stones. I hv lose 24lbs, nearly 2stones. (We both had it done 5months ago) The difference is because i have an underactive thyroid which make my weight lost significantly slower than those without this problem. Also I believe it does depend on how much one need to lose as well. Im going to Dom Rep next monday, when I return I think I will seriously consider a de-fill of at least 0.8ml when I come back. I agreed with what u say re Anne Diamond too. An intelligent tv presenter like herself not doing any research prior to her op is unbelievable. I think she's jus trying to cover her embarrassment of taking part in the UK greatest loser program when she already had a band fitted. And Hosp group is just using her to advertise their band op. Good luck Anniegs. Sorry to hear re yr ankle but I had an op on my foot in UK 1 week b4 I trvl to Belgium for my band op. My foot was still in bandage when I hopped into the Hosp for my lap band op. The truth is, my foot hurts more than my lap band op. So you will be find.

I will thanks. And no, its not the jumper. Its you. All those weight lost - well done. Dream - next year, you and I, we will be size 12. (Actually I just want to be 14. I've been 12 before, actuall I went down to 10 before, loose my boobs totally. So didnt like it. Love my size 36B.

U r right, that is truly gross. For me its nearer to run to the downstairs loo. I truly agreed with you, I L-O-V-E steak, but now avoid it like a plague. The pain is not worth it. And its just mince pies, cottage pie, shepperd pie, fish pie, mash me these days.Thank God I love fish (basically I love ALL seafood so am quite dissappointed I cant eat mussels, tiger prawns. lobsters, oyster....my god the list go on cos I DO love my food, and I have to choose between a better FIGURE or FOOD. And vainity won.

Oh LibertySuzanne, Now that is very very naughty. The whole tub all by yourself. You could have given us a ring, and we could have shared it with you. This way, we could have share the calories too. Im waiting for my friend, the one whom I shared the same room with after the band op to turn up, and we are going to Ciau Baby for dinner. Oh my god, the cakes in ciau baby is to die for. But hei, good news. I weight myself tis morning, and hv lose 3more pounds. So Im giving myself a treat. Im planning just tomato Soup as main and desert. If the 3lb go back to my thigh tomorrow, I only got myself to blame. How you doing anyway. Whats your current weight lost??

Hi Tracy, We could be twins in this compartment. Likewise, I worried that I hv hurt my band when my weight started going upwards instead of down, my radiologist arranged for me to have a fill under xray. Everything was fine there just top me up to max i.e. 6.8ml in a 7ml band. I cant eat much now and pb quite alot, bcos I still hv yet to master of eating very very slowly and small tiny mini pcs, and STOP when full. I keep trying it on. And ended up being in pain. Totally my fault, as I said previously they should hv banded my brain too. My weight is going down but oh so slowly..... but the Dr did say it would take 1-2yrs b4 we will lose at least 80% of our overweight weights. I lost 24lbs, and wud be happy to lose another 35lbs, depending what dress size I want to be, and I dont want to be too skinny. So, yeah, Im cool (not really, but Im trying not to feel too depress. Im 12.3 now and wud be exhilarated to be 10.5st, perhaps by 2moro??).

I truly emphatize with you Anon, Yes I feel you. Likewise I am fine (prior to my band op) when Im not thinking of diet. Each time I decided to start dieting, ALL I can think of is food, infact it makes me eat more and I put on more weight than when I wasnt dieting. So to suceed, I had a strategy. I dont think that I am dieting. I think I am trying to get heathier by eating healtily. So, I have lots of low cal, low fat, weight watches meal, healty veg sticks, sugar free jelly all around me, so to trick my body into thinking Im eating loads, and I am not really dieting, and actually it works, and I usually will lose at least 1/2stone to begin with. Only problem is, my body wise up and realised I am actually dieting, and after 2wks, the plan wont work anymore, and the craving starts again. But at least, if you try this option, you will suceed for the 1st 2 wks and lose some weight cos you are not thinking of food 24-7, which you would be if you are thinking of DIET!! Hopes this might help you to reach your goal before your op.

Had my op done in Chimay, Belgium with Elysea. Consultation was Dr Mignon, but Dr Debray op on me. Diedre, oh bless her, lovely lovely lady, she was our translator. Had my fill at London with Radiologist Toni. My radiologist advised me that once we have our fill, not to go for any diet food ie Weight watches food which I used to take but to eat properly, 3meals a day (and if needed 3 Snacks, and a cup of tea is consider as snack) She encouraged us to take Protein food as much as possible. So I try to bite on tiny pcs of chicken, or cheese during meal time. Any thing liquid will go straight through and will defeat the purpose and wont fill us up. Good luck to you. You will get there. We all will.

No worry there annie as I dont 'think' I drink too much on the alcohol compartment. My greatest vice is 'desertsssssss' Im already planning to aim for soup and the 'desert' table and not bother with main meal cos it would just block me up. But you are right, there's only so much we can eat these days, cos that is why we have the band put in in the first place to stop us overeating. Yet sometimes, I see food and I think oh.....if only I could eat as before again...... Stop it! I got to snap myself out of that self-pity feeling. Not long now to my Dom Rep trip, I'll let u all know how I fare. Gd news. Lose another 3pounds. Total lost - 24lbs now.

OH my God! SaraMoss, That Pre-operative list is frightenning. Seriously bandster, YOU DO NOT NEED them at all. At the end of the day, it really is down to common sense and it really is NOT that difficult to follow. Just like anyohe going for any operations, you just have to take it easy for a couple of days. After the op, there WOULD NOT BE a great deal of restriction as yr doc wud hv just insert the ring band around yr stomach. U will need a few FILLS before you will feel any restriction, and that would be in the duration of a least 6months before you will feel your weight seriously going down. The doc did say it will be a duration of 1-2yrs before we will lose 80% of our overweight weights. Just be careful because you just had an operation. Stay off solid food as instructed, stock up on liquid low calory drinks, non-fat yogurts, light clear soup for the 1st couple of weeks. Stay off cabonated drinks. By week 2, I was already on pureed food and creamy soup. The hosp you going to should be giving you some chewable pain killers when you check out of the hosp anyway. Yr wound should heal in a week's time. It's more scarry than it is painful, truthfully. Good luck to those going for the op. And to answer yr question Sara Moss, I have lose 24pounds since Sept. I suffer from my underactive thyroid which means I should celebrate even if I lose 1 pound cos I have a non existence metabolism and weight gain are usually associated with this disfuntional thyroid problem. I went underactive 3yrs ago and put on 3stones, which wont buldge despite all my exercise & diets. Thats why I finally seek the banding option.

Gd luck Manchester Bandster on yr forthcoming op. .

Hi Sara, Had my op back in Sept06. Surprisingly my Dr M didnt not tell me to diet as my bmi is borderline. Infact the eve before the op, the Dr told us (myself & 2 other bandsters doing the same op as me) to go and have our last summer. So the nite b4 my op I had steak with mushroom sauce and a mushroom soup. But Im sure its varies depending on each indv. Anniregs, Good luck for next tues. Standby at home lots of liquid protein drinks, smoothie, light clear soup & yogurt as those are the only things u can only eat after the op, and u wont feel like driving to shop after the op. Tracy, lucky you still able to hv chinese. How much fill hv you in yr band now??? Prob is Im near max so when I eat chinese, it only gets stuck. And believe me, its very very uncomfortable and painful when that happens.

Hi tracy, You wrote that you have lost about 2/3stone. Do you mean you have lose 2/3stone (which is equivalent to 10pounds) or do you meant you have lose 2 - 3 stones (which is 28 - 42lbs)??? I ask because at a fill of near maximum (so is mine) and u said that you have 'very little restriction', and only losing 10pounds (if it is 2/3stone and not 2 - 3 stones), you might want to consider speaking to your doc or radiologist about it??? I was fitted with a 7ml band in Belgium last Sept06. A few weeks ago I have been filled to near max. i.e. I have 6.8ml in my 7ml band and I can hardly eat. I started out at 14stones and have lose 1 1/2stone in total (21pounds) and I am now 12 1/2stones. I know I can lose more if I stop eating my sweet deserts and start going back to the gym. The reason my weight is at a stand still the last 3 weeks is because I made up for not being able to eat by eating sweet deserts which I plan to stop. I know once I stop eating the wrong type of food (ie deserts) my weight will go down again. Also as I suffer from an underactive thyroid, which means my metabolism is near non-existence, losing even 1pound is a cause for celebration for me. If at near max you feel very little restriction, you really want to seriously speak to your radiologist or doctor.

Hi Yvonne, I can guarantee you once you have your fill to a certain amount, you can wave goodbye to kung po chicken. I should know. Im chinese and Im finding it so hard cos I cant eat any chinese food now. 2 weeks ago was Chinese New Year, and we all went to a chinese restaurant to celebrate. Poor me, I could only stare at the food, cos I tried to eat some black bean beef, and ended up pb it all out. Im definately not going for any chinese ever again cos its such a waste of money.

Hi Suzanne, Had my band fitted last Sept06. The fill during the op is not counted as 1st fill. So looks like you only had 1 fill since the operation. You have done very well considering that. I agreed with you that even though my weight is at at stand still, I am losing inches on my waist and boobs. Today I started joining beginners Salsa lesson with my 17 yrs old son. It was real embarrasing as I dance with 2 left feet. But it was a real good exercise. So I think I'll give it one more try next week. Cheaper for me to go back to my gym though but just abit lazy and cant get motivated at the mo. It's going to be great this friday cos Im meeting up with another lady that was banded same time with me at Chimay. She has lose over 3 stones even though we were banded together and go to the same radiologist. She only has 5.5ml in her band, whereas I have 6.8ml. Yet she's losing more! Hmmm! Goes to show the band works differently on each individual. xxx

Hi Suzzane & anon, Yeah I've been there too. My boobs are definately the first to go. 3 yrs ago when I was admitted to Hosp for radioactive threatment for my OVERactive thyroid, I suffered a heart failure and I went fm 11 1/2stone to 9 1/2stone in a matter of 3wks. Believe me, my boobs went fm a 36B right down to a 32AA. I was so depressed. But 3 months later, when my UNDERactive thyroid kicks in, I went from 9 1/2 stone to near 14stone, and dont worry ALL my boobs fill back beautifully. Since banded back in Sept 06, having lose 1 1/2stone, I fill my boobs slightly smaller now and went to Primark yday looking for a A cup. Im joining salsa dancing starting 2moro to tone up and I hope to start going back to the gym so that I can strengten my chest, hopefully to prevent my boobs from drooping.

Ditto LibertySuzzane, and thanks ANON, the above post cheer me up too and its like a reconfirmation of what I already know, but hate to admit cos Im so impatient. I know it wud take at least 2yrs before I will achieve my weight lost cos thats what Dr M told me, yet Im sooooooooo impatient. Since we are on this subject, this is 2 wks in total my weight is at a standstill, (positive thinking - at least its not going up) Suzzanne, since your 2nd fill, how are you doing? As I also did it in Chimay, can I assume you are also banded with a 7ml band?

Dear Sara, Good luck to yr forthcoming band op. Im live in Bstoke so, not far from you. Perhaps we cud meet up one day & exchange notes.

Dear MaryB, I find your daily intake of food extremely helpful. Im from the UK (originally from Malaysia) and have been banded 5months ago in Belgium (cheaper than UK), I've lost 21lb and another 35lbs to go. I was fitted with a 7cc (or is it ml??) band and am filled to near max now. Cant eat much but still my weight is at a stand still. Reading your mail, I now know where I went wrong. I compensated the fact that I cant eat by having lost of low fat choc moose. Eventhough its low fat, but the sugar contents must be high. As Im also suffering from an underactive thyroid, I think I have to cut down on my sugar intake. Also, I had an operation on my foot 1/2 year ago, just a few weeks before I had my band op. Since then, I have not done any exercise. So difficult to get motivated to go back to the gym. But seeing your mail that u incorporated 30mins swimming everyday makes me realised I have to do that too. So thanks for your inspiring mail. Regards SaggiJ

Dear Sugarplum, Im very interested in your history and weightlost. I see that you have your bands op back in 2005 ie. near 15months ago and you have lose an incredible amount of weight. I've mine done privately in Belgium back in Sept 06, so only 5months ago. Have lost 21lbs todate and have 35lbs to go. My band can take 7ml (or is it cc?) fill and I've been filled to near max near 3wkes ago, but weight lost has stopped even though I barely can eat anything.) You have done so well. Did your weight plateau at some point in yr 15months?? And if it did, how did you get it to start losing again?? Can you tell me are you fill to near max too?? What is your daily intake of food like?? Please can you advise. Truly grateful for any help. Sincerely,:rolleyes SaggiJ

Hi LibertyS, Thanks once again for your advice above. Sorry for the late reply. Im stil very new in using this website and am truly fumbling around. Sometimes I dont even know where to find the reply mails. Anyway, I just sent you a reply mail but on a different thread (???). Hope you find that. Thanks for your offer of help too. I've also registered recently on wls but for some reason cant seems to log in the forum. But Im reading our lapbandtalk website on other bandster, most from america, Mexico, canada etc. I dont actively take part in their chat but just trying to learn from their mistakes. Look forward to reading your mail. Regards SaggiJ

Hi Laura, Thanks for the above info. I have registered on it but still cant get in. Hmmm Im not very good in this. Still fumbling around using this site let alone the wls site. Anyway, thanks alot. And good luck to your weight lost. Regards, SaggiJ

Hi Annie & LibertyS, Im a confirmed grazer too and I used to tell another of my band mate that the hosp should hv banded my brain rather than my stomach cos Im thinking of good 24-7, even though I cant eat them. I do try it on but always end up having to finger it out cos its stuck like a golf ball in my chest and it hurts like hell. As Im filled to near max now on a band that only takes 7, Im finding it hard to eat anything these days. However somedays are better than others. I went pizza express yday with my kids, and can only stare at them eating, feeling sorry for myself cos I tried 2 pcs of their magarita pizza and ended up throwing it all up. But I soon cheer up at desert time, (which is bad) but I comforted myself thinking as I cant eat anything, 1/2 a pc of desert is not too bad. Im going to Dom Rep in 2 wks too and its All Inclusive and to Spain in July (half board), and Im thinking, oh no I wont be able to eat anything. I know the whole objective is to lose weight but HABITS are hard to conquer. LibertyS, and any other uKBandster, Please can you all share any ideas on food on what you can eat esp when you are on holidays. Im abit bored with my smoothie, yogurt, Soup, fish & shepperd pie ALL the time. Those are the only food I can eat without throwing up. Recently Ive started eating banana and it seems fine if I CHEW 20x b4 swallowing. As mentioned before I've lose 1 1/2stone (21lbs) since Sept 06. I would like to lose another 2 1/2stones (35lbs) which would take me down to 10stone (140lbs) which is the weight I would like to be. I have previously went down to 9 1/2 stone before and I looked truly haggard so wont want to go down anymore than 2 1/2 stone (35lbs) So all advice on what food you all can eat would be much appreciated. Regards SaggiJ

Hi Anne, When I had my band back in Jul06, another girl whom I share a room with had it done the same time as me and she had a friend with her who drove her to Belgium and drove her back the next day. She told me later that it was the worst journey of her life, all the bumping in the car gave her loads of pain. If your hospital and your home is not too far...... but if it is, I would suggest you have a friend or family drive you. Would you be staying 1 night at the hospital at least?:omg:

Hi Laura, Can you tell me apart from this site, which other uK site are you using? Can you let me know what is the web address? Cheers