LeslieLee

Hi Doddie, I read something interesting about diet pop this morning. Did you know that if the diet drink has aspartame, aspartame is a appetite stimulant. Therefore although there are few if any calories in a diet pop, it does encourage you to eat. So along with the sometimes issues of getting gas you have to also think about it making you hungry. I got this info from a post to the form form the clinic where I had my band done. Hope that it helps you with your thoughts on drinking pop.

Some of mine have fallen off but the ones on the large incision are all there but one. I am just letting them do there thing. I tend to keloid scar so I am hoping that by leaving I might miss out on that kind of scar. So far the small ones that have come off are great! Just a tiny nick.

Hi Andree, You should get a package that will come with your Optifast it will explain the diet and what you can have in the way of vegetables. Also Rose is wonderful and very helpful. I would say if you feel the need to clean the house out of food then do it. Make plans that will work for you and make your life easier! I found after a few days I really wasn't all the hungry. I also couldn't clean out the house as I have a son who needs to eat...lol and he can pack it away!! I would just try to remember why you are doing this, and also I tried to lose as much weight as I could before pre-op ,but I did allow myself to have a few of my favorite meals before. It will all come together, you'll see!!

See you on this side!! Congrats on making the trip!

Right on Doddie!! Glad it is working for you so far!! Hopes it continues!!

mmm Well mine is my first name and middle name put together.!! very deep huh!

Let me know how it works for you both Donna D and Doddie. It is still working for me today very few.

Congrats on your new car!! Jurema You deserve it! and the band!! lol just remember to park at the far end of the parking lot and take the stairs!! lol

lol I am so glad to know I am not alone!! acapella (spelling??) burping.... now there is a thought! lol I decided to ponder this thing we do called burping... I thought back to the days of feeding my babies and I remembered a bottle which is I believe still popular, the platex nurser... well in their advertisement they say that babies get less air and so do not suffer with gas and the pain it can bring.... well I thought to myself how can I get less air if I am drinking (which is all I am doing at this point).... here is what I came up with I tried to really concentrate as I drank and I realized that I was breathing all wrong which each swallow...so I tried to make sure that just before I did swallow I exhaled and did not inhale until after I was done.... TA DA!!! It worked!! I have had very little burping today and I am hoping that maybe I have really stumbled on an answer for this. Now I need others to research my theory!! lol breath out swallow breath in lol an easy little exercise and if it works it is another victory NSV. as an added bonus it helps to slow down the drinking/eating

Hi Everyone! It is June the forth and I was thinking about goals for the month. Last month I found it helpful to read the posts of others and plan my own goals and post them. I did acheive my goal as did most of us I think! Big high five to all of us! So for starts as I am just a few days on this side of life I would like to really focus on getting the most out of the month as in working through the different stages of food and learning about my feelings towards this phase. lol right now I am just so happy to be able to have chicken broth !! and popsicles!! I seldom have huge hunger so far but it is early yet. So I guess what my goal is is to make it through this month of liquids. full liquids, pureed, and soft foods without too much trouble Good luck to everyone this month!!

Ok... I am wondering about burping. Anyone got any info on it? I seem to be doing a far bit of it and although I know it is a good way to get rid of gas it is at times been painful, mostly in the left shoulder. I am curious if this is a passing thing that happens in the beginning. I am sure the pain will go away, but will the burping? lol She who resides in a musical world

Thanks Donna D, I am soooooooooooo glad to be hear!! -=now to stop burping, lol=-

Hi Andrea, You will need your bullet as you will be staying until the forth of August I believe you said. Dr. Cobourn's patients start having Optifast again. I started having mine on friday after having surgery on wednesday. The day of surgery was Water only then thursday clear, low fat low carb low calorie liquids. Then Friday opti-fast can be added in. One package for me spilt into three servings for the day. That lasts 7-10 days. Yours might be slightly different based on what Dr. C thinks is best. Hope that helps with your question. I also took both gas x strips and chewable tablets. Also found children's liquid tylenol the 2-12 year old one worked well for me for pain. Also they do make a gravol suppository which might be easy to take then the liquid if you are having troubles, but I don't think you will, I sure didn't and that was a fear of mine. Has your package arrived from the clinic yet?

Not sure who you were asking Nume, I am from Edmonton, banded by Dr. Cobourn -=big smile=-

Hi Andrea, Well it sounds like you are all set!! lol and yes just a tad excited as we all are I think. The thought of finally winning at the losing game is HUGE! no pun intended.lol well maybe a little one. Anyone it is all good, I am home now and so glad to have slept in my own bed last night! I believe my surgery and recovery room time was something like this.... Surgery was at about 12:30 12:45 I had a small hernia repair as well and then into recovery which I left at about 4:00 4:30 I really wasn't there all that long. Most of the time was recovery room I don't think surgery was more than an hour. I am just having my first cup of coffee in almost a week...lol wow it is strong than I remember making it...lol There are all kinds of things to do and see, just depends on what you are into. I think you might be able to do a search on tourism there or shopping, theatre and so on. Hope that helps!

Congrats Marcar! Glad to hear you are doing so well!

Way to go Andree!! I am feeling pretty good today! It is Saturday and I had my band put on on Wednesday. Dr Cobourn was /is terrific and so are the staff there. They are all very approachable and so eager to help. The Clinic is lovely (I wanted to move in lol) The best thing I can say is stick to your pre-op and walk as much as you can before and after surgery. Also try to keep yourself regular. I am staying at the Novotel and it has been fine. It is close to the Square One mall so you can shop a bit before your surgery -=winks=- Also I took Andrew's and Janice's advice and used Aerofleet to get from the airport to the hotel and back. Flat rate 34.00 to here. Your day will be here so fast you will be amazed. I know I was! All the best!

Absolutely!! I would love to meet you in Edmonton in June!!

I'm on the banded side!! Thank you everyone for all the good wishes and thoughts. It really means more than I can say here. Things went well, I had a hernia repair as well. -=smiles=- nice to know I don't have to worry about that in the future. The clinic and staff were wonderful! I have been walking around my hotel room trying to get the gas moving. I have had some broth today and wow it was nice to have something warm to sip on. Not to keen on the codiene but.... I have never been one for medications... I did take it though. -=smiles and then makes an yukky face=- I will write more later!! Nice to be on this side finally!!

-=big smiles=- You will do great!! it is just about 24 hours now for me on the banded side. I am up and have even had some wonderful chicken broth! I will be thinking of you tomorrow!!

Well, it is 4 more hours and I will be on the banded side... I can hardly believe that this journey is truly about to start. It seemed like it was a long time away when I first started and I remember everyone saying it would be here before I knew it and they were so right!! I am of course quite anxious, didn't sleep really well last night my mouth has absolutely no moisture in it at all ...lol but I am ok and I will be fine, I know that. I had a wonderful pre-op visit with Dr. Cobourn and Yes I did get pics with him!! The staff were all terrific and what a wonderful Clinic!! I asked if I could just move in!! lol Rose said there are lots of beds upstairs, -=chuckles=- Dr C said yes but you will get surgery if you are in them...lol I said I guess I will just have to keep moving around!! And hey some of that surgery I might need after this weight loss. Which to date as of yesterday is 22 pounds!! (I will change my ticker later) So Everybody, please keep me in your thoughts at noon today (ontario time) and I will see you on the banded side shortly. Shouldn't take me long to walk on over!!!

the bullet is the best thing!! I love mine and have it here in the hotel right now!! ..Tomorrow is my big day, and in a few hours I will be meeting Dr. Cobourn... holy smokes this is all coming together so fast!! I will write more later tonight... gotta love a laptop!

lol well I am trying to pack and wondering just what all to take for after surgery... any thoughts on what works best? I am thinking something lose of course but if anyone can give me hints that would be great... Surgery is wednesday and I don't have to fly back till saturday so not sure if lose pants would work or ????? :help:

I just got in from walking, which was really quiet. There seems to be a calm around my little world... that is the outside world... Inside I am nervous and anxious and all a muck. My mind is flitting from one thing to another, but always coming back to. Tomorrow I will be getting on the plane to go to Ontario to have a band put around my stomach. I am going to be changing the rest of my life with food as I have known it for so many years!! (((((((((((((((WOW)))))))))))))) I am smiling as I sit here writing this and yet I am still feeling those feelings of what the hell are you doing Leslie... I know from reading here that this is all normal. I can rationalize everything going on in my head and yet those thoughts still come. So many emotions

Yep first thing in the morning is the key!! I get up and go pee and brush my teeth have a small drink of water, dress get the dog and I am gone!!! I am on pre-op so I don't eat anything till I get back when I have my optifast. Once I am banded and able to eat something I will. I find that if I do it right away like the others have said it just works better. I go for about an hour with my pooch. Hey what about making a litte tummy pack to carry yours in??? when they get tuckered? Also big thing for me is doin something I like, dancing is also a good exercise and lots of fun. Even alone.... lol -=points to the music player...lol=- turn it up baby!! and get moving!! ps... I wanna go kayaking too!!! That is actually one of my goals I hope to do this summer!! Tell us all about it when you get back, bandiva