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No problem Panda, the choice is yours :-),we all have committments that are difficult to change.

So 3 days from op day and back at home. Nights have been difficult but each day has got easier. I have had to sleep upright in bed as lying down is uncomfortable. Gas was the most difficult post op aspect, it just wouldn't let up, bad ache of the back and neck, today its mercifully gone. Feel like I can walk into town etc but told to take it easy because one can set everything back by overdoing things. Clexane injection has been difficult, I found I just couln't give it to myself and the wife was less than keen, 6 more days of those...oh what fun. On the positive side, this seems like the first time in my life I have not been hungry...i.e. thinking its lunchtime etc, I just don't feel hungry and I am quite happy with the small quantity of clear soup I have. I am thrilled with that and know I am on the path to a new me :-)

Yes you need to pay a small amount for the App but no you don't need special equipment, except standard stuff e. pedometer for steps, then you enter those in the App.

A warning about driving too soon. If you have to do an emergency stop you may do damage, secondly you may well invalidate your insurance, i.e. if you hit someone you might not be covered for insurance, which is not worth it. So before you drive its worth checking your insurance docs.

Eating one shake a day is probably not a good idea, you should talk to your surgeon and explain you cant drink them. I was given an alternative, and in fact in U.K. the protein shake route isn't that common, instead a low fat low carb simple diet is offered. The problem with cheating is that it gives the opportunity for the liver to re-expand undoing all your good work. Result could be that your surgery is postponed, so obviously don't cheat is good, anyway chances are that even if not postponed the surgery might take longer and result in greater risk or pain. I simply can't understand surgeons who don't require a pre-op diet, on so many levels this seems strange but I am not a surgeon.

I looked at the sleeve first, after meeting someone who had it to get rid of diabetes and it had. It has a max usually of 12 months, does achieve pretty good weight loss and is a lot less invasive, i.e. its introduced without an major op like the RNY Gastric Bypass. However I then looked at the band and RNY and decided RNY was for me. RNY is much more of a committment combining the benefits of both cutting the size of the stomach and the bypassing of the start of the duodenum. This is important for very obese people who need all the weapons available when fighting fat, however that does make one better than another, they all have there place. In fact I think many people will find the sleeve enough and it carries much less risk and pain. However the sleeve has a max time and after that time you can regain weight if your mindset is wrong, whilst the RNY is a lifetime committment. Good luck and check whats best for you.

Thanks, I am doing well and the Peppermint tea is a lifesaver.

The IPad HD version is called Pro and I think its an in App upgrade. Don't give up its worth it.

Had my surgery 25 hours ago. worst problem is the gas. This is used in the abdomen cavity. This has to be absorbed and it presses against the diaphram etc giving pain in places like the shoulders. However ordinary pain killers help and moving around helps, especially after the first 12-24 hours. Hey all in all its not a total walk in the park but its over quickly and we can all see the long term benefits. Peppermint tea is brilliant to help dispell gas and make your mouth feel fresh. 24 hours from my op I had clear chicken soup and had no problems, in fact loved it. Good luck, ask if anything. else need to know.

Hi, yes works for iphone too but looks good on an Ipad. Search for Target Weight for adults, Is just great. Easy to use and an excellent for visually displaying your wieght, BMI, waist measure, blood pressure, pulse, cholosteral, fasting glucose etc. Easy to enter target for exercise and weight. You can enter both metric or feet, Ibs, feet or a combination. Really I have found no issues with it.

My Op is on Tuesday. when doing the walking and for general weight management, I have found that the Ipad App Target weight Pro has been fantastic. It clearly shows weight loss, BMI, steps or other activity etc. Love it. Good luck, I have built up to 7,000 steps, which is about all I feel comfortable with.

Hi JemJem. I have my op in Taunton on Tuesday, looking forward to getting it over. Fruit shoots are ok? They seem to have quite high sugar, but don't give you a problem? Have you tried the toy story popsicles (mogz recommended above) from Waitrose, no sugar (you freeze type).

Thanks Panda, interesting 2 bites protein to 1 of anything else, good one and easy to remember.

Hi Emma & Mogz, my op is on 10th April. I am interested to hear how you are both doing after your op's. I am in Weston-super-Mare.

Hi mine is 960 with 4 shakes a day. I have found that my brain just overloads and once on the phone I even forgot my address, really scary but I am sure quite normal. I am 8 days of 15 days pre-op and have lost 12 Ibs.

Thanks Berniec, yes its important to have something that doesn't taste too bad. Good luck on that diet, its not as bad as one expects.

I am on Slimfast, with pre-op diet. They are convenient, drinking 4 per day. Enough variation not to get too bored. Lost 10 Ibs in 1 week, op on 10th in Taunton.

Well done, sadly private health care insurance in U.K. do not help at all, considering it is cosmetic surgery.....hmmm. Good luck.

Haven't yet, having on 10th April. Now on the pre-op diet. Good luck.

Hi Sweet, well done. However I hope you can start pureed and soft soon because my surgeon pointed out that weight loss might slow if solids are not started. Liquids tending to go through too fast. So good luck and hope you manage soon.

Yep sure everyone goes through the eat all you can before the pre-op diet phase. I overcame that by starting a food diary which is like a build up to the op. We have now entered April so you are 1 month from op, I started that reduction down to the pre-op diet. I gave myself some treats knowing they would be the last for a long time. However I knew that if I didn't reduce then the pre-op diet would be hell, perhaps impossible and without that pre-op diet my surgery would be delayed. So record your food, honestly, and try to work towards that pre-op goal, enjoying your last couple of weeks but thinking of that extra 2 weeks as prep for the pre-op diet or you will have an impossible time. I am now in the pre-op diet and like all of us you will find the strength to endure will come because we all want that op to be easy and sucessful, good luck.

It does help :-) thanks, off to Tesco this morning.

Nothing we can say could possibly help with the pain you have suffered. All I can say is that I am sure all our thoughts and best wishes are with you and I hope it all works for you in the end.

You are obviously one of the people who are not suited to laparoscopic surgery and it will be done via a normal 'open' incision in these circumstances. If this happens, you will take a little longer to recover from the bigger incision, but it should not adversely affect your subsequent weight loss progress. You might have to be off work a bit longer. I don't think it makes too much difference but you will need to be a little bit for careful to avoid infection e.g. taking a shower may not be allowed for longer after the op. So essentially a little more unpleasant but hey that weight loss potential is the same, so good luck :-)

Hi, I have been on my pre-op diet since Saturday last and have lost 10 Ibs. Just on protein drinks 4 times a day and a couple of apples and have found it much easier than expected. I was offered similar to you, i.e. veg etc but decided no, I would keep in simple by keeping myself right out of the kitchen. I thought I would really struggle but perhaps my brain has simply said I can't cheat because if I cheat even once then my liver will expand and I may delay the surgery I have so looked forward to. It isn't worth it. Good luck and be strong.