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Hang in there Holly :boink: I was day three, I was in hospital, and because I was a veggie I only had this urine looking vegetable clear "broth" or ummm apple juice. I asked my surgeon and I started on sloppy porridge and some lentil Soup -that helped me so much. HTH

I hope you are all now feeling better with the Gas now. I was REALLY lucky with minimal pain, and it was in my shoulder (central not tip). I had kept thinking the gas pain everyone spoke of was like wind/gas indigestion, but my nurse said it was pumped in and that it wasn't actually in the stomach. I sort of understood them to say it would sort of absorb slowly and be expelled, but not to expect big gas explosions or anything. And I didn't get any of that. It still amazes me we are all so different, and I'm incredulous I had the guts to do this!!! My clothes are LOOSE, I can't believe it - I can feel the difference, not sure if the scales are lying:rolleyes:

Hi Guys! I'm done - officially a bandit I'm still in the "I really hope this was a good idea land" !! I'm still feeling realy oozy and slightly giddy if I try and sit to walk (at computer etc). I have sick time so I have some weeks to go yet, but feeling pretty fragile really. I LOVE the support this forum offers us all

Yep, all done - still trying to sort through the implications in my head! Surgery went well, and surgeon was very good and hospital excellent. Hope the other 22'ers are doing well too

Thanks for all your good vibes and well wishes sleep? well, my first GOOD sleep was today, which is day four - in my own bed with my little red kitty. She's still snuggled up now - I get up and move around, and she just waits for me to snuggle back! Firstly, I hope you did great Fred? Does everyone else feel ummm weird?? I feel a quite ooozy if I walk around too much, and I've stack of meds to take for nausea, pain etc. - just in case apparently. I had my staples out this morning, which is why I stayed in hospital an extra day. It was only a 25 minute drive home, but it was long enough. I'm on mushies, I had really had the clear veggie broth after the end of day two, so I asked my surgeon for some porridge or slightly thicker Soup, which is what I had, and some low cal icecream. That helped. But it does feel distinctly strange after eating! Very supportive husband and furry people here, so that's all good

Thanks for your help, unfortunately I'm in Australia and we can't ship foods in due to quarantine. I'll get my husband to have a look for a similar product at our local health food store. Thanks again,

Thanks lizrbit I'm a vegetarian - so this rules lots of things out. I had not thought of veggie bullion DOH! The clear is for immediately post op until I can go onto mushy. Juices are good, its just others seem to be having lots of jello etc. So I've been on semi Optifast for the two weeks, it didn't need to be strict, so I've had opti 1 or 2 per day and a salad or veggies etc for the other meal. Thanks for the suggestions

Hi, Starting to panic on the food front now (as well as the others!) Because I can't have jello (due to the gelatine) or beef clear soups, what else is there for the clear liquids stage? Thanks a lot,

Hi Carrot, This is great news I'm off tomorrow, and only lost 3kg so all I see is YUK and who are you?? Just keep looking in that mirror:whoo:

Hi all, Okay.....butterflies now the size of Tiger Moths (the metal kind) as this time tomorrow I'll be banded. If anyone has any words of wisdom and/or support for the lead up, I'd love to hear them :omg: I've been sooo busy preparing, I'm still trying organise my stuff. I guess I'll see you on the other side:eek:

Hi Carrot, I thought I had asked how you were doing on another thread, but I must be mistaken. I just found this thread. Sounds like you have had an awful time . I really hope things are looking up, your weight loss is fabulous Its encouraging to see how you've come out of the other side. Did your Doc explain why you had the extreme reaction?

Hi Congrats to all Glad to hear all your reports. I paid my gap today and so the real countdown is on. What sort of pain relief are you all taking?

Hi Carrot, How are you doing now, time is flicking by, and I see its five days for you. Are you coping and feeling okay?

So glad you have your dates :Banane10: I went totally mental when I finally had my date. Total self-sabotage :Banane35:. Anything I shouldn't eat I did. I have settled now, so it was kind of a relief when I started this two week phase. I had to "try to tolerate" the Opti, and I have, but I've only been having 2 per day, and a light salad or fruit. I must say that the strawberry one, the new flavour, is really helping me for a sugar fix.

Congrats Danna! I found when I got the date, the anxiety really began! Are you doing Optifast for long pre-op?

Congrats to you all! And Susie, thanks for the upbeat post - I'm still terrified, pretty much of post hospital onwards. Less than a week to go. I am glad you are on top of the world :cool:

I'm so envious! With the lack of hunger, does the "head hunger" diminish too? I just want to have no interest in food. Sounds like you are in a place many of us want to be!

I have seen lots of before and after pictures on the forum. I just feel so disgusting I don't think I want to be reminded of how terrible I look and feel right now. Sometimes the feeling of the obesity is worse than the look. :cool: I haven't let anyone takes pictures of me for years and years, and so I'm thnking, why now? Although I can see how you can be amazed at the distance you've come, when you have done the hard yards, do many of you want to be reminded of yourself at your worst? When you are at rock bottom? I've done measurements, and they were shocking enough. I feel like to look back will just bring forth the feelings of now, the depression, the hopelessness, failure etc. Am I alone?

I won't be telling anyone, inlcuding family (kids/mother) - just husband. He is supportive, although he took a while to understand how scared I am, he totally supportive foodwise and financially. I had a breast reduction a number of years back now, I was desperately embarrassed and my supervisor at work literally harrassed me to find out what surgery I was having. I work in another area now where, although I feel judged, my co-workers are fine with privacy. I cannot put myself in a position of being judged and also suffering from panic attacks, the thought of having to justify myself, makes me know, for now at least that secrecy is imperative. I have discussed this with my surgeon and gp, and surgeon particularly agrees there is a lot of prejudice and "easy way out" feeling out there. I think its going to be one of the most difficult things I have done, and time will tell. I have another 10 days to go before banding. My experience is people in general just don't respect your privacy, and that's sad. I and so glad I have found the forum and such supportive people here :cool:

Hi Holly, Thanks for this update list - its great to see so many others undertaking this journey :cool: And Jude, I can't wait to put my wedding ring back on, its just been too snug, and I will be really thrilled when this is comfortable again, especially in summer

Congratulations to you all! I am thrilled you are all feeling so positive, and not experiencing many issues. I have 10 days to go, and I don't know how I'm going to get everything done in time!! I really appreciate you all taking the time of diarising your time, it helps so much :cool: Still terrified, but I think, it might be a little in the same line as when I gave up smoking, you know? Its like what do I do NOW?? How do I cope when I don't have this crutch? I guess that is the biggie for us all or we wouldn't eat too much. Enjoy your weekend Bandsters!

Good luck to all those about to be banded ! And Jude, big hugs, you are living my worst fear. I sincerely hope things have improved for you now,

I am glad things are looking up for you Thanks for your report and feelings. I am a mass of contradicting feels at the moment - I start the liquid diet tomorrow 2 weeks pre op. I will be taking your advice, and reading, walking, etc - can't help but be anxious though. I sort of fear too, what will I do when I can't "medicate" with food? THAT's really scary:omg: Thanks again for the tweak of confidence that I might be able to get through this

Thanks and congratulations to all who have been banded and reported it. And yeah, us nervous nellies appreciate full details

Hi guys I am terrified of the pre op diet, let alone what will have to get dealt with post op. I know how desperate I want the end result, I just don't know if I am strong enough to cope through all this. I have very sketchy instructions re the diet. I rang my surgeon today to double check as he said "you probably won't need to do optifast". So I got the letter and it doesn't mention it. His secretary seemed surprised, and contacted him, and he said, well "if she can tolerate it that would be good". What does this mean? I have to just have Optifast? I can just diet and cut out lots? The anaesthetist secretary seemed surprised I wasn't already on it, although its not two weeks preop yet. Has anyone else info on this vague instruction from their surgeon?