::tracy::

It has improved today, still not gone but better. Thanks

I have had the headache for two days - i know it will pass but man - it is a shocker!! Thanks

Hi, I have just started my preop Optifast. The optifast doesn't taste too bad but I have had a headache since I started!! It has only been two days, but it has been a L O N G two days. I do hope it goes away soon! Someone assure me it will ... pleeeease! tracy

Hi Tia, How has your first day gone on optifast? It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be - i can't say it was the nicest tasting, but i have tasted worse things. 1 day down - 13 to go! tracy

Hiya - it is kind of cool having someone doing it on the same day. No, i haven't tasted it yet - i have brought one of everything - hoping variety will make it a bit more interesting. I keep telling myself it is only 2 weeks. And no - you are not the only one - i have eaten like the world is about to end!

I just purchased all my optifast today - i am tempted to mix one up and taste it - to see just how bad it is - then again - i don't want to think about it until Tuesday - so i think i will wait until then and let it be a surprise!

Hi Misty, I believe all chest pain should be seen to by a doctor - i think it is unsafe to draw conclusions as to what it maybe. Tracy

Hi Tia, Mine is 11 Dec too!! I am absolutely stumped about what to say sitting around the xmas dinner table, perhaps a little fib "i ate to much at lunch". And starting mushies that day - i can assure you i won't be trying out eating infront of the family - oh my goodness, what if it goes horribly wrong and i end up vomiting from eating too fast! I have a party to go to on xmas eve, which is a dinner, i might however send hubby to the dinner then come afterwards - or alternatively say i am feeling a little off my food - or something along those lines. My work xmas party is when i will be recovering so no excuses there, i just won't go - as for the rest - well i don't know what i am going to say. Why does everything have to revolve around food? It is no surprise we end up fat. Tracy

Hi all, Well my big day is drawing near - this time next week i will be starting my optifast diet - for the two weeks pre-op. Haha - i still haven't informed work i will be requiring time off - however i am sure it won't be an issue - i will make up some little fib. i am a bit nervous about xmas etc ... i don't mind the not eating but i am more worried about what others will say to me - question me etc. i really am so excited though, inspite of all the nervousness and worry - this will be a great new beginning - and i will be looking and feeling fabulous in no time! ps - i was one of the lucky ones - southern cross is making a nice generous donation towards my surgical costs.

Thanks for the kind words - all very best to you also!

Hi Sades, thanks for the reply - wow it sounds like you are doing great so far! how has the pain been - like on a scale of one to ten. i am such a baby when it comes to pain. Oh yeah and i have been totally doing the "last supper" thing ... i feel dreadful!! tracy

Hi there peoples .... i have been lurking around your site here for a while, reading all your stories and feeling very inspired by your successes ... so given now i know so much about you'll ... i thought it would be rude to continue on without introducing myself. My name is Tracy - 32 years old - from a little old place down under - New Zealand I am joining your bandster club on 11 Dec - so i am excited/nervous about that. My story of how i got here is the same as most everyone elses - yo-yo diets until i got to the weight i am now. It is nice to read your stories and to listen to you'll blow off steam - i feel the EXACT same frustrations - i strike the same types of selfish thoughtless people in my day to day life. As cliche as it sounds - it is good to not feel quite so alone. I have read about all the positively disgusting things - PB's - which quite ironically makes me vomit a little into my mouth thinking about. hair loss - thats scares me. Post-op pain - well i am planning on being at work 6 days after so i am hoping i have one of those nice stories to relay post surgery about my quick recovery ... and the list goes on. However none of it phases me. I want to grow old with my beloved hubby - and at the weight i am at - that just won't happen. So - that me - i look forward to reading more of your successes and being able to share my own very soon. Tracy

My date is Dec 11. Am very nervous, it is happening so quickly. But at the same time I can't wait!! Christmas dinner won't be the same this year - i just have to come up with an excuse as to why i am not eating.

I am in Hawke's Bay - I am using a local surgeon. I have an appointment to see the dietician on the 7th. The surgeon said you have to diet for 2 weeks before - the dietician said it is optifast - which sounds positively disgusting. Then that is what I have for 2 weeks afterwards also. Good luck for Monday - I hope it all goes well.

Well, it went well - provisional date booked for surgery - 11 Dec - though that is still to be confirmed. The surgeon was really nice - he explained everything very well. I have to go have an ultrasound to check out the size of my liver and to also have a look at my gallbladder as i have a family history of gallstones. He said he might take that out while he is there depending on what he finds in the ultrasound. I have to go see a dietician also, I have phoned, I am waiting to confirm an appointment time. I go back to the surgeon on 27th of Nov. So things are moving ahead - there will be no xmas lunch for me this year!!

thats what i thought - how is the progress going with the doc/surgeon visits? i have my appointment to see the surgeon for the first time tmrw - a little bit nervous!

Check out the TV3 website. Has a little blurb on it.

i didn't think erosion was anything to do with the band - rather your stomach eroding into the band