malby

EVERYBODY CALLS ME: Maz MY PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS INCLUDE: My daughter Gemma, aged 15 MY NON-HUMAN FAMILY CONSISTS OF: 2 dogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels called Freddie and Flapjack who drive me to distraction. I LIVE IN: Birmingham, United Kingdom OCCUPATION(S): Computer Audit Manager AVOCATION(S): I love painting portraits, cooking, redesigning the house (but not actually doing the work!!) FAVORITE EXERCISE: Swimming, aquarobics. I COLLECT: Old glass oil lamps.

I went with the Hospital group and used Dr Sigurssdon. I have no complaints so far. It cost £7000. No Insurance company will pay for it over here and you woudl be very lucky to get it on the NHS. However, I have heard of a site called 'whygoabroad.co.uk' which apparantly offers the op for £5000. I am not sure what aftercare you get though.

What is scar cream?

I have only just been able to face any food at all. I dont know if it is my imagination but I feel the pouch filling up after very little yoghurt or tea. I had thought that these woudl just pass straight through, but I guess they take a while. I think that gas is a problem as well still. I am terrified of causing a blockage or stretching the pouch. It sure takes some getting used to..

Does anyone know if there is any restriction on how much liquid you can drink. I came back to work today and have been drinking herbal tea but I am wonderign whether I am OK to just drink it as I used to or whether I should be sipping it. I am 7 days post band but I would hate to stretch my pouch with tea!!!

I have found that one of those wheat pads that heats up in the microwave really works to get rid of the pain. You can also buy sticky patches here (UK) that you can apply to your shoulder and they stay warm for 8 hours. Both of these have helped me.

Everyone on here seems to have a different diet. I was supposed to do a milk and yogurt liquid diet for a week befor emy surgery but I read on teh in ternet that Atkins makes your liver shrink so I did that instead. It was my birthday in that week so I booked a spa day for myseld and my daughter and the food that was provided was phenominal. I managed to avoid bread but ate so much else and then decided to treat myself to a chocolate dipped strawberry that was provided for afternoon tea. they were so good that I ate 15!!! My liver was fine, he said that he had lots of room and I have a 15cm fibroid in there as well. Post op, I can have anything that can be sucked through a straw for 2 weeks. then I can have anything that I tolerate after that, but no bread, rice or chicken for 3 months. I dont really have a mushy stage, they said start with things like cottage pie and work up. This seems so different to everyone elses experiences. My doctor has performed upwards of 1500 bands and been involved in lots of slippage research and this is what he recommends. I find it so confusing that everyone has different guidelines...

I had similar symptoms but it was because I couldnt eat anything and I wasnt taking in enough water. Since I have been stricter about getting some water inside me I feel a lot better. The anaestetic doesnt leave your body for about 7 days either so it could be that.

I slept on my side when I came home from hosiptal. I have a body pillow which is basically a full length pillow and I wrapped myself around that. In fact it was the best way to relieve the pain because when I was wrapped around that I had no pain at all. THis was on the non port side though. I have managed to sleep on the other side as well. I though that it was just teh pain that stopped you sleeping on your side. You have me worried now, does anyone else know whether I will have damaged my port by sleeping on my side?

Hi all, I was banded 28/2. i am now on day 5, starting to feel a bit better. Having trouble tolerating the liquids though. A heat pad has been invaluable for my shoulder pain. This morning for the first time I was positive again that I had done the right thing. Up till then I was wondering what I had done!!! I am venturing out today to see if walking really does help. Up to this point I have felt ver ylightheaded and nauseous so havnt really done a lot. Good luck to everyone.

This forum is so great. It makes me feel so much better that you all felt like this too. I feel a bit better today, still cant eat much but I am keeping on top of my hydration so Ifeel a bit better. I thought it was just me and I was wonderign what I had done. When I say eat, I can have anything that can be sucked through a straw. I dont have to worry about portion size any more as after two spoonfulls I cant eat any more!! not because of restriction just becaus it makes me gag. i am not very good with milk things which doesnt help as almost everything liquid is milk based. Any ideas for other things, Soup makes me gag at the moment too. Good news is i have lost 20lb.

I am now 4 days post band but still feel awful. Everything that I go to eat makes me want to throw up so I think it may be because I am not eating enough. How dows everyone else feel, is it just me?

Well done you!! I am a single mom too although my daughter is now 15. Not quite the same as 5. I am having surgery tomorrow but have told noone so am getting a taxi from and to the hospital on my own and plan to just veg out over the few days after. I do have to stay in overnight though so this may be a problem if you dont have someone to look after your little girl. I have precooked lots of food so that my daughter will be well fed without me havign to make much effort and have done a big shop for the next week or so. I am hoping that just staying in the house under the duvet with lots of DVDs will be OK for a few days. I hope that you can sort it all out. It is harder doing it on your own as I find it difficult having noone to discuss it with so am constantly worrying that I have made the wrong decision but this forum is really great and lets you hear all sides of the story. I am convinced that this is the last chance for me so I am determined. Two years ago I had major leg surgery and was unable to do much for 4 months. We coped, as you will. It is amazing how ingenious and creative you can be when you have to.

Best of luck for tomorrow. hope everything goes well for you (and me!!).

I am the same, it just seems like such a massive thing to be doing. Not the surgery but teh lifestyle changes afterwards. I am terrified that it wont work. I am not sure what the statistics are for people who fail with it. Does anyone know?

Hi, I am an IT security manager, single with one daughter aged 15 who is being sooo supportive. Currently 250 lbs, not sure what my final goal is except I would like to be 220 by 22nd May when i go on holiday. My surgery is booked 28th Feb, cant wait but an really nervous.

Hi all, I have my surgery booked for this thursday. I am starting to get really nervous about whether I have done the right thing, how I am going to feel, whether I will ever eat again. Is anyone else the same?

Hi all, I am due to have my band fitted on the 28th Feb but I have not had any pre op tsting. Is this normal?

Thanks, I think it is the best decision for me. I am just starting to worry a little about getting home from hospital etc. How much pain can I expect? I am planning to get a taxi home from teh hospital on my own.

Hi all, I am scheduled to have band surgery on 28th Feb. I have decided to tell noone except my daughter as I am not confident that people will be supportive. I am so pleased that I have found this site. I think I will need the support and it is so great to hear that everyone is happy with their decision to have a band as I am starting to wonder what I have done!!!