Nachtigall

I will stay in the Toronto Area until Monday afternoon. The clinic told me I could fly home Sunday already, but I thought in case something comes up I still have the chance to see somebody at the clinic on Monday morning. I wonder how I will think about the whole process in a year and how much I will weigh. Oh my, this is so exciting... and a little scary. Will you fly in to Toronto, too or do you live closer? ~Kat

That's the spirit! Good job Suzie! :thumbup: Tomorrow I will fly to Toronto and my surgery will be on Friday. I am soooo nervous. Greetings from Nova Scotia ~Kat

Can you have buttermilk or yoghurt? You could do a Salty Lassi (an Indian yogurt drink with spices, lemon and salt) ~Kat

Coming closer to my surgery date I am thinking more and more about the possibility to keep the lap band a secret. Sure, my husband knows that I will have the band placed end of the month, but I am really unsure about whom I should tell about the surgery. Who else needs to know? I didn't tell any friends so far. I am scared of their reaction and wonder if they need to know at all. My parents live in another country (several thousand miles away), and I don't want every phone call start with the question: and, did you loose any weight? Yep, they can be like that and are not very sensitive about my struggle with obesity since I was a child. We (or they) visit once a year. But if anything goes wrong, will they blame my husband that he didn't talk me out of it? I tried to tell my sister, but she is always so busy. And we didn't really discuss it. I have issues discussing my weight with my family, it always hurts ... well except my husband. He is very supportive. Any suggestions? Input? ~Kat

Same clinic, but with Dr. Cobourn. That might explain the difference.I was warned of products high in carbohydrates and Aspartame. The body goes into ketose if the diet is low on carbs and there is less hunger as long as the body keeps it up. Newer theories (scientific studies?) say about Aspartame that it induces hunger. I once learned they use it in pig fattening big time (at least in European Countries) so it might be true. The Opitast 900 contains a fair amount of Aspartame already. I wonder why they can't sweeten it with Splenda.... My theory: Aspartame is cheaper than Splenda. And the companies are usually more concerned about their profit than the consumer's health. For recovery time after the surgery I think I am going to use a different product with all natural substances (I think in English it's called a "holistic" product?). Well, the surgeon told me that Optifast diet has proofed to help shrink the liver, so that's what I use. The broth cubes I use have just 1 g of carbs and 15 cal per 1/2 l of broth. So I think it's okay. ~Kat

Well, then it might be a different clinic. I am allowed about 250 kcal of low starch veggies (or green leaf salad) and I often cook them, and put a little instant broth on it... voila, soup. I sometimes season cauliflower with a little instant broth and put it in a blender. It's a really good creamy soup. Even my 2-year-old likes it... well he has pancakes with it, I don't. Having a little lunch or dinner and have the shakes in between makes it easier for me to get the "boring" drinks down. I am sure glad I am not stuck with vanilla and chocolate for the rest of my journey. Good luck! ~Kat

I think we go to the same clinic :wub: I started with the Optifast 1st week of July and will have surgery in Toronto the 25th. In the beginning I had problems and thought I can't do it, but I got used to the texture of the drinks and enjoy them now. I am glad I don't have to do that in the winter though. I have the Optifast for Breakfast. I use cold coffee instead of just Water and six to eight ice cubes in a blender. It makes about two cups of drink and tastes a little like a frozen, blended cappucino. For lunch I stick to veggi Soup or salad with spritzer as dressing. I usually drink my next shake (same way like the breakfast shake) around two pm. Like an afternoon coffee. Blended with enough ice, less water and a few straberries (in the Vanilla) you can mix something similar to a sorbet an even eat it with a spoon. For supper I stick to soup, again. I take the last shake just with cold water (and sometimes some berries) as a "night cup" with a nice book or a movie. Yesterday I even forgot, because I didn't feel hungry. I hope that helped! ~Kat

My Homoeopath suggested Bellis Perenis C30 and Arnica Monatana C30 for the healing after the Surgery. If one doesn't help usually the other one does. Lessens the bruising and swelling. I also took it after giving birth and it shortened the recovery time after a difficult birth... a lapband surgery and the adjustment to a new life style afterwards can't be worse than having my first child. I ordered globuli (little "pills") in Germany, but I am pretty sure you can find them in the Americas too. Staphisagria might be helpful too. ~Kat

Optifast? ~Kat

Since I am big anyway and tried a lot of diets, I plan to tell friends simply, that I try to lose weight again. Which is the truth. If somebody asks me how, I will tell them, that I cut portion sizes. Which too is the truth. I plan if somebody has the guts to ask me directly, if I had surgery then I will tell them. If I have to explain somebody why I was gone for some time. I am planning to tell them that I had surgery with a vague gesture into the right direction. If I am lucky they will assume it's woman's stuff. I will tell them, that I don't want to talk about it at that point, which too is the truth. I made the decision I will tell people eventually, but on my terms. ~Kat

Thank you all for your posts. I thought about it... again and called my sister to tell her. She too is very supportive and encouraged me to go for it. I will not tell my parents in the near future. My sister also promised me to help my husband to take care of the little one in case something should go wrong (I pretty sure, everything is going to work out fine, but just in case...). Thank you again. ~Kat

I started the pre-op diet on 4th of July. My surgeon required three weeks on Optifast (three shakes) and 225 cal worth of certain veggies. The length of the pre-op diet depends on the BMI. Mine is about 47. Patients with smaller BMI do just two weeks in his office. The first three days have been horrible with headaches, tiredness and a "fluffy brain". I didn't feel like myself. I also missed coffee. Now I am actually doing okay. Do I miss food? Yes and no. Not really eating makes life a little easier, but I still have to cook for my family. I don't know exactly how much I lost so far, since I forgot to step on my scale for a few days. I just hope the liver shrank enough so the surgeon can place the band safely and I have a shorter recovery time. ~Kat

I am on pre liquid diet (optifast) since 1 of July. The first two days were horrible. I had a bad headache and felt not really well. My tips: Stay away from carbs and drink plenty of Water. A cup of (herbal) tea helps me when I am hungry in between. Good luck! ~Kat

Wow, I think I have been to Glastonbury! It has the ruins of the huge cathedral and the a "holy bush" right? I'm in my mid thirties and live in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We moved her last year after living on the West Coast for eight years (San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Vancouver BC...) I don't work for money right now, I have a two-year old. Keeps me busy and I love my "job" (we are watching "Curious George" right now, what a life :thumbup: ) My surgery will be 25th of July and my doctor requires three weeks of Optifast. I started four days earlier with the shakes, since I planned a little camping trip for my husbands 40th birthday before I knew the surgery date and I am not 100% sure I can follow through with Optifast when we are away for three days. I will try. Kat

My surgery date is July 25. I still can't belive I am doing that. ~Nachtigall

Hello there, I am new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself. I live in Halifax... just moved here, lived in San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and Interior BC before. Long story. Moved six times in eight years and felt the need to settle down after I had a little boy in Vancouver. Halifax is the right city for us...affordable, down to earth and very friendly people... and closer to home. I am actually from Germany. My plan is to have the lap band surgery done in Toronto. Have no date set yet, but had a consultation appointment at two clinics beginning of May. Both made a good impression and I think both would do a good job. It boils down to who has the "better" after care and can help me find a fill doctor or nurse in NS. Well, and one seems 2000 bucks cheaper. At least 100 pounds need to go... The doctor aimed more at 130, but I would be happy with 80. Seems a long way, but I lost 75 in nine months about six years ago (came back in 9 months too, with the baby ). So I am not really that scared. I hope the band is going to help. If anybody can help me find a support group in the Halifax area, I would certainly appreciate that. Tschüssi ~Katya

Hi Mandi, wow you seem to do pretty well with your band! Congratulations! Dr. Cobourn told me at the consultation, that the clinic just trained a doctor IN Halifax to do fills. I don't have a name, but he said so beginning of May. ~Katya

Greetings from Canada! You could try Almased. They have it at the Apotheken. Or they can at least order it for you. Almased is a soy based Protein shake and doesn't taste that bad. It has all the essential Vitamins and minerals to make it through the day. Other Protein shakes should be available in local drug stores like Schlecker and DM. Try the "natural food section". Some fitness clubs might sell also protein shakes. Good luck! ~Nachtigall