wallisj

I was on liquids for 3 weeks (in reality i'm still on 60% liquids at week 4/5) My clinic provided Protein Soups and shakes to help with hunger and now i'm off them i'm missing them ... i think my protein intake is too low

Since the pre and post op diets i have been losing weight ... i've only had the band for a month and last week moved onto mushy food. I have lost about 2lbs per week....this week i don't seem to have lost anything I know i don't get that full feeling as much anymore, Soups etc don't seem to satisfy much either ... I guess its because things have healed and settled down but i am a little disappointed. Work may also have been a factor, this last week i have been assigned to a very stressfull project and have been working 13hours straight all week including yesterday and today so walking has been out the window. Just wanted a bit of a moan ... you all know how it is i'm sure. Thanks Jamie

Hey ... just one week on clear liquids .... i did 5 weeks ... 2 weeks pre-op, 3 weeks post-op ... i am only now getting onto mushy food and i can tell you its been a weird experience ... can eat so little ... thats the point i guess but still strange They said to me to eat liquids for 3 then mushy for 3 so the band can bed in and reduce slipping risk

I had my surgery in the UK at the "Healthier Weight Centre" part of the BMI hospital group. It was a £7750 package which covered, pre-op diet products (their own)...the entire op...12 months post-op support and bandfills. Their team is a consultant, a few nutrionists and support people and i can call them anytime for a chat if i am having problems.... They are very helpful and its been a positive experience the whole way through...very supportive. Cheers Jamie

For me, having the band has been as much psychlogical as physiological. We all KNOW we COULD eat sensibly, healthily and in moderation if we tried hard enough.....BUT...... I've been overweight all my life and to be honest, i was cheating myself more than anyone else ... i've gone to the local store, bought a pack of fresh Cookies, ate the lot, hid the bag and denied to my wife i had much to eat .... what was i thinking?!!!! My surgeon told me a very simple thing which put it all into perspective... "The band is little a very quiet friend, but hides a very big stick, play fair with the band and you won't notice its there really ... mess with it and it has the power over you." Simple really....since being banded and living on the post-op diet still i have found that its broken my pattern of eating, its broken my hunger and feelings of "i need that cookie" I am now eating Soups, fish and a little (very little) mash and mushed fruit and am perfectly happy....i don't miss cookies, i don't miss the bad things.... The band has allowed me to break a destructive cycle of behavior and i haven't even had it filled yet ... also its put in my mind that i have paid £8000 ($13000) to have this done and i'll be damned if i am gonna waste that amount of money which i CANNOT afford to waste (i couldn't get it done on insurance) I think its also encouraging my wife as well as when we go shopping i am not even looking at the bad things which makes it easier for her to stick with me. Good luck to us all! Jamie

Hi Cherie... I'm in the UK too ... i can scan and email you a copy of the post-op info sheets i got. Basically for me it was: post-op:1 -2 days : clear liquid ONLY, no creamy shakes or anything .. Water etc Post -op 1- 3 weeks...creamy soups/shakes like slimfast or similar (my private clinic has their own range of products which are really nice) post-op 3-6 weeks: start eating mashed up food (puree), i'm having fish as its quite nice mashed up post-op 6 - 9 weeks: start eating small amounts of solid food Basic rules: Last drink before food 15 - 30 minutes. After food drink nothing for 2 hours, this is simply to allow the food to stay in the pouch as long as possible promoting feeling of fullness longer. Eat food slowly and chew it to death Stop as soon as you feel full. You can always reheat and eat more later Let me know if you're interested and i'll get that info out to you. Thanks Jamie

I told my boss that i was going into hospital for minor surgery and nothing else .... its 100% personal and nothing to do with them. I even took the time off out of my personal holidays rather than sick time. Don't feel you need to lie ...

Hi.. I got banded on 24/1/06 and it took amost 2 weeks before the gas pains subsided ... 1 day i was ok, the next i was really miserable with pain. I took something similar to gas-x (i'm uk based so we don't have that) Walking (even slowly) for around 20 minutes every few hours helped get the gas moving out. The soreness for me took another few days...on wednesday i'll be on 4 week aniversary... for me today i feel absolutely fine...cuts are healed, gas gone...eating small amounts of mushed up fish and a little mash potato....still 90% soups though I will move more and more onto puree food this next week. Lost a total of 26lbs since op and feeling good (clothes are starting to look big on me) It will pass Jamie

Hi all, I'm Jamie, from the UK and i had my surgery on wednesday afternoon. Back home the next day, no major pain to speak of other than the expected pain from stiches etc. Gas pain is the biggest single thing for me....seems to come and go but basically it just feels like i need to a big burp but can't Feeling good otherwise Thanks Jamie