thinkingslim70

Good luck with your first fill Damo. I had my op a week ago. All has been good so far except for the shoulder pain.

My dietician gave me the standard 2 weeks fluids then pureed, then mashed slowly building up to solids by 6-8 weeks but he said that I should listen to my body and move to the next stage when I feel ready. I'm one week post op and feel like I could start something a little more thicker than liquid but too scared so will wait the 2 weeks.

It is so bizarre that there are so many different pre op and post op procedures out there. Surely after all this time they have worked out what the best possible procedure is. I can understand maybe the pre op diet stuff might depend on how much you weigh etc but the post op surely should be similar. I have heard some people have been on liquids for as little as 4 days or as much as 4 weeks. This just seems really bizarre to me. I'm on liquids for 2 weeks then pureed, then mushed etc building up to solids over 6 -8 weeks. I also don't get my first fill for 6 weeks but that is probably more to do with my surgeon being on holidays.

Our bodies adjust really quickly to low calorie intake so when we start mushies its an increase in calories. The body says yay more food better store this in case it goes back to what it was. It will adjust again, just give it time. I only got banded on monday still on fluids but i have read this is common so its a problem i'm expecting too. Good luck

I was banded on Monday too. I'm very surprised you were back at work so soon. I've been really lucky cos the only discomfort i've had is in my shoulder. I went to the shops today and my larger incision was sore for the first time. Once home from hospital I just took paracetmol and so far today I haven't had anything. Good luck to both of you i hope you feel better soon

Why can't you use a straw?

Thank you i was only told liquids and given examples such as clear soups, optifast meals, tea, fruit juice etc

This is a really silly question but what is the difference between clear liquids and full liquids? My dietician told me to use as a guide but let my body tell me when to move on to next phase. He said liquids for between 1 and 3 weeks depending on how you feel then move onto pureed then mashed then soft then solid by 6-8 weeks.

I was also banded on the 8th. My incisions are covered with waterproof dressings and I was told to shower as normal from the morning after my op and when the dressings start to come off take them off. i have steri strips underneath. I have been very lucky I haven't really had any pain just discomfort in my left shoulder. I hope you're feeling better soon.

I was on the public waiting list for 2 years but I finally got banded last monday. I recently found out you can access your superannuation to have the surgery. I wish i'd known cos I would've been 2 years further down the track. Never mind its done now and its the start of my new life.

I've read on some blogs that some people have specific exercises for each day of the week eg: monday walking, tuesday gym etc. I'd like to set up a routine so that I wont get bored and hopefully will begin to enjoy exercise. It seems that the people who are really successful have incorporated exercise into their life. So if you have a routine I'd love to hear about it to get ideas please...

I hadn't even considered water aerobics. Thanks i'll look into it

Congratulations to both of you! I was banded on Mon and I'm so relieved its over and its nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. It's great that you have such a good support system for each other

I was banded on Monday and i was told i needed to take my CPAP with me too. I used it in hospital and each night since. I haven't found too much air to be a problem. i am hoping I wont need the CPAP soon

Hi Jan I did stay overnight and i was glad I did because I don't have another adult at home so it was reassuring to be looked after for the night. I didn't have the catheter you mentioned. I got up to go to the toilet about 4am the morning after surgery. I had a feeling of needing to burp too and unlike many people on this forum I don't have any problem burping. I can't even feel my incisions now but the shoulder pain is still bothering me at times but I have only had panadol and that helps. Good luck with your surgery. LvnDreamz - congratulations on your banding. You're a few days ahead of me.

Hi Everyone My name is Lisa and I'm 38 years old. I was banded 2 days ago. When I first put my name on the list for lap band I weighed 93 kgs (205lbs). As the list was so long I decided to try and lose some on my own first. I managed to lose 14 kgs (30 lbs). Then I got my letter and ate like crazy and put on a couple. I lost 4 kgs (8lbs) during pre op diet. I was banded at 79kgs (174 lbs) and my goal is 60 kgs (132lbs) as I am only 5'2 tall. I have a few reasons for wanting to do this. The main reason is that i have severe sleep apnoea and use a CPAP machine. I would really love to be able to throw this away and never have to use it again. The other reason is that I've been single for 2 years after a 14 year marriage and I really don't want to be on my own forever.

Thanks everyone. Exercise really isn't my thing (which is why i'm overweight I guess) so I figure I'm going to need to make it routine and vary what I do. Walking will be the first thing I try. I enjoy swimming so as soon as the wounds are completely healed I'm going to brave the swimming pool a couple of times per week.

Congratulations! You are doing really well.

I was only banded yesterday so I don't feel like exercising just yet but I do really want to make this work. I don't see my doctor until 23rd Jan when he gets back from holidays. How long did your doctor tell you to wait before exercising?

I had my surgery yesterday. I was so scared at one point I really wanted to tell them that I wanted to go home. I'm so glad I didn't cos I feel really good. The only discomfort I've had (not even enough to call pain) is in my shoulders. I really wish I knew how easy it would be cos I was sooooo nervous. Good luck and I'm sure you will be fine

Thanks Emma its all over and I survived it. In fact it was so much better than expected. The only discomfort I have is slight shoulder pain.

Hi Everyone I just wanted to tell all of you who are waiting my story because I know how worried you can get waiting. I arrived at the hospital at 12:30 and I was operated on at 3pm. Just before going into theatre I wanted to just get up and walk out I was really scared but thankfully I didn't do that. I don't remember anything until I got to my room where I asked for some ice for my dry mouth. When I woke up properly I had a look at my tummy. I have 3 really small incisions and 1 slightly larger one (no stitches). The only one I can feel is the larger one but that is only slight discomfort certainly no pain. The only pain I have had is in my shoulders, the left worse than the right but panadol and a heat pack is all I need for the pain. I was very tired, hardly able to keep my eyes open until this morning. I have still been dozing on and off today too. It's weird but I sort of thought I would be able to feel the band somehow but I don't feel any different. I wish I'd known before the surgery how I would feel after it cos I wouldn't have been so nervous. I'm hoping my story will help anyone worried about the surgery to not feel so nervous. Good luck everyone.

Hey Maurih - my banding is the 8th too. I have to be at the hospital by 12:30 pm...getting very nervous now - only 11 hours to go. Good luck for tomorrow

Yes my letter clearly states nothing to eat or drink after 7am and they said the same thing when they rang to confirm on friday. It is my understanding that you shouldn't eat or drink at least 6 hours prior to surgery.

My pre op diet consisted of 2 optifast meal replacements. I usually had a bar for breakfast, soup for lunch and shake for dinner. I was also allowed to have 2 cups of vegies (no potatoes, peas or corn) which I had at night. Its been really hard. Good luck