Leah28

Hi All, I'm on day four of 2 Optifast and normal dinner. Trying to keep the carbs to a minimum so when I switch to 3 Optis on Wednesday its not such a shock to the system! I never thought I'd say it about an Optifast product, but the berry crunch bars are YUM. I think I'll be making the most of those lol I've come down with a cold, which is crap and not helping the exercise situation, so only light walking for the moment! How is everyone else going? I know quite a few people who have had the surgery, but I'd love to keep in contact with those who are having the surgery around the same time as me!

I started my pre-op diet today. I am doing 7 days of 2 Optifast and one normal meal, then 2 weeks of Optifast 3 times a day. I wasn't hungry today, though, which was good. I had a bar for breakfast and a bar for lunch with some vegie soup I made last night from "free" foods. I definitely drank the 2 litres of Water (and then some!) because it was 46 degrees here today and I had to spend quite a bit of time outside Having chicken and salad sandwich for dinner. Its too hot to cook! Megsy, I hadn't thought about having "one last chew" the night be surgery... I don't think my surgeon will allow it though and its even worse because I'll be some where with restaurants and food choices!!

Oh no! That sounds horrible. I have already got myself some Benefibre as recommended by my dietician, so ready to go with that. I've also been practicing drinking Water often in little sips. I am starting Optifast tomorrow. I don't really have to start until the 21st, but I just want to get things underway! Plus I am going to ease into it by having Optifast for Breakfast and lunch, and a healthy dinner. Then from the 21st, on to 3 meals a day. PS - Totally agree about the Optifast chicken soup being vile. It literally made me vomit when I had it before!

I'm being banded on the 4th of Feb, so I have taken from the 2nd of Feb off (I have to travel to get to where my op is being done) and going back on the 16th - so it'll be a week and a half after the op. I had my gall bladder out laproscopically a couple of years ago and I was ready to go back to work within 6 days of the op. I took some as sick leave and some as annual, but only because I didn't have enough sick leave to cover it. My boss said I could go into negative sick leave if I wanted, but I didn't really want to do that. Just take it as sick leave - its an operation for medical reasons, after all. Its not like your getting a nose job or something. Just tell them you are having an operation, but you don't have to tell them what for. Or you could just say you are having your gall bladder out. Unfortunately I couldn't use that excuse :confused: . I just didn't tell them what it was for, and they didn't ask. Hope that helps in some way!

Hi Shannon, No probs! I'm glad the info helped and put your mind at ease about a few things. With alcohol, I still occasionally have a few glasses of red here and there - I wouldn't be able to maintain any weightloss if I had to give up wine - its my hobby, I love collecting it! And my dietician has reassured me that having a couple of drinks now and then won't do me any harm (in fact, she said there is some evidence to support that it helps with weight loss... Good enough for me!) I had my first appointment, with the bariatric GP, on the 21st of September '08. I had my apppointments with the psychologist, physiologist and dietician at the start of November and then appt with the surgeon on the 15th of November. I live six hours drive from Adelaide, hence my appts being spread out over such a long period - had to get the time off work! I could have had my surgery a lot sooner - in fact I could have been banded already had I wanted to. I had to plan a time that was good with work (mining industry job means we have a skeleton crew at the moment - feel sorry for those who'll be doing my job while I'm out!) and also a time that my partner could come with me so that he could drive back after the op. I will be staying two nights in hospital - the Wednesday night after the surgery and the Thursday night. I've had a laproscopic operation before and I'm really hoping it is a lot less painful this time, but we'll see! I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh, another thing - any good surgeon will have a whole pre-op team... Mine included the bariatric GP, exercise physiologist, dietician and psychiatrist. And the care doesn't stop there - they are available to me when ever I need. Like I said, I am in a remote location so I have all their mobile numbers and can call if needed. They are there at my disposal, and for you who struggles with emotional eating, then the psychologist may really be of help to you. Also, with the pre-op liquid diet - I almost cried when I found out I had to do it. Not cos I am worried about sticking to it, but because I HATE Optifast, which is what my surgeon wants me to use, it has made me vomit before when I tried it to lose weight previously. But after talking to the dietician, she gave me some great tips to get through it and the psychologist really put it into perspective - its only for two weeks and then I never have to do it again! My surgeon has also had me on a strict "three meals a day while sitting at a table, 10,000 steps a day, minimal alcohol program" (not diet - I am still allowed to eat what I please, he is just trying to get me to learn to listen to my body - when it is full etc) and it has been a real eye opener for me. Especially as I was a massive drinker before, it wouldnt be unusual for me to put away more than a bottle of scotch in a session! If you really want it, you'll be able to do it. And if you choose a good surgeon and support team, you'll have all the support you need. Good luck.

Me too - having my op on the 4th of Feb. Cannot wait, just want it done so I can start! Good luck!

Hi Shaggs, I am also pre-op, and am having my surgery in Adelaide on the 4th of Feb (yay!) at Calvery Wakefield Hospital in the city. I didn't really research costs with surgeons - I went with one that was recommended by a couple of people I know with bands, and who supports people in remote locations (like myself) so cost wasn't the biggest thing for me. My total out of pocket cost for the operation is about $2665. That is $2999 for the surgeons fee (less the rebate, so around $1904), $361 for the anaesthetist and $400 for the excess on my health cover (I have full hospital and extras with $400 excess). I also paid around $450 all up (after medicare rebates) for pre-surgery appointments. I hope that gives you some kind of idea of costs in Aus.