Jane_S

My husband didn't get it either! He used to be a professional athlete, so I told him: 'Remember when you had to do hundreds of situps in training, and how your abs felt the next day?' He got that part. Nodded his head. 'Ok, add someone sucker punching you in the belly as well as the situps - that's how I feel'. His eyes grew wide. Terror. Horror. Then understanding. He was so good afterwards. Even now, two weeks after, he won't let me do anything that requires heavy lifting. Good husband. Men are all about the analogy. :thumbup:

Thanks Shay, I was wondering if the Protein would make a difference given I'm eating more calories on mushies. Look like it does. I'm have mushy oats for Breakfast, followed by protein and soft veggies for lunch and dinner. If I want a snack, I eat a piece of soft cheese. The protein is great for slow burning energy and it makes me feel uber-full.

Yes, I've heard this happens although, I must admit, I am still losing (have transitioned this week), albeit alot slower than on liquids. I'm eating a fair amount of Protein though (ie lots of soft fish) - I don't know if that makes a difference but it might?

Kyla, I have a few sachets of the shakes (chocolate) and the dessert (lemon) spare. If you need any more, message me your address and I'll send them up. Jane.

Hi Carolannh, Welcome to the board! Many surgeons will require a pre-op diet, primarily to shrink the size of the liver so that it makes it easier during surgery. The liver, as I understand it, is quite delicate and can lacerate very easily. So it makes the surgery safer if the liver is smaller and out of the way. My surgeon recommended Optifast three times a day as it was nutritionally balanced and would shift weight fast. I started two weeks out from surgery and, despite some cheats, lost close to 7kg in two weeks. Which meant I was in good shape for the surgery. I told my staff I needed an operation and left it at that. Most people are pretty understanding about the need for privacy. Mine was covered but I had to clear it with my manager. He didn't even ask what I was going in for, so long as I had a certificate from my surgeon to cover the time away.

I chose the lapband because I didn't like the idea of my insides being removed. And I liked the adjustability of the band. Having said that, if the band didn't work, I would go for the sleeve.

I've had my band for two weeks and haven't been hungry once. However, my mental desire for food is increasing. :thumbup:

In defence of talkalot (not that I think you need me defending you, talkalot), my initial reaction to Agnes' post was 'Wow, this girl is all over the place'. Her first post, as she wrote it, seemed chaotic. And it seemed like she didn't really understand the banding process (ie refills). Of course, that has turned out to not be the case (subsequent posts show that Agnes has thought this through, considered her options and feels this is the best for her), but that's how the first post read to me. And I'm sure others felt the same way. I don't think talkalot was intentionally trying to be rude. Just realistic. Agnes, this is a great community of wonderful men and women. Not everyone will agree with you but opposing opinions are not intended to betlittle or patronise you. I can safely say that we're here to support you through this journey - and that means articulating the good and the bad (however unpalatable the bad may seem). Personally, I'm nearly two weeks banded and it's working out great. I wish I had done it when I was in your position BMI-wise. Good on you for being pro-active. I hope it all works out. :blushing:

As a trained Statistician myself (I have an invisible propeller on my head), numbers can be made to say anything depending on the skewing of the original data. For me, I agree with some of the others (the gorgeous Jachut, for example). Because we are not commodities - ie we're not all identical, with equal starting weights and equal health problems and equal surgeons - numbers are meaningless without the qualitative commentary. Before I had my surgery, I met with a woman who had the surgery 10 years ago at my surgeon's. It took her two years to shed the weight but she has kept it off for 8 years with zero problems. She uses the band to ensure her portions are smaller and she exercises. For me, someone like her provides me with a better picture of long-term loss than a number, because I can talk to her, see what she's done, learn about the good and the bad and, based on her experience, I am more knowledgeable about how I can make 'Felix' work for me.

Moxi, I felt the same as you. I have two little boys and was terrified I might die on the table and leave them without a mum. Bear in mind the risk of death from this is so so so low, minute. And, so long as you have a good surgeon who knows everything about you and your medical history, they will take that into account when doing the surgery. I know it's really scary and nothing / nobody really placated me or managed to reduce that fear. In the end, it has all worked for me (am four days banded). I'm still here and now my boys are going to get a mum that's half the size with twice the energy!

I have an umbilical hernia too thanks to birthing two big babies! My surgeon wasn't perturbed by the hernia since he was planning to operate well away from the belly button. Which he did - my wound sites are all around my upper stomach. Unless the hernia is posing an immediate threat - ie becoming strangulated - it should not delay your surgery. It certainly didn't for me and I was banded 4 days ago. Good luck!

Hi All, Well I was officially banded yesterday. I have had no shoulder tip or gas pains. Am feeling pretty good. I'll update the whole story on my site in the next couple of days. Good luck to everyone who has surgery coming up. I am so thrilled to be a bandster.

Hey everyone, I am officially banded! Surgery went off without a hitch. I don't have any gas or shoulder tip pain and, so far, I'm feeling pretty darn good. I didn't believe they had put anything in there until I saw the barium. I'll update my site in a couple of days with the full story. Suffice to say, I'm thrilled to finally be a bandit.

Only 12 more hours before I have to be at the hospital. As we Aussies say, 'I am quietly sh*tting myself'. Am just hoping all goes well. Wish me luck gals, I'm about to join a pretty cool club! :cursing:

Mine will be called Felix. For totally random reasons!

Spud Mama, I'm June 11 too! Although I'm in Australia so I might be getting mine earlier than you, thanks to the time difference? I've got to be honest. I'm totally terrified at this point. Not about the band - that I am reconciled with. I am terrified of the general anesthetic and waking up. But if that's what it takes to get this band in, then that's ok. Anyone would think I'm a sook but I've had two 11 pound babies via c-sections so I know all about surgical pain! I'm now Day 12 of pre-op. I must admit, I did cheat in the first week but I've now been six days clear on just three Optifast shakes a day. Am not feeling like I could run a marathon but at least I'm starting to feel better. Can't wait for Thursday to come and go and get on with the rest of this journey! Good luck to everyone getting done this week!

Hey all, I'm still around. I had a scare earlier in the week where I thought I might have an umbilical hernia, and had to go in for an ultrasound. The bad news was that I had to wait for two days for the results. The good news is that it all looks clear, aside from scarring from previous surgeries (two caesars). Optifast is going ok. I must admit I cheated a couple of times last week but, all this week, I've been very strict and am finally starting to feel better. I was feeling nauseous and weak until, I presume, my body went in ketosis. Now that it's there, it's not too bad. And I've lost nearly five kgs since last Thursday! Less than a week to go for me now. It's all becoming very real!

I had an unsupportive spouse, but he has changed his mind. Like yours, he believes it's all just a matter of 'calories in, calories out'. He just doesn't get the idea of food addiction or emotional eating. He lived five years as an elite athlete playing professional sport and has never had a weight problem. And he hasn't had two 11 pound babies like I have. I took him to the seminars, got him to read a couple of books and even showed him this site. He wouldn't budge. 'If you just ate less and exercised more, you'd be right'. Sigh, and if I could follow that simple formula, I wouldn't be fat, right? Finally, it was a neighbour who saved the day. My husband asked him for his opinion and the neighbour said 'I hear it's great, works for alot of people'. Now, my husband is supportive, even though he still doesn't get it. My point being, is there someone whose opinion your husband totally respects, independent of you? Sometimes it takes 'social proof' for an idea to sink in as being worthy.

Thank you Inri! I went and saw my GP today (couldn't wait until Tuesday) and she couldn't feel anything. But she's sending me for an ultrasound anyway, just to be on the safe side. She indicated that my surgeon will probably fix it at the same time as the lap band, so that's good news. My preference is to get the lap band before anything else, as I believe my weight has alot to do with the hernia (if that's what it is) being aggravated. Thanks again!

Hi all, I've been having some minor pain in my tummy, around my belly button, for a couple of months. It flares if I sneeze, or bump my tummy against something but it's never really painful - more annoying. I can't feel any lumps etc - it's kinda like how you feel if you graze your knee. But I can tell that my tummy is lopsided (ie the right seems to hang lower than the left). I think it may be a hernia. I'm due to be banded on June 11th and am terrified that this might hold up my surgery. I know it needs to get seen to but I want to get the lapband surgery out of the way first. Has anyone experienced this before and did it hold up your surgery? I've tried to do a search on this topic but I couldn't find anything that really suited my situation. Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide advice. Edited to add: I will be going to see my GP on Tuesday to get it checked out.

Oh, I forgot to mention, Pickle - I have to do Optifast as well for two weeks before. :grouphug: I've done it before so I guess I can do it again.

My husband told the neighbour in order to get his opinion (because a) all the neighbours should know about my medical plans and :mad2: 'he really knows alot about stuff') and the neighbour was supportive of the idea. So now my husband is supportive. Men?! I took the husband to the info night, got him to read the book (from the Bariatric Centre) and showed him this site (among others) and that didn't convince him. But another man saying 'Yeah, it sounds alright' does the trick. Go figure.

Stewart didn't mention anything about Optifast, but he will be sending out all my pre-admission documents in the mail, so I presume I will find out then? Ms Pickle, I'm so excited for you! How cool would it be if we got done at the same time. Band Sisters! Make sure you pop in here tomorrow and let me know how it all goes. They are so wonderful at The Avenue. Very supportive and kind. I was walking on air when I walked out this morning. Even the other patients (who were waiting for a weigh-in) were encouraging and kind and telling me it was the 'best thing' they'd ever done.

Hey all, Well, I had my appointment with Stewart Skinner this morning and.... I'M GETTING BANDED ON JUNE 11 2009! Sorry for the caps but I think it's a cap-worthy moment. :thumbup: Am so thrilled, excited (not to mention terrified of the General Anaesthetic) - I can't wait. Stewart was very kind and warm - indeed, everyone at the Bariatric Centre was delightful. Can you tell I'm excited?

Hey Ms Pickle! Were you at the Bariatric Centre info night yesterday? We (as in husband and I) were and found the session really interesting. Husband is still not convinced but I'm very excited. My appointment with Stewart is on Tuesday and I can't wait!