She Smiles

Tomorrow morning I am going out for breakfast with 3 girlfriends

Yep mine said none too. Both Dr and nutritionist said the sooner I stopped drinking soda and caffiene the better, cos I'm not allowed to drink it at all post op

Kathy I am sorry you have had such a rough time this past little while! I had my first fill today, so I'll see how I go with that!

I'm in for the challenge too. I had my first fill today (3ccs in a 10cc band). I haven't even started eating solids yet...I've been having a massive craving for spagetti (my Dr allows it). Come Wednesday, I'm going to give it a try and see how I go. I must go find out how much 64oz is in mils/litres so I can keep up (I'm Australian!)

Happy birthday for yesterday Mark! Thats so fantastic that you are so happy with your band

Having any debt on my credit cards make me feel very uneasy, so I too am some one who pays them off immediately if I have to use them for what ever rare reason. I really think the key to having no financial woes is simply living with in your means. If you earn $50k a year, thats what you have to live off...money to pay off those credit cards doesn't just magically appear (although I wish it did!).

I am 3 weeks out from my surgery. In the first 10 days or so I had big doubts about my decision, but in the last week or so, I have been feeling MUCH better, started seeing results and have been able to eat stuff that mildly resembles food (I'm on mushies). I missed food alot and it was hard watching my fiance sit there and eat lovely big bowls of Pasta etc. I admit the pain really got to me, I was up pacing around my house at 3am crying several nights in a row wondering why I had done this to myself. And I was SO hungry. I'd never felt hunger like it before. But it passed, very quickly, I pretty much just woke up one day and felt a whole lot better. I know its hard when you are feeling like this but try to focus on the future further past the next few weeks and exactly what you wanted to achieve from having the band. It will happen, if you believe in yourself

I'm with Flabuless on this one. Wait and see how it pans out. If it gets serious then thats when I would tell him. You just don't know how he might react. Let him fall for you how you are and THEN tell him how awesome you are because you made such a great decision for your health to have the band done :biggrin1: Good luck with the internet guys ladies! I met my fiance via the internet (and now he has emigrated from the US to Australia to be with me!) and he is a gem. There are good ones out there!

I was supposed to do 2 weeks liquids and 2 weeks of mushies/puree (progressing the consistency to more solid over those 4 weeks). but I ran into my surgeon at the hospital when I was there the other day (taking my Dad in [who also has a band] for non band related issues) and he told me that I could have some solid foods (like chicken - I told him I was craving it) if I chewed it REALLY well. So I am going to start eating solids on Wednesday (thats 3 weeks) for 1 meal a day and see how I go. My Dr also said (I think some one else wrote this about their Dr too) that his time frames are a guide and each patient (with his guidance) should go through them at their own pace. Some will need more time some less. I'm glad he's flexible cos I sure was getting sick of eating baby food type food!

They definitely sound yummy! You want to know something strange though (at least my American fiance and I find it strange)? Here in Australia, a marinara sauce is a tomato based sauce with seafood in it (calamari, prawns ( you call them shrimp), oysters etc). Its usually served over Pasta or as a risotto. And we strangely enough, don't have grape jelly - much to my fiances' disappointment (we call it jam too).

I had to be on Optifast for 2 weeks prior to my surgery on 22 Nov 06. I admit it was tough for the first few days and I really struggled, but I just kept telling myself it was all for a reason. My surgeon wouldn't have operated on me if I hadn't of done optifast (and would have been pissed if he had of cut me open and I still had a ginormous liver). As for exercise, just try to do some gentle exercise, walking especially (it helps with the gas too) after your surgery as you feel ready too. The sooner you get into the routine, the better. But don't rush yourself, you need to make sure you are healing, that is your priority in the first month or so. As for food, just follow what your Dr says and you can't go wrong. if you slip up along the way, don't beat your self up about it. This is a bit change you are making to you life and your relationship with food. We all have to rework our habits and how we relate to food. Thats part of the journey. Oh and drink as much Water as you can tolerate between meals (my Dr says wait an hour after meals to drink), keep yourself hydrated, thats uber important. But just be proud, most of all, that you are making a decision for you, and for your future and your health. Although it hasn't even been a month since my surgery, and I have had some rough days, the progress I can see already, makes me certain that I made a great decision. Best of luck!

Jack, I truly appreciate your respect (every one at this forum rocks!). To be honest though, I am happy to discuss possible reasons in the open forum. I've got nothing to hide Heck maybe some one else might get some help from these posts about my dodgy back problems too. What might I be able to tell you that might help?

Thanks Jo Ann!

I was banded on 22 Nov. When I have a craving like that (and its SO hard with my partner eating "normal" food every day in front of me) I just think about how much money I have spent on this and how much effort I have made already. I picture myself at 70 kilos. I picture myself slim and happy on my wedding day next July. I tell myself I don't want to slip my band or jeopardise my healing process. Thats enough for my mind to say "Meredith, you really DON'T want that, do you?". Its an ongoing battle in my head, I think its just a battle of wills. But I agree, being on liquids has been TOUGH as heck, what I wouldn't do for a slice of pizza right now.

Thanks Carol. When I went to my GP to get the referral to go see the lap band surgeon, he said that I should try to start exercising (which I did/have) and if I went ahead with the surgery to see that made any difference. He was pretty sure that the location of the pain (lower back) was due to my weight and that I am just not really a shape that can be horizontal - I have too much weight on my front weighing down if I am laying down on my back and my back bends like a banana if I lay on my front (which I can't do now because I am still too sore from the surgery still anyway) because my gut is TOO big. My fiance keeps telling me that I just need to give it time, that in another 10 kilos, it will probably go away, but I am way too impatient. I know he's probably right though....

I just wanted to have a bit of a sook, I've had a particularly rough couple of days. One of the major reasons (after weight loss and my health) I had the lap band surgery was an attempt to no longer feel the debilitating back pain that I experience every day when I wake up. Usually it hits around 4am and then I spent the next few hours trying to get comfortable before I have to get up and go to work. Nothing can releive the pain, I sleep with 5 pillows, practically sitting up. I'd love to fall asleep in my fiance's arms, but its just not an option. The past 2 days when I have woken up the pain has been WORSE than ever. I have woken up in tears. And even now, sitting here 1 1/2 hours after waking up, it is STILL hurting. Its incredibly painful. Sigh. I can't even imagine what it would be like to sleep through a whole night and not be in pain when I wake up. I have lost 10 kilos (22 pounds) from when I started this journey and its made no difference Has anyone had this kind of pain and had it go away with a certain amount of loss? I can't even fathom the fact that I might be stuck with this even when I am slimmer :phanvan

Ahhh! I see! Thanks so much! Maybe thats why that area is hurting a teensy bit still :nod:

I'm a week out from surgery. Stupid question, but should I be able to feel my port? Where abouts is it? I've felt around a little bit but I don't want to go poking and prodding my tummy too much trying to find it. :phanvan I have 5 incisions one between my breasts, two on my left side, one on my right and a longer one on the left side of my belly button. Can any one point me in the right direction?? Thanks! Meredith

Thanks guys, I'll go with it then, I guess I can always have it/some removed if the restriction is too much

I just called my Dr to organise my first fill/check up after my op on the 22nd of November. They gave me an appointment for the 18th December, which by my calculations makes it 2 days short of 4 weeks. Isn't that too soon for a fill? Surely it is?? I mean I WANT to start losing more weight ASAP, so if its ok, then I will go for it (I'd hate to put weight back on cos I am gorging myself cos I have no restriction). But I just wanted to check if any one else has had their first fill this soon after?? Thanks in advance Meredith

Hi Melanie, I had my banding done only 4 days ago. Like you before hand I was was wondering if I REALLY wanted to get it done. Then I thought about how much success my father has had with his and how I have struggled with my weight my entire life. Weigh up the pros and cons. Is a small amount of discomfort for a short while and a change in your routine/eating habits worth it for a longer healthier life? For me the answer was a resounding yes. Once you have had your surgery just make sure you follow the advice of your surgeon and drink the recommended amounts of fluids which have Protein and fibre in them. You'll do fine :girl_hug: Best of luck :gluck: Meredith

Hi all! I am new to the forum. I am being banded next Wednesday (22nd November) by Dr Mosse in Canberra. I'm currently on the Optifast, and have lost 2.5 kilos already! :clap2: My start weight before the optifast was 115 kilos. I'd like to be down to about 90 for my wedding next July. Hopefully thats not too unrealistic?? Nice to meet you all :biggrin1: Mez