priscilla

Hey Astro - sorry your having some problems. We were done the same day. My incisisions all look great - healing very fast. No itch, no redness, no heat. When I shower, I am using that yellow antiseptic soap they gave me to clean all around the wound areas. I would say you might want to talk to a doc. I noticed Yasmina had an infection - so, take note. Let us know how you are.

Welcome aboard the bandland Donna. Great to hear your personal experiences. You must be a patient woman and have a lot of faith to keep on trying to get your weight right. Good on you. Keep in touch - the more the merrier I say.

Hey Astrotoes - a kettle of fish sounds awesom right at the moment thanks. Glad Gaffer is kidding about the steak - didn't want to stay up all night worrying about him. Yasmina, so sorry about your infection. Thank goodness I have had no trouble. Dame, hope your hand bruises are disappearing too. I get curious stares and point to my husband. Just kidding! Gaffer and Becca - one more sleep to go for you (well, 2 with the anaesthetic). From dreamland to bandland.:clap2: Good luck.

Argon, hope you are going to tolerate more/better food soon. Just think of optifast and you really will upchuck. I cannot imagine what it must be like to have food do that to you - especially cheese! Love cheese (better as a pizza topping). Maybe your fill is just too new. Not that I know anything about that yet. My heart is with you and hope this is a short-lived phase for you. You know, I keep looking at the amount of weight you have lost and am awed and amazed. Keep it up - you should be so proud of yourself.

I'll send out good vibes Becca and Andrew for your surgery in TO. I am 6 days banded and feeling good! Liquid diet is not bad, especially the smoothier soups. Gas pains all gone and suture/wounds sites mending really well. You will breeze through it and wake up in a whole new realm of nutrition - a second chance to get it right. Absolutely fantastical. Again, good luck and let us know how you are soon.:clap2:

Geez Gaffer, this lobster is the hottest issue on the post. It really was 3 1/2 lbs (with about close to 2 lbs of meat, yummy!) I hope no band doctors are reading these posts - but if they are, I plead under the Canadian version of the 5th. Well, what the heck - here is the real scoop. I had this fantastical lobster at noon on the day before my surgery. I fessed up to the doctor and he said as long as it was not a STEAK (Gaffer - there goes your steak) or really heavy food and had no carbs whatsover, fish was a good choice. Salmon is good, etc. etc. I think the worry they have as that we will take ourselves out of ketosis which is the state that you are in after optifast for 2 wks. and then the hunger pains come back. Makes sense, because they do not want us to be hungry after this surgery right? Gaffer, don't do the steak - if something goes wrong with your surgery, then I will feel personally responsible for having strayed off the path and encouraged you to do that too.:bandit

Gerry that is an amazing weight loss! You are a winning loser already:omg:. Keep in touch - this board is wonderful for support.

Amen Sisters and Brothers! Mine came when I saw members of my family younger than me well on their way to obesityland. Time to swing into action and take control of this lifelong BS (Beef Situation). My daughter has done the lapband too and is as delighted and excited as I am. Going through this together really makes us determined. Let the good times roll!

Hey Dame - you are one lucky lady if you did not get bruised. You should see my hand where the anaesthesiologist pricked me 3 times - then once half way up my arm, finally asked him to take the crook of my inner arm - and it worked like a charm. Hand looks terrible black and green. Belly bruising is not too bad - bottom incision is the worst. Had a little oozing blood in a couple of spots but compared to some post op pics I've seen, I think I got off lucky. We went shoe shopping the day after surgery, found some great sales and got back to Heritage House and packed and then off to the plane in the afternoon. Got home at 10:30 pm Mountain Standard Time. :biggrin1:

Astro, I just realized you are one of the ladies I met with Heather and my daughter. Got confused cause your signature line said Banded 02/06/07. How are you doing? It was so good to see you and Heather. Are you happy you did this? I think everyone has a few YIKES! minutes or hours in my case. Glad I got over it. Life will go on better than ever. Keep in touch. Yours truly, Lobster Girl:hungry:

Astro - how did you find out about that? Confession time - I ordered the biggest baddest meanest looking lobster that weighed 3 1/2 lbs. plus a ceasar salad and ate it all! Best damn meal I ever had after 2 weeks of opticrap. Oh, and let's not forget the butter! No secrets left - that's it.:hungry:

Hello - I just had to respond to your post about your feelings of "regret"? I just had surgery on Feb 7 and I absolutely felt the same way you do. I kind of panicked thinking "Gee I've got this alien thing around my stomach, what have I done, maybe I should go back to the doc and have him take it out?" Today I feel like it was the best thing I have ever done for my health. I am excited when I feel full after just 1/2 cup of coffee. There is still some uncomfortable moments, but every day I feel better. Please try not to dwell on the "device" inside of you. It will use up emotional energy that you don't have right now. When I was having those moments of "oh no", I just focused on how great it will be to move around more freely, be more active and never have to diet like I used to and then gain back. You and I are newly banded and adjusting to our new perspective on life. Remember you are as normal as everyone else who is going through this and just jump on this forum and get your thoughts out. You will get so much help and support because we are all really really here for each other and aren't we courageous girls for doing this? Feel proud of yourself - you are getting your control back. All the best to you:kiss2:

Just got back from being "banded". Whew! what a trip. Glad to be home. Catching up on the posts and glad to see that CLA is working for most people who have tried it. I have now lost 15 lbs. between CLA and Optifast - having started with the CLA. More news later, need a nap.:kiss

Hey Andrew - you can also add mushrooms to the filet of cabbage" to give it a variance in chew texture. Yesterday I even used poultry stuffing spice and I almost had myself convinced that I was eating Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks for the thumbs up Cloe! It all helps keep me on track.

Day 6 of Optifast - lost 5 lbs! Coffee crystals in vanilla is okay. Coconut flavour in chocolate is not bad. I also have sauteed cabbage and onions and garlic with lots of no cal spices for supper for my veggies. Throw in a little chicken in a mug and chicken broth and you have a feast folks!:hungry: Hunger has absoutely gone away. Got to force myself to drink - look forward to my "filet of cabbage" every night though. My husband is living on cabbage too - minus the shakes. He goes off to sneak a hamburger somewhere though - I can smell it on him. Keep smilin' it helps. Thinking of all you optifasters out there - misery loves company:clap2:

2 optifasts down and 1 cup of steam broccoli - Joy! How am I gonna get another shake down before bedtime? If it could just taste like popcorn there would be no problem. Grin and bear it everyone. The end goal is worth the present.

Hi Gaffer and Astro - I just downed my first one - vanilla and added some orange essence into it - not in love with the stuff but I can do this - I can do this, I can do this....looking forward to chocolate one. Good luck and let's keep motivating each other. If I find a way to dress up the taste I will pass it on to everyone. Let's have a group hug:girl_hug:

I am getting banded in Toronto in 7 weeks. They will be using a new lap band Inamed or Allergan AP (advanced platform). They started using this new one in November. Anybody out there have this one yet? Apparently it is available only in Canada right now - FDA in the US still has to approve but will happen soon there too. Anyone know the differences between that one and the old one? Very curious to know more about this band.

Yes, we will get the new advanced band - yippee! Apparently it is less apt to cause problems or lose saline. Keep in touch.

Dr. Coburn is my doc too. Starting Opti-fast tomorrow - yum!

Hey Neenagh! Glad to hear you are losing. I find that if I consistently take it I reduce my cravings with it. I am starting my 2 wks of Opti-fast tomorrow. I have not gained any weight yet - so keep your fingers crossed for me.:nervous

Thanks for the updated info on the band - I am looking forward to getting it on Feb 7.

Hi Kim - again, I am so sorry about your discovery. If you would like, I will send you the amount you paid for it but you don't need to mail the pills to me. I see you have 6 kids - whew! You deserve a medal for that and working a home-based business too. Also, just to clarify for everyone out there - CLA is not a drug but a nutritional supplement - its ingredients found in fish oils, various nuts, sunflower seeds, etc. I was blown away however, by the study that indicated it has an effect on the fat in breast milk - definitely a big concern! :speechles

Kimster - sorry about your discovery after the purchase of CLA. I was not aware of that study and understand how you would be advised not to take it. I personally have quite a bit of it right now. Thanks for the heads up re: the study - I looked at it and it made sense for pregnant and nursing moms to avoid it. I am having great success with it however and hope that others will too. Its so nice not to have those cravings that drive me crazy! Good luck.

Mary hope this works for you too! So far so good for me. No cravings - but I have to use 6000mgs a day to keep them at bay. Good news though is that it really does seem to be helping my abdominal fat. Not sure if it is because I am not eating/craving sugars and junk and creating less bloat - but whatever, it is magical for me. Keep in touch and be one of the little "guinea pigs" club. Neenagh - hope you are doing well on it too. Keep us posted. Also, anyone else out there who is trying this stay on board with us and we will do a poll later.:clap2: