I wanted to start a thread for those of us who are waiting "with bated breath" for our surgeries in March.

I am supposed to start Optifast on February 26th. I am currently waiting for the shipment, including my surgical package to be delivered. Once I get my package I am supposed to call the clinic.

Ever since committing to this surgery (which I am paying for myself via a personal loan) I have been obsessed with reading everything I can about it and about people who have had it. I am still kind of hoping for some kind of "divine word" about whether or not it is the right thing for me to do.

I am "only" 75 lbs over my ideal weight but am type II diabetic. I am trying to figure out if my reason for doing this is my health or my vanity or a combination of both. The diabetes needs to be gone (when I am 20 lbs lighter it is gone) but I am sure looking forward to losing the weight and actually keeping it off for more than 20 minutes...

Hi All,

demmemoon, I just read your dilema re job & surgery. I had a similar experience 17 years ago, prior to me having sophie, my youngest, I'd applied to work in theaters part time1 night a week on a Friday night, they could see I was heavily pregnant etc, anyway they offered me the job, and said I could start when I wanted after Id had my baby. Ok, this is the similar situation.....the day of giving birth, I remember looking a feeling terrible stood by a coffee vending machine in the ward in my nightie and dressing gown (blood etc on it, not a pretty picture) hair all messey, no make up etc.....guess who stopped to talk to me? You guessed it, my new boss that interviewed me a few weeks before, well she was lovely as I remember, and didnt take a blind bit of notice of how I looked etc, but she was real caring and concerned for my wealfare. So on Monday if you do bump into anyone your gonna work with, dont worry hon, cos they will be as nice as ever, and probably be more attentive!

Good luck on Monday ok

Sara x

Pam Banded: 'Just wanted to share an experience....'

WOW a 100lbs since November eh? Blimey Pam, was she coping with it all ok?

Is it 10lbs a month thats an expected weight loss after having the band, my Dr never said, he just said 40% loss with a band 60-70% loss with gastric surgery.

Wow, I missed about 10 pages of posts. I can't keep up! Anyway, SO SICK of liquids. Less than a week now til I can have mushies, YAY!! Those will only be for a week then normal food again! I did discover last night that I LOVE pea soup. Found a way simple recipe for it and tried it...soooo good compared to everything protien shake based/tomato soup based/potato soup based/water/more water...yah you get the point. It was good stuff. I want scrambled eggs. Oh and that wonderful 20 pounds I lost the first week...well gained 5 back. I guess that just goes with it when you start adding more foods, or in my case, going to full liquids, even though the calorie count has still been really low. My fill will be at 6 weeks, so I suppose that's when the weight loss should actually start counting for something. Anyway...I'll try to keep up with posts better. Oh and my recovery from surgery....about 3 days ago, I started feeling completly normal. No more pain, my stomach doesn't itch so much since the glue stitches are almost gone and a lot of the scabbing (ew) is mostly gone. Doesn't look bad at all underneath either. No more swelling or anything. So two weeks out I feel like myself again. Hope things will go as well for everyone else. :tea:

P.S. I'm a scatter brain if you can' tell.

Good Morning Everyone!!!

Well, today is 3 days post-op and nothing new to report. I'm still feeling pretty good. No hunger, no swelling, no pains! I haven't had much of an appetite so I am still doing clear liquids by choice. I will probably move on to full liquids tomorrow. I really don't have a story to tell!

It is so interesting to read about everyone else's experiences. I guess everyone is different and will experience different things. I keep waiting for the gas pains, but haven't had any. I don't have the runs...I'm all stopped up wishing I could move my bowels. I can swallow my pain pills whole while others are crushing them. I don't have any swelling in my abdomen while others do.

Pam, I am with you! I don't feel the restriction that others are talking about. Maybe I will feel it when I move on to full liquids or mushies or solids?!?! Maybe I won't feel it at all until after my first fill. I do have the larger VG band that holds 10cc so maybe that's why. There are so many new things that I will have to learn about my body and my band. This is a whole new world....WOW!!!!

:welcomeB: anon, babylovestoys, bubbles, and neveragain!!!!! Good Luck To All Of You!!!!

Tomorrow is a week post-op for me. Tammy and others I strongly recommend colace to get rid of that "stopped up feeling" This has been the only problem for me. Incisions are healing nicely, swelling is going down. I just want the next week to fly by so I can put soething solid in my mouth. But so far so good.

Tomorrow is a week post-op for me. Tammy and others I strongly recommend colace to get rid of that "stopped up feeling" This has been the only problem for me. Incisions are healing nicely, swelling is going down. I just want the next week to fly by so I can put soething solid in my mouth. But so far so good.

What is colace and where can I find it?

colace is a stool softener which can be found in any pharmacy. Often recommended for post-op constipation.

I have a quick question about Post-Op diet/medications. I'm now 3 days post-op, and i think all of this pain medicine and anti-nauseau medicine are starting to make me nauseaus...especially since i haven't eaten. How long did you guys continue to take this stuff? Just woked up and slept really well. Not feeling much pain at all, just really bloated. Was going to try not taking the meds today. Also, what was the first non-clear liquid you drank? I'm sippin on a slimfast. We're you able to drink coffee 3 days out?

Thanks alot Magnolia! I will look for it today!

I have a quick question about Post-Op diet/medications. I'm now 3 days post-op, and i think all of this pain medicine and anti-nauseau medicine are starting to make me nauseaus...especially since i haven't eaten. How long did you guys continue to take this stuff? Just woked up and slept really well. Not feeling much pain at all, just really bloated. Was going to try not taking the meds today. Also, what was the first non-clear liquid you drank? I'm sippin on a slimfast. We're you able to drink coffee 3 days out?

I'm only 3 days post-op myself so I probably won't be able to help you much, but if your meds are making you feel icky you may need to call your Dr. They may be able to change your meds. You also may be able to stop taking them. I was only told to take my pain meds when needed. I am still on clear liquids so someone else may be able to answer your questions about liquids. Feel better soon and keep us posted!

thanks.. i'm feeling good, so i'm just going to stop taking them.

Think the description 'head hunger' is just perfect for what I am feeling. And yes I think you are correct when you say that it is the swallowing of the food and not particularly the chewing. I am thinking though that it must feel a bit strange the first time you eat something which hasn't been mushed or blended. There will be this thing in your head telling you that it might get stuck - that must make it really difficult to swallow.

I went out last night and bought some lovely homemade soups from my local supermarket - they were so thick I had to add some water and put through the blender but the taste was sublime. Also bought some Actimel in some nice flavours, coconut, blueberry. And some drinking yoghurt in strawberry and raspberry so have some different flavours to keep me going.

Chewing Gum I thought about this but my doc says it's a no-no because it causes you to swallow air - therefore more gas and believe me I have enough gas. I having been sleeping so well not waking during the night at all until last night. Went to bed with a really bad shoulder pain - took pain killers but woke during the night in agony. Reading my notes from the doc it seems as though these are skeletal pains - quite normal after this type of surgery. Seem to be OK today though.

:welcomeB: anon, babylovestoys, bubbles, and neveragain!!!!! Good Luck To All Of You!!!!

Thank you and congratulations! I'm just so ready to begin this change in my life. Aren't you glad that you are on the other side of the surgery?