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...

I leave in one hour. Don't really feel anything right now. Not scared, maybe somewhat excited. Just want to get it over with.

Husband did "before" photos of me last night, all I can say is "UGH"!! Can't wait to "BE" the after photos.

To everyone being banded today, I'll be praying for speedy recoveries.

kuebel j - 03/20

TRANAM1955 - 03/20

GOOD&READY - 03/20

alaverde - 03/20

amrdmr - 03/20

Reesh - 03/20

Janine - 03/20

Mrs Husker - 03/20

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

I leave in one hour. Don't really feel anything right now. Not scared, maybe somewhat excited. Just want to get it over with.

Husband did "before" photos of me last night, all I can say is "UGH"!! Can't wait to "BE" the after photos.

To everyone being banded today, I'll be praying for speedy recoveries.

OH how exciting!!!! I'll be thinking about you today! Best wishes for a complication free surgery! See you on the other side! :thumb:

good Morning My March Buddies!!!!!

today Is My 2-week Anniversary And I Have Lost 20 Pounds To Date My Size 20's Are Very Loose!!!! Maybe I'll Hit Size 16 By Mid-april

i Can Start Mushies Now!!!!

lunch Small Chili With Sour Cream *pinch Of Cheese*

snack Sugar Free Jello

all The Water My Simply Beautiful Band Can Handled.

exercise For Today- Walking For 45mins

have A Super Day

Hey there, it is so good to hear from you! 20lbs...WOW!!! :clap2: You are doing GREAT! Keep us posted!!!

Well, I did it. Banded on the 12th. Everything went as planned with the exception that I had a little hernia that they fixed for me.

So far I have had ZERO and I mean ZERO hunger. I am still on liquids so am doing boost/optifast and "milked down" cream Soups occasionally. I am finding it difficult to get enough calories in because I am NOT HUNGRY!

I am finally eating to live not living to eat. I am praying that this feeling continues forever! (or at least until I can get a fill). Even last night when my family was eating delicious smelling pizza and I had to cut some up for my son to eat I did not feel the urge to eat any. I am looking forward to someday being able to have a small bite of at least the toppings but the knowledge that at some time I would be able to was enough for me. I didn't feel deprived or missing out at all the yummy smells didn't even make me hungry.

I had a few issues at the place I stayed in Missiaugo, ON "heritage house" and while I would recommend it to other I would suggest that anyone going there be very clear about what they expect will happen regarding transportion and medication dispensing as well as the costs. At the end of the day I was glad I went there but it was not seamless.

I am to stay on liquids for one more week and then graduate to mushies. I am not seeing a "band doctor" until it is time for my 6 week check up because there is not one close to me. I am on my own to moniter my ability to graduate to different foods. I am going to err on the side of caution however because it sounds like PB ing is AWFUL and I am deparately afraid of slipping my band. I LOVE NOT BEING HUNGRY and am not going to do anything to jeopardize that.

Congratulations!!!! I love the "not being hungry" feeling too. You are on the right track. Good Luck to You!!!

Had surgery about 7:30 this morning. Now it's 1:20 and I'm ready for a nap at my house with my new sheets and clean bedroom and the windows flung open with fresh air coming in (plus an arm/shoulder massage from my very DH). Drinking some broth with the loritab. Not much pain--more like pressure in my chest when I have to breathe deep, which the dr. and nurse said I need to do a lot of because my oxygen was a little low.

Surgery took about 1 1/2 hours because they had to repair a hiatal hernia that I didn't know I had plus there was some scar tissue to work around from previous surgery (hysterectomy most likely).

Ready for dreamland. Will get back to you later. Thanks for your positive vibes, prayers, and good wishes. I'm thrilled! I made it and will be anxious to hear about my bandsisters. Karen

WOOOOHOOOOOOOOO Karen!!! I am so happy for you. You finally made it. I'll be praying for your fast recovery!

Tammy says 3/4 of a cup. (I like the 3/4 of a cup theory)

I get sooooo confused (seriously~no joking) from reading the propaganda from dr's office and these threads.

To clarify, this is what my post-op instructions say when moving on to mushies. I assume because before we have proper restriction we may be able to tolerate more than this, but 3/4 cup of food should be my max. So far, I've only received post-op instructions, but I did receive a card to carry in my wallet that says this person can only eat 1/4 cup or 2oz of food at a time. I am assuming this will be after proper restriction is acheived.

Above all, we should follow our Dr's orders.

Hi!! I'm home from getting my band! Checked in at 10:45, had my surgery at 1:15 and was ready to go home by 5:45. No gas pains as of yet (knock on wood that it stays that way), I just feel like I've done 10 million situps. My port hurts the worst of anything.

I thought it was funny when they took me to radiology they had me drink the barrium from a straw. lol ...then he says try and burp because there looks to be some gas. I'm so glad to be home.

Congrats momlabert and to other 3/19 bandsters.

Time for a pill

Congratulations purplemonkey!!!! Fast healing vibes coming your way!!!!! :biggrin1:

When I wake up, I'm not hungry. I usually don't eat anything until 10-11 am. B4 the band I would have had a lot to eat B4 10.

I have never felt restriction like this.... How do you know you feel restricted prior to eating? Then again I am unsure if I feel any restriction at all.....

Maybe my Dr. put on a bigger band and will "cinch" me up with fills. While yours may have put on a smaller band and that is why you feel restriction so far. Does that make sense? Do you think that may be a reason why I don't feel restriction and you do? I definately don't eat as much as I would have done prior to bandland, but that is also do to my self control at this point.

I took pain and anti-nauseau meds only as needed. I didn't take as prescribed. I still have plenty left.

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?

Try the heating pad on the shoulder. Should take it away.

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.

I wanted chocolate when I was at my parents house. My dad keeps hershey kisses on his table near his recliner. I had about 9 of them - sounds like a lot but I ate them slow - It was all I had all day and it did account for about 230 calories (I think), but I'm not going to deprive myself. As previously stated - MODERATION IS THE KEY.

I stopped buying the kids Cookies - instead I make it an outing and we go and get cookies. That way they eat them for the moment - once they are gone they are gone. They don't have them at the house to keep eating - this helps all of us!!

Okay here is "MY" answer; don't know if it politically correct. This is how I am eating.

I, 30 minutes before I eat drink 23 ounces of flavored Water ( i live in a desert and drink alot of water). Then I sit to eat and I eat until I AM NOT HUNGRY ANYMORE, (not until I am full) so you really have to concentrate on what you are eating and what your satisfied feeling is. But I think I am 19 days post op suppose to be eating 1/2 cup every 3-4 hours or so. Then I wait as long as I can (1 hour is my personal goal) to drink again, and I usually can tell that there is still food in my pouch and at that point I know I am "washing it" through the band.

I will go home tonight and if this answer is much different than what the doctors paperwork says I will repost.

But! If I was hungry for chocolate I would take a candy bar and divide it in 1/8ths and eat 1 section per day, if that made me happy. I say this because in the whole life story (figuratively speaking) I can't imagine depriving myself of something I love for the rest of my life; thus moderation is the key to all healthy relationships, including chocolate.

We all got the band so we could eat like a skinny / healthy person, so they eat chocolate, they just eat it in moderation.

Tell me if you think I am that "off base".

My surgery was scheduled for today but Dr. Adams thought that with being on antibiotics for sinus infection we better postpone it for now. I am discouraged about having to do 10 more days of the pre-op liquids. I have done 2 weeks already and lost 18 pounds. I am trying to hang in there but it is really hard! They called me and said my new date is 3/29/07. Another countdown is on!

They called me and said my new date is 3/29/07. Another countdown is on!

That sucks that you have to wait but better safe than sorry.

I've been craving tuna, so I made this creamed tuna soup. I'm sure it would work for salmon:

Melt 2 TBS butter

Add 2 TBS flour and stir until thickened

Then 1.5 cups of milk and wisk

Add 1-4 oz can tuna (or salmon) and stir until thick

Puree in blender

I also added onion powder and pepper and dill to taste. Makes 2 8oz servings. With tuna calories=258 and protein=22grams. It's really yummy!

Oh that sounds yummy! I'll have to try it! Ive been thinking of tuna myself!

Thanks for the recipe.