Wow - Okay well I'm new to this forum, not really sure what I'm doing. I am 38 yrs old, and have 7 1/2 weeks until I am banded. I have read everything I can find on Lap Band surgery, and feel prepared medically............ but mentally - I am scared!! I am scared that if I put myself and my family through all of this, and it doesn't work - what then??? I am 114kgs (sorry not good with pounds - I'm Aussie) and am not very tall at 5ft 4....... putting my BMI at 45. I have waited 10 months for my insurance period to expire, so I can get this done, I have tried every other weightloss plan/diet known to man, and I have researched every detail............... why then do I feel like screaming or crying half the time, and excited the rest...................I feel lonely, and scared! I can't see myself losing the weight, and changing my life like so many of you have....... it does not seem real.

I don't have many close friends I can talk with, and the ones I do have don't understand.................. I'm hoping for support and motivation from this forum, and I look forward to getting to know you all - Cheers Karen

Well today is day 9 post op and I am going out of my mind. I can't stop thinking about all the things I'm not allowed to have, I think it's almost to the point of obsession. Everywhere I turn there is food, food, food and it is driving me nuts. Is this a normal feeling??

I have tried going for a walk, reading my book, drinking loads of water, playing with my kids - but it's still there - I can't stop thinking about it - AAARRRGGGHHH - Am I going insane???????

darl - thats part of the journey, some have put it in the same catagory as "bandit blues" the down feeling after surgery, because all the excitement of the build up is gone........ it's the same with the food, you need to find some more variety.... I will post something I typed up for myself (I robbed peoples ideas and posts, and then put them on one page) there may be something there for you - but keep one thing as a treat, something you hold off, as a reward for being good all day - something you love!!! the other thing is buy a special little book - maybe with a star or love heart on it, and write down all the things that you WANT NOW - but know you can't have, and promise yourself (get it into your head) that you will be allowed any of those things as soon as you are properly mended............ I bet, when the time comes you don't eat half of them - but the promises in your mind, keep the hands from putting them in your mouth now......... okay will cut and paste the list on next post - good luck, give me some feedback - luv k

LIQUID PHASE – FIRST 2 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY

Immediately post op you won’t be able to have anything, ice chips only!!!

Next day- (after barium swallow)

water – tea – coffee – clear fruit juice – diet cordial

* Peppermint Tea ( Twinnings ) (good for the wind)

Apple juice

Green tea

chupa – chups for sore throat?

*liquid vitamins (Berocca) are important (IRON is essential) *DEGAS CHEWABLE

Then you must sip slowly!!! perhaps 50mls every 10 minutes….

* Anything you have must be thin enough to fit up a straw, and have NO LUMPS. if you need to water things down ……try doing it with milk which helps with PROTEIN .

Thin soup / clear broth / miso soup

callipo’s

day 3 you should be able to start milk drinks -

Flavoured milk, sustagen, up n go, milo, etc

prune or pear juice if you are having issues moving your bowels.

V8 fruit & veg juice (orange juice - can be too acidic)

jarrah 99% fat free hot drinks or latte

Lite Coffee Chill ( 70% less fat than Reduced Fat Flavoured Milk )

ww custard with extra milk to be thin enough(yummm)

ww mousse - let it dissolve in your mouth

skim milk smoothies

low cal.ice cream

Veggie soup ( rather runny…just remember not to have lentils /chickpeas as they add to wind factor! )

Cup-A-Soup ( can make them as runny as you like ) *no croutons

Icy poles ( Berri Quelch Smooties.)

by day 4 or 5 you possiby could drink 120ml (1/2 cup) every 20 – 30 minutes.

By then end of your 2 weeks of liquid you can start thickening up your things in preparation for mushy stage.

pureed tin of peaches/apricot/pear

yogurt

fruche

Fruit puree ( Goulburn Valley Twin pack )

Yoghurt

Frozen Yoghurt ( Bulla Fruit'n Yogurt )

Just remember variety is the key to staying sane.

And keep your water up....sip, sip, sip all day!

from someone else.....also having Soluble Panadol...which took 15 mins to drink. Then discovered Mersyndol was by far a better pain killer. Split tablet into quarters and they went down well with a sip of water

Thank you Karen, your kind and supportive words made me feel much better (and made me have a good cry - which I think is what I needed).

You are what I would refer to as an "Earth Angel", you have a great ability to make people feel much better and I thank you for that.

The list was great, and I am off to the shop to buy myself a couple of little treats (ww choc mousse & jarrah 99% drinks). I think my problem was that I was trying to be too good - no treats of any kind, I thought I would be cheating if I did that. So I have decided that I am going to allow myself a treat every now and again, so hopefully I won't get to this desperation point again.

Thanks again K - it made me feel heaps better!

you are welcome, Earth Angel hey??? maybe my halo, will become my band...lol.

Just seeing if my ticker works!!

YAY - it works!!

I saw my surgeon on Monday and filled out all the paperwork for the hospital and told will be able to get a date next week. Now I have a letter from him saying I need more blood tests to see if my weight problem is hormonal.

If it is, does this mean that he won't band me. I'm getting worried cause I really think banding is my only solution. Has anyone else had these tests and been banded or heard of them.

any help would be appreciated :cry

danna - yep - did all the blood tests, and liver function tests etc (part of the blood tests).... mainly, they do these as a diagnosis, and to keep good records. I was worried that the bad reports would stop me from surgery, infact the assistant said, it is more reason for surgery, they just need to be documented............... so dont worry luv, they are pretty routine!! you'll be fine............. hugs K

Danna, I had a heap of blood taken before surgery. Like Karen said they are all pretty routine, I was scared that they would say I couldn't have surgery based on the results of my tests, but was banded 9 days ago, so I am sure it is just so they have everything on record.

Danna, I had a heap of blood taken before surgery. Like Karen said they are all pretty routine, I was scared that they would say I couldn't have surgery based on the results of my tests, but was banded 9 days ago, so I am sure it is just so they have everything on record.

Karen & Rastis,

Thanks ladies, I hope so - it just came as a bit of a shock getting told by letter to go for more tests. I shall ring and pester his office next week.

Just needed some reassurance.

Danna:o

Hi Everyone,

Just spent the last 3 days traveling for work, so haven't had a chance to check in. Glad to be home!!

Ann, I "think" I know where my port is, I can feel something when I press, but it is close enough to an incision that I can't be positive it isn't scar tissue. I see my surgeon next Thursday, so I will ask him. It certainly doesn't hurt.

I am struggling with nausea and the "dry heaves" quite a bit - especially early morning (and no I am not pregnant). Seems to be slightly better now that I am eating more solids.

This week, I can eat soft solids and move forward to other foods as I tolerate. I have tried eggs, fish, chili, and some chicken. It all tasted very good, but I didn't eat a great deal - still not very hungry. I don't think I am restricted though - I ate a 9 oz serving of chili (meat based, fairly thin), slowly, but easily, in one setting.

I hope you are all doing well. It sounds like many of you have exciting times ahead of you! Some surgeries are getting very close (good luck) and other are close to appointments and dates to schedule - keep your chin up and keep moving forward!

Take care! :clap2:

Danna - keep us posted on what the doc says. You may have already mentioned this in another thread, but I haven't read them all - where are you from? Your ticker is in kg's so I am assuming you are not from the US!

Danna - keep us posted on what the doc says. You may have already mentioned this in another thread, but I haven't read them all - where are you from? Your ticker is in kg's so I am assuming you are not from the US!

Hi Rastis,

I'm from Sydney. Feeling a bit better about the tests today as some others that I know who are banded don't think it will prevent me getting my band. So Monday I'm ringing the surgery for my date - hope it won't be too far away.

Good luck!!!!